May 2008 - Posts
It's been a pervading theme for my blog and much of the talk around the town that both our Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox are in first place. Seemingly, for both teams a very possible 1 st place finish come season's end since both teams have
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Even though the weekend weather might not cooperate fully with tons of sunshine and warmth, after this week's 40 degree drop in temperature from Monday's 80's, anything above 50 is going to be a pleasure. So, I suggest you take it outdoors
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CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NHL HOCKEY MAY PLAY - OUTDOORS - AT WRIGLEY FIELD THIS JANUARY! Across North America and in Europe, most professional hockey is played in an indoor ice arena, of course. Only true fans know, however, that most pro hockey players got
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LAKEVIEW For about five years now, our fine city has not had a frozen custard stand, which other cities such as Milwaukee, St. Louis and Champaign-Urbana have enjoyed. Then Scooter's Custard was introduced into Lakeview. Scooter's is Chicago's
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THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! Have you ever had your bicycle stolen? Heartbreaking, isn't it? My Human Dad lost his Stingray Handlebar Model, with a Banana Style Seat , many
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TWO-THIRDS OF U.S. METRO MARKETS SHOW PRICE GAINS IN FIRST QUARTER! The Chicago Metro Real Estate Market is big and diverse. Taken as a whole, however, the average home price here increased over 16%, year to year, between the First Quarter, 2007, and
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The diminutive pine nut is a strong ally in the weight-loss battle. These ivory-colored gems contain the monounsaturated fats and the fiber you need to resist a snack attack. Removing the stubborn nuts from the inside of a pinecone is difficult work,
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PMI ISSUERS - NO CHANGE ON THEIR "DECLINING MARKET" POLICY! When I was a kid, I remember my father telling me, time and time again, "If it sounds like too good a deal, it probably ISN'T!" What is happening in today's mortgage
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Rogers Park, Chicago - Classic Courtyard Building, Restored to Perfection in 2004, offers 2 Large, Sunny Bedrooms – one with Bay Window! Open Floor Plan – Gourmet Kitchen with 1 ¼” Granite Countertops, Maple Cabinets, and Premium
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As we know from living in the Chicagoland area, spring can be an elusive thing. Either we jump from winter directly into summer or warmer temps never seem to come. Last year it went right into summer with temps exceeding 70 most days. This year is a different
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There is a new way to get all the news you want from all the different popular sources - on ONE web page. It's called Addictomatic and is truly addicting. Let's say you want to see what is going during the current presidential election. You go
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Good Morning! Hope you're enjoying your Memorial Day Holiday, everyone! While enjoying the time off today with your family and friends, we ask that you take a few minutes to reflect on those in our Armed Forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice
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PATTERN OF CHICAGO DOWNTOWN PRICE STABILITY REPEATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY! The Chicago Real Estate Market , circa 2008, has shown some pockets of hope, amid much gloom. Typically, homes and condos Dean's Team market, and those listed by other Downtown
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You have to wonder if winning the NBA's draft lottery will do more than just bring a great player to the Chicago Bulls in next month's NBA draft . With just a 1.7 percent chance of winning the first pick, the Chicago Bulls were able to secure
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To commemorate Memorial Day this wonderful weekend in Chicago; why not come out and enjoy, a parade and some fireworks. The Chicago Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony along with the Parade is scheduled for this Saturday. The morning starts with Wreath
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THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! Got my new Speedo's (But My Real Name is Mr. Earl)! Found a Waterproof Cub Hat! Bought me a new tube of Sunblock, DPF (Dog Protection Factor)
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TOO-HIGH ASKING PRICE USUALLY REDUCES EVENTUAL SALES PRICE! Here in Chicago , if we run into this once, we've run into it one thousand times from home sellers - "Let's try a higher price to start with when we sell. We can always come down
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LOGAN SQUARE Chicago's cycling community will gather for a memorial ride Wednesday night past intersections where fatal car-bike accidents happened. Cyclists will gather at 6:45 p.m. in Daley Plaza. From there they will proceed on a 12-mile route
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NEW ON THE MARKET! 820 sq. ft., 1 bath, 1 bdrm single story - MLS® 06901595 Only $267,500! River North, Chicago - On The River! Incredible South-Exposure True One Bedroom in River Plaza – High Floor! Look out your 45th Floor Window – see
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BACON CHEDDAR DEVILED EGGS Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes Difficulty: Easy Servings: 24 eggs INGREDIENTS 12 eggs 1/2 cup mayonnaise 4 slices bacon 2 tablespoons finely shredded Cheddar cheese 1 tablespoon mustard DIRECTIONS Place eggs in
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YOUR HOME EQUITY LINE OF CREDIT – IT MIGHT BE IN TROUBLE! (Rich Bira , our Preferred Lending Partner at First Capital Mortgage, Chicago IL, serving all Chicago Neighborhoods and suburbs, has been handing financing for many of our clients for over
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PUBLIC OPENS GENERATE SALES LEADS FOR REALTORS, BUT RARELY SELL THE HOME! Early in my real estate career - some twelve years or more ago - each and every Sunday afternoon was personally booked for an Open House on one or more of my residential listings.
