David Soletski
David Soletski has made real estate his professional devotion since 1995 and he's seen the ups, the downs and everything in between. He knows the rhythms of the market and how to best guide real estate buyers.
David's desire to serve consumers began long before his real estate career, when he worked in the retail industry. But he was drawn to real estate more than 15 years ago, starting as an assistant to two brokers where he definitely learned the ropes.
"It was the best way to learn the business," he says. "I truly enjoy everything about real estate."
David eventually earned his broker's license and worked as a manager for a prominent Chicago brokerage before becoming an exclusive buyers' agent with OwnACondo.com.
David Soletski’s specialties include:
• Chicago real estate
• Downtown Chicago real estate
• Rogers Park real estate
• Hyde Park real estate
• Lakefront condos
• Condos on Lake Shore Drive
• Co-ops
• Townhomes
• Buyers’ Agent
• Real Estate Investing
• Real Estate Investors
• Real Estate Auctions
• Foreclosures
• REO
• Short Sales
A particularly interesting aspect of David's specialties is his knowledge of co-ops. Co-ops are not as plentiful in Chicagoland as condos, nor are they as frequently found as in other areas of the country, primarily New York City. David lived in a co-op in the Hyde Park community of Chicago and can help anyone interested in learning more about co-ops and possibly making a purchase.
David is a volunteer with the Anti-Cruelty Society and strongly advocates adopting pets through reputable pet rescue organizations. He's a dog lover and has counted cocker spaniels and a border collie among his faithful companions over the years.
Contact David Soletski at dsoletski@ownacondo.com or 312-310-9866.
Condo Company Focuses on National Expansion
OwnACondo.com, a condo only brokerage that originated in Chicago metro, is now expanding across the United States in a rather rapid fashion. By the end of 2011, the company expects to have at least 25 condo cities up and running and another 25 in 2012. The company currently is licensed to do business in the state of Florida and Illinois, with California, Michigan, Indiana and Georgia following right behind.
OwnACondo.com not only focuses on condos, but they will only work with the buyer side of the transaction, leaving the conflict of interest out of it. With 100% focus on the buyer, the company is in a position to service the buyer like no one else in the real estate industry. The buyer of the condominium needs help with condo association law, condo financing, the condo market, condo real estate auctions, condo foreclosures, etc.
OwnACondo.com has been in business since 2000, servicing condo conversions in the Chicago market. Today, OwnACondo.com trains its condo Realtor experts to focus on the best buying opportunities in the market place for their clients. They inform the general public what condo not to buy.
You can reach OwnACondo.com by calling 866.696.2266 or visit them online at OwnACondo.com.
Does Betty White Own a Condo?
We'll bet she does. Not that it's that much of a leap. After all, lots of people own condominiums. But we like Betty White, and she's been quite the media butterfly again recently, which led us to wonder "does Betty White own a condo?"
You don't have to be glued to the TV or have your head buried in supermarket checkout aisle magazines to know about Betty White. The charming and tough 89 year-old comedien and actress has experienced a sort of career rebirth recently, dropping salty language as host of Saturday Night Live and being tackled in the mud by a football player for a TV commercial. She's also a star, along with Valerie Bertinelli, in the current series Hot in Cleveland. It's a long way from her appearances on television game shows and talk shows in the 1950s and '60s, her role as Sue Ann in the 1970s on the Mary Tyler Moore Show and--most famously--her long-running character Rose on the TV sitcom Golden Girls in the 1980s. In fact, Betty, who married for the third time at age 41, recently told a writer at AARP Magazine that sex got better with age. Go, Betty!
Does Betty White own a condo? No doubt she has a sprawling home befitting a successful Hollywood personality, but somewhere in the world, we think she enjoys condo living, too. Choosing a condo has nothing to do with wealth. Rather, it's about independence, maintenance-free living and lifestyle. It's about having something of your own, be it penthouse or garden-level, luxury to affordable.
We like the possibility that Betty White owns a condo. We'll help you find your condominium, no matter where it may be.
Justin Vangelista
Realtor® Justin Vangelista is the newest member of the dedicated team of Realtors at OwnACondo.com.
Justin earned his real estate broker's license in 2002 with the original intent to help family and friends with their real estate needs. He quickly learned how much he enjoys serving a much wider range of people.
"One of the biggest things in a person's lifetime is finding a place to call home, and being able to help them do that means a lot to me," says Justin.
