Elmhurst real estate blog archive

In a recent announcement, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare and Edward Hospital and Health Services revealed their plans to merge and create one of the larger health systems in Illinois, serving residents in Elmhurst as well as the entire region. The merger will create a three-hospital system, comprised of Edward, Elmhurst Memorial, and Linden Oaks at Edward, employing nearly 7,600, with more than 1,680 physicians on staff.

In the coming months, Edward and Elmhurst Memorial will work to complete normal due diligence reviews, and some parts of the proposal will be subject to both state and federal review. Once all of these processes are completed, the merger could be finalized in mid-2013.

Elmhurst Memorial President and CEO Peter Daniels said, “Edward is a great fit with Elmhurst because of our similar patient-centered and physician-driven cultures, our wide range of services, our shared commitment to providing high quality care and our complementary service areas.”

According to the statement, the merger will have a number of benefits, including:

• Improved coordination of care and quality in the region as Edward and Elmhurst Memorial medical staff share best practices and clinical protocols.
• Building upon relationships with affiliated and independent physicians. Edward Medical Group and Elmhurst Memorial’s affiliated practices, including Elmhurst Clinic LLC, will remain of key strategic importance, as will hundreds of independent physicians at both entities, including DuPage Medical Group practitioners. The hospitals also plan to continue partnerships with other major physician groups, such as Advocate Midwest Heart Specialists, which has a large presence at Elmhurst and Edward.
• Improved access to clinical services. Edward and Elmhurst each have a broad range of services they plan to complement and grow throughout the region.
• Becoming more efficient. With shrinking reimbursement for hospitals, healthcare reform demands more efficiency to lower healthcare costs.

With an eye both for development as well as the best interests of its residents, Elmhurst is a wonderful place to live. Come join the community - we can help you find the perfect place to call home. All of us here at The Gracik Makinney Real Estate Group are dedicated to providing you with the best service possible. Contact us today at 190 North York Road in Elmhurst or at (630) 567-5902.

There’s always something going on here in Elmhurst, and from time to time we’re happy to share with you the things that we find interesting. This week we’ll take a look at some of the events that may have escaped your notice.

The York Theatre at 150 North York is once again sponsoring its Predict the Oscars contest. From now until February 23rd, choose who you think will win the statues from the list of those nominated by the Academy. The winner of this contest will receive free movies for two for a whole year at any Classic Cinemas location, plus a $200 gift card redeemable at any of the 20 Chicagoland Francesca Restaurants. The twelve second place winners will each receive a movie pass for one for an entire year, and each correct entry in the contest will receive a pair of tickets to the Brookfield Zoo, along with a pair of movie passes. Drop off your ballots at the York Theatre lobby.

Located just above the York Theatre, the Theatre Historical Society of America will open a new exhibit on February 1st called Movies in the Moonlight: the Life and Times of the American Drive-In Movie Theatre. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the drive-in theatre, and the exhibit follows the timeline of its popularity, through its peak in the ‘50s to its current quasi-novelty status. The exhibition’s opening will run from 6 to 8 pm on February 1st, and it is a free event; however, space is limited. RSVP to office@historictheatres.org or call 630-782-1800.

The Elmhurst Historical Museum is extending its exhibit, Elmhurst Goes to the Fair, until April 12th. The exhibit considers three Elmhurst residents – Thomas Barbour Bryan, Caroline Wade, and Dorothy Brush – who where all connected to either the 1893 or 1933-34 fairs. This exhibit is sponsored by the York Theatre. Also coming to the Museum, a new exhibit entitled On the Road to Glory focuses on our own NASCAR driver, Fearless Freddie Lorenzen, winner of the 1965 Daytona 500. The exhibit will run from February 1st through May 19th with an opening reception on the evening of January 31st. Reservations for the opening can be made by email at ehm@elmhurst.org, or by calling 630-833-1457.

There’s always something interesting to do here in Elmhurst, and that’s just one of the reasons we call this home. Why not make it your home, too? All of us here at The Gracik Makinney Real Estate Group are dedicated to providing you the best service possible. Contact us today at 190 North York Road in Elmhurst or at (630) 567-5902.

There has been a good deal of news lately about the upswing in the housing market. Here in Elmhurst, we’ve seen home prices creeping up while supplies of homes for sale are dropping. This is great news for the industry recovery, but there’s another facet of the real estate market that sometimes goes unnoticed – the commercial sector.

In the interval between Christmas and New Year, a 15,317 square-foot retail property on the corner of St. Charles and State Rte. 83 here in Elmhurst sold for about $6.7 million. The property currently houses a Verizon store as well as Smashburger and Qdoba restaurants. While we may quickly glance at that news and then just as quickly forget about it, this transaction actually says a lot about the health of our local economy.

