Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Traditional Beautiful Home For Sale In Cary, Illinois!

Traditional Luxurious Beauty, Meticulously Upgraded And Maintained!
Granite Kitchen. Hardwood Floors, Crown Molding. Private Wooded Oversized Backyard. Brick Paver Patio/Drive/Side Apron. Finished Basement Has Newly Remodeled Bath/Office And Large Recreation Room. Master Spa Retreat Has Sitting Area, Huge Bath With Jet Tub, Skylights, And Separate Shower. Quiet Cul De Sac Location Close To Parks, Town, Train. Excellent CARY SCHOOLS. No Worries-Move Right In!

Check out the video below!



For further information on this home, please visit my WEBSITE or call me at 847-516-6760 and I'd be happy to help!


By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of personal service and success in the current market, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will be sure to follow up and take great care of them. Thanks to you and your referrals, my business keeps growing:-)

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

How is the current market in Lake In The Hills, McHenry County IL?

How is the current market in Lake In The Hills, McHenry County IL?

As of this morning, per MRED MLS, for the past 3 months:

•· We currently have 287 Single Family detached homes on the market in Lake In The Hills that are active and available. The current inventory of available homes for sale in Lake In The Hills has decreased slightly since my last market report.

•· They have been on the market for an average of 177 days.

•· The average list price in Lake In The Hills is $289,593.

•· During the past 3 months, 52 Single Family homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 56% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 131 days on the market to get SOLD. More homes have closed and market time of the sold properties has decreased in Lake in the Hills since my last report. This is good news!

•· The average list price of the SOLD Single Family homes is $237,510 and the average SOLD price is $227,511.

So, on the average Single Family homes in Lake In The Hills have been getting an average of 96% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.

•· We currently have 139 Attached homes on the market in Lake In The Hills that are active and available.

•· They have been on the market for an average of 181 days.

•· The average list price is $187,209.

•· During the past 3 months, 26 Attached homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This represents 58% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 110 days on the market to get SOLD.

•· The average list price of the SOLDAttached homes is $169,052 and the average SOLD price is $162,571. The average sale price of attached homes in Lake In The Hills has decreased but so has the market time since my last report.

So, on the average Attached homes in Lake In The Hills have been getting an average of 96% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.

We are still experiencing a Buyer's Market in Lake In The Hills, McHenry County. There are fabulous buys....now is a GREAT time to buy real estate in Lake In The Hills!

If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure! By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them. My business keeps growing from your referrals.

I can be reached at my direct number at the office: 847.516.6760. I look forward to hearing from you!

Algonquin-How is the current Real Estate Market? McHenry County, Illinois

How is the current Real Estate Market in Algonquin, McHenry County, Illinois?



As of this morning, per MRED MLS, for the past 3 months:

We currently have 342 Single Family homes on the market in Algonquin that are active and available.

They have been on the market for an average of 181 days.

The average list price is Algonquin is $360,645.

During the past 3 months, 44 Single Family homes have successfully closed in Algonquin with the help of their Realtors. This represents 75% of the market that has had success. They took an average of 195 days on the market in Algonquin to SELL and Close.

The average list price of the SOLD Single Family homes in Algonquin was $331,459 and the average SOLD price was $315,706.

So, on the average Single Family homes in Algonquin have been getting an average of 95% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.



We currently have 140 Attached homes on the market in Algonquin that are active and available.

They have been on the market for an average of 141 days.

The average list price is $211,409.

During the past 3 months, 14 Attached homes in Algonquin have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 52% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 128 days on the market to get SOLD.

The average list price of the SOLD Attached homes in Algonquin was $202,129 and the average SOLD price was $193,534.

So...Attached homes in Algonquin have been getting an average of 97% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.

We are still experiencing a Buyer's Market in Algonquin but the market statistics are improving!




If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure! By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them. My business keeps growing from your referrals.

My Direct Number at the Office is 847.516.6760


Information deemed accurate and reliable but not guaranteed. Source MRED MLS.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

How is the current market in Fox River Grove, IL?

How is the current market in Fox River Grove, IL?






I took this photo a few weeks ago from a boat on the Fox River. It is a view of the Ski Hill, Riverfront Park in Fox River Grove. You can not really see the Norge Ski Jump too well from this angle, but it is there in the background!


As of this morning, per MRED MLS, for the past 3 months:



  • We currently have 54 Single Family homes on the market in Fox River Grove that are active and available.

  • They have been on the market for an average of 179 days.

  • The average list price is $360,258.


During the past 3 months, 6 Single Family homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 86% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 89 days on the market to be SOLD.



  • The average list price of the SOLD Single Family homes is $312,275 and the average SOLD price is $297,642.


So, on the average Single Family homes in Fox River Grove have been getting an average of 95% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.



  • We currently have 11 Attached homes on the market in Fox River Grove that are active and available.

  • They have been on the market for an average of 156 days.

  • The average list price is $156,309.


During the past 3 months, 0 Attached homes have successfully closed.


We are still experiencing a Buyer's Market in Fox River Grove.


If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure! By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them. My business keeps growing from your referrals.



My Direct Number at the Office is 847.516.6760


How is the current market in Crystal Lake, IL?

How is the current market in Crystal Lake, IL?


Crystal Lake is located in McHenry County.



As of this morning, per MRED MLS, for the past 3 months:



  • We currently have 669 Single Family homes on the market in Crystal Lake that are active and available.

