Elmhurst & DuPage County Illinois

Address: 101 N Pine St

City: Elmhurst

Price:$209,900

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address: 326 N Highland Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $337,500

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address: 703 W Alexander Blvd

City: Elmhurst

Price:$149,900

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 139 Fellows Ct Unit 139

City: Elmhurst

Price:$189,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM L

Address: 15W531 Victory Pkwy

City: Elmhurst

Price:$239,900

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 12:00 AM to 02:30 PM

Address: 296 Ridgeland Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $289,900

 Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 168 N Berteau Ave MLS

City:Elmhurst

Price: $290,000

 Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 155 Berteau Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $304,900

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

 Address: 464 W Alma St

City: Elmhurst  

Price: $305,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM  

Address: 555 S Mitchell Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $310,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 410 Berkley Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $319,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 205 S Elm Tree Ln

City: Elmhurst

Price: $345,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address: 943 Hawthorne Ave M

City: Elmhurst

Price: $349,500

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 133 S West Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $349,900

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM  

Address: 136 N Pine St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $420,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address:161 W Jackson St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $475,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 281 W First Ave Unit 28

City: Elmhurst

Price: $499,900

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address: 230 Addison Ave Unit 230A

City: Elmhurst

Price: $530,000

 Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 544 Rex Blvd

City:Elmhurst

Price: $575,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 24 Windsor Dr

City:Elmhurst

Price:$600,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 605 W Babcock Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $659,900

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address: 294 Berteau Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $780,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 12:00 PM to 03:00 PM Lu

Address: 836 s colfax Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $839,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 12:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 267 E Vallette St

City: Elmhust

Price: $1,159,000

Scheduled for: 05/20/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

It’s official: Kids going to high school in Elmhurst, IL will end up ahead of the pack.

According to a recent review of almost 22,000 U.S. public high schools, Elmhurst’s York High School is among the best in the state, ranking number 31 on its ability to ready graduating students for further education.

For the past four years, U.S. News & World Report has analyzed the country’s high schools and published the results in its report of Best High School rankings.  Methods used to produce the ratings included test scores, state assessments, and Advanced Placement programs which offer college-level course work.

Based on these rankings, along with how well students were prepared for college or other advanced education, each school received a gold, silver, or bronze medal. York High School was a silver medalist as were fifteen other area high schools. Illinois’ one gold medal winner was Hinsdale Central High School.

For many people, the quality of the schools is a huge factor in determining where to settle down and raise a family. Homeowners in Elmhurst and neighboring areas were drawn by our great school systems, and now they have hard numbers to confirm that their children will be well educated and ready to meet life’s challenges on all levels. 

A great education is just one of the many advantages to living in Elmhurst. 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.

Does it make sense to buy an Elmhurst home in the current market? Many people would say no and urge you to hold off for a while. But if you’ve decided that now is the time to make a move, asking yourself the following questions could help crystalize your decision—or convince you to wait.

Question 1: What do the experts say?

If you feel you can trust them, experts like Warren Buffet and John Talbott have been saying for several months that now is a good time to buy.

Question 2: If I buy now, when will my Elmhurst property appreciate?

One answer to this comes from a company called Macro Markets, LLC, which started a Home Price Expectation Survey back in 2010. They asked over 100 housing industry experts to project what housing prices would do through 2016.

In the most recent survey, the pros predicted home prices would stay flat in 2012 and gradually appreciate to above ten percent by 2016. So buying today means your home will be worth approximately ten percent more in about four years.

However, the potential financial gain when selling should not be the only reason you decide to buy, which leads nicely into the last, and most important, question.

Question 3: What do I really want out of owning a home?

Often, the honest answer to this question is not at all about financial gain. In fact, the Fannie Mae National Housing Survey says that the four reasons why people buy a home are much more emotional than financial. Most people make the choice because they want:

• A place to raise children safely and get them a good education;
• To live somewhere everyone can feel safe;
• Larger living space for the family;
• To have control over that space.

Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you will make, and it’s essential to make the best choice possible for you and your current (or future) family. The finances have a way of taking care of themselves, so make those important non-tangibles the basis for your decision to purchase Elmhurst real estate.

Another important buying decision is choosing experienced agents like us. 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.

If you want to know more about living in Elmhurst, or to discover the benefits of living and working in DuPage County, IL, check out the newly designed Choose DuPage website.