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HAVING SUCCESS WITH SOD Whether you're doing the entire lawn or a small patch, installation is pretty simple. Make sure you have a good base, which includes tilled soil augmented with a mixture of 2 parts top soil to one part each sand and compost.
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So in this current economic climate, there is always a desire to save money or at least get creative with current finances. I found this new USB device that will help you save on phone bills. You simply plug in the USB and then attach your phone to the
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Good Morning, Everyone! FHA-Underwritten Mortgage Loans, which had fallen from favor during the recent housing boom, are becoming popular again for those with very little down payment funds, and somewhat blemished credit. FHA loans allow for lower personal
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STARTLING STATISTIC FINDS LOWER-INCOME BUYERS TYPICALLY HAVE HIGHER FICO CREDIT SCORES! Over the years, loans underwritten by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), have typically been more forgiving of those with blemished credit. Lending rules for FHA
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CHICAGO AND MANY SUBURBS HAVE BANNED OUTDOOR SMOKING IN MANY PLACES - BUT IT'S STILL LEGAL ON THE LINKS! Illinois "Smoke Free" Law went into effect the first of this year, banning smoking in virtually all indoor public places and all restaurants,
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WITH AVERAGE PRICES FOR REGULAR GASOLINE EXCEEDING $4.00/GALLON IN MANY METRO AREAS, ARE HOMEBUYERS FAVORING CLOSER-IN CITY LOCATIONS OVER FARTHER-OUT SUBURBS? I was nearly floored when I saw the price sign at a Shell Station yesterday afternoon - $4.35/gallon
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I never thought I'd see the day when Jim Edmonds would be wearing Cubbie Blue. It's hard to be levelheaded about him since he may have been the most hated Cardinal whenever the Cardinals would face the Cubs . From a business perspective, it's
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Everything seems to be going up in price these days except our take home pay! What's wrong with this picture? Well, I thought for this weekend, especially with gas prices reaching $4.00 a gallon, I would choose a handful of activities that wouldn't
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THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! Sorry - you caught me counting out my Life Savings. My tank is low, and I have to head out to buy some gas! In the car. At the park. While walking
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AN ESTIMATED 6,000 NEW CONDOS TO HIT THE MARKET IN DOWNTOWN CHICAGO IN 2008 - ONLY 201 UNITS SOLD 1ST QUARTER THIS YEAR! It's getting tougher to finance a new condo these days! Here in Chicago, and in most other parts of the U.S., lenders are tightening
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LOGAN SQUARE Second City e.t.c. always faces a tough challenge. It has to be both edgy and experimental, keep up its image and outwit its competition. With weekends bringing on sold out shows consistently, the general audience is looking to laugh hard
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Being a wine geek of sorts, I wanted to try something a little different so I went on the search for a great sangria recipe. I have to admit that there are literally thousands of ways to make a good sangria. Essentially it's all in the way you spice
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CHICAGO METRO AREA FARES BETTER THAN MANY - MEDIAN SINGLE-FAMILY HOME PRICE $249,600! First Quarter, 2008 data released yesterday by the National Association of Realtors indicate the median single-family home price dropped in 100 out of 149 Metro Markets
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SOME EXEMPTIONS YOU MAY BE MISSING! Today I wanted to take a small departure from the usual home and garden issues. I've been running across some listings in the MLS lately where the owners have not taken advantage of their homeowners exemption on
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NEW CODE, EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2009, WOULD PROHIBIT LOAN ORIGINATORS FROM HAVING CONTACT WITH APPRAISERS! Inflated appraisals! Here in Chicago , and elsewhere across the country, many think home appraisal reports, made by professional appraisers, were
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Okay gamers, get your game face on. And those of you who are working and reading this, c'mon get the work done first and then play around, will ya? Nintendo just released its new WiiWare today. Because of the new release there will be no new Virtual
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Good Morning, Everyone! U.S. Home Loan Guarantor and Investor, Fannie Mae, is putting the touches on a new program geared to help those who appear underwater on their home loans - they owe more on their mortgage than the estimated market value of their
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PLAN WOULD ALLOW "UNDERWATER" MORTGAGE BORROWERS TO RE-FINANCE INTO MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSE PAYMENTS! It's a big problem in many housing markets across the country, where price speculation was rampant a couple of years ago - Arizona, Florida,
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The beat goes on as both sides of town find themselves in the hunt for their division. Chicago baseball fans couldn't ask for a better start with what is shaping up to be an exciting summer of baseball. The Cubs have had to tinker with their lineup
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OFTEN CRITICIZED FOR SLOW DELIVERY TIMES, MAIL MISHANDLING - 95% OF 1ST CLASS MAIL NOW DELIVERED NEXT DAY IN CITY, SELECT ADJOINING SUBURBS! You sometimes here war stories on slow mail delivery. They range from the rent check that arrives a week late