Commercial real estate investment is a good indicator of the overall economic health of a region. Investors have to consider local vacancy rates, the level of employment in the area, and the likelihood of property value increases in the coming months. On a national level, the latest results from the National Real Estate Investor/Marcus & Millichap Investor Sentiment Survey are very promising. The Investor Sentiment Index hit its highest level ever in the third quarter of 2012. The Index measures investor views on key points such as occupancy rates of commercial properties, property values, and plans to expand commercial real estate holdings. This points to a growing level of investor confidence as well as plans to increase commercial real estate buying in the coming months. In other words, investors are becoming more confident in both a general economic and a more specific commercial real estate recovery.

Confidence has a way of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy whether we’re talking about individual or economic achievement. If we believe in it, chances are pretty good that we can make it happen, and that’s exactly how we feel here at Gracik Makinney. With community knowledge, industry experience, and personal dedication, the Gracik Makinney Real Estate Group is the perfect place to start to meet all of your real estate goals. Contact us today at 210 N. York Road in Elmhurst, or at (630) 567-5902.

In early December, the US Census bureau released estimates from its American Community Survey, which offers combined statistics from 2007-2011 on a number of details ranging from housing to employment, and even marital status, in communities across the country. Here is some of what it has to say about Elmhurst.

Overall, it’s a very favorable report about our community. The median household income of $87,935 is well above the state average of $56,576, and 81.7% of us own our own homes, compared to 68.7% statewide. The good news continues with employment statistics. Of the city’s nearly 45,000 residents, 22,000 describe themselves as part of the civilian labor force. Of this number, about 20,776 are employed. That equates to an employment rate of more than 94% during the years of the recent economic downturn.

On a demographic note, of an estimated 15,692 households in Elmhurst, 11,091 – or more than 70% – are families. Of that number, nearly 5,000 have children under the age of 18. The vast majority of us, 91.5%, have lived in the same home for more than a year. In terms of the highest level of education completed, of the 28,191 residents ages 25 and older, almost 27,000 of us are at least high school graduates, and about 22,000 of us have completed additional education beyond high school. On average, those of us over the age of 16 spend almost 28 minutes on our commute to work.

Those of us who live here already know that Elmhurst is a very special place to call home; these numbers are simply the figures that back up the fact. Why not make Elmhurst your hometown, too? We can help you make the move. With community knowledge, industry experience, and personal dedication, the Gracik Makinney Real Estate Group is the perfect place to start to meet all of your real estate goals. Contact us today at 210 N. York Road in Elmhurst, or at (630) 567-5902.

The holiday season can be very stressful as we try to fit too many chores and errands into just a few weeks. While not yet available here in Elmhurst, City Tree Delivery provides a service to the Chicago area that may just make this time a bit less hectic for many people.

Local small business City Tree Delivery offers its customers Michigan-grown Fraser Fir Christmas trees delivered straight to their doors as well as set-up, removal, and recycling. Commercial grade LED lights and American-made tree stands are also available either for sale or for rent. The company also offers decorating services for both commercial and residential customers. The products are also available at their tree lot at Big Star in Bucktown (1531 N. Damen).

A member of 1% for the Planet and Trees for the Future, City Tree’s business motto is “Dedicated to Sustainability while Delivering Convenience.” More than one percent of the company’s revenues are donated to local Chicago schools and parks. Owner Chris Hohenstein reflected on the business models of some of his competitors, “Big box retailers, their trees come from all over the country. Many take short cuts, pay minimum wage, or do not necessarily care how they dispose of waste at the end of the year. I once asked another lot what they did with unsold trees, and they said they put them in the dumpster in Iowa.”

The trees have been going quickly this year, and the company’s second order is already sold out. As a response to concerns about deforestation, City Tree partners with a non-profit organization that plants one new tree for each tree ordered through the company. Hohenstein looks forward to expanding into Elmhurst next year with its home delivery service and possibly a second tree lot somewhere in the western suburbs. The current lot in Bucktown is open from 10 am to 9 pm Thursday through Tuesday until Sunday, December 23, or you can reach them by telephone at 312-476-9627.

Small businesses tend to have brave hearts and are willing to make their ideals integral components of their business plans. That’s just one of the reasons why we’re so committed to Elmhurst and our local businesses. With community knowledge, industry experience, and personal dedication, the Gracik Makinney Real Estate Group is the best place to start when you’re ready to become part of our community. Contact us today at 210 N. York Rd in Elmhurst, or at (630) 567-5902.

from The Elmhurst Patch

Six Elmhurst homes will be dressed to the nines with whimsical and elegant holiday decor for Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Guild's 36th annual Reindeer Route Housewalk.

This long-standing Elmhurst tradition, coming up this Friday, Dec. 7, serves to make the holidays a little brighter for children who have to stay at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. Participants are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the hospital's young patients in the emergency and pediatric units who are unable to go home for Christmas.

Tickets are still available! Read more here!

Real-life Monopoly® tycoon, Warren Buffett, is often on the forefront of promising financial investments – that’s how you become a tycoon in the first place. It’s great news then for Elmhurst homeowners, as well as for those who want to become homeowners, that Mr. Buffett has recently acquired a real estate franchise from Prudential and Real Living with a plan to launch a new brokerage.

