H1N1 Vaccination Clinics in Chicago

From Alderman Brendan Reilly’s office:

The Chicago Department of Public Health is sponsoring walk-in immunization clinics for Chicagoans who are included in the high priority groups defined by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

* Pregnant women
* Household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 6 months of age
* Health care and emergency medical service personnel
* Children and young adults ages 6 months through 24 years
* Persons aged 25-64 years who have medical conditions which put them at high risk for complications or death from influenza

Shots are given on a first-come, first-served basis at the following locations:

* Kennedy King College, 6301 S. Halsted Street
* Olive Harvey College, 10001 S. Woodlawn
* Richard J. Daley College, 7500 S. Pulaski
* Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave.
* West Side Technical Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave.
* Wright College, 4300 N. Narragansett Ave.

These clinics will be open on the following days:
Saturdays from 9:00am – 2:00pm

* October 31
* November 7
* November 14

Tuesdays from 3:00pm – 8:00pm

* October 27
* November 3
* November 10
* November 17

Thursdays from 3:00pm – 8:00pm

* October 29
* November 5
* November 12
* November 19

For additional info, please call 311 or visit the Chicago Department of Public Health.

Chicago Area Pet Stores Take ‘Puppy Friendly’ Pledge

Chicago Area Pet Stores Take ‘Puppy Friendly’ Pledge

October 23, 2009

Thanks to the efforts of local animal advocates, nearly 50 Chicago area pet stores have signed The Humane Society of the United States’ puppy friendly pet store pledge — committing not to sell puppies, but instead support local animal adoption programs or provide literature that helps customers learn how to locate a reputable breeder. The HSUS applauds these independent retailers because their actions prove it is not necessary to support the cruel puppy mill trade to operate a successful pet-related business.

“These stores have set a positive example of corporate responsibility for other businesses to follow,” said Stephanie Shain, senior director of The HSUS’ puppy mills campaign. “Pet stores that profit from the cruel puppy mill industry need to step up and do the right thing by stopping their puppy sales. Shelters and rescues are brimming with all types of dogs in need of homes.”

Store owners and managers who sign The HSUS’ pledge receive a placard proclaiming, “We love puppies; that’s why we don’t sell them,” to display in the store, as well as materials about adopting a dog or finding a responsible breeder. The HSUS encourages shoppers to purchase pet supplies at stores displaying the puppy-friendly sign.

The independent retailers in the Chicago area that have most recently signed the puppy friendly pledge to not sell puppies are:

* Animal Feeds & Needs (Arlington Heights)
* Bark Bark Club (Chicago)
* Barker and Meowsky (Chicago)
* Bentley’s Corner Barkery (Arlington Heights)
* Birds and Beasts Pet Shop (Crystal Lake)
* Cody and Carl’s Blvd (Barrington)
* Dog-A-Holics (2 locations Chicago)
* Doggy Style Pet Shop (Chicago)
* Earth Pups (Chicago)
* Famous Fido (Chicago)
* Fetch! Dog Boutique & Spa (Chicago)
* Follow Your Nose (Evanston)
* Four Legs Pets (Algonquin)
* Groomingayle’s Pet Salon (Glenview)
* Kriser’s Feeding Pets for Life (three stores in Chicago, Park Ridge and South Barrington)
* Liz’s Pet Shop (Chicago)
* Orland Pk Boarding Kennel & Natural Pet Food Center (Orland Park)
* Pans Pet Place (Morton Grove)
* Parker’s Pets (Chicago)
* Paw Lickin’ Good Treats (DeKalb)
* Pawprints of Richmond, Ltd (Richmond)
* Pet Central Inc. (McHenry)
* Pets Etc (Naperville)
* Reeses Barkery & Pawtique (McHenry)
* Ruff Haus Pets (Chicago)
* Suburban Pet City (Oak Park)
* Tails in the City (Chicago)
* The Animal Store (Lincolnwood)
* The Barking Lot (Chicago and Deerfield)
* The Dog House of L.G. Ltd. (Long Grove)
* The Houndry (Chicago)
* Thomas Tails (Crystal Lake)
* Three Dog Bakery (Chicago)
* VIP Pet Salon (McHenry)
* Wet Nose (Geneva and Oak Brook)
* Wicker Pet (Chicago)
* Wigglyville (Chicago)