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We all have someone in our lives whom we know, love and call "Mom" or "Mother." Let's celebrate this Mother's Day in Chicago with a little tradition and a lot of laughter and love. If you want to make this day special, why
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THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! Good Morning, You Dogs! Here I am last summer with Grandma Felice , Team Leader Dean's Real Mom, and one of my Human Grandmas. You know, I get
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NEW TECHNOLOGY WOULD BLANKET CHICAGO METRO AREA WITH WIRELESS COVERAGE AT DSL SPEEDS! If you want to surf the web today, outside your home or office hard-wired LAN connection, or, for an increasingly few of you, your dial-up modem connection, you generally
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EDGEWATER When Andrew Billups struggles to muster the energy to go to school, all the 8th grader at Peirce School of International Studies simply has to do is picture music teacher Brooke Tippett Thompson. He is fond of the times she has broken out into
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PERFECT FOR COOKOUTS! Here is a great salad for summer cookouts, family picnics or neighborhood events. Difficulty: Easy Prep Time: 12 hours Cook Time: 30 minutes Ingredients 1 (16 ounce) package angel hair pasta --> --> (break in half) or 1 (12-16 ounce)
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FED RATE CUTS DO NOT ALWAYS EQUAL LOWER MORTGAGE RATES! (Rich Bira , our Preferred Lending Partner at First Capital Mortgage, Chicago IL , serving all Chicago Neighborhoods and suburbs, has been handing financing for many of our clients for over eight
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Albany Park, Chicago - Announcing a price reduction on 4716 N. Bernard Street, Unit 3W - 2BR - One Block to Brown Line L! If you're looking for convenience, location, and top appointments - look no further! Compact-yet-stunning top floor unit - renovated
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Rogers Park, Chicago - Announcing a price reduction on 6813 N Lakewood Avenue . Open Floor Plan - 2 Large Bedrooms, Hardwood Floors, Whirlpool, In-Unit Laundry. Top, Stainless Appliances, Granite Counters, Maple Cabinets! Renovated to perfection in 2004
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LET'S TALK PLANTING AND FLOWERS! Now is the best time for a great selection at garden centers. You have your pick of colors and varieties. Be sure to plan your pots before shopping, while considering light and height requirements. When hanging long
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MINIMUM 680 FICO CREDIT SCORE NOW NEEDED TO GET THE BEST LOAN TERMS! Just like some say, "Age 50 is the new 40, 40 the new 30," and so on, 680, not 620, is the new FICO Score threshold lenders consider for the best mortgage interest rates. Many
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KIOSKS HEADED TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS ACROSS THE US Today I thought I'd share one of the more positive things going on with Xbox. Companions in Courage and Microsoft have partnered to bring "hundreds" of Xbox 360 kiosks to children's
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Good Morning, Everyone! Rules for mortgage loans continue to be tightened! This is especially true for certain low-down payment borrowers looking to cash-out re-finance, those purchasing investment properties, and borrowers with limited documentation
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CASH-OUT REFINANCES, STATED INCOME LOANS LIKELY CASUALTIES FOR MANY! In response to the high level of mortgage delinquencies occurring within the last year, with more predicted to come throughout 2008, lenders are likely to tighten lending rules even
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How things change in one week. I guess that's baseball. One week ago, the Cubs were flying high beating up on mediocre teams en route to a first place lead that grew to as much as 2.5 games. Now, they find themselves chasing the St. Louis Cardinals
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NO BIDS ON EBAY - SO 1989 DUSTIN SHULER SCULPTURE DISMANTLED, IN TWO HOURS, LAST NIGHT! To local residents, a memorable icon tying their city of Berwyn to quirky history. To others, a local eyesore - a nesting place for pigeons, and a magnet for bird
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13-YEAR OLD CITY OF CHICAGO RECYCLING PROGRAM CONTROVERSIAL, LARGELY INEFFECTIVE! Back in 1995, many larger cities and suburbs throughout North America had recycling programs well underway. Chicago was behind at that time - so they introduced their own
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Well, I hope you all enjoyed your Chicago Hot Dog. I sure enjoyed every one I had! I think I'll take a break from writing about food this weekend since I do have a bathing suit to fit into and definitely don't want to be confused with a "beached
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THE CHICAGO IL REAL ESTATE MARKET, AND OTHER THINGS CHICAGO, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF A LITTLE WHITE DOG! Did you see the Chicago Cubs Game today? I was there, sitting quietly in the Left Field Bleachers, when a Cub meltdown happened again - against
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HOWEVER, SOME LENDERS ARE REVISING LOAN TERMS TO CREATE MORE AFFORDABLE MONTHLY PAYMENTS! Last Fall, The Bush Administration created the " Hope Now Alliance," a coalition of larger lenders who developed a plan to help delinquent homeowners avoid
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EDGEWATER It's springtime and time to think green. A horticultural Uptown resident, Casey, maintains small gardens outside her condo building in the neighborhood. She was invited to join in a browsing expedition of the Andersonville/Edgewater gardens
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