sell your home

It’s spring…time to sell or buy a home in The Glen

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Yes, I know you’ve heard it many times, but here it is again.  Spring is the very best time of year to buy or sell a home.  It’s when buyers begin to get serious about their next home purchase.  Why?  Well, a couple of reasons.

First, spring (yes, I think it’s really here now) is when home buyers come out of hibernation, blink their eyes because of the sunlight, and begin to get serious about finding their new homes.  They’ve been cooped up all winter long, and while planning on a move, they just didn’t have their hearts in it.

The second reason is the most important.  Families with kids are already thinking about the fall when little Johnny and little Mary will need to know where they’ll be going to school.  (As an aside, children in The Glen are fortunate to attend Glenview’s outstanding schools, rated among the best in the country!)  Knowing that it may take a few months to close on a new home after signing a purchase contract, buyers want to see what’s out there and pick just the right home for them in time to close and move during the summer.

So, friends, it’s April.  And it’s spring.  Finally!  If you want to sell your home, let’s get it listed for sale.  Homebuyers are out there just waiting to see your Glen home.  And if you are a buyer, there’s no better place to live than The Glen, in beautiful Glenview, a close-in Chicago-area community.  We have lovely neighborhoods with single family homes, townhomes, duplexes, and condos.  They’re all within walking distance of Glen Town Center’s restaurants, shops and movie theater…as well as the Glen’s Metra station to get you into the city in well under an hour.

Whether you’re a buyer or seller, give me a call.  I am a long time Glen homeowner and an expert on Glen properties.

Margaret Ludemann    @properties Realtor, and proud Glen homeowner

Now’s the best time to buy or sell a home in The Glen

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OK, I know you’ve heard it before, but here it is again. If you want to sell your home, now is the best time of the year to get it listed on the MLS. It’s March folks. Spring is in the air. Home buyers come out of hibernation and start looking around.

There is logic in this timing. Buyers with kids want to make their purchase so that they can close on it before the start of the next school year. So if you are a buyer, get going. You’ll get into your new Glen digs in time for the kids to make friends around the neighborhood, and be ready to start school in August.

Last year in The Glen, greater Glenview, and neighboring North Shore communities it took about two months for a listed home to come under contract with a buyer. The time between “under contract” and closing is typically four to six weeks. While I wasn’t a math major in college, I’m pretty sure that gets us to late June or July.

So, if this is the year to move to a larger home or to downsize, now’s the best time to sell or purchase. I am an award winning Realtor affiliated with The Glen Realty Group, and I would be delighted to work with you. I can be reached at 847-401-1802 or margaretludemann@gmail.com.

Margaret Ludemann, Realtor, @properties

Positive economic environment for real estate sales

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The economic environment for real estate sales was positive through most of 2014, and that good news should continue in 2015. After a slow start in the first quarter 2014 due to the long winter, the American economy had the strongest 6 month performance in 11 years including a 5% growth rate on an annual basis in the 3rd quarter.

Job growth picked up steam in 2014. Nationally the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5.6%, down from 7% a year ago and from its high of 10% in October 2009. Illinois unemployment dropped to 6.4% (through November 30), its lowest point since June 2008.

Interest rates remained low during the year. That was somewhat surprising as they were expected to rise in the 3rd and 4th quarters.

The Dow ended 2014 at 17,823, up 7.52% after a remarkable increase of 29.65% in 2013.

The economy is expected to be favorable for home sales in 2015…with growth picking up, unemployment continuing to fall, and mortgage interest rates remaining low (though moving up modestly later in the year). A week ago, mortgage rates hit their 20 month low. Freddie Mac reported the average 30 year fixed rate mortgage interest rate at 3.59%; and 15 year fixed rate mortgages averaging 2.92%

I see home prices rising again, in line with historical norms of 3% to 4%. The bottom line is that if you want to sell your home in 2015, you’ll probably get it done and at a better price than a few years ago.

Margaret Ludemann, @properties Realtor, homeowner in The Glen, Glenview, Illinois