  • They have been on the market for an average of 202 days.

  • The average list price is $389,949.


During the past 3 months, 63 Single Family homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 46% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 172 days on the market to be SOLD.



  • The average list price of the SOLD Single Family homes is $295,677and the average SOLD price is$279,876.


So, on the average Single Family homes in Crystal Lake have been getting an average of 95% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.



  • We currently have 208 Attached homes on the market in Crystal Lake that are active and available.

  • They have been on the market for an average of 173 days.

  • The average list price is $204,535.


During the past 3 months, 20 Attached homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 45% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 158 days on the market to be SOLD.



  • The average list price of the SOLD Attached homes is $177,907 and the average SOLD price is $173,028.


So, on the average Attached homes in Crystal Lake have been getting an average of 97% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.


We are still experiencing a Buyer's Market in Crystal Lake.



If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure! By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them. My business keeps growing from your referrals.



My Direct Number at the Office is 847.516.6760


How is the current market in Cary, IL?

How is the current market in Cary, IL?


Cary, IL Market Conditions (Cary is located in both McHenry and Lake Counties in Northern Illinois


As of today, per MRED MLS, for the past 3 months:


We currently have 267 Single Family homes on the market in Cary that are active and available.



  • They have been on the market for an average of 184 days.

  • The average list price is$362,242.

  • During the past 3 months, 38 Single Family homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 54% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 167 days on the market to be SOLD.

  • The average list price of the SOLD Single Family homes is $289,549 and the average SOLD price is $275,308.

  • The closed sales took an average of 167 days on the market.

  • With the help of their REALTORS, successful sellers in Cary have been getting 95% of their asking prices!



We currently have 66 Attached homes on the market in Cary that are active and available.



  • They have been on the market for an average of 191 days.

  • The average list price is $203,789.

  • During the past 3 months, 5 Attached homes have successfully closed in Cary with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 45% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 151 days on the market to be SOLD.

  • The average list price of the SOLD Attached homes in Cary is $169,373 and the average SOLD price is $171,420.


So, on the average Attached homes in Cary have been getting an average of 94% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.



We are still experiencing a Buyer's Market in Cary, IL..


If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure!


By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them.


I appreciate YOU and your referrals!



I can be reached at my direct number at the office: 847.516.6760. I look forward to hearing from you!


Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Housing Trends of the Past and Future.

Click on the link below and take a retrospective ride through housing trends of the past and learn about hot updates for the future.

HOUSING TRENDS


For further information on available housing, mortgage rates, school information, etc., please visit my WEBSITE!

Visit me on ACTIVE RAIN!



847-516-6760



If you know of anyone who would appreciate the high level of service I provide my valuable clients, please just call me with their name and daytime phone number and I will be happy to follow up and take great care of them!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Out Of The Ordinary.....Extraordinary!

Picture Yourself In This Unique Home On A Rare 3.2 Scenic Acres On The Fox River In Cary, IL. Breathtaking River Views In Your Front Yard With Approximately 700 Feet Of Prime Fox Riverfront Shoreline. Enjoy Acres Of Conservation Property As Far As You Can See With A Peaceful Lagoon As Your Back View. Property Features Professionally Landscaped Grounds With Extensive Winding Paths Constructed With Recycled Vintage Brick Pavers. Side View Of The Fox River And Striking Pond With Koi, Stream And Cascading Waterfall In The Foreground. Custom Elevated Serene Sitting Knoll Overlooking All The Beauty Right In Your Own Yard. Property Also Features A Sandy Beach On The Fox River And Two Large Docks At Waters Edge. Take Advantage Of Fantastic Boating, Fishing, Kayaking, Snowmobiling, Cross Country Skiing On The Fox River, Or Go Through The Mchenry Statten Lock And Dam And Access The 17 Bodies Of Water On The Chain Of Lakes. Additional Exterior Features: Granite Driveway With Vintage Bricks From Chicago’s Lower Wacker Drive Private Boat Launch Sandy Beach Approximately 700 Feet Of Water Frontage Backs To Gorgeous Conservation Property Extra Deep Attached Garage Could Fit 4 Cars Tandem-2 Car Wide Garage Door With Auto Door Opener Flagstone Patio Huge Front Covered Wood Porch Heavily Wooded Site Abundance Of Wildflowers And Wildlife For Your Enjoyment This Fabulous Custom Home, Built In 2000, Thoughtfully Takes Advantage Of The Beautiful Outdoor Features On And Around This Rare Property. You Will Not Find Anything Like It On The Fox River! Home Is Overflowing With Warmth, Character And Rustic Charm And Was Built With The Best Materials And Architecture. Stunning Floor To Ceiling Double Sided Vaulted Flagstone See Through Fireplace, Very Open Floor Plan With Soaring Ceilings, Huge Dormered Master Suite With Two Large Walk-In Closets, A Loft, Two Sitting Areas, Spa Bath With Jet Tub, Separate Oversized Tumbled Marble Shower With Water Jets, Dual Sinks, Separate Water Closet And Skylight. The Balance Of The Upstairs Area Is An Abundance Of Space With Fantastic Views, And Fireplace. Use This Space As You Wish. Makes A Great Office Or Additional Living Space Area. Dramatic Catwalk Overlooks 2 Story Family Room Below. Large Kitchen With Granite Counters, Custom Cabinetry And Pulls, Huge Walk-In Pantry, Built-In Oven, Antique Reproduction Stove, Triple Kitchen Sink With Foot Pedals, Reverse Osmosis Drinking System. Additional Interior Features: Two Wood Burning Fireplaces With Gas Starters Approximately 4000 Interior Square Feet Per Seller Quality Construction And Materials Used Throughout Home Barn Boards Recycled From 16 Area Barns Authentic Barn Doors With Track Runners Barn Beams Planked For ¾” Hardwood Flooring Throughout Inviting Double Door Two Story Foyer With Flagstone Flooring Convenient Second Floor Laundry Room Central Vacuum System Wet Bar/Sink On Second Floor Breezy Screened In Porch Off Formal Dining Room Area With Antique Purington Paver Floor Second Level Balcony With Separate Exterior Stairway To Take In Gorgeous Views In Every Direction! First Floor Bedroom With It’s Own Private Bath Featuring Antique Dry Sink. Deep Crawl With Cement Floor, Electric, Sump Pump And Back Up Sump Pump (Access Under Stairway) Trane HVAC Systems-Zoned. 2 Central Air, 2 Furnaces (Zoned For Each Floor) Quality Pella Windows With Encased Blinds Bay Window Overlooking Fox River 1 Humidifier Owned Water Softener System Wired For Cable Service Intercom System All Appliances Included 6 Circulating Ceiling Fans If You Like “Traditional” Homes, Skip Us! If You Appreciate Unique, Special And Extraordinary Homes, This May Be Just The Right One For You! Check out the video below!


