HUGE PRICE REDUCTION!!! SOLD FOR $250,000 in January 2008!
NOW ONLY $205,000
NO MORE REASON TO WAIT. COME AND GET YOUR INSTANT EQUITY!!!!
Chestnut Ridge, Minooka - Announcing a price reduction on 1415 Creekside Circle, a 2,600 sq. ft., 2 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story. Now 
MLS® $205,000
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Bloomfield West, Bolingbrook - Announcing a price reduction on 1507 Parkside Drive, a 3,200 sq. ft., 2 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story "2 Story Family Room". Now MLS® $369,900 - Reduced! Take a Look!.
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Bloomfield West, Bolingbrook - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 1507 Parkside Drive on October 26 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
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Bloomfield West Beauty
• 3,200 sq. ft., 2 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story "2 Story Family Room" - MLS® $375,000 - Great Home Great Price
Bloomfield West, Bolingbrook - Beautiful Forestview model in Bloomfield West Subdivision of Bolingbrook, Close to I55/Weber Corridor for and easy commute and Shopping! Partial Stone Front with 3 Car Garage and EGDO. 4 Bedrooms and 2 1/2 Baths PLUS a loft. Archetectural Columns between Living Room and Dining Room gives an air of Elegance. Stylish 42" Cherry Cabinets in Kitchen along with Corian Counters and Stone Backsplash, Work Island and Butlers Closet for functionality. Roomy Eating Area with Slider to Large Backyard, adjacent Huge 2 Story Family Room with Soaring Ceilings, Can Lights, Ceiling Fan for your Oversized Get Togethers. Office/Den off the Family room offers double doors and room for a Home Office or additional entertainment space. 1st Floor Laundry/Mud Room with Roomy closets for Storage.
The Upstairs offers a Luxury Master Suite complete with His and Hers Walk-in closets, Glamorous Soaky Tub, Separate Shower and Dual Vanities. 3 additional bedrooms and a Computer Nook designed with a family in mind. This home is Neutral in Decor and waiting for your personal touches to show off the Amazing Floorplan. Don't Miss out on the Bargain Price! Short Sale! come and Take a Look!!!
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As I write this letter I hope that everyone is doing well, despite the fact that our national economy seems to be falling apart at the seams. With a little hope, perseverance and changing of the guards in Washington DC, we will see the future in a much better light soon. I know that it has been hard listening to the Doom and Gloom portrayed by everyone from Wall Street to our own backyards, but from my perspective things are looking better going forward.
Adversity is an opportunity to see the real issues upon us and to make some better choices. The reality of our past decisions good or bad will have to be dealt with now. Mortgage companies and consumers have to face the consequences of their actions and eliminate using credit that was wasteful and irresponsible. If you are like most Americans that are doing all the right things to stay within your budget and pay your bills on time you are going to be fine. You may have to tighten the belt a little more but take a deep breath and remember that what has passed is past. Keep moving forward because to look back and complain only wastes time and energy.
You know it’s true even if it isn’t convenient. The same can be said for your home values. I won’t tell you that you’re going to see double digit gains in housing values that you saw in the last 5-10 years but what goes up must come down. Did you know that the average increase in home values over a 30 year period is about 6%? That figure does take into account that there are years that we see little to no gain and then some years are much more profitable. What we saw in the more recent past is almost unprecedented in gains but because of those enormous gains we were bound to see it reverse itself eventually. So here we are, in the correction stage. OK, so now what?
Don’t Panic! If you take smart steps to control your spending, particularly by using your credit only when absolutely necessary and not at all for the immediate future, you will be in much better shape when things get back to normal. Continue to pay your bills, contribute to your retirement account where you can, and take care of your property like always. Don’t invest in home improvements that aren’t necessary but Do maintain it. Regular maintenance is the most important step in realizing the full value in your home and that will increase again when our markets are free from the extra Foreclosures that we have now. It is expected to take an additional 21+ months to sell off the home inventory of today. I know that it sounds like a long time but in reality it’s just a few months down the road.
In the meantime if you know that you need to sell during this time frame then for heaven’s sake be prepared for the market in realistic terms. First, talk your mortgage expert about the viability of financing your next home. If you have equity in your home, pay your bills on time, have good credit scores and a verifiable income, the mortgage bankers are looking for you. The mortgage process isn’t as easy as it would have been a couple of years ago but it’s possible to get a great interest rate and maybe better than what you currently have.
