From Alderman Brendan Reilly’s office:
The Chicago Center for Green Technology (CCGT), a program of the Chicago Department of Environment offers FREE educational programs regarding green technology, energy efficiency, environmentally responsible business, green homes and gardens, green building techniques and sustainable living.
January 2010 Programs:
- Greening New and Old: Two Chicago Examples of Sustainable Design
February 2010 Programs:
- Designing Natural Areas That Work
- Demystifying LEED for Homes
- Permaculture V: Community
- Historic Preservation and Sustainability: A Generational Approach to Green
- Native Landscapes and Natural Areas Management
- Green Materials for Creators and Consumers
- Chicago Green Homes Program Case Study: 2237 N. Campbell
- Selling Solar
- Ecology of Design
Copies of the Winter/Spring 2010 Program Schedule, which includes information on all the programs offered, are available for pick up in Alderman Reilly’s Constituent Office, located at 325 W. Huron St., Ste. 510, or click here to view it online.
For more information about the CCGT or if you have questions about any of the programs offered, please call 312-746-9642 or email greentech@cityofchicago.org.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Alderman Brendan Reilly, Chicago Center for Green Technology, Chicago Department of Environment, energy efficiency, green building techniques, green homes, sustainable living
For people who want to own a home, the premium to buy—the spread between what they’d spend to rent and what they’d pay for a mortgage—is much lower than the 15-year average in many cities.
To determine what cities are smart buys, Forbes magazine computed the premium and also identified locales where economists predict home prices will go up the most over the next five years.
Here are the top 10 cities the magazine chose as the best places to buy right now.
- Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, Mass.
- Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, N.C.-S.C.
- Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, Ill.-Ind.-Wis.
- Cincinnati-Middletown, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.
- Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colo
- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.-Wis.
- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa.-N.J.-Del.-Md.
- Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, Ore.-Wash.
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, Calif.
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, D.C.-Va.-Md.-W.V.
Source: Forbes, Francesca Levy (01/21/2010)
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Chicago, Forbes Magazine, mortgage, smart buys
From Alderman Brendan Reilly’s office:
Lakeside CDC, a nonprofit housing organization, will be holding seminars for condo owners and boards. The cost is $25 per participant and advanced registration is required. Space is limited, so if you are interested, please RSVP by calling 773-381-5253 or email condo@lakesidecdc.org.
Collections, Liens and Foreclosures
Learn the process for filling a collections action, how to work with outside counsel, and the purpose of a lien. Learn about the impact of foreclosures, how to protect the association’s interest during a foreclosure, and how to avoid forcing a unit owner into foreclosure through collections activity.
Presented by Kelly C. Elmore, Attorney, Penland & Hartwell, LLC
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Roosevelt Chicago Public Library
1101 W. Taylor St.
Condominium Association and Board Training Basics Webinar
It is a great opportunity to learn the basic rights and responsibilities of condominium owners, and how to build a sense of community, while establishing a consistent communication system and avoiding conflict in a condominium association.
Presented by Lakeside Community Development Corporation
Thursday, January 28, 2010
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Please contact Lakeside CDC for further details
Roles and Responsibilities for Boards and Owners
Learn the differences among governing documents and the roles/responsibilities of condominium owners and board members.
Presented by Kerry T. Bartell, Attorney, Kovitz Shifrin Nesbit, P.C.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Edgewater Chicago Public Library
1210 W. Elmdale Ave.
These seminars are presented with the support from the Chicago Department of Community Development. For more information please visit the Lakeside CDC website at http://www.lakesidecdc.org
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Alderman Brendan Reilly, Condo management, foreclosures, Lakeside Community Development Corporation, Penland & Hartwell LLC
The Spring real estate market in Chicago historically has always begun on
Super Bowl Sunday. That’s February 7 this year. With that in mind, some of my colleagues from Prudential Rubloff offered the following observations:
From one of the company principals: “With listing inventory down 17.7% over the same time last year, I think pent up demand inventory will be large coming on market. The later (sellers wait to list) I believe the more inventory.” Everybody is shooting for a listing date of Super Bowl Sunday. But YOU can get ahead of the pack — and make your property stand out — by listing now.
Are you planning to list a property with a lower price point? Think about listing NOW. The extended home buyer’s tax credit makes your property more attractive to first-time buyers who typically look for lower-priced properties when making their first home acquisition.
Are you ready to list? Are you looking for a great property to buy? Drop me a line and we’ll talk about how to achieve your real estate goals in the New Year!
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Home buyer's tax credit, investment, Prudential Rubloff, real estate, super bowl sunday
From the December 30 issue of REALTOR Magazine:
Americans Want to Be Obama’s Neighbor
The neighbor most Americans would choose is the Obama family, according to the annual Zillow Celebrity Neighbor Survey, which asked more than 2,000 U.S. adults to choose who they’d most like to see across the fence.
The most desirable neighbors for 2010 are:
- The Obamas
- Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi
- Sarah Palin
- Taylor Swift
- Oprah Winfrey
- Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen
- Tiger Woods
- Robert Pattinson
The least desirable neighbors are:
- Nayda Suleman (also known as “Octomom”)
- Jon and Kate Gosselin
- Sara Palin
- Richard and Mayumi Heene (parents of balloon boy)
- Kanye West
- Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt
- Britney Spears
- Tiger Woods
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: neighbors, Obama, Octomom, real estate, Sara Palin, Taylor Swift, Tiger Woods, Zillow

