Real Estate
There have been so many changes in the real estate market the past decade it is almost too much to keep up with. It is not only what has been going on regarding buyers and sellers but real estate agents today are much more sophisticated than ever before. The one area that has had the most impact is technology which has completely changed how realtors today conduct their business. The internet has become an integral part of every company and agent in which to conduct their business. It allows agents and companies to spread themselves and the marketing of properties to a whole new level. Creation of websites allows marketing to be conducted 24/7 reaching many more customers at times the customer wishes to access information important to them. It is a tool all agents and companies should add to their tool box but it will never be the magic answer to successfully selling real estate. The internet alone will not make a unskilled agent a skilled agent. Success or failure in real estate relies on many factors.
One of the most important skills needed today for successful real estate agents is time management. Time is something we can never make but we can certainly make money. Most agents feel their time management skills are adequate but if they to take a look at what they do each day and each week they would be surprised to see how little time is spent doing what they need to do to make a living. Too many agents do not plan their days as any other business requires of their employees and it is relatively simple. The last thing before you finish your day is set your priorities and plan tomorrow. Sound easy, it is. When you have your day planned and written out it is much easier to stay focused on what needs to be done. Start with your first priority and stay focused on it till you have finished it. Then move on to the next until your schedule is completed which does not always mean you will complete all your scheduled events each day but at least you are managing your time and determining what priorities will make you successful. Real Estate agents today cover more ground and are required to work with a greater variety of customers than they have in the past. It is not uncommon for agents to cover vast geographic areas whether they are in an urban or rural setting so managing your time effectively can mean more sales and more money.
Chicago Realtors
Choosing the right Chicago Realtor can make all the difference in the world. Chicago contains some of the most culturally rich communities in the United States. Each neighborhood maintains a strong identity due to what immigrant population first settled the area and with the gentrification of many of these neighborhoods that original culture remains alongside many other diverse ethnic groups. Chicago is partitioned into four main sections, Downtown, the North Side, the South Side, and the West Side with over 77 different neighborhoods each offering a certain style of living. Knowing where to look could be overwhelming. Most agents only know a few of these neighborhoods so you might have to talk with several companies to get a good feel for what area in which you might want to buy.
Each of the neighborhoods in Chicago offers new construction as well as conversions of older brown and graystones and converted apartment buildings. The amenities in any of these can be quite diverse. Older buildings do not always mean older wiring or plumbing. Chicago Realtors and developers are ahead of most others using premier products and state of the art technology. Walking into some of the older conversions can seem like a walk in the past but underneath is an infrastructure of the highest quality and workmanship. Condos in Chicago today are known throughout the country for their design and quality.
With so much to look at and know what does a Chicago Realtor do for you? Most people don’t know and are sometimes reluctant to find out because they think working with a realtor is going to cost them money. In some instances this is absolutely correct but with most people looking to buy a home or condo there is no cost.
So let’s take a look at some of what a realtor can do for you.
- Send you detailed listings of areas and property types of your choice
- Make appointments and accompany you to see your selected properties
- Update and inform you on all important information in the real estate market
- Aggressively negotiate on your behalf
- Assist you with resources regarding financing matters
- Give you all my experience and guide you through the entire buying process
A good realtor does all these things and more to make sure the decision you make is one you are comfortable with and feel is the right thing to do, especially in today’s volatile market.
Oak Brook
Oak Brook is a premier community with spacious residential areas containing many large mansions and condominium complexes. Oak Brook offers some of the most unique and exciting places to live in the Chicago area. One of the most attractive reasons many people choose to live in Oak Brook is the proximity to downtown Chicago and the fact that property owners do not pay property tax to the village, as services are primarily funded by sales tax receipts. Oak Brook has one of the most popular malls in northern Illinois and is home to many recognized national and international companies, such as McDonalds, Ace Hardware, Federal Signal Corporation, Lions Clubs International and many more.
Oak Brook was first incorporated in 1958 due in large part to the efforts of Paul Butler, a prominent civic leader and land owner. The family first came to the area in 1898 and opened a dairy farm. Early on potential residents recognized the beauty of the area and the wide open spaces in which to build. Much of the Butler land was acquired by the village including what is now the site of the Oak Brook Center shopping mall. Other properties were developed as well for the purchase of homes and condos and today Oak Brook has become one of the most sought after communities in the Chicago area.
The area is known for its interest in sports which is why many people have gravitated to the area. The village offers recreational facilities not commonly found in similar places of that size, such as the Oak Brook Sports Core, the Polo Grounds, and a nationally ranked golf course which was a onetime host to the Western Open. The area is known for its wide open spaces with walking and bike paths winding through many of the condo complexes in the area.
