Real Estate

Archive for June, 2010

Chicago Homes By Neighborhood

With millions of people living throughout the sprawling metropolis of Chicagoland there are always plenty of Chicago homes on the market for newcomers to choose from. In spite of the housing diversity within Chicago factors like personal preferences and budget may limit buyer options though.

For example a lot of people will pay an arm and a leg to live in the heart of the city. In Chicago this probably means an apartment on The Loop in a highrise building that costs several thousand dollars every month. For this hefty pricetag residents can enjoy lakefront views and proximity to all the attractions in downtown Chicago.

On the other hand some people prefer the quieter atmosphere of the suburbs. Singlefamily homes might not stretch half a mile into the sky but they do provide a lot of privacy and they usually come with their own yards. Besides with fast and affordable public transportation like the EL the entertainment and excitement in the city is never far away. As the largest section of Chicago the South Side has the highest number of singlefamily homes but the North Side has a fair number of them too.

The North Side is one of the most popular real estate areas in Chicago. Perhaps this is due to the many lakeside trails parks and beaches it has. Even though the North Side is Expensive demand for the area is high enough that houses don’t last long on the market.

More affordable housing can be found west of the Loop which makes it a popular area for students. Wicker Park the Greek community and boutique shopping characterize this part of the city. Old warehouses are another common sight. In fact many of the older warehouses that weren’t being used commercially have been restored and converted into loft apartments.

In spite of its reputation for gangs the South Side is home to Chicago’s safest neighborhood year after year. In addition to being safe South Side Chicago is full of ethnic diversity. For example Little Italy China Town Little Village Mexican and the Irish community are all located in the South Side. There are also a lot of things to see and do in South Side. For example Hyde Park the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and historic districts are signature attractions in the area.

With so many neighborhoods to choose from it would be helpful to have a Realtor at your side especially if you are thinking of buying property rather than renting. After all someone who knows the area and which houses are for sale can save you a lot of time.

About the writer:  If you are looking for a professional Realtor with a lot of experience and Chicago homes to show you start looking at RE/MAX http://www.illinoisproperty.com. Their national presence makes them one of the most used and trusted names in the business. The author Art Gib is a freelance writer.

Caution: Making This Simple Mistake As A Real Estate Investor May Cost You The Deal

When you meet with a prospect on a potential real estate transaction the way you dress will speak volumes about you. Just as certain clothes in Florida tend to scream Tourist! what you wear will have direct bearing over whether youre shaking hands at the end of your conversation with a seller as the new owner of a property or as somebody whos walking away emptyhanded. By dressing like your prospect as a real estate investor you can forge a bond that will very subtly send the message that you and the seller have something in common.

Real estate investors shouldnt overdress when they meet with a seller because they will send a message but it will be the wrong one. If youre wearing a suit and your prospect is wearing a faded Bud Light tshirt a pair of cutoff jeans and a pair of sandals your prospect is going to have trouble identifying with you or relating to you. To him or her youll be pointing out the glaringly obvious fact that youre different. At the same time if a real estate investor meets with a seller who is dressed much better than he is a different and just as damaging problem crops up. The real estate investor looks unprofessional. If the prospect thinks youre unprofessional any chance you might have had of doing business has gone out the window.

Why is being different such a bad thing?

Look at it this way. If you look too different your prospect might decide you think youre better than they are. Looking radically different than your prospect could cause your prospect to look more carefully at you and get the wheels in their head turning about whether you might be trying to pull a fast one on them. To them a real life real estate investor is an oddity. You could very well be the first real estate investor theyve ever seen in their lives. People tend to reject that which they dont understand.

The second half of that equation is that people tend to reject those with whom they cant relate. So whether youre dressed too well or you look like a hobo who just hopped off a train the way you look is vitally important.

If you can possibly find out before you meet with your prospect how theyre likely to be dressed it will make it easier to mirror the way theyre dressed. This isnt an exact science so dont lose sleep over it or call the FBI to try to get answers. Unless you know ahead of time how your prospect will be dressed it’s always best to show up in business casual attire. This will cover you no matter what. If theyre dressed in a suit youll still be in the ballpark because many people who wear a suit to work still find business casual to be acceptable.

