Looking for a helpful real estate website? My comprehensive real estate site offers tons of helpful information no matter how many times you've moved! First time buyers Complete MLS listing search Complete Foreclosure search from RealtyTrac - FREE Staging your home Mortgage Calculator Home inspection Mortgages Home Warranty Info Virtual tours, photos, widgets, interactive flyers Curb appeal Residential Styles Village Information School Information - IL State Board of Education School Listings Metra Information Census and Demographic Info by Zip Code Real Estate Dictionary Mortgage Terms Dictionary       Lyn Sims (847)230-7324 at RE/MAX Suburban         I proudly serve and sell real estate in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.  If you are thinking about purchasing or selling your home in ... 05/18/2009

Good news for seniors in Schaumburg Township and Cook County!   Senior Freeze Beginning in the tax year 2008, the total household gross income for the Senior Freeze increased to $55,000.  Also, the Senior Exemption amount will increase from $3500 to $4000 which translates to an approximate savings of $200.  Both of these changes are new State Statutes that were passed in 2008.  These changes will be reflected on the 2nd installment of your 2009 tax bill. According to the Assessors Office:  “Qualified senior citizens can apply for a freeze of the assessed value of their property. Over time, in many areas, this program results in taxes changing minimally and often decreasing as surrounding properties continue to rise in assessed value. This is the most valuable homeowner exemption program... 05/15/2009

The Princess and the Foreclosure The story begins in a far away place called the 'Northwest Suburbs of Chicago' just down the street from a great cul-de-sac called 'Never never land' (and not Michael Jackson's place).  It's a story about a girl, a Princess actually, trying to buy her first home and having totally unrealistic expectations as to what will occur.  The Princess is just beginning her chosen career and just can't afford too much at this juncture.  But even though her pocketbook is less than full - her expectations are that of Beverly Hills!  The Princess is prequalified by her trustworthy loan officer and she can afford the tidy sum of $90,000 on a purchase price.  That's a mighty modest number for Sherwood Forest but with the Princesses expectations high and 'hey, what about... 05/15/2009

Schaumburg Real EstateDennis Toomey continuously monitors local real estate statistics to keep his clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below, at the end of the page you will find Schaumburg real estate statistics for the last 12 months as of May 15, 2009.To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.KnowYourHomeValue.com/active or use this link http://www.knowyourhomevalue.com/remaxil/modules/global/forms/marketevaluation.asp?&acc=32722&s=active If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood or would like more information about Schaumburg, please visit: www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/active or use this link http://www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/remaxil/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=findahome.asp&page=s... 05/15/2009

Schaumburg Real EstateDennis Toomey continuously monitors local real estate statistics to keep his clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below, at the end of the page you will find Schaumburg real estate statistics for the last 12 months as of May 8, 2009.To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.KnowYourHomeValue.com/active or use this link http://www.knowyourhomevalue.com/remaxil/modules/global/forms/marketevaluation.asp?&acc=32722&s=active If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood or would like more information about Schaumburg, please visit: www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/active or use this link http://www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/remaxil/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=findahome.asp&page=se... 05/08/2009

The housing market, which has been in decline for three years, has also shown some signs of bottoming. Sales of existing homes have been fairly stable since late last year, and sales of new homes have firmed a bit recently, though both remain at depressed levels. Although some of the boost to sales in the market for existing homes is likely coming from foreclosure-related transactions, the increased affordability of homes appears to be contributing more broadly to the steadying in the demand for housing. In particular, the average interest rate on conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgages has dropped almost 1-3/4 percentage points since August, to about 4.8 percent. With sales of new homes up a bit and starts of single-family homes little changed from January through March, builders are s... 05/06/2009

Schaumburg Real Estate Market Update Normal 0 Schaumburg Real Estate Market Update as of April 30, 2009   What you need to know.   Sales for Single Family Homes in Schaumburg have only declined 5% for the March from 2008 to 2009, however, townhome and condo sales have decreased by 50% from 2008 to 2009.  Median prices decreased by 14.6%  for single family homes and 13.85 from townhomes and condos.   Price it Right and Sell it    Homes still sell for 96% of listing price for single homes and 95% for townhomes and condos.  This still shows the importance of pricing your home correctly.     Check out the rest of the statistics below.  Any Questions?    Contact Me   John Ziemba  847-217-0480 Realtor@JohnZiemba.com www.YourSchaumburgAgent.com www.JohnZiemba.com   For the Month of March 2009 ... 05/01/2009