The census of 2000 counted 8,702 residents, small for most villages in the Chicago area but offering excellent police protection and state-of-the-art emergency medical services. The median income for the village is well over $140,000 which is why some of the most expensive real estate in the suburbs is located. Oak Brook condos come in many shapes and sizes with prices ranging from $99,000 to $1,000,000 offering an opportunity for residents to enjoy all Oak Brook has to offer. If you are a first time homebuyer or someone looking for a larger home with plenty of recreational opportunities to go around, visit Oak Brook, you will be pleasantly surprised!
Services of a Realtor
When it's time to put your house or condo on the market, many people wonder if they are better off selling as a "by owner" or using the services of a realtor. The reason for the quandary is typically a financial one. It is a common myth that the seller will net greater proceeds from the sale of their own home or condo if they sell it themselves. In reality, buyers are typically looking for the "by owner" to drop the price of the realtors commissions as much as 6=10% below the price of comparable homes listed by real estate companies. Buyers can find a more selection of homes and a more trusted sale if they use the services of a realtor.
What are some of the benefits of using a Realtor?
- Your Realtor can help you understand the home selling process from putting your home on the market through closing.
- Advises you as to the right price for the home based on their knowledge of what comparable homes sold for in the last 6 months to 1 year.
- Assists you in determining the necessary home improvements required to get you property in the best selling condition possible and at the lowest possible cost to you.
- Develops your personalized marketing plan and places your home in the Multiple Listing Service to reach as many qualified buyers as possible.
- Handles the showing of your property so your schedule is not tied up keeping appointments with prospective purchasers.
- Negotiates the offer to purchase objectively to obtain the highest possible price for your home.
- Leads you through the home inspection phase and negotiates on your behalf
- Tracks the various stages of the sale from contract to closing.
- Coordinates with all parties involved to provide all the information needed to bring the sale to a successful close.
When using the services of a realtor these are only a few of the things they do for you, the seller. Selling your home is a big deal and most people don't sell more than two homes in their lifetime so it is not something in which they develop an expertise. There are ever changing laws, ethical considerations and practical considerations that most home sellers do not want to learn through trial and error. Your home is most likely your most valuable financial asset and the last thing you want to do is jeopardize that, it's just not worth the risk.
Choosing a Realtor
There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration when you are choosing a Realtor to represent you. In making your decision to work with an agent, the first question you should ask is whether the agent is a registered Realtor. The term Realtor is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. By knowing whether or not he/she is a realtor, you can conclude that the agent has to lawfully abide by all the rules and regulations within Real Estate Law.
When choosing a Realtor, you also want to know if the agent has an active real estate license in good standing. You can always check with your states governing agency to get this information. It is also important to know if your agent belongs to the multiple listing service. For either buyer or seller, this information is important to know because this explains how much access the realtor will have to the current market.
Knowing whether or not real estate is the agent’s full time career is beneficial as well because it allows you to assume that full time agents usually dedicate their days for real estate activities. There are some agents who only do Real Estate part -time, which could limit their availability they may have for you. For the most part full time agents are well informed as to what is going on in the market and they seem to have greater availability in terms of showings and/or marketing.
You may also want to find out if the agent holds any specific real estate designations. What do they specialize in if anything? Have they furthered their education in any way in the real estate arena? This could be another measure as to how serious the agent may be about Real Estate.
In exchange for your commitment, how is this agent going to help you accomplish your goals? If you are a seller, this could include knowing what the agent's marketing plan will be. If you are a buyer, this could include what their availability is like for showing homes; also what properties do they have in mind that meets your expectations.
The bottom line is that when choosing an agent to work with you in a real estate transaction, it is important to know the specifics about the agent and interview them to make sure that he/she is what you are looking for.
Chicago Condos
Where can you find the best Chicago condos? Chicago is such a mix of cultures and nationalities with over 77 different neighborhoods that condo buyers have a variety of choices from the more upscale Gold Coast to the excitement of River North. There is no place like the city of Chicago and all it has to offer from the dozens of museums to professional sports for those who want to live in one of the most exciting cities in the world. Chicago condos have become one of the fastest growing segments in the residential real estate market for first time homebuyers or those looking to experience the excitement of downtown living.