"Some of my clients have seen 30-40 properties before finding the place they liked," he says. "I always negotiate well for people and I don't believe anyone would say I didn't get the best price for them."
Indeed, Justin brings the perfect attitude to OwnACondo.com, a company which strives to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction.
Justin Vangelista earned a bachelor of science degree in geography from Northern Illinois University and he has a professional certificate in GIS (Geographic Information Services). He lives in Hanover Park and covers virtually all of Chicago and the suburbs for his real estate clients. Justin's
• Chicago Real Estate
• Suburban Chicago Real Estate
• Condos
• Condominiums
• Townhomes
• Single Family Homes
• Buyers’ Agent
• Real Estate Investors
• Real Estate Auctions
• Leasing
• Rentals
• Foreclosures
• REO
• Short Sales
• Condo Financing
• GIS data creation and geodatabase design
• GPS data collection
• Building of custom applications with which to collect data in the field
• Teaching and learning from others efficiently
• Fostering a team environment.
Contact Justin Vangelista at jvangelista@ownacondo.com or 847-312-3977.
Chicago Lakefront Condos
Mention stylish living and it's a sure bet people will think of Chicago lakefront condos.
Chicago borders the beautiful Lake Michigan shore for almost 25 miles, from far south to downtown to far north. All along this stretch can be found Chicago lakefront condos in many different styles and price ranges. Examples of some of these popular communites include:
Hyde Park, located on the South Side of Chicago, is seven miles south of the Chicago Loop and home to the University of Chicago, the Hyde Park Art Center, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Oriental Institute and The Renaissance Society. As a neighborhood, Hyde Park is generally centered around 53rd Street and the lakefront. Its boundaries are commonly regarded as 51st Street (Hyde Park Boulevard) to the neighborhood around the Midway Plaisance or simply "The Midway" (between 59th and 60th). The neighborhood's eastern boundary is Lake Michigan and its western boundary is Washington Park.
Gold Coast is a historic district, part of Chicago's Near North Side community area, it is roughly bounded by North Avenue, Lake Shore Drive, Oak Street, and Clark Street. The neighborhood is a mixture of mansions, row houses,high-rise apartments and Chicago lakefront condos.
Lincoln Park, the community, is named after Lincoln Park, the vast stretch of park belonging to the Chicago Park District. The area is anchored by the Lincoln Park Zoo and DePaul University. Lincoln Park is bordered by the community areas of Lakeview and North Center to the north, Logan Square (Bucktown neighborhood) and West Town to the west, and Near North to the south. Lincoln Park, the neighborhood, is typically defined by the boundaries of Diversey Parkway on the north, Clybourn Avenue on the west, North Avenue on the south, and on the east by the public park of the same name. More than 900 condos sold in Lincoln Park in 2008!
Rogers Park is the northernmost of Chicago community areas on the far North Side of the city. It is bounded by the city of Evanston along Juneway Terrace and Howard Street to the north, Ridge Boulevard to the west, Devon Avenue and the Edgewater neighborhood to the south and Lake Michigan to the east. The neighborhood just to the west, West Ridge, was part of Rogers Park until the 1990's. Some Chicagoans use the phrase "East Rogers Park" to refer to any area east of Ridge, but usually East Rogers Park refers only to the portion of Rogers Park east of Clark Street.
And let's not forget Edgewater, which we highlighted in a previous posting.
Each of these communities are perfect choices for Chicago lakefront condos! Check with an OwnACondo.com condominium specialist. You can even find rent-to-own condos in these great communities. And of course, if you are looking to sell a condo in these or other areas, be sure to let us help.
Condos in Lincoln Park
If you're looking for an address in just about the hippest, busiest and most desirable area of Chicago, then you're clearly looking for a Lincoln Park condo or townhouse.
Lincoln Park is home to an incredible assortment of retail shops, boutiques, bookstores, culture and nightlife. Beginning just north of downtown along the lakefront, Lincoln Park extends well north and offers just about every urban delight imagined. The population is primarily young urban professionals and Lincoln Park is the second-wealthiest Chicago neighbohood after the Gold Coast, located immediately to the south. Condos and townhouses are plentiful in Lincoln Park. The natural beauty of the lakeshore brings thousands of people to jog, walk and cycle along the beautiful lakefront path that passes right through Lincoln Park.