Schaumburg Real EstateDennis Toomey continuously monitors local real estate statistics to keep his clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below, at the end of the page you will find Schaumburg real estate statistics for the last 12 months as of May 1, 2009.To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.KnowYourHomeValue.com/active or use this link http://www.knowyourhomevalue.com/remaxil/modules/global/forms/marketevaluation.asp?&acc=32722&s=active If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood or would like more information about Schaumburg, please visit: www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/active or use this link http://www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/remaxil/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=findahome.asp&page=se... 05/01/2009

What a difference a ‘K’ makes?  This is about the ‘Renovation Loan’ called the FHA 203K and how it can be needed to purchase a home in need of 'a little help’. The 203K Loan is: Perfect for REO’s and foreclosures. Used to purchase and close on a home in ‘as is’ condition.  Usually getting a better sales price. No repairs required prior to closing; no appraisal issues.  The house must be sound and is used for minor repairs and cosmetic changes that you would like to do to the property and don’t have the ready cash to do it. There can be NO mandatory repairs and is the buyers choice to update the home. This program is a much better financial move than using your credit cards to renovate your home projects.  So again the house must be structurally sound according to FHA guidelines but can ... 04/29/2009

Schaumburg Real EstateDennis Toomey continuously monitors local real estate statistics to keep his clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below, at the end of the page you will find Schaumburg real estate statistics for the last 12 months as of April 24, 2009.To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.KnowYourHomeValue.com/active or use this link http://www.knowyourhomevalue.com/remaxil/modules/global/forms/marketevaluation.asp?&acc=32722&s=active If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood or would like more information about Schaumburg, please visit: www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/active or use this link http://www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/remaxil/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=findahome.asp&page... 04/24/2009

Schaumburg Illinois Townhome Market Update by Price Range - March 2009 Always trying to keep both buyers and sellers informed on the local Schaumburg housing market has been my goal for many years.   This market update gives you graphs of homes that have sold by price range so you get a feel for the current sales activity.  Which is up by the way!   How can you use this information if you are a buyer?   The price range that you are thinking of purchasing in, is it one of the more active price areas of the market?  It would be ideal if it was.   How can this information help a seller?  If you are planning on selling your home soon, you can see which price ranges are the most active.  Clearly the price range above $250,000 has been very slow and very few sales have occurred.  You might h... 04/21/2009

Schaumburg Illinois Market Update by Price Range - March 2009 Always trying to keep both buyers and sellers informed on the local Schaumburg housing market has been my goal for many years.   This market update gives you graphs of homes that have sold by price range so you get a feel for the current sales activity.  Which is up by the way!   How can you use this information if you are a buyer?   The price range that you are thinking of purchasing in, is it one of the more active price areas of the market?  It would be ideal if it was.   How can this information help a seller?  If you are planning on selling your home soon, you can see which price ranges are the most active.  Clearly the price range above $500,000 has been very slow and very few sales have occurred.  You might have to pla... 04/21/2009

"T.E.A. PARTY"  as in Taxed Enough Already! I'm not a nut job - stop making me out to be one!   I'm not a radical wacko - stop making me out to be one!   I am definitely not a right wing extremist trying to make trouble - stop making me out to be one!   What I am tired of is politics as usual!  So my little flag and I decided to attend the Tax Day Tea Party in one of the Chicago suburbs of Lisle, IL on April 15th, 2009.  All those attending were just your regular middle class suburbanites who love their country but are tired of the politics, especially the politicians themselves and the constant burden of taxes, taxes and more taxes.   A lot of great people showed up - large, small or tall.  Veterans, young, old, some in colonial garb and ladies with tea bag earrings.  Some in wheelchai... 04/19/2009