There are literally hundreds of condos to choose from at almost any price. There are several major developments currently going on downtown and many developers are rolling out new incentives for pre-construction Chicago condos. Some developers are offering credits as high as $30,000 toward furniture as well as the services of a professional interior designer who sign up before a deadline. Others developers are offering a wide range of incentives from free parking spaces to options on floor plans at no cost and price guarantees.
Some of the best Chicago condos are scattered throughout the city and below are just a few.
- Century Station
- Trump Tower
- Kinetic Condos
- Walton on the Park
- Silver Tower
- The Chicago Spire
- Ecologic Lofts
- University Commons
There is no better time to start looking for the best Chicago condos than now. Interest rates are low and pricing is the most reasonable in years with developers and sellers offering incentives to make their units stand out. That is why choosing the right Real Estate Agent to represent and market your property is a smart move. Your agent will review with you the different kinds of listing agreements or sales contracts and recommend the structure that would work best for your marketplace and property. But no matter who you choose, always look for these four parts in the agreement.
1. Timing - duration of the agreement should be clearly stated
2. Compensation - fee structure and payout
3. Cancellation - What happens if you wish to cancel the contract
4. Disputes - How will disputes be handled.
The agreement is an important document. Read and understand all sections and if you don't ask a real estate professional or attorney.
Chicago Realtors
Chicago Realtors are members of an association of real estate professionals. Each person that wants to be a Chicago realtor first has to get their Illinois real estate license. The process for getting a real estate license in the state of Illinois is really not that difficult or expensive.  First you have to have a total of 45 classroom hours completed and then you take a state licensing exam. The whole process can take as little as ten days to complete.
Chicago Realtors are all licensed real estate agents. They've all gone through this process. There are really three ways you can become an Illinois real estate licensed sales agent. The first is a classroom setting. These classes are held two ways. The first is what is called the accelerated version. Here, you are given five days, normally Monday through Friday, 8:30-5PM to complete your class time of the requirement. This is tough because you're cramming so much information within five days. After the end of the five days, as long as you pass the class, you are eligible to sit for the Illinois state exam the following week. They also have another version of the classroom time style where you take a few days each week at night over the course of seven weeks to complete the class.
Chicago Realtors have also gotten to sit for their licensing exam by going through the on-line version of the schooling. Here you are given the classroom material on a computer screen. You read the material, answer a few questions and move on to the next screen. You take the class at your own pace. I've seen some people complete the 45 hour material in three days this way and I've also seen the undisciplined take months. It's really up to you as an individual what's best for you.
Lastly, there is home study. Home study gives you all the books and materials and let's you go. All three versions have their plus and minuses but every Chicago Realtor has gone through one of the classes. Once you get your real estate license in Chicago, the next step will be to join some associations. The Chicago Realtors Association allows you to carry the designation of Chicago Realtor.Â
Chicago Realtors are a professional group that focuses in on the buying and selling of real estate throughout the United States. Almost everyone that has their real estate license in Illinois has the designation of being a Chicago realtor.
Chicago Condo Realtor
Looking for a Chicago condo Realtor? What makes a good one from a bad one, a good company from a bad one? Chicago condo realtors are everywhere. They're hidden in mom and pop offices and they're in some of the largest national brands you hear all the time. How do you go about choosing the condo Realtor for you?
A Chicago condo realtor is different from your average realtor because they have chosen to dedicate their career to helping people buy and sell condos, nothing else. That's a bold move for a real estate agent to make. What they in essence are doing, is cutting off all other types of business so they can be great at one. This allows them to know the Chicago condo market better than anyone else in the industry. They eat, sleep and dream condominiums.
How do you find these real estate condo only realtors? They normally will have something on their business cards that will associate themselves to condos only. You'll see something like condo specialist or they'll use something lie "condo queen" as their tag line. The best way to search a condo specialist is to go to a company that specializes in condos as a whole. That's your best bet. When you have a company that does nothing but sell condos, every real estate agent in the bunch is going to be a condo specialist. A condo specialist is so important when choosing to either buy or sell a condo because they can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Think of a situation where you've spent weeks and weeks trying to find the perfect condo and then you lose it because you didn't work with the right condo lender first to see if you can qualify for the condo. A condo specialist will be prepared and be able to put you in front of those lenders right from the start.
A condo lender is also different from your typical mortgage broker. They know much more about how to close a condo than anyone else in the industry. This is a critical piece in moving through the steps to obtaining condo ownership. Condos can be owned and sold through all realtors. But when you take the time out first to locate and interview a realtor that specializes in condominiums, not only will you find that you'll save a ton of time through the process, but you possibly could save thousands of dollars along the way as well.