OwnACondo.com's large staff of condo specialist Realtors covers Lincoln Park like a glove. Step onto any street, from any building, and you can feel the energy of the community and its residents. We love to be part of that energy, helping people buy and sell their condos or just meeting for coffee to talk about real estate. The same things that draw residents to Lincoln Park draws us, too, like the zoo, DePaul University, the shops, the elevated rapid transit line and of course the Biograph Theater, where John Dillinger, Public Enemy Number One, met his fate from bullets by law enforcement officers in the alley alongside the building.
Just about every type of condo and townhouse residence can be found in Lincoln Park, and we'll help you find what you're looking for with this convenient search. Or, if you prefer, simply contact us by email or phone ot get started. While real estate in Lincoln Park will always be highly valued, current market conditions are being felt even in this prominent area of Chicago. Leverage for buyers is higher than in the past, with price reductions and incentives being offered by many condo and townhome owners. Lease-with-purchase options are also available on selected properties to well-qualified buyers. A call or email to OwnACondo.com will help you find the best values for exactly what you're looking for when you're interested in Lincoln Park Chicago Condos.
If you want to live in one of the most popular and desirable areas in town, don't hesitate to let us know. The spring real estate season traditionally starts blossoming right after Valentine's Day, and this winter's rough weather may mean that lots of buyers and sellers will be eager to make a move. See how we can help by contacting us today toll-free at 866-696-2266.
Randall Glenn
OwnACondo.com welcomes Randall Glenn to its growing team of dedicated Realtors®, many of whom have earned accredited buyer representative (ABR) designations.
"I love working with real estate buyers and investors," says Randall. He brings wide-ranging experience to his clients thanks to his diverse background in the industry. Randall covers virtually all of Chicagoland with a singular goal in mind: To provide the absolute best service to real estate buyers.
Randall’s career in the real estate industry includes many roles that have provided a great foundation for serving his clients today and into the future. Randall has worked as a leasing manager, an acquisitions specialist for a national franchise and a property scout/consultant for investors.
He covers virtually everywhere in Chicagoland for real estate buyers and investors. Randall Glenn counts among his specialties:
• Chicago Real Estate
• Suburban Chicago Real Estate
• Exclusive Buyers’ Agency
• Real Estate Consulting
• Real Estate Investing
• Real Estate Investors
• Real Estate Sales and Marketing
• Residential Leasing
• Condos
• Foreclosures
• First-Time Homebuyers
• Downtown Chicago
• Chicago North
• Chicago South
• North Cook County
• South Cook County
• DuPage County
• Will County
Randall Glenn attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His personal pursuits, when he's not busy helping clients with their real estate needs, include voice-over acting, working out and network marketing.
Contact OwnACondo.com if you’d like more information about locating your dream condo or investment property.
A Seller’s Perspective
This is the second in a series of blogs regarding the purchase of real estate and is taken from the seller’s perspective. Real estate transactions are a complicated process and the need for a professional real estate agent is crucial to complete the transaction so all parties involved are satisfied with the outcome. Traditionally sellers are always represented by both real estate agents in a transaction. Obviously, the listing agent who has a signed legal document with all the responsibilities lined out represents the seller. What many buyers do not know is the agent who is finding and showing them properties is also legally responsible to the seller. But in the past several years a new type of representation has emerged with the buyer being exclusively represented by their agent. This type of representation is known as Buyer’s Agency.
From the seller’s perspective buyer's agency can eliminate any conflict of interest real estate agents may have when showing and negotiating for a buyer. The seller’s main focus is to sell their home or condo for the highest and best price which is the fiduciary responsibility of the listing agent. The main focus of a real estate agent acting as a buyer’s agent is to find and negotiate the sale for the buyer, representing their wants and wishes above all others. Sellers need to be careful about what they say, as well as their actions, when the buyer or their agent is present at showings. The seller needs to be aware that any information they may give the buyer’s agent can be conveyed to the buyer, which may or may not influence their price and terms when making an offer. Sellers also need to know that the buyer’s agent will most likely complete a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for the buyer which shows what similar properties have sold for in the area. The CMA is the basis for the buyer’s offer. This is where many times emotion enters the transaction and it is the job of both agents no matter who they represent to calm everyone down and present the facts to both parties. No one wants to complicate matters when as a buyer you may be making the most expensive investment you will ever make and as the seller you are trying to sell your home or condo and move on with your plans. From the seller’s perspective it is best to remember that as you are being represented, so is the buyer and both of you are trying to get the best deal possible.