For further information on this home, please visit my WEBSITE or call me at 847-516-6760 and I'd be happy to help!


Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Impressive Immaculate Showcase Home!


With All The Right Upgrades, Designer Touches And Today’s Colors. Move Right In, There Is No Need To Decorate Here!
Expertly Laid Out Kitchen With Stainless Steel Appliances, Upgraded 42” High Cabinets, Table Space, Pantry And Plenty Of Counter Space. Kitchen Opens To Dining Room Area.
Enormous Loft Overlooking Spectacular, Sunlit 2 Story Family Room, 2nd Floor Laundry.
Luxury Master Suite With Large Walk-In Closet, Master Bath Featuring A Tiled Floor Bath With Separate Water And Linen Closets, Glass Shower Doors.
End Unit Location Private Back Yard Area With Patio And Without Neighbors Looking In Your Windows! Finished 2 Car Garage Is Dry Walled With Painted Walls And Floor. Private Entry.
Very Well Kept, Quite, Upscale Neighborhood That You Will Be Proud To Call Home. Ample Guest Parking. Spacious Ceramic Entry, Nickel Plated Fixtures, Oak Railings, Upgraded Lighting And White 6 Panel Doors Throughout. Close To All Amenities And Sought After Crystal Lake Schools.
Low Monthly Fee Of Only 109.25 Includes Exterior Maintenance Lawn Care, Extensive Landscaping, Snow Removal, Common Insurance. All Appliances And Window Treatments Included. Satellite Dish Stays And Unit Is Wired For Cable. It’s All Good Here-See The Rest Then Buy The Best!

For further information and photos of this home, please visit my VIRTUAL TOUR or call me at 847-516-6760 and I'd be happy to help!


Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Illinois-Lake County-Wauconda Lake County Discovery Museum LP Art Show


Lake County Discovery Museum!




Last week a friend and I ventured out on a rainy, stormy afternoon spring afternoon in Northern Illinois to celebrate a birthday. We went to the Lakeside Inn in Wauconda and had a very nice lunch. The Lakeside Inn is a small local restaurant and bar in a historical building was built in 1847 and was supposedly a stop over for Al Capone when he would pass through on his way back from Lake Geneva (according to the story on the menu).



After a tasty lunch (they have very good food!), we went over to the Lake County Discovery Museum to view the LP Art show! As we walked around and viewed sixty years of outstanding album cover artwork in the LP Art special exhibition, it was like a trip back in time!





It was fun to see the albums we grew up listening to and they even had audio so you could listen to some of the music. It certainly made that Birthday sink in a little more seeing "our" music up on a wall in a museum!


They also had other interesting exhibits of old advertisements as well as postcard art and a gift shop. If you find yourself in the area, stop in and check it out. If you live in the area, plan a visit. It really is a nice facility and right in our own back yard!




LOCATION
The Lake County Discovery Museum is located in the Lakewood Forest Preserve on Route 176, just west of Fairfield Road in Wauconda, Illinois. Click here for a map and directions.


ADMISSION
$6 for adults and $2.50 for youth ages four to 17. Children three years and under are free. Seniors are $2.50 after 2 p.m. On Discount Tuesdays, admission is $3 for adults, and youth 17 years and under are free. Admission is always free for museum members.

HOURS
Monday - Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Per the website it runs until August 3, 2008. I'd recommend checking thier website to double check the information in case of any changes. Please note they are closed on some holidays as well.


You can go to their website to double check information and to download a coupon for $1 off Museum admission.

The LP Art Exhibit is proudly sponsored by the Daily Herald.






If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure! By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them. I am grateful to you that my business keeps growing from your referrals.

My Direct Number At The Office Is 847.516.6760

My April 2008 RE Cyber Newsletter-Tips and Tricks!

Debra Kukulski RECS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO
RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest

April 2008




Trick 1

Send an E-Mail - By Voice!