Two ingenious Crown Point, IN gentlemen have discovered a way to make the most of a truly inexplicable Christmas tradition. Here’s a hint: the photo above features one of the items for sale on their website.
Follow this link to see all the wonderful ways you can join in the reindeer games! The hilarious product names are an added holiday bonus.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: christmas sweaters, crown point indiana, gift suggestions, party ideas, ugly christmas sweaters
These numbers just in courtesy of Chicago Condos On-Line
Condo Market Indicators
Year Over Year (November 2009 – November 2008)
| Category |
November 2009 |
November 2008 |
Change |
| Closings |
970 |
526 |
+84% |
| % Condo Closings |
52% |
48% |
+8% |
| Median Sales Price |
$252,500 |
$278,450 |
-9% |
| Avg. Days on Market |
147 |
131 |
12% |
| New Listings |
1,684 |
1,358 |
+24% |
| Supply |
11.9 months |
8.3 months |
+43% |
| Total sales volume |
$291 mil |
$170 mil |
+71% |
Month Over Month (November 2009 – October 2009)
| Category |
November 2009 |
October 2009 |
Change |
| Closings |
970 |
1037 |
-6% |
| % Condo Closings |
52% |
51% |
+1% |
| Median Sales Price |
$252,500 |
$255,000 |
-1% |
| Avg. Days on Market |
147 |
130 |
+13% |
| New Listings |
1,684 |
2,283 |
-26% |
| Supply |
11.9 months |
12.3 months |
-4% |
| Total sales volume |
$291 mil |
$306 mil |
-5% |

Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Chicago condo sales, Chicago Condos Online, real estate

Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago takes on a German flavor for the holidays every year. Food, drinks and entertainment are all here. It will definitely put you in the mood to have a Fröhliches Weihnachten!
Find out more here: Christkindl Market Chicago
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Tagged: Chicago, Christkindl Market Chicago, Daley Plaza, family fun, German, holiday

It’s the morning-after nightmare that you hadn’t expected: a gaping hole where you parked your car last night.
Yep, Chicago’s winter parking bans are now in effect. The Parking Ticket Geek has a very comprehensive report on the what/when/how. Here’s another super-handy guide from The Parking Ticket Geek. What to do if your vehicle has been towed.
Hey, at least your trip to the pound today will be sunny and relatively warm. …Just tryin’ to help you find the bright side in this annual Chicago tradition.
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Tagged: auto pound, Chicago parking bans, parking ticket geek, parking tickets, tow, towed

I have clients who are strongly interested in seeing available properties in this wonderful lakefront highrise. We’re seeing four units this week.
Harbor Point is a well-established residence highrise building, part of the Lakeshore East neighborhood at the north edge of Chicago’s Millennium Park. Frequently confused with “that other Lake Shore curvy highrise” to the north Lake Point Tower, HARBOR POINT is a well-managed, beautifully maintained building with amenities including:
- Indoor Pool
- Extensive Fitness Center
- Private Garden and Terrace
- Sunroom
- Bockwinkel’s Grocer
Oh yes, and some of the most magnificent lake views in the city.
How about you? Are you in the market for a wonderful, reasonably-priced lakefront home in a beautifully-managed building? Drop me a line! I’ll set up some showings!
Photo courtesy of A View on Cities.com
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: bockwinkel's, condominium, Harbor Point Chicago, lake views, lakefront, Millennium Park