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Wow, it’s been crazy out there!  I’ve been back to work since Leo was about 5 days old…

That said, it’s not how I would have chose to spend his first 5 weeks of life, but this $8,000 tax credit has buyers scrammbling to purchase their first home before the end of the year… and in this sucky real estate market, I’m not taking anthing for granted.

Things are slowing down now just a bit, but there are still deals to be had.  I’ve written contracts with multiple offers… and I never thought I’d see that in this market.   They have been on mainly bank owned properties from buyers who are tired of waiting for bank approvals on their short sale offers, but none the less… they are stressful situations.

Two things affecting offers on these properties:

  • the type of financing.
  • closing cost concessions.

Banks are accepting the strongest offers on their properties that have the highest likeliness of closing, choosing conventional loans first, followed by conventional loans with closing costs, followed by FHA loans, and lastly… FHA loans with closing cost concessions.

Hopefully things will continue along at this pace.  I wasn’t hopeful that this program would be helpful in reducing the available inventory in the Plainfield IL market, but it looks like it has had a positive effect.  I am optimistic it will continue to keep buyers interested in becoming homeowners.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes for Sale
630-673-6233

 

The 1st quarter numbers for the single-family Naperville IL market are in:

In the first quarter of this year, 145 single-family homes were sold.

The average list price for a single-family home in Naperville is $436,662. The average sale price is $405,476.  Based on these numbers if you are selling a home in Naperville IL you can expect to get about 93% of your asking price in this market.

Homes with 4 bedrooms made up 66.2% of the homes sold in the first 3 months of 2009, while homes with 3 bedrooms made up about 24.1% of the market share.

4 bedroom homes are selling at about 93% of the average list price of $455,102, which means they are selling for an average closed price of $424,604.

3 bedroom homes
are selling at about 94% of the average list price of $290,046 for a single-family home in Naperville, which means they are closing at an average closed sale price of $272,886.

5 bedroom single-family homes in Naperville
only make up about 7.5% of the total sales.  The 5 bedroom homes are only getting about 89% of their average list price of $770,495 for an average sale price of $689,500.

If you, or someone you know are thinking about listing your home for sale in Naperville IL this Spring call me at 630-673-6233.

 


If you are behind in payments you may qualify for a short sale or loan modification.  Call me to confidentially discuss your options regarding foreclosure.


Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Naperville IL Homes
630-673-6233

Plainfield IL short sales and foreclosuresMany Plainfield IL homeowners are facing the possibility of foreclosure.  The thought of losing the roof over your head is a scary concept, especially if you are worried about the well being of your family and their future.

If you are facing foreclosure in Plainfield IL and don’t know what steps to take to either proceed with a short sale or attempt a loan modification, call me to explore the possibility of negotiating on your behalf.

Why is what I do different from what other Realtors® are doing in regard to short sales in Plainfield IL? 

If there is any possibility of having you keep your home, my loan modification negotiator will begin the process of a loan modification to utilize the option of a short sale as a last resort, unless it’s your preference to attempt a short sale right from the beginning.  I feel much better listing a home in foreclosure knowing that every attempt was made to keep the homeowner in the home.

There are qualifying criteria required to perform not only a short sale, but a loan modification as well.  Call me to discuss the possibility of avoiding a foreclosure through either selling your home through a short sale, or by re-negotiating your debt through a loan modification at 630-673-6233.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

Like many homeowners in Plainfield IL, you might be hoping for a lower tax bill this year due to the declining real estate values in your neighborhood.  Unfortunately, that will most likely not be the case.

According to the Will County Supervisor of Assessments, Will County taxes are based on a 3 year study, which means that property taxes are always paid 1 year in arrears.  Based on that information, the study this year includes real estate values from 2005, 2006 and 2007.

2005, as we all know, was the peak of the housing market bubble when home values were still doing quite well.

Plainfield IL Property Tax Assessments 2008 | Plainfield IL HomesThe assumption is that because the foreclosures have brought down the value of the homes in the neighborhood, that the taxes would automatically decrease, but that simply isn’t true.  While the foreclosures in your neighborhood may have caused the residential equalized assessed valuation to decline, the remaining Plainfield homeowners are left to bear the brunt of these abandoned and bank owned homes.

The spending requested by your local Plainfield or Will County government is the most significant determining factor in whether or not your taxes increase or decrease.  Taxing districts requested spending, determines how much money must be raised through property tax revenue.   If there is an increase in spending in the district, even if property values are declining…taxes will go up.  If there is a decrease in the budget, there is a possibility taxes could go down, depending on whether or not property values are increasing or declining at the time of the assessment.

Here are the Will County Supervisor of Assessments FAQ’s.

If you disagree with the assessed fair market value of your home, contact your Will County Township Assessor to review your homes value before filing a complaint.  If you still disagree with your assessed value, you may file an appeal with the Will County board of review.  You can pick up the forms in the office or access them online.

If you, or someone you know is interested in buying or selling a home in the Plainfield IL area, call me at 630-673-6233.  