Don’t even think about selling without having your home in tip top shape. Don’t expect a buyer to overlook the imperfections because they won’t and don’t need to with all of the homes to look at now. If your home isn’t perfect then you open the door for a lower than expected sales price. Take the time to pack up unnecessary items in your home or even better sell, store, donate or dispose of them completely. Depersonalize all rooms. This includes family photos and anything else that tells a buyer that the home belongs to someone else. The main objective is to turn your home into a house and a product, devoid of your personality. Allow the buyer to visualize the house as theirs and not be distracted by you and your stuff. Do CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN, as in Q Tip clean. No corners or crevices untouched.
Last but not least, do use a Professional Realtor® and an ASP, Accredited Staging Professional who can give you a thorough Market Analysis of your current property and has the knowledge and expertise to help you prepare for the buyers eyes. When a house is properly prepared for market, its chances of selling in the first 30 days on the market is, greatly increased. Do know that what you perceive as a loss in value on the sell side of your transaction maybe easily made up on the buy side of the deal.
There are some great bargains out there right now and you along with your Local Realtor® can turn the doom and gloom into something that is really a win, win for you in the housing market, despite what you hear.
Also, if you know of a First-Time homebuyer who is looking to buy, please encourage them to do it now. The FHA lending rules are now more than ever focused on first-timers, but the minimum down payment is scheduled to go up from 3% to 3.5% in January of 2009. The Federal tax credit of $7500.00 for first-time homebuyers offers some unique opportunities for those who could use an interest free loan, to pay off student loans, and other debts. F.Y.I. This tax credit is retroactive to those who closed on their first home in April of this year and will continue till July of 2009. Please check with your local mortgage professional and accountant on how these programs will benefit you. Give me a call if you have any questions or need to be referred to an expert who can help.
As always……………..The heart of my business depends on people like you confidently referring loved ones, friends and others you know who need a Realtor® that will give them the respect, time and consideration that they deserve.
I appreciate your time!
Gina Schaal, ePRO Realtor®, ASP©, Accredited Staging Professional
Broker Associate
Century 21 Pro-Team
1020 Essington Road***note new office address***
Joliet, IL 60435
Direct: 815-693-6517
Note that this information is outdated.
Century 21 Pro-Team's Annual Pumpkinfest will be on Saturday, October 18th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at 1020 Essington Road, Joliet, IL.
FREE pumpkins to the first 500 people and lots for fun for the whole family. Call me for your free coloring contest entry form. All entries must be back to Gina Schaal or Century 21 Pro-Team's office by October 14th for judging. Prizes will be awarded on October 18th at the Pumpkin Fest.
We are having a Petting Zoo, Pony rides, Face Painting, D.J., Games and Goodie Bags for all kids. Please join us for the a great day! 
Call Gina at 815-693-6517 for more details.
I know that I have been MIA lately with regards to my blog, and I apologize for the absence. I have spent a number of months utilizing the training with my new affiliation at Century 21 Pro-Team.
It is wonderful to work for a brokerage that offers so many ways to gain more knowledge in this ever changing Real Estate world. I have a stack of completion certificates to add to my resume and am grateful for every one of them and Century 21 for the opportunities to learn.
Some of the training that I recieved includes topics such as, Real Estate Photography, Agent Financial Tools, Anatomy of a House, Negotiating Skills for the Sales Professional, and Mature Moves Specialist.
I also spent approximately one week in Chicago attending the Mike Ferry Productivity School, a couple of days in Schaumburg completing the ASP, Accredited Staging Professional Real Estate Agent classes, and am currently working on obtaining my GRI, Graduate Realtor Institute Designation. This one of the most important designations a Realtor can obtain, and one that I have wanted to pursue since I first earned my license in January of 2002.
I may never earn a Bachelors degree but I will continue in my quest for more knowledge in Real Estate because I'm in this for the long haul. It doesn't matter what the Market is like, or the doom and gloom voiced by so many media outlets. I will ride out the storm, and anything else that is thrown at me while I improve my skills for me, and most importantly, my clients. Give me a call so that I can share what I know and how it will help you in your real estate endeavors.
AND Thanks for your patience!
Gina Schaal has just added another tool in her Seller's toolchest, by becoming certified to Stage Homes as another to benefit her sellers. A properly staged home sells faster and for more money than a home that hasn't been staged.
Check out the latest statistics.................
Attachment(s): 20080110%20-%20Home%20Gain.jpg
I know this is makes me sound wishy washy, but I have moved offices again. This time my move is with Century 21 Pro-Team in Lockport, IL. I have been given an opportunity to work with one of the Best real estate agents-broker in the area and have jumped on board as of this week. I can't explain why it has taken me this long to find a new affiliation that that feels Right to me. I have to refer that question back to a couple of inspirational quotes that I found recently on Destinies.com that said:
"You do not have to know how you are going to achieve your goals, just decide on what you want."
