Single Family Home Sales in Lincoln Park

As of April 30 2011, there were 28 homes sold in Lincoln Park with an average price about $1,550,000. During the first four months of last year, 46 homes were sold with an average price about $1,750,000. 


Prices continue to fall across the board, but the prices are starting to stabilize as the economy recovers. Will prices continue to fall? Yes, for a little while. Buyers are sitting on the sidelines because they believe prices will continue to fall. Folks, it's time to get off the sidelines and get into the game. There has never been a better time to buy a home. Interest rates have never been lower. Don't let this opportunity pass you by! Call me @ 773.572.6512

Happy Memorial Day

I want to thank everyone who is serving or has served in the military. Because of your sacrifice, we can live free. Thank you. Happy Memorial Day.

Pet Adoption for May 28, 2011

 Ralphie and Allie are best friend kittens looking for a loving guardian. 

Ralphie is a four-month-old, friendly, playful and happy, brown and white, male, tabby kitten who gets along with everyone. He was born the day his mom was brought into Chicago Animal Control – January 29th. He went to a foster home where he fell in love with his foster sister Allie - a magnificent one-year-old, female, calico. They snuggle, play and roughhouse endlessly – so they are looking for a home together.

They are both very affectionate, playful, snugly and sweet – though Allie takes just a tad longer to warm up. Ralphie sleeps in bed with his foster mom, while Allie typically prefers the window sill. They both use their litter box like good kitties.

Ralphie and Allie are very healthy, neutered/spayed, up-to-date on vaccines, micro-chipped, and virus-tested. To meet and possibly adopt them, please contact their foster mom Charlie at cpropsom@sbcglobal.net or 773-743-5760. Their adoption fee of $75 each benefits the rescued pets of Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

 Echo is a beautiful, playful, quiet, and very responsive, eight-month-old, 40-pound, female, black and white tuxedo pit bull terrier with cropped ears looking for a loving guardian. 

Echo is living in a wonderful foster home where she has proven herself well-behaved with other dogs, cats and older children. She is housebroken, crate-trained, high-energy and loves dog parks and dog beaches. Echo is good on leash and loves to go for walks. Echo sleeps on the floor in her foster parents’ bedroom. She is a young mouthy puppy, so training is a requirement of adoption.

Echo is healthy, spayed, up-to-date on rabies and distemper vaccines, micro-chipped, and heart worm-tested. Her adoption fee of $250 benefits the Cause 4 Paws Rescue group. To meet and possibly adopt her, please contact the rescue group at Cause4Paws@gmail.com or her foster dad directly at 301-803-9574.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

 Priscilla is a beautiful, playful and very social, 18-month-old, petite, seven-pound, female, tuxedo torbie (tortoiseshell tabby) cat looking for a loving guardian. 

Priscilla is a gorgeous cat with a great personality. She is living in a foster home where she runs to the door to greet her foster mom. She gets along with all the other cats at her foster home, but would do fine as the only cat as well. She is happy to curl up on the desk while you’re working, and she lets you carry her around on your shoulder.
 
Priscilla is healthy, spayed, up-to-date on rabies and distemper vaccines, micro-chipped, and heart worm-tested. She is on a prescription diet due to allergies. To meet and possibly adopt her, please contact her foster mom Charlie at cpropsom@sbcglobal.net at 312-203-7950. Her adoption fee of $75 benefits the rescued pets of Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control.
 
To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

Thank you for reading this post. If you want a pet, please consider visiting your neighborhood shelter and fine the pet for your family.

Interest Rates for May 23rd ,2011

Here is the latest rate sheet from my colleagues at Wells Fargo. Rates are holding steady from last week. Apparently the government inability to borrow money hasn’t affected the markets yet.

With rates at historical lows, now is a terrific to time to buy a new home or refinance your current place. Don’t let these rates pass you by. If you are ready to benefit from today’s low rates, call Lenka Duffy @ 773.680.5282. She will guide you through the process and make you feel at ease. Work with a professional and you won't go wrong.

Conforming Loans not exceeding $417,000   60 day Lock

30 Year Fixed Rate             4.625%

15 Year Fixed Rate             3.875%

5/1 ARM                              3.250%

Non-conforming Loans exceeding $417,000    60 day lock

30 Year Fixed Rate             4.500%

5/1 ARM                              3.375%

Open House 2700 Hampden Ct #23B

 We will be holding an Open House on Sunday, May 22, 2011 from 1 to 4 PM at 2700 Hampden Ct Unit 23B. Asking Price $239,000

Pet Adoption for May 21, 2011

 George is a gorgeous, playful, fun and very friendly, 37-pound, three-to-five-year-old, male, Beagle/Lab-mix looking for a loving home. 