This is neat! These folks convert your telephone voice into emails, text messages, reminders, lists and appointments. You can use this service to create text-based reminder e-mails to yourself or messages to pre-set individuals or groups. In a car it's a lot safer than thumb typing a message on a Blackberry or calling each individual person.

Simply enter your phone number and e-mail address and set up a contact list - and Shazam - you're in business. Just call the toll free number -

say the name of your e-mail recipient (or say "myself") and record your message which gets converted to text and e-mailed to your recipient(s).

There are other clever bells and whistles - and the price is right. It's on the house!

Click Here for This Cyber Trick

We are always pleased to be of service to our Cyber Friends and to provide you with these monthly CyberTips. As members of the Real Estate CyberSpace Society we are always current on ways to expand our normal high standards of service with the very latest Internet and other CyberSpace strategies and tools. Click Here for hundreds of Cyber Tricks and Great Places in back issues.

Trick 1

Keep Track of the Cussed Cap Locks Key!

Have you ever typed six lines of text before you discovered that the Caps Lock on your keyboard was on? Some folks are often tempted to cuss when this happens - and we'd bet it has happened to you. Here's a little trick that will alert you when you have accidentally turned the Caps lock on. This works in Windows XP and a slight variation will get you set up on other operating systems.

Open the Control Panel ("Start" and then "Control Panel"). Click "Accessibility Options". Click "Keyboard". Check "Use ToggleKeys". Click "OK" and close the Control Panel.
Now you have a private butler who will ring a little bell when you accidentally hit that Caps Lock key.

Saves a lot of cussin'!

Copyright © 2008 All Rights Reserved

Trick 1

RECS Radio

Resources

Listen to The Station You Want With a Click!

Here's a great place to easily find and play your favorite AM/FM radio stations and to browse and discover stations from around the world. You can search by location and type of programming.

So far you can play US stations from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Jose, and Washington, DC. Each city features dozens of the major broadcasting stations (and some you didn't even know existed). Many international locations are also featured including Beijing, Hong Kong, Israel, London, Shanghai, Taipei and Tokyo.

Just pick your favorite news, music or talk show and these folks whisk you off to a new land with one simple click!

Click Here for This Great Place

Trick 1

Get Insiders Travel Information!

Sure you can search the internet for your next flight by the best fares or shortest flight but until now there has been no place on the Web to determine the quality of your trip - factors that include not only price and speed, but also comfort and ease.

This great place allows you to obtain a best/worst ranking for your list of possible flights. Rankings based on each of these factors helps you wade through the hundreds of flight options on the market. They analyze speed by the number of stops, travel duration, on-time stats and security wait time. Comfort factors include: leg room, aircraft type, aircraft age and historical load factor. Ease of flight factors include: connect time, routing quality, lost bags rank and gate location.

Although this great place is still in Beta, it looks like the day of the automated travel advisor is close upon us.

Click Here for This Great Place

Debra Kukulski
Email: deb@debrakukulski.com
Phone: 847-516-6760
Fax: 847-639-6666
Web: http://www.debrakukulski.com/
RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest
445 Park Avenue
Cary, IL 60013


If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure! By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them. My business keeps growing from your referrals.

My Direct Number At The Office Is 847.516.6760

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Lake In The Hills, McHenry County IL-How Is The Current Market?


How is the current market in Lake In The Hills, McHenry County IL?

As of this morning, per MLSNI-MRED, for the past 3 months:

  • We currently have 293 Single Family detached homes on the market in Lake In The Hills that are active and available.
  • They have been on the market for an average of 175 days.
  • The average list price in Lake In The Hills is $306,603.
  • During the past 3 months, 35 Single Family homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 52% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 127 days on the market to get SOLD.
  • The average list price of the SOLD Single Family homes is $232,989 and the average SOLD price is $219,855.

So, on the average Single Family homes in Lake In The Hills have been getting an average of 94% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.

  • We currently have 143 Attached homes on the market in Lake In The Hills that are active and available.
  • They have been on the market for an average of 171 days.
  • The average list price is $194,392.
  • During the past 3 months, 15 Attached homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This represents 56% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 124 days on the market to get SOLD.
  • The average list price of the SOLD Attached homes is $189,335 and the average SOLD price is $182,750.

So, on the average Attached homes in Lake In The Hills have been getting an average of 97% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.

We are still experiencing a Buyer's Market in Lake In The Hills, McHenry County, IL.

If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure! By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them. My business keeps growing from your referrals.

I can be reached at my direct number at the office: 847.516.6760. I look forward to hearing from you!

Spring Inspiration and Positive Views-A New Earth


A New Earth

I have been reading a GREAT book, A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle.

It is actually in Oprah's Book Club and she is doing an online class every Monday with Eckhart.

It is really good and starts changing the way you go about your life. I do not watch it live, but download it to my ipod and watch when I have a spare hour and a half. It is worth making time for, in my opinoin.

He says if you are ready for it, it all makes sense and if you are not, it's not the right time in your life for it. I think it can make a big inpact. It can be a very positive shift. Has anyone else been following the program along or read the book? I'd love to get a discussion going as to how it has effected your life and impacted your real estate business.

If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure! By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them. My business keeps growing from your referrals.

I can be reached at my direct number at the office: 847.516.6760. I look forward to hearing from you!

How is the current market in The McHenry Area, IL?


How is the current market in The McHenry Area, IL?

This report also includes statistics for McHenry County Areas:

Holiday Hills / Johnsburg / McHenry / Lakemoor / McCullom Lake / Sunnyside / Ringwood.