If you are behind in payments, you may qualify for a short sale or loan modification.  Call me to confidentially discuss the your foreclosure situation.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

The following single family Plainfield IL homes have recently closed in the Lakewood On Caton Farm subdivision:

March 2009:

  • 2703 Telluride Ct. closed on 3/31/09 for $225,000

January 2009:

  • 2714 Crested Butte Trail closed on 1/16/09 for $155,000 as an REO

Lakewood On Caton Farm Entrance

Lakewood On Caton Farm is located on Caton Farm Rd. just west of Rt. 59 in Plainfield IL.   Built by Lakewood Homes beginning around 1998, the neighborhood features single family homes, town homes, and duplexes.  The yearly association fee for the neighborhood is $165 for the single family homes. There is also a park located in the center of the neighborhood.

The students in the neighborhood attending public school go to the following Plainfield schools:

If you, or someone you know is interested in buying or selling a home in the Lakewood On Caton Farm subdivision in Plainfield IL, call me at 630-673-6233.

If you are behind in your mortgage payments, call me to confidentially discuss your options regarding foreclosure.  You may qualify for a short sale or loan modification.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

The following single family properties have recently closed in the Hampton Glen subdivision in Plainfield IL:

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February 2009

  • 1308 Bridgehampton Dr. closed on 2/25/09 for $141,000 as a short sale

December 2008

  • 5202 Pontigo Glen Dr. closed on 12/05/08 for $193,000 as a short sale

October 2008

  • 1409 Bridgehampton Dr. closed on 10/15/08 for $225,000

September 2008

  • 5105 Gardiner Glen Dr. closed on 9/25/08 for $195,000 as a short sale

The following towhomes have recently closed in the neighborhood:

March 2009

  • 5130 Freeport Ct. closed on 3/2/09 for $173,000

November 2008

  • 5005 Norwalk Ct. closed on 11/24/08 for $129,000 as an REO
  • 5110 Williston Ct. closed on 11/25/08 for $153,500
  • 5102 Edgewater Ct. closed on 11/7/08 for $176,000


The Hampton Glen subdivision
is located on Theodore Rd. just west of Rt. 59 near the Shorewood Wal-Mart and Family Video.  The subdivision was developed by Centex Homes starting in 2002.  There is a homeowners association for both the town house owners and the single family homes.  The town homes pay $152 monthly to the association and the annual year assessment for the single family homes is $125.

If you, or someone you know is interested in buying or selling a home in the Hampton Glen subdivision in Plainfield IL, call me at 630-673-6233.

If you are behind in your mortgage payments, call me to confidentially discuss your options regarding foreclosure.  You may qualify for a short sale or loan modification.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

The following properties recently closed in the Brighton Lakes Subdivision in Plainfield IL:

January 2009

  • 1803 Chestnut Hill Rd. closed on 1/28/09 for $201,000

December 2008

  • 5005 Brighton Ln. closed on 12/11/08 for $281,500

    Brighton Lakes Subdivision Plainfield IL


The Brighton Lakes subdivision is located near Rt. 59 and Theodore Rd in Plainfield IL.  The neighborhood features a private clubhouse and pool for resident use. There is a homeowners association for the community of $70 per month, which includes the use of the clubhouse and pool.

The homes in the Brighton Lakes were built around 1996, but I’m not sure who the builder of this community was since I didn’t leave here when the community was being built.

Students in the neighborhood attend the following public schools:


 

If you, or someone you know, are interested in buying or selling a home in the Brighton Lakes subdivision in Plainfield IL, call me at 630-673-6233.

If you are behind in your mortgage payments you may qualify for a short sale or loan modification.  Call me to confidentially discuss your situation.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

The following properties have recently closed in the Liberty Grove subdivision in Plainfield IL:

  • 14415 Meadow Ln. closed on 3/13/09 for $210,000
  • 14719 Independence Dr. closed on 9/10/08 for $252,000
  • 25217 Declaration Dr. closed on 10/24/08 for $255,000
  • 25216 Soldier Ct. closed on 1/20/09 for $259,000
  • 15160 Freedom Way closed on 3/06/09 for $290,000
  • 15215 Freedom Way closed on 11/14/08 for $319,000

 

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The Liberty Grove subdivision is located just south of historic downtown Plainfield IL.  The Liberty Grove neighborhood features a community pool, park, and pond, in addition to an on-site elementary school located centrally within the neighborhood.

The neighborhood was built by Cambridge Homes beginning around 2003.  There are two separate phases to the development: the Executive Series and the Horizon Series.  The differentiation between these two sections in Liberty Grove is the exterior style of the architecture as well as the interior features and price points.

Students who attend public school in the Liberty Grove subdivision in Plainfield IL go to the following schools:

If you want to know what your home in the Liberty Grove subdivision is worth, or have a property in another subdivision in Plainfield IL, contact me at the tab on the top of this page or call me at 630-673-6233. It would be my pleasure to help you with any of your real estate questions.