New features include facts and figures on each of the 39 municipalities in the County as well as information that will benefit companies, investors, business professionals and families who currently reside in or are relocating to DuPage County.

We truly live in a great place!  Communities in the County, including Elmhurst, are regularly voted as among the top places to live and work in the country. The new website highlights this, and also offers links for what ‘Choose DuPage’ describes as the three R’s: Resources, Reports and Regulations.

Site visitors can drill down to many specific topics such as business climate, quality of life, employment sectors, and transportation for each municipality or for the County as a whole.  There are also success stories of business that have set up shop in our County.

Greg Bedalov, president and CEO of Choose DuPage stated, “We truly believe in the value of our community and are proud to show it off. This website allows us to do just that, and show visitors that as the heartbeat of the Midwest, DuPage County is ideal for business and families.”

The website is maintained by the Choose DuPage organization, a public/private nonprofit entity that promotes the benefits of living and working in “the heartbeat of the Midwest.” 

Whether you’re a resident of Elmhurst or any other DuPage community, learn more about your County at Choose DuPage.  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.

Address:903 S Prospect Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$229,900

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:296 Ridgeland Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$289,900

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:293 E Third St

City: Elmhurst

Price:$292,000

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address:1200 S Prospect Ave Unit 304

City: Elmhurst

Price:$297,000

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:410 Berkley Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$319,000

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 AM to 03:00 PM

Address:943 Hawthorne Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$349,500

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:372 E Yorkfield Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$394,900

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:425 E May St

City: Elmhurst

Price:$429,900

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:294 N Larch Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$489,900

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address:112 W St. Charles Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price:$495,000

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:544 Rex Blvd

City: Elmhurst

Price:$575,000

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:130 N Walnut St

City: Elmhurst

Price:$675,000

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:636 W Armitage Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$685,000

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:294 Berteau Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$795,000

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 12:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:836 S Colfax

City: Elmhurst

Price:$845,000

Scheduled for: 05/06/2012 from 12:00 AM to 03:00 PM

Address:326 N Highland Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$337,500

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address:772 S Cedar Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$550,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address:2 S Atrium Way Unit 307

City: Elmhurst

Price:$169,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:2 Atrium Way Unit 509

City: Elmhurst

Price:$199,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:4 Dewalt Ct

City: Elmhurst

Price:$209,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:316 N Shady Ln

City: Elmhurst

Price:$244,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:505 S Berkley Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$255,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:762 S Fairfield Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$269,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:496 N Howard Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$274,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address:291 Wilson St

City: Elmhurst

Price:$279,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:419 Hawthorne Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$319,500

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 549 N Indiana St

City: Elmhurst

Price:$349,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address: 638 Hawthorne Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$369,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 3 Manchester Ln Unit 3

City: Elmhurst

Price:$395,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 787 S Saylor Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$399,800

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 AM to 04:00 PM

Address: 160 S Linden Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$400,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 161 W Jackson St

City: Elmhurst

Price:$475,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address: 285 W First St

City: Elmhurst

Price:$475,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address:285 S York St

City: Elmhurst

Price:$499,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address:772 S Cedar Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$550,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 02:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address: 24 Windsor Dr

City: Elmhurst

Price:$600,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 251 N Highview Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$625,000

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 449 Parkview Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$639,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 03:00 PM

Address: 757 S Berkley Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:725,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address: 318 N Elm Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$919,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM

Address: 372 S Kenilworth Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price:$989,900

Scheduled for: 04/29/2012 from 12:00 PM to 03:00 PM

The following blog was written by Seth Godin, who has graciously agreed to let us repost it. The information is definitely worth sharing with my Elmhurst friends. You can see the actual article and learn more about Seth by clicking the source link at the end of the article.

Two ways to buy the expensive

Buying something like a house, a piece of fine art, a used car or a business is as much a marketing exercise as selling that very item might be.

There are two common approaches. The first is to denigrate.

Explain that the seller has bad taste. That the car isn't in good shape. That the art was poorly selected for the resale market. Poke holes in the business model, the management team or the landscaping design.

Better still, make the seller feel as though she's on thin ice. Bring an exploding offer to the table and watch her squirm as it goes down in value from day to day. Point to others that have waited too long to sell and how they ended up regretting it. Question her values and her judgment.

In other words, go for the win, where winning is defined as getting a great price.