As of this morning, per MLSNI, for the past 3 months:

  • We currently have 648 Single Family homes on the market in The McHenry Area that are active and available.
  • They have been on the market for an average of 226 days.
  • The average list price in The McHenry Area is $326,893.
  • During the past 3 months, 70 Single Family homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 48% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 159 days on the market to get SOLD.
  • The average list price of the SOLD Single Family homes is $218,350 and the average SOLD price is $204,723.

So, on the average Single Family homes in The McHenry Area have been getting an average of 94% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.

  • We currently have 141 Attached homes on the market in The McHenry Area that are active and available.
  • They have been on the market for an average of 183 days.
  • The average list price is $185,176.
  • During the past 3 months, 22 Attached homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This represents 59% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 142 days on the market to get SOLD.
  • The average list price of the SOLD Attached homes is $163,954 and the average SOLD price is $155,351.

So, on the average Attached homes in The McHenry Area have been getting an average of 95% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.

We are still experiencing a Buyer's Market in The McHenry Area.

If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure! By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them. My business keeps growing from your referrals.

I can be reached at my direct number at the office: 847.516.6760. I look forward to hearing from you!

Cary, IL FREE Kite Flying Contest in Lions Park! Let's Go Fly A Kite in McHenry County!


Cary, IL FREE Kite Flying Contest in Lions Park! Let's Go Fly A Kite in McHenry County!

The Cary Park District is putting on a free kite flying workshop on 4/12/08 in Lions Park from 10-11:30a.m.

Categories include: highest flying kite, smallest and largest kite, most unusual kite and more.

What a great spring event! They require that children be accompanied by an adult.

Lions Park is located on Silver Lake Road just north of Three Oaks Road in Cary.

For more information you can call or visit the Cary Park District website:

Phone: 847-639-6100
Web: http://www.carypark.com/


If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure! By the way, if you know of someone that could benefit from my high level of service, please call or email me with their name and daytime phone number and I will make sure to follow up and take great care of them. My business keeps growing from your referrals.

My Direct Number At The Office Is 847.516.6760

How is the current market in Barrington, IL?


How is the current market in Barrington, IL?

As of this morning, per MLSNI, for the past 3 months:

We currently have 533 Single Family homes on the market in Barrington that are active and available

They have been on the market for an average of 245 days.

The average list price is $1,074,989

During the past 3 months, 20 Single Family homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 24% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 299 days on the market to get SOLD.

The average list price of the SOLD Single Family homes is $805,823 and the average SOLD price is $757,676.

So, on the average Single Family homes in Barrington have been getting an average of 94% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.

We currently have 116 Attached homes on the market in Barrington that are active and available.

They have been on the market for an average of 225 days.

The average list price is $328,742

During the past 3 months, 5 Attached homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 45% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 305 days on the market to get SOLD.

The average list price of the SOLD Attached homes is $324,160 and the average SOLD price is $303,700.

So, on the average Attached homes in Barrington have been getting an average of 94% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.

We are still experiencing a Buyer's Market in Barrington. It is a GREAT time to buy!!

If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me. It will be my pleasure!

Debra
847-516-6760
deb@debrakukulski.com
My Website

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

How is the current market in Cary, Illinois?

Cary, IL Market Conditions (Cary is located in both McHenry and Lake Counties in Northern Illinois

How is the current market in Cary?

As of this morning, per MLSNI, for the past 3 months:








(This home is SOLD-no wonder...it sure was cute!)

We currently have 249 Single Family homes on the market in Cary that are active and available.

They have been on the market for an average of 191 days.

The average list price is 347,814.

During the past 3 months, 17 Single Family homes have successfully closed with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 40% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 200 days on the market to get SOLD.

The average list price of the SOLD Single Family homes is 282,447 and the average SOLD price is 269,162.





<--This home in Cambria in Cary is already SOLD, but there are many others!

We currently have 61 Attached homes on the market in Cary that are active and available.

They have been on the market for an average of 185 days.

The average list price is 202,625

During the past 3 months, 4 Attached homes have successfully closed in Cary with the help of their Realtors. This only represents 31% of the market that have had success. They took an average of 110 days on the market to get SOLD.

The average list price of the SOLD Attached homes in Cary is 174,925 and the average SOLD price is 167,562.

So, on the average Attached homes in Cary have been getting an average of 96% of their list prices, with the help of their Realtors.

We are still experiencing a Buyer's Market in Cary.

If I can be of assistance to you, please do not hesitate to call or email me!




Wauconda Waterfront Restaurant-Lindy's Landing

The new Lindy's Landing in Wauconda is FABULOUS!

I have dinner once a week with my Father, who lives in Port Barrington and my Sister, who also lives in Cary. We all live on the Fox River so really enjoy going to establishments on the water and enjoy trying different places. We just tried the new Lindy's Landing, and I must say we were all very pleasantly shocked at the changes. It used to be a very casual place and we had been there in the past for burgers...my Dad's favorite meal! It was nothing fancy but had pretty good food and great views of the water.

The metamorphosis of this place is phenomenal! The building is gorgeous, with a cape cod kindof feel....huge white pillars, stone accents and a huge front porch complete with Adirondack chairs to enjoy when the weather gets a little better. Inside, they have a welcoming lobby complete with friendly hostesses, a beautiful bar area with an abundance of large screen TV's....(would definitely be a great place to watch a Bears game!) and a magnificent dining area with volume ceilings, stone fireplace and floor to ceiling windows overlooking Bangs Lake. Gosh, it sounds like I am describing one of my listings! I can't wait to go back in summertime to enjoy the large outdoor deck area. They even have a sand beach, plenty of boat parking, and slip rentals. I hear there is already a waiting list for the boat slips!