The new brokerage, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, will start up next year, and will specialize in residential properties. It will be based in Irvine, CA led by a team of former Prudential Real Estate executives. Clearly Mr. Buffett sees great potential in the residential real estate market and is willing to make a substantial financial investment in the outcome. Home Services already owns local brokerages in 21 states employing some 16,000 agents. This deal will create a national franchise for the company with some 75,000 in the network. Chicago area brokerage firm Koenig & Strey, the Gracik Makinney Group’s parent company, will number among them.

The fact that Warren Buffett sees such promise in the residential real estate market is good news for us all. All summer long we’ve seen promising market statistics pointing to a genuine recovery in process. With a financial investment of this scale in the residential market, it seems more likely than ever that home ownership is back on track and heading in the right direction.

Warren Buffett is sometimes treated as if he has a rare gift of financial foresight. In fact, what he has in abundance is common sense. He shops for bargains, makes careful investments of both time and capital, and thinks about purchases as long-term investments. He’s even quoted as saying, “Only buy something that you’d be perfectly happy to hold if the market shut down for 10 years.” The fact that Mr. Buffett has decided that now is a good time to expand his holdings in the residential real estate market is just another sign that home ownership is once again a good investment.

Long-term interest rates remain at record low levels, and here in Elmhurst there are wonderful homes for sale in excellent neighborhoods. The Gracik Makinney Real Estate Group is here to help you make the most of these opportunities. With community knowledge, industry experience, and personal dedication, our team is the best place to start on the road to home ownership. Contact us today at 540 South York St. in Elmhurst, or at (630) 567-5902.

People say that life in the Midwest is better than anywhere else in the country. The pace is slower, the people are friendlier, and the values are solid. For those living in and around Elmhurst, Illinois, the health care is also exceptional.

According to a recent survey by U.S. News and World Reports, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital is among the publication's "Best Hospitals for 2013," ranking at number 35 in Illinois and number 27 in the Chicago metro area. The hospital "performed nearly at the level of nationally ranked U.S. News Best Hospitals" in Gastroenterology and was shown to be very committed to patient safety. It also scored at or above average for patient satisfaction in a variety of areas.

In addition, thirty physicians at Elmhurst Memorial spanning 19 specialty areas are among the list of U.S. News Top Doctors, which were selected based on peer nominations.

A general medical and surgical hospital, Elmhurst Memorial has 308 beds and provides a comprehensive list of services including inpatient, outpatient and emergency room treatment, diagnostic and therapeutic imaging, patient/family support, and community outreach.

In the past year, the hospital performed 3,422 inpatient and 5,537 outpatient surgeries, handled 44,392 emergency room visits, and brought 1,355 babies into the world.

Elmhurst residents and those in surrounding communities can take comfort in the fact that great healthcare services are available to them along with all the other benefits of living in this area. We'd love for you to see all that we have to offer!

If you’re looking to buy or sell Elmhurst real estate or properties in the surrounding area, contact the Gracik Makinney Group, or call (630) 567-5902.

Okay Elmhurst, once again it’s time to let everyone know what you think!

The Elmhurst Patch has re-launched its Readers' Choice contest where you get to nominate and vote on the best places in Elmhurst, IL. There are 25 categories ranging from shopping and entertainment to health and beauty -- and more.

The nomination period ends July 9, so hurry if you want to put in the name of your favorite place (maybe a favorite Elmhurst real estate agency??). Go to the Elmhurst Patch website, click on a link in the list and type your name. You'll vote the same way.

Starting on July 10, the Patch will create 25 Readers' Choice polls listing the nominees from every category. From July 23 to August 17, you can cast your votes in as many different categories as you like. You can also put the word out on Facebook, Twitter or any other sites you use to get friends and family to vote. The polls will run live right up to August 17.

Winners will be announced on August 24, and we know there will be lots of celebration all over Elmhurst!

This is a really fun way to help support all the various businesses in your Elmhurst community, so be sure to participate.

It's so great to live in a place where neighbors support each other. If you’re looking to buy or sell Elmhurst real estate or properties in the surrounding area, contact the Gracik Makinney Group, or call (630) 567-5902.

Not only is Elmhurst, IL a great place to live, it’s also a great place to run a business. And no one appreciates this more than the Gracik Makinney Group.

The combination of our fantastic customers and our all-out commitment to excellence has brought us much success. It’s also helped us to be the proud recipient of the Koenig and Strey 2011 Platinum Production Award for sales excellence. 

This is the highest award presented to agents of Koenig and Strey, and it means that we put our customers first in all we do. Whether you’re buying or selling an Elmhurst, IL home, we at Gracik Makinney Group will make it a stress-free and successful experience. 

We love being a part of the Elmhurst community and hope to be here for years to come. Thank you again for helping us to be the best in serving you!

Choose an award-winning agency for your next real estate transaction. If you’re looking to buy or sell Elmhurst real estate or surrounding area, contact the Gracik Makinney Group, or call (630) 567-5902.