Policy Helps Dogs Across the United States

The majority of pet stores that sell puppies carry dogs from puppy mills, which are mass production facilities that churn out large numbers of puppies under inhumane conditions. The breeding dogs at puppy mills spend their entire lives in cramped cages or kennels with little or no personal attention or quality of life. Consumers who purchase puppies from pet stores or over the Internet without seeing a breeder’s home firsthand are often unknowingly supporting this cruel puppy mill industry.

Facts

* About one-third of the nation’s 9,000 independent pet stores sell puppies.
* The HSUS estimates that 2 million to 4 million puppy mill puppies are sold each year in the United States.
* Documented puppy mill conditions include over-breeding, inbreeding, minimal veterinary care, poor food and shelter, crowded cages and lack of socialization.
* Dogs kept for breeding in puppy mills suffer for years in continual confinement. They are bred as often as possible and then destroyed or discarded once they can no longer produce puppies.
* Pet stores and online sellers often use attractive Web sites to hide the truth and to dupe consumers into thinking that they are dealing with a small, reputable breeder.
* Reputable breeders never sell puppies over the Internet or through a pet store and will insist on meeting the family who will be purchasing the dog.
* Puppy mills contribute to the pet overpopulation problem, which results in millions of unwanted dogs euthanized at shelters every year.

The above information was released October 23, 2009 by the Humane Society of the United States. For more information, contact Loraine Miscavage at (301) 258-1483.

Smart Off-Season Tips for Buyers

Everyone’s been saying “Now’s the time to buy,” for quite a while, but for many who’ve been waiting on the sidelines, the autumn “off-season” of real estate may indeed be the right time to act.

“Anybody who is trying to sell a house going into the winter months has to be flexible, and you should be able to get good deals,” says Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance. With mortgage rates at record lows and favorable home prices, buyers should be active.

Here are some tips for buyers to help ensure a successful close:

• Secure Employment: Buyers must have a stable job in order to feel comfortable about the purchase and to get approved for a mortgage.
• Spotless Credit: Credit scores above 720 still get the best mortgage rates, as lending remains tight. Help buyers to correct any errors on their credit reports.
• Build Cash: Let house hunters know that the days of no-down-payment loans are a relic of the past. Depending on the situation, they’ll need to put down at least 3.5 percent of the purchase price.
• Follow Uncle Sam: Though the first-time home buyer tax credit is set to expire November 30th, there’s talk it may be extended into 2010. Buyers may still be able to take advantage of this opportunity, but pay attention to the news out of Washington to see if eligibility will be extended.
• Be Ready to Bargain: Purchasers are in a position to ask for a lot more if a seller needs to move. If you think the floor needs to be replaced, ask for it. “In my market, buyers still have a great deal of influence and sellers will do just about anything, assuming it is doable and legal,” says NAR First Vice President Ron Phipps, a broker with Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I.

Free Real Estate Clipart obtained from RealtyClipArt.com

Source: U.S. News & World Report, Luke Mullins (10/14/09)

Homeownership Still A Good Investment

Some encouraging news from the National Association of Realtors’ “Daily Real Estate News.” The American dream of homeownership is still a good bet, financial advisors say firmly. Despite the downturn in the last couple of years, homes have still appreciated an average of 4 percent a year since World War II. Plus, it’s a leveraged investment; a 10 percent down payment yields a 1,000 percent return if the price of the home doubles. There are also valuable intangibles. Owning a home provides independence, security, community, and a roof over the owner’s head. No one can say that about investing in stock. Source: Associated Press, Dave Carpenter (10/12/2009)

Show off your creativity here!