Service was excellent and I regret I do not remember our waitresses name, but she was a definitely a pro. She has been there from before the renovation as well, so was full of interesting information. They have many vintage pictures on the walls that give a glimpse of the local history. The food also did not disappoint. I had the Flatiron Steak Sandwich which was delicious and my sister had the Grilled Ahi Tuna, which was a very thick tuna steak and she loved it. Our favorite was the mashed sweet potatoes. And my Dad, who is THE Burger EXPERT, said the black Angus Burger was one of the best he has ever had and that is BIG coming from him!

They also offer catering and private parties, a Friday fish fry and Sunday brunch.

I'd highly recommend paying them a visit or two or three or four.....





You can reach me direct at 847-516-6760.

I am looking forward to helping you with all of your real estate needs!

Search over 120,000 listings at:
http://www.debrakukulski.com/ or http://www.mchenrycountyproperties.com/
Or http://www.foxriverproperties.com/
Re/Max Unlimited Northwest
My designations and what they stand for:
A.B.R. (Accredited Buyers Representative);
RECS (Real Estate Cyber Specialist);
G.R.I (Graduate Realtor Institute).;
e-PRO (e-Professional)
If you have a friend or family member looking to buy or sell a home please
pass their name and number along to me and I will give them the same great
service I give to all of my clients. I can also help you find a Realtor
nationwide! Your referrals are VERY important to me. Thank YOU:-)
Licensed in Illinois

Barrington Event: Free Native Plant Workshop at Barrington Library

Free Barrington Workshop Coming Up!

Looking for some new GREEN landscaping ideas? Why not use native plants which are not only beautiful to enjoy all year round, but also support our local wildlife, reduce pollution and help our environment?

Barrington's Citizan's For Conservation is putting on a workshop at the Barrington Area Library on March 29th, 2008 from 9:30a.m. to 11:00a.m.

The event is free but donations are accepted and very much appreciated at the door. Please RSVP:-)

Click Here: For more information on the event and to RSVP

Click Here: For More Barrington Library Events

Enjoy!



Health Insurance for Realtors-Or Any Other Small Businesses, Individuals or Self-Employed. Are There ANY Good Options?

Health Insurance for Realtors-Or Any Other Small Businesses, Individuals or Self-Employed. Are There ANY Good Options?

As far as I know, there really are not any good and affordable options out there for self employed people or small businesses like us. I could go on a big rant about this but I will try not to!

When I looked around a few years ago and did some research, I found the only option for GROUP insurance under the current laws which restrict our associations from forming a group like any corporation can, was through NASE-National Association for Self Employed.

This was the only GROUP policy I could find at that time. Does anyone know of any others? It is expensive, like any insurance, but at least it does not keep going up by very much each year like it does with an individual policy. They (MEGA), like most insurance companies, try to not pay out as much as possible, so that can be a hassle. But I felt the fact that they can not single you out and cancel your policy like an individual plan could was a HUGE plus. Can you even imagine getting ill....and it would already be a hardship not to be working because if we do not work, we have no chance of getting paid.....but then your insurance company decides to cancel your health insurance ***because they can***...and then you not only have no income, but no health insurance and NO insurance companies willing to take you on because now you have a pre-existing condition? And it happens all the time!

I am also wondering if anyone knows of a good Dental Policy let me know, because this one is the pitts...it hardly covers anything!

Does anyone else think this is outrageous that we can not form a group through our associations?

Has anyone else seen Michael Moore's movie about this, called Sicko?

It is a sick situation, for sure! So stay positive and stay healthy:-)








Stimulous Package Tax Relief Check Schedule

Well, Happy Saturday (at least it is very sunny in Cary, IL!) and we already have an update to this information which I posted yesterday.
Thanks to Jo Soss | Bremerton WA Real Estate who was kind enough to point this out to me and also give me a link directly to the IRS page where this information is posted. I would advise you check there for updates before you start counting on your stimulus check. I really hope this *stimulates* more buyers to come off the fence which will *stimulate* some big smiles from our sellers!

Stimulus Payment Schedule for Tax Returns Processed by April 15


Economic stimulus payments will be issued according to the last two-digits of the main filer's Social Security number. People who use direct deposit also will be among the first to receive the payments starting May 2. Paper checks will be put in the mail starting May 16.

DIRECT DEPOSIT Last two SSN digits: Payment will be transmitted:
00 through 20 May 2
21 through 75 May 9
76 through 99 May 16



PAPER CHECK Last two SSN digits: Payments will be mailed by:
00 through 09 May 16
10 through 18 May 23
19 through 25
May 30
26 through 38 June 6
39 through 51 June 13
52 through 63 June 20
64 through 75 June 27
76 through 87 July 4
88 through 99 July 11






People who file a return after April 15 will receive their economic stimulus
payment, but probably about two weeks later than the schedule shows. A return must be filed by October 15 in order to receive a stimulus payment
this year. See the online calculator for an estimate of the amount you will
receive.