And
"Contemplate yourself being surrounded by the conditions you wish to produce."
Soon after finding those quotes, a great friend and mortgage person Sue Reeder mentioned her mortgage broker, First Mortgage will be working closely with C21 Pro-Team in this new year. It lead me to take a look at the C21 Pro-Team again where I found Mandy Sayles as Managing Broker- someone that I have known since 1999. She was then a real estate sales agent and she helped me and my husband buy our home in the Cathedral area of Joliet. Mandy was the person I spoke to when I was considering getting my real estate license in 2001 and found her to be a great resource for information. After I obtained my license I worked for the same broker as Mandy for 2 years before moving on to an another broker and earning my Broker's license. Soon after I opened my own small brokerage because of my disillusionment and disagreement with management styles.
In this industry like others, the Manager sets the tone and environment of the office. Success of each agent in an office is in direct proportion to the blending of stated goals of the Manager, Agent and support staff. I have the utmost respect for Mandy and her knowledge of the industry, and am excited about working with her, fellow Agents, and the great staff of Century 21 Pro-Team.
I believe that I have found a perfect match to my desires and goals. Fate does blow you in the direction that you need to go and then gives you sign posts so you don't miss the message. I got the message and gladly move forward towards the future with excitement and anticipation of being in the perfect place for my continuing education in real estate, and assisting others in Real Estate as well.
Like always my motto is "Where Your Time Is Important" but I also want to add, "Where Are The Winds of Fate Blowing You?" I would love to help you get there, in devine appropriate timing. Give me a call or email. As always, I'm available to help with all of your Real Estate needs.
Thank you to all of my friends, family and clients for your patience, time and consideration! You mean the World to me!
Gina
P.S. More on Century 21 Pro-Team to come soon!
As I write this letter to you all, I am hoping that you all have had a wonderful and rewarding 2007. The year of 2008 is on it's way and I am confident of the positive changes ahead of us. Let's make this election year a year of hope and renewal. I think we are all ready for better things to come. You all have heard about the Doom and Gloom of the real estate market. How could you not?
Please don’t believe everything that you hear. 
The local real estate market is just that, LOCAL. I wouldn’t tell you it hasn’t changed, but to be perfectly frank about it………there are some people who bought houses and got mortgages, when they shouldn’t have. Most of us are doing just fine, with the exception of feeling the pinch from Oil and Heating prices, Youch! 
I know I am! You haven’t lost all of the equity in your home, but don’t expect to get the same increase in value that you had received in the previous 5-10 years. The average increase in value of a 30 year span in about 6% per year historically. So if you were getting double digit increases in the most recent decade, it stands to reason that the markets will even themselves out in the long run. Give things some time to do that and relax!
Now if you happen to have a home equity loan, based on the increase in values of previous years, then you might need to pay it off, before trying to sell your home. The banks and appraisers have been giving you the additional equity for your loans based on the ability to get that price when done improving your home. Not for you to use for a vacation, pay off a credit card, or buy a new car. I hope that you are paying towards the principal and not just the interest only, especially if it is an adjustable rate type loan. That could be a recipe for disaster. Please let me know if you need to speak with a Good Mortgage person to help you eliminate the bad loan. I know of many.
For those of you who want to sell………pay attention to what is going on around you. Be honest with yourself and your real estate agent about what’s your biggest priority in getting your house sold. Wanting to sell and needing to sell are two totally different things. Your Realtor® needs to know. Pricing is very important but so is the preparation for the sale. Make sure that your home is clean from top to bottom. Pack up all of the extra items that you don’t need to use on a daily basis. Paint those rooms that haven’t been painted in the last couple of years, or have a personal color or faux finish. What looks Great with your furniture and personal items will not translate well to the buyer. Take a good look at the carpet and be honest. Can it be cleaned and look new, or should you give a carpet allowance? Buyers have their pick of the inventory and they are getting the incentives from the builders, so you have to sweeten the deal. That’s what a Buyer’s Market is all about.
All homes on the market are going to take longer to sell but with the proper preparation you have a much better chance. Buyers, who are ready to buy, give me a call! Your dreams are ready to come true! Sellers give me a call and we can discuss you options. I am available for consultations.
Have a Bright and Warm Holiday Season!
Remember that there is always the dark before the storm.
Together we can weather the storm and be in a better place for the future. All is Well!
Warm Wishes To You All!