Are you behind in your mortgage payments?  You may qualify for a loan modification or short sale.  Call me to find out if you qualify for either of these programs.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Real Estate
630-673-6233

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The following homes have recently closed in the Kensington Club subdivision in Plainfield IL:

  • 13040 Stockton Ave. closed on 1/07/09 for $268,000
  • 24231 Bristol Ave. closed on 11/24/08 for $303,000
  •  13053 Stockton Ave. closed on 11/03/08 for $315,000
  • 24137 Newcastle St. closed on 2/24/09 for $320,000

Kensington Club Entrance in Plainfield ILThe Kensington Club subdivision is located off of 127th St. just west of  Rt. 59.  The subdivision does have a $670 per year association fee that is paid annually that covers the neighborhood amenities such as the clubhouse, pool, and ponds.

The homes in Kensington Club were built between 2001 and 2004, and are conveniently located near shopping and dining.

The public school attendance zones for Kensington Club in Plainfield IL are:

If you are looking for a new home in the Kensington Club subdivision, or anywhere in Plainfield IL, call me at 630-673-6233.  I’d love to help you make Plainfield your new home!

Have a question or comment about the Kensington Club subdivision?  Leave a comment!

 

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

Not long ago the road sides along Naperville and Plainfield IL streets were littered with ‘WE BUY HOMES’ bandit signs, but today the only investors still surviving in the current real estate market are purchasing homes at deep discounts through short sales based on their current market values. (not on what the homeowner owes), and then holding them as rental property until the market improves.

This has opened up the market to a whole new set of buyers who were previously shut out of the market due to the real estate feeding frenzy that ended a little over a year ago by these investors. 

Three simple reasons that investors have stopped buying up all of the good real estate opportunities in Naperville and Plainfield IL are:

  • Funding for these types of loans have dried up with the demise of the sub-prime lending industry.
  • There is too much competition in the inventory of homes to successfully sell the investment property quickly to avoid holding costs.
  • They can no longer bank on the anticipated future appreciation on their investment for equity.

While the inventory of Plainfield and Naperville IL homes being sold for less than what is owed is driving the price of homes that are available for sale, many buyers who have been lucky enough to sell their home, or 1st time home-buyers that don’t have a home to sell, are cashing in on the opportunity to purchase pre-foreclosure and foreclosed Plainfield and Naperville IL homes.

In the past, bank owned or foreclosed homes were traditionally abandoned and trashed on the interior, but today the face of foreclosure has changed. Your neighbors, family, and friends are among those who have either lost or are about to lose their home, and that is not the case. These homeowners are simply walking away. Homes in Plainfield were among one of the hardest hit communities in Will County to be affected by foreclosure, but the amazing thing is… even after everything that has happened in real estate over the last 3 years, Plainfield IL home prices are still 2% above their 2005 values on average.

Plainfield and Naperville Percentage of foreclosures

Because the volume of foreclosed Plainfield and Naperville IL homes are on the rise, buyers now have a better opportunity to negotiate directly with the bank on their purchase. There are several reasons that negotiating with the bank in the purchases of  Plainfield or Naperville IL homes will end in the buyers favor in most cases:

  • The bank is not emotionally attached to the property.
  • Their price is based on statistical data including recent home sales and appraisal.
  • Many of these loans are federally insured by the US government, (FHA loans) for 82% of the loan to value ratio, meaning they can be sold for a bank net of 82% of their value.
  • Banks understand the value in liquidating a non-performing asset for their investors.
  • Because Illinois is a judicial state, the foreclosure process is 4-10 months long on average. The bank is often eager to settle for less before the date of the auction to avoid additional court costs and property management fees. Also, the home is less likely to be vandalized by the homeowners if they have not actually lost their home at the auction.


1st time home buyers, and buyers that don’t have a home to sell, have a unique opportunity for buying a Plainfield or Naperville home that is in good condition and under market value. The hesitation for buyers in this market comes from analysts that say the worst isn’t over yet. The best way to safeguard your investment is to buy a home under market value through a short sale, preforeclosure or as an REO, right from the bank.

I predict the Plainfield and Naperville real estate market will begin to improve after this November’s presidential election. The current price of gas and the worry of inflation have many potential home-buyers climbing back over the fence. Consumer confidence will begin to improve when some of the uncertainty of our governmental and economic conditions have been put to rest.

I have 4 years of experience in dealing with short sales, bank owned properties and pre-foreclosures. I have successfully negotiated short sales for homeowners in foreclosure, and I have been performing Broker Price Opinions for lenders on property in default for the last 12 months.

I know how to evaluate the value of Plainfield and Naperville IL homes because I live and work in the community. I can help you find the best home at the best price. The best part is it’s not just what I’m good at… it’s what I love to do!

If you are a buyer looking to purchase or invest in a Plainfield or Naperville IL home, I can help you find the best value for your money, and put you in a positiion of equity to protect your purchase from further market depreciation.

If you are a homeowner facing foreclosure in either Plainfield or Naperville IL, I can attempt to negotiate a short sale with your lender to avoid a foreclosure. Due to the high amount of inquiries I receive about short sales, I limit the number of homeowners in foreclosure that I can successfully assist at one time.

 

Call me at 630-673-6233 to get started right away. I look forward to talking to you.

Join the Discussion… Leave a Comment!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield ILReal Estate
630-673-6233

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