Related Item: IR-2008-44, IRS Announces Economic Stimulus Payment Schedules, Provides Online Payment Calculator

Return to Economic Stimulus Payment Information Center



I hope this information is useful for you! If I may be of assistance with your Northern Illinois (McHenry County, Lake County, Kane County, Cook County) real estate needs, please do not hesitate to contact me:-)

Happy Easter Weekend!


It is a GREAT time to Buy or Move-up in Northern Illinois!

It is a GREAT time to Buy or Move-up in Northern Illinois!

Our market has been equalizing........

That's GREAT NEWS for about 75% of current homeowners and those who want to be homeowners. Here's why . .

If you have a home and have been thinking of moving up, this is the best real estate market for you. For example, consider your home is worth $300,000 based on recent sales, but with a high inventory of homes for sale and a sluggish market, we need to price and/or accept $15,000 (5% lower) to get the property sold. Your immediate reaction would be that you lost $15,000 and you say to yourself , "I should have sold last year when the market was hot for sellers!". But you really didn't lose. In fact, you gained because you are moving up. For example, if you are buying a $500,000 home, that seller may be faced with the same sluggish market we may have faced when we sold your home. You may now be able to also buy the $500,000 home for $475,000 (5% lower). Although you sold for $15,000 less, you bought for $25,000 less so you benefited by $10,000.

In an opposite market where houses sell fast and often for more than the asking price, you can lose money when moving up. Also, and more importantly, this is the best market for us to find the "best house for you" because we have more time to shop and the inventory of homes for sale is larger, so there is more to choose from, also.

In a sellers market, you may end up "settling" for a home because the choices are slim and you are pressured to buy quickly before values keep rising. Buyers have so many choices now of very well priced properties and motivated sellers.

If you are a first time buyer with a small or zero down payment, this is the best time to buy. Sellers now will be more likely to welcome buyers with low or no down payment and some sellers may even help pay your closing costs. In an opposite market, the sellers usually won't even consider any offers unless there is a high down payment which prohibits most first time buyers from buying.

If you are a long term real estate investor, now is a great market to buy. The higher inventory of property allows us to find the ideal rental property that meets your investment criteria. Also, we will be more likely to negotiate excellent terms with the help of your Realtor, me:-)

Please do not get me wrong....this is not a depressed market and some local markets may differ quite a bit from each other. We call it "equalized". We just have been coming off the very long stretch of being a sellers market.

Everyone wants to buy low and sell high but it's virtually impossible to time markets. This is called speculation. If you view real estate as a long term investment, 5 to 10 years minimum, you will more than likely catch a "wave" of appreciation. Remember, you will never catch the wave unless you are in the water.

Have a great weekend!







Debra Kukulski, Realtor
A.B.R. (Accredited Buyers Representative);
RECS(Real Estate Cyber Specialist);
G.R.I(Graduate Realtor Institute).;
e-PRO(e-Professional)
‘Re/Max Unlimited Northwest
847-516-6760 Direct

If you have a friend or family member looking to buy or sell a home, please pass their name and number along to me and I will give them the samegreat service I give to all of my clients! I can also help you find a Realtor nationwide! Licensed in Illinois

Spring Migration on the Fox River in Cary, IL


Spring Migration on the Fox River in Cary, IL

I am fortunate enough to live on the Fox River in Cary, IL. Besides being able to go boating in the summer, all the way up to the Chain of Lakes, there are beautiful views and nature to enjoy year round.

I have lived on the Fox River for over 16 years, and over the past couple of weeks I have been getting glimpses of a duck I have never seen before. We do get the biggest variety of birds and waterfowl in spring and summer, when they are migrating through. Well, I have been trying to get a good enough look at this duck for a couple of weeks and usually by the time I get down to my pier with my binoculars, they move up the river just enough that I can't get a good enough look to identify them. They are small, black and white and definitely diving ducks, so several times when I had them in view, they would just disappear under the water and re-appear later in a different spot. I have been seeing a group of 6-8 near my home over the past couple of weeks. Last Saturday, as I drove over the Rawson Bridge in Cary for an appointment in McHenry, I saw about 20 of them swimming around by the Broken Oar. I could not stop then but on the way back to Cary, I saw them again and stopped for a minute .....trying to zoom in on them with my digital camera. Still not close enough!!


On St. Patrick's Day, we went to the Broken Oar on the Fox River in Cary for the traditional corned beef and cabbage....which was delicious by the way! It was amongst the BEST cabbage we have ever had, in fact, I would love to know their secret! But the Broken Oar, although it is very casual, does have good and very reasonable food, so check it out if you have never been there. Great views of the Fox River, too!

Anyhow....as we left to go back to the office, I saw 20-30 of them and had my binoculars with so was able to get a good enough look to identify them, and I am pretty sure they are Buffleheads, which I have never seen here before. If you live on or near the Fox River, try to get a glimpse of them, they really are beautiful! They are mates for life and nest in tree cavities made by Northern Flickers, one of the most colorful local woodpeckers we see here. They dive for food and eat while underwater. They are actually the smallest diving duck in North America! If you live on or near the Fox River, try to get a glimpse of them before they continue their journey north. They really are beautiful!


Here is a link to some detailed information: Bufflehead Duck

If you are looking to buy or sell a waterfront property, please contact me DEBRA

Monday, March 17, 2008

Short Sales, REOs, Foreclosures and Pre-Foreclosures:" What Are They and How Do They Work?" Asked My Buyer......

Short Sales, REOs, Foreclosures and Pre-Foreclosures:" What Are They and How Do They Work?" Asked My Buyer......