Gina Schaal
Southport Village, Island Lake - Announcing a price reduction on 3333 Greenwich Lane, a 1,150 sq. ft., 2 bath, 2 bdrm 2 story. Now 
MLS® #06632649 $155,000 - Price reduced AGAIN!. $1000.00 Bonus to Selling Agent for contract by 12/15/07
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$35K Reduction in Price. Now $639,900 Wood Dale, DuPage County - We invite everyone to visit our open house at 113 Oak Avenue on November 18 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
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Wood Dale, DuPage County - Announcing another price reduction on 113 Oak Avenue, a 3 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story "Traditional". Now MLS® #06660746 $639,900 - $35K in Reductions.
Seller is prepared to deal. This one is a Must See!
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Wood Dale, DuPage County - Announcing a price reduction on 113 Oak Avenue, a 3 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story "Traditional". Now MLS® #06660746 $649,900 - $25K Price Reduction.
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I know that this will probably anger some of the residents and real estate agents who have listings in the Cathedral Area, but so be it. Here goes.........
I have been watching your listings languishing on the market and wonder why nobody has told you that you are making fools of yourselves. What makes sellers and real estate agents think that you can get top dollar for a home that desperately needs updating? Have you not noticed that buyers are NOT looking for Blue Carpet and Wallpaper that is uglier than sin. Not just UGLY, but down right nauseating! UGH! What about the homes that hasn't got a decent bathroom in the whole place? You may think that the claw foot tub is charming but the rust stains on the sink and tub is a clear indication of plumbing system that needs to be replaced. That rust isn't the water, it's the pipes, as in galvanized. That old light fixture might be beautiful but has it been rewired and grounded for safety? What do you think will happen if you try and put the electronics of today in an old home with old wiring? Don't even get me started if you still have Fuses............... You need to have a class in what is considered OBSOLETE!
F.Y.I. According to Merriam Webster's Dictionary.............................
Main Entry: 1ob·so·lete 
Pronunciation: "äb-s&-'lEt, 'äb-s&-"
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin obsoletus, from past participle of obsolescere to grow old, become disused, perhaps from ob- toward + solEre to be accustomed
1 a : no longer in use or no longer useful <an obsolete word> b : of a kind or style no longer current : OLD-FASHIONED <an obsolete technology>
2 of a plant or animal part : indistinct or imperfect as compared with a corresponding part in related organisms : VESTIGIAL
synonym see OLD
I have seen some really nice homes that have used the Quality materials when updating and they are an easy sell. But you can't possibly believe that someone who is spending near 1/2 million dollars on a home doesn't want to see some Quality materials in their new but Olde home. Quality Fixtures, Quality Plumbing, Quality Electrical, Quality of TODAYS standards, not from the 70's or even older. Have you missed the fact that the top dollar homes are renovated with the same standards of Quality that the home was originally built, but at today's higher level of Quality in Bathrooms and Kitchens?
When Mr. Meaker built the house at 611 Campbell Street, Joliet, IL in 1910, he didn't skimp on quality materials. So, when my husband and I renovated that home, it was with every material used being the highest quality we could afford, and still consider the resale value and return on investment. It was renovating to the standards of Mr. Meaker and how we believed he would have made it, if he were still there. It was working through the late nights and weekends and sacrificing our wants for the needs of the house. We did it out of love, and care for the integrity of the home and the man who built it. It wasn't LUCK that got us more than twice what we paid for the home 7 years earlier, it was Hard work, Careful Planning, Budgeting, and a QUALITY job Well Done.
When the original owners built these grand homes in Joliet's Cathedral area they were prominant people in the community who wouldn't think of using inferior materials and fixtures in thier homes. They were the Echelon of the area. They used the Best of the Best. They wanted to be the first to have the new and highest quality of materials for thier not so humble abodes. They wouldn't consider using IKEA assemble-yourself cabinets in the kitchen and call it a Gourmet kitchen. If the quality of workmanship and materials isn't there, than buyers won't pay top dollar, PERIOD! And NO, having stainless steel appliances doesn't make it Gourmet either. Come on People, let's get real!!
Last but not least................ For goodness sakes...............CLEAN THESE HOUSES OUT!
Have you missed the latest trends on HGTV and Discovery shows that supports the idea of, less is more when selling? If you can't see the room because of the stuff, than the buyers can't see the stuff that someone wants to hide either. The buyers know this, why don't you? Do your own Clean Sweep and let the buyers see the reality. Defects in olde homes are normal, disintegrating floors, walls, plumbing, heating, roofs, electrial etc. are not and can get you sued if not disclosed. Always disclose the defects and let the cards fall where they may. PRICE IT RIGHT and give the buyers the opportunity to see the Real home and make an informed decision about what they are willing to live with, fix or replace. These homes don't have to be perfect to sell, but buyers should always be perfectly clear what they are buying and sellers and thier agents need to clear about what the home is. Not what it used to be..........
I'm done for now..........whew! The honest truth, like it or not!