There are two problems with this approach. The first, and the biggest, is that anything you truly want to buy probably has multiple buyers interested, and with better information available every day, the best stuff is going to be sold to someone else. Your denigration strategy is going to inevitably limit your pool of available items to sellers with self-esteem or desperation issues.

The second problem is that the word spreads. Your gallery or your buyout fund or your dealership quickly earns a reputation (there's that marketing thing again) as the buyer of last resort, once again creating an environment where your approach determines what's available to you.

The alternative is to respect and to communicate. After all, you're here to buy something--I'm guessing that's because you think it's worth something more than you're willing to pay for it. So value the judgment and taste of the seller. Be clear about what you like about it, be honest about the value that's been created. Even better, instead of coming in high and then figuring out ways to bully and lower your offer, come in low and enjoy the process of bidding it up, making the seller root for you and look forward to hearing from you. (This is particularly useful when making an investment where you want management to be happy with you after the deal is done).

In a fair market, it's entirely likely you'll end up paying precisely what you would have paid using the other method, but you'll be offered more works, more stuff worth paying for, and your reputation will reflect that. Most of all it's important to understand that we're not talking about bushels of wheat. Very little is a commodity, and the method you use to buy your expensive item may be even more important than how much you pay.

Source: Two ways to buy the expensive by Seth Godin

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Two ways to buy the expensive:

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Whatever kind of home you’re interested in, we can make the process easier. 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.

If you’re in the market for a home in Elmhurst, IL, listen up. The buyer’s market is on its way out, home prices are starting to rise, and you could well find yourself in a bidding war for the house you’ve chosen.

Bidding wars were common back in 2006. Back then the buyer’s market took hold and most Elmhurst home sellers had to settle for whatever they were offered, including low-ball bids. But real estate markets in many cities are reporting that bidding wars have begun to happen again.

There are several reasons for this change. According to the National Association of Realtors: Sales of existing and pending homes have risen more than 8 percent compared to this time last year, there are fewer homes for sale now than in the last six years, and the improving job market has helped create more potential homebuyers. Trulia Inc. reports that low mortgage rates and decreasing home values make buying a better option than renting in 98 out of the 100 largest metro areas.

It really comes back to the basic economic principle of supply and demand. As the supply of available homes decreases, larger numbers of buyers are interested in the same properties - and the competition is on!

An economist with Moody’s recently stated, “The decline in unsold listings and vacant homes and the increase in rents presage better times ahead for single-family housing.”

So if you’re seriously hunting for Elmhurst real estate, don’t wait too long to make a decision - and be ready to negotiate.

We have a proven track record of getting the best value for buyers and sellers. 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.

Although you plan to stay in your Elmhurst, IL home for the foreseeable future, at some point you may want to (or have to) sell. So it makes sense that in addition to making you happy, any remodeling done to the home should both add value and be enticing to potential buyers.

Here are four renovations that will potentially cover all bases.

Amenities for Aging Owners – If you plan to live in the home as long as you can, or if extended family members will move in with you, there are specific remodels that can help you “age in place.” These include wider doorways to accommodate wheelchairs, putting in a bedroom on the home’s entry level, and modifying other indoor and outdoor areas to reduce or eliminate stairs. 

Because more extended families are living together and older homeowners want to stay in the home as long as possible, these remodels are now common and buyers have come to look for them in a prospective home.

A Family Kitchen – You want to create a space that will combine the cooking and eating areas, even if it means reducing the space where the food is prepared. Today’s buyers want room to gather for a meal and spend time together. Pantries and utility rooms are popular as are open shelving and islands that allow socializing with family and guests while preparing the meal.

Go High-Tech – Having your Elmhurst home wired and ready to handle today’s technology needs will absolutely add value, as many people are now working from their homes. If you have the room, put in space-saving workstations or a home office with large furniture such as floor-to-ceiling bookcases.

The Great Outdoors – Try to fully utilize any available outside space. One option is to fashion an outdoor living room on your deck or patio. The trend for these spaces is to set them up with wiring and amenities for cooking. Or you can bring outdoor furniture inside for a unique Elmhurst living space.

The trick with any remodeling effort is to balance what you like and want in your home with the things that will add value when it’s time to sell.  It can take a little time, but in the long run it’s worth the effort.

We know how to spot all the unique aspects of any home. 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.