Schaumburg Real EstateDennis Toomey continuously monitors local real estate statistics to keep his clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below, at the end of the page you will find Schaumburg real estate statistics for the last 12 months as of April 17, 2009.To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.KnowYourHomeValue.com/active or use this link http://www.knowyourhomevalue.com/remaxil/modules/global/forms/marketevaluation.asp?&acc=32722&s=active If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood or would like more information about Schaumburg, please visit: www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/active or use this link http://www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/remaxil/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=findahome.asp&page... 04/17/2009

Schaumburg Real EstateDennis Toomey continuously monitors local real estate statistics to keep his clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below, at the end of the page you will find Schaumburg real estate statistics for the last 12 months as of April 10, 2009.To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.KnowYourHomeValue.com/active or use this link http://www.knowyourhomevalue.com/remaxil/modules/global/forms/marketevaluation.asp?&acc=32722&s=active If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood or would like more information about Schaumburg, please visit: www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/active or use this link http://www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/remaxil/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=findahome.asp&page... 04/10/2009

Well lately we’ve heard some media buzz that improvement is happening in the Schaumburg Illinois Real Estate Market and I just wanted to let you know that YES – it’s true!   So for the month of March 2009 .............. we’ve had 19 properties close – YIPEE.    Of all the closings 16 were below the $330,000 price and only 3 were above.  This is basically showing us that obviously the first time buyers are spurring along the market.  Also for those wondering, only 5 were marked foreclosures and 2 were marked short sales.  Our MLS allows us to differentiate these from regular closings.  The lowest sales price was $165,000 which is a great deal for a 3BR home in Schaumburg!   Now with the pending sales during March 2009 – 27 homes went under contract and all are below the $445,000 list pr... 04/08/2009

Schaumburg Real EstateDennis Toomey continuously monitors local real estate statistics to keep his clients informed and ahead of the real estate trends.  Below, at the end of the page you will find Schaumburg real estate statistics for the last 12 months as of April 3, 2009.To find the value of your home with a free, over-the-net home evaluation, please visit: www.KnowYourHomeValue.com/active or use this link http://www.knowyourhomevalue.com/remaxil/modules/global/forms/marketevaluation.asp?&acc=32722&s=active If you would like a free list of homes for sale in this area/neighborhood or would like more information about Schaumburg, please visit: www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/active or use this link http://www.GetYourRealEstateHere.com/remaxil/modules/agent/agent.asp?p=findahome.asp&page=... 04/03/2009

Schaumburg has thunder?   What are you talking about?   The Police Department's newest member 'Thunder' began his first tour of duty riding in the back of a patrol car. Thunder is the latest in a distinguished line of department canines. He is a purebred AKC registered German Shepherd weighing in at 95 pounds. A certificate of appreciation was presented to Rick and Kim Seaberg from Illinois Vest-A-Dog for their fundraising efforts to purchase a body armor vest for Thunder. Pictured in photo above are Police Officer Bruce Cram, Thunder, and Kim Seaberg at the Village Board meeting on December 9th, 2008. Donations for life saving vests for our police dogs in Illinois are always being accepted.  Follow the link and give generously if you can! 03/31/2009

Schaumburg Illinois - May 23 and 24th, 2009 Talented artists from around the country, live entertainers, and food vendors will participate in the 22nd annual Prairie Arts Festival. The festival will be held May 23rd and 24th each day from 10am to 5pm and will also offer children's art activities. Drawings, fiber arts, glass, graphics, jewelry, mixed media, paintings, photography, pottery, and sculpture are featured at this juried exhibition and sale that includes approximately 155 artists from throughout the U.S.  The Festival located on the grounds of the Robert Atcher Municipal Center just south of the intersections of Summit and Schaumburg Rds. Become a Purchase Award patron for the Prairie Arts Festival either personally or through a business. Just pledge to spend at least $100 wit... 03/31/2009

Are you buying, selling, or just curious about the real estate market? Check out my weekly market report on the local housing market. Don't make the mistake of not understanding market conditions when buying or selling a home. Take a look and the report for the current market and start understanding housing market in your area. I am a licensed real estate agent and loan originator. Let my experience help you get into your new home or refinance your current mortgage. 03/28/2009