If only there was an easy and accurate answer to that question, right? Usually we, as the Realtors, can and do help our clients navigate through a plethora of different scenarios in the buying process. It is one of the many ways we bring value to the transaction. We have been through many different situations before and from experience, can help to guide our clients through them. However, as John MacArthur states in his blog post, All that appears short....is not a short sale......, the situation is always different and there really are no industry standards regarding these types of sales. Each situation seems have it's own set of challenges, the biggest, as I see it, being the ability to communicate effectively with someone at the bank or asset management company that is both organized (meaning, for example, they do not lose the paperwork so you have to start over almost every time you call!) and able to make a decision in a timely manner. Whether you are representing the seller or buyer, this seems to be the place where everything stalls, or in some cases, even comes to a screeching halt! You would think, with all of the properties they need to get off their books that they would be motivated to not only review but also respond to offers in a timely manner so that this can be accomplished. But the sad and maddening truth is they usually do not!

I was fortunate enough to represent an excellent seller to work with on a REO property recently that actually had a contact I could pick up the phone and talk to, or email, and was able to get a quick response. This seller, with my help, was able to procure a contract within the first two weeks on the market, yes, even in THIS buyers market. We even had two competing offers for this property. It is amazing what we can accomplish when there is cooperation and communication! This situation was definitely the exception to the "rule". In another case I know of, there has been an offer on the table almost two months, that the lender has yet to respond to.....BECAUSE NO ONE IS ASSIGNED TO HANDLE THE SALE AT THE BANK!!! There was also a second offer as well, so they had two to pick from, but those buyers got weary of the wait and walked away. And that was a higher offer, too, that they lost out on by not responding.

So, my buyer asks me, what is a short sale and what is the process? After defining what a short sale is, which usually means they are selling for less than what is owed....we get to that maddening "process" part of the question. And my most honest and accurate answer is that if, as a buyer, you want to consider purchasing a short sale, REO, foreclosure or pre-foreclosure property, you most importantly have to have the luxury of patience and plenty of time.

*If you want to close on a certain date, this may not be for you!

*If you have to coordinate your selling and purchase closing dates so you are not homeless in-between, this may not be for you!

*If you have the type of personality where you get easily frustrated or like fast resolutions, this may not be for you!

*If you are not a risk taker, and let your real estate attorney explain this to you, this may not be for you!

I have put in offers for buyers that have been responded to in a week to a couple of weeks (this is the GOOD scenario), to as long as three months just to get an answer from the seller. You would not believe how thrilling it can be to get a "heartbeat" from the other side after so much time has passed! Do you really want to put your home search on hold for an indefinite amount of time while waiting for a response to your offer?

There are SO many GREAT opportunities in this market for buyers. This is the BEST buyer's market I have seen in 15 years, so do get out and buy! Short Sales, REOs, Foreclosures and Pre-Foreclosures are not the only "good deals" out there. We have an abundance of both motivated and realistic sellers to also work with that actually respond to an offer on their property and can even get to the closing table, sometimes in less time that it even takes for a lender to even respond.

I am not saying that you should not consider these sales, especially since they are a substantial part of our inventory today, not only in Mchenry, Lake, Kane and Cook Counties in IL, but thoughout the country. I am just giving a bit of caution. There really is no way, in my opinion, for the Realtors to standardize this process until the banking industry gets control of it themselves. In the meantime....let your personality and time frame be the key to if you should consider these types of properties and let your Realtor guide you through the buying process, so you can successfully get to the closing table in a time period that meets YOUR needs.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

10 New Tax Laws You Need To Know!

April is approaching fast. It's TAX TIME! While you are getting your tax preparations ready, I thought this link might help! Here are 10 New Tax Laws You Need to Know!

Lawmakers were busy in 2006, so be sure to check out these tax code changes. They might save you some money!

TEN NEW TAX LAWS


Ready for that new home? This is the time to buy! If you or anyone you know is considering a new home, please provide me with their daytime phone number and I would be happy to follow up with them!

See my website for details! Good luck with your taxes and MAKE it a great day!
~Debra


THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE YOUR PLACE.COM

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

My 15 Minutes of Fame!

I was quoted in Crain's Chicago Business this morning! For your convenience here is a direct link to the article.

CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS

It is a shame what happened with this developer. I just wish the reporter also quoted what I kept stressing to him.... the wonderful opportunity in this market...."it is a GREAT time to buy"!

For further Real Estate Information and News, visit my

WEBSITE
Let me know if you have any questions. Have a great day! ~Debra

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Real Estate CyberTips!

To my valued friends,

I am pleased to be sending you our special Real Estate CyberTips
E-Newsletter, which, in very concise form, will provide you with monthly
Cyber tips and tricks along with our pointers to Internet places of special
interest to real estate owners, investors and related professionals.


Please click the link below to access your copy of the March Issue of
"Real Estate CyberTips"


RE CyberTips

This month's issue includes the following Tips:


* People Detective Extraordinaire -- On the Deep Web
* Switch Tasks With Ease!
* See The World Your Way With Virtual Earth!
* Energy Savings from Uncle Sam


I hope you enjoy "Real Estate CyberTips". Please let me know at any time
if I may be of help with any of your real estate needs. To contact me via email just click on my name below. Or, you can always call me at 847-516-6760.

Kindest Regards,


Debra Kukulski

Debra is a licensed Illinois Realtor with Re/Max Unlimited Northwest.