The main point here is that you’re trying to establish a psychological bond with your prospect. By being dressed as much like your prospect as possible sends a subliminal message to them that you’re alike. If you look at your own circle of influence your friends colleagues and people you hang around with most tend to look much like you. Our friends talk like we do think like we do and dress like we do. By the same token we tend to be distrustful and distant with people we don’t resemble or have anything in common. A critical component in putting together a real estate transaction is building a bond. While not impossible it is considerably more difficult to build bond with someone we feel is completely different than we are.

For that reason it’s also important to figure out what some of the seller’s likes and dislikes are while making small talk during the warmup period heading into your sales pitch. There’s nothing wrong with opening your mouth and talking but don’t forget why you’re there. By keeping the conversation focused on your prospect you can learn more about them by simply sitting back and listening for 10 minutes than you could during an hour of intensive grilling.

The way you dress will build a bond a bond can build a friendship and a friendship can close the deal. I’m not necessarily saying you should try to plant the seeds of a lifelong friendship exchange pictures of your kids or plan vacations together but by mirroring the dress of your prospects and being mindful of the psychological reasons that we are the way we are you can better prepare your prospect to at least consider your offer if for no other reason than because they like you.

People like to do business with those that they like. The way you dress could set the stage for a lucrative real estate deal. Don’t blow it by misunderstanding the importance of being as much like your prospect as possible. Dress like they do act like they do be a friend and close more deals.

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Sean Flanagan went from dead broke living off Ramen Noodles and selling used pallets from the roadside for 20 a day to a self made real estate multimillionaire in under 2 years time. He now shares his secrets with thousands of students across the country.

He has a FREE audio course titled 7 Secrets to Making Big Bucks in a Slow Real Estate Market which you can get right now by quickly visiting http://www.yuckyhouseleads.com . He also gives away a coaching program for new real estate investors where he offers a risk free trial to prove to new real estate investors how much money they can make with his program at http://www.yuckyhousesystems.com.

California Urban Advocate And Financial Expert Compares Home Loan Bank Executives To Drug Dealers

In response to President Bush’s 700 billion bailout plan for the failing banking sector Grimes said “A plan to again help the banks and not meet any of the real needs of the homeowner or borrower. I think it’s a joke! Why can’t the government be honest with us and call a spade a spade. I’m sorry I meant a recession!!”

Continuing in the noholdsbarred style of speech that has made him both a popular radio host and public speaker Grimes continued “Executives of these failing banks need to be stripped of their retirement salary stocks and assets. Why shouldn’t they feel like the folks they took advantage of? They have committed a crime! If they were big time drug dealers the system would strip them down to nothing. Let’s cut the lavish lifestyles of these criminals and let them pay the price for their misdeeds. Why are tax payers picking up the tab for these crimes? These people are no better that drug czars!”

President Bush’s recent proposal to fund a bailout of Wall Street with taxpayer funds has many in the country up in arms. Callers to Grimes’ popular WeTalkRadio247 show are largely an urban and minority audience seeking advice on things like first time home buying foreclosure avoidance and real estate investments. Like many throughout the country and congress they are angry. “My callers want to know why a bank executive is getting relief but a homeowner facing foreclosure is not. It’s crazy and someone needs to say so.”

In addition to minority advocacy Grimes tours the country with state and private organizations offering advice to industry professionals on how to survive and even thrive in a down economy. Yes he’ll even call it a recession. Grimes is an advocate of using Internet tools as a form of education and communication. This passionate educator is the author of books like The Brand Younique Way to Niche Marketing: The Podcast and transmits a weekly show aimed at educating minority and urban home buyers.

While Grimes agrees that a down economy can be a good time to buy he warns potential buyers that getting into a home right now involves more than just a down payment. On the Fox TV broadcast he said that we are in a “credit crunch” that has made criteria and documentation more stringent that banks want to see cash reserves and that they want buyers to “put more skin in the game.” The vocal entrepreneur has acknowledged that homebuyers also have an ownership role and responsibility for understanding their loans but he’s adamant that the solution requires education and cooperative that the current administration does not seem willing to provide.

“We need to offer help and education to homeowners and potential homeowners” Grimes emphatically stated. “The president’s plan does NOT do this! It only offers help to the criminals the dealers who got us into this mess to begin with. Let’s find a way to help the homeowner the person who is working hard on a daily basis to put a roof over their kids’ heads.

About the writer:  For additional information on Grimes’ educational resources tours or radio show please contact 13237503690 Ext.236 email at infoWeTalkRealEstatenews.com or visit www.WeTalkRadio247.com