SOAR, the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, is now accepting applications for artisans who would like to participate in this year’s Artisan Market, open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, November 14 & 15.

Applications and more detailed information is available at Soar Chicago

You can also contact artisans@soarchicago.org or call 280-2596, ext. 2.

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REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Men, Women Vary on Home Shopping

When it comes to buying a home, women are in a bigger hurry, according to a national survey for Coldwell Banker Real Estate that delved into the homebuying psyche.

Coldwell Banker wanted to understand the difference between men and women in the homebuying process so it could help its practitioners do a better job of guiding first-time homebuyers who must make up their minds before the tax credit expires on Dec. 1.

Here are some key findings:

* When asked how long it took before they knew their home was “right” for them, almost 70 percent of women had made up their minds the day they walked into the house vs. 62 percent of men. On the other hand, significantly more men needed two or more visits (32 percent of men vs. 23 percent of women).

* 55 percent of women find it more important to be closer to their extended family than to their job, compared to only 37 percent of men.

* 64 percent of women said that if they found the home of their dreams but had concerns about its security, they would no longer be interested. More than half of men agreed (51 percent).

* When the respondents were asked how they would use an extra 12×12 room if it could be anything they wanted, men and women agreed on the top three responses: Bedroom, office/study, and family room/den.

* 8 percent—nearly all of which were men—said they would use the extra space for recreation/entertainment.

* 70 percent of couples said the responsibility for making major financial decisions–such as homebuying–are shared equally.

Source: Coldwell Banker Real Estate (08/17/2009)

Alderman Reilly Reports

Alderman Reilly Invites You to the 42nd Ward 2016 Olympic Community Forum!

Summer Real Estate Search: Where They’re Looking

I’m working with four sets of buyers, all of them looking for condo homes north of the Chicago River and within eight blocks of Lake Michigan.  Together, my buyers represent some interesting demographics.

These folks are looking at properties ranging from $300,000 to nearly $1,000,000.  Two of these buyers are first-time buyers planning to take advantage of the first-time buyer’s $8,000 tax credit.  One of  them is a couple looking for an investment property.  And the fourth couple is looking for a property for their upcoming retirement years.

What does this suggest?  Well, I think it says a few important things:

• Confidence in the Chicago real estate market is beginning to creep upwards, once again.  Can I get an “amen”?
• Downtown Chicago is a very desirable area in which to live.  Like we didn’t already know that?
• Housing inventory is decreasing as the market improves and buyers close on their transactions.  Now is the best time to find the best deals.  Especially for first-time buyers using the $8,000 tax credit — it’s set to expire on November 30 of this year.

Are you interested in what’s going on in your neighborhood?  Drop me a line.  I’ll fill you in!

For Fans & Residents of the Clinton Street Lofts in the West Loop

I’m sharing some stats I just put together for a client who is considering his first home purchase at the Clinton Street Lofts, 226 N. Clinton.  It’s a very unique loft building with a very pretty courtyard just inside the main entrance.

I’m impressed by how quickly most of the units went under contract, as well as the healthy sale prices.  Hmmmm.  WHAT housing recession? 
# 303 / Days on Market:  42 / Sale Price:  $235,000 parking included which reflects 95% of asking price / Closing Date:  Feb. 2009
# 524 / Days on Market:  45 / Sale Price:  $332,000 which reflects 98% of asking price / Closing Date:  June 2009
# 618 / Days on Market:  24 / Sale Price:  $405,000 parking included which reflects 95% of asking price / Closing Date:  May 2009
# 722 / Days on Market:  176 / Sale Price:  $428,000 parking included which reflects 95% of asking price / Closing Date June 2009
# 704 / Days on Market:  95 / Sale Price:  $650,000 which reflects 97% of asking price / Closing Date:  Jan. 2009

Would you like to find out what’s happening in your building?  Drop me a line and I’ll pull the numbers for you!