George was found as a stray in Terre Haute, Indiana. He’s a big Beagle-sized boy who loves to play with toys and balls. This nice boy is housebroken, crate-trained, good with dogs, cats and older children. While he’s fine with other animals, his true love is people. He is good in the car, good (but strong) on leash, and will sit for a treat. He is very food-focused which will help in his training.

George is very healthy, neutered, up-to-date on rabies, distemper and bordatella vaccines, micro-chipped and heartworm-tested. To meet and possibly adopt him, please e-mail Carol at weluvpawsilrescue@yahoo.com or call 773-772-9329 after 6 p.m. His adoption fee of $225 benefits the rescued pets of We Luv Paws Rescue.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

 Gus is a very handsome, playful clown of a 10-month-old, 78-pound, male Mastiff or mix looking for a loving guardian. 

Gus was found as a stray in Gary, Indiana. He did his time at Animal Control and is now living in a wonderful foster home in Chicago where he is doing well with all the other dogs, and playful with dog-friendly cats. He’s a gangly pup who’s quick to catch on to new commands and new routines. He learned to sit on command, and take treats gently in just 24 hours.

Gus is well-behaved in the home and car; housebroken, crate-trained, and good on leash (but strong). He loves playing with other dogs, toys and balls.

We’re not sure what Gus’ life was like before he was rescued, but he is a little fearful at times, so he’s recommended for someone with dog experience, without small children in the home, who has time to exercise and train a big lug of a pup.

Gus is now healthy, neutered, heartworm-tested, micro-chipped, and up-to-date on rabies and distemper vaccines. To meet and possibly adopt him, please contact his foster mom Kelly at kelly@dogsplaychicago.com or 773-251-3090 His adoption fee of $200 benefits rescued pets.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

 Maisey is a beautiful, snugly, sweet, and responsive, nine-year-old, 39-pound, female Shar Pei looking for a loving guardian. 

Maisey was found as a stray in an Illinois cornfield in January. When she was found, it was obvious she had recently had puppies and was horribly ill. She was urinating blood and covered with fleas. Her rescuer brought her to a vet and found out she had polyps in her bladder. Maisey has had surgery and is now recovered.

Maisey is wonderful with other dogs and people. She has the typical aloof and reserved, yet extremely loyal personality of a Shar Pei. She has proven herself housebroken and crate-trained in her foster home.

To meet and possibly adopt Maisey, please contact her foster mom Debbie at kruegerd55@gmail.com  or 847-571-1860. Her adoption fee of $300 benefits rescued pets. She is now healthy, spayed, de-wormed, up-to-date on vaccines, micro-chipped, and heartworm-tested.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

 Poppy is a very friendly, happy, bouncy, two-year-old, 40-pound (chubby but tiny), red and white brindle, female, American Staffordshire Terrier looking for a loving guardian. 

Found as a stray in Gary, Indiana, Poppy is full of kisses for people and other dogs. She is great on leash and loves going for walks. Because she still needs some training and likes to greet people by jumping up, she may do best in a home with older children she won’t know down with her enthusiasm.

Poopy appears to be housebroken, and is crate-trained. She is healthy, spayed, heartworm-tested, micro-chipped, and up-to-date on rabies and distemper vaccines. To meet and possibly adopt her, foster her, or take her into your rescue group please contact Melia at melia88@comcast.net or 708-224-1900. Her adoption fee of $200 benefits rescued pets. She is currently living in a kennel in Steger, Illinois, and would love to move to a home setting.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

Thanks for taking the time for reading this post. If you know or animal that needs a home, call me @ 773.572.6512 and I will find that animal a home.

Condo Sales in LP are Lagging Behind Last Year

According to MLS data, As of April 30, 2011, there were 175 condo/townhouse closings in Lincoln Park with an average price of $407,722. In comparison, Last year, during the first quarter, there were 230 closings with an average price of $427,369. Additionally, the first quarter of this year there were 854 active listings on the market for an average of 184 days, while last year in the same quarter, there were 691 active listings on the market for an average of 169 days. 

What does this mean for you, the Lincoln Park buyer? Prices continue to fall, and there are fewer closings compared to this time last year. More homes are available today and stay on the market longer. Buyers have more room to negotiate and can move on to another property if sellers are unrealistic about the value of their home. We at Prudential Rubloff understand where the market is headed and we will help you find the right home for the right price. Call Thomas @ 773.572.6512 today and you will find what you want, right now.

Interest Rates for May 16th, 2011

Here is the latest rate sheet from my colleagues at Wells Fargo. Rates continue to fall. With rates at historical lows, now is a terrific to time to buy a new home or refinance your current place. Don’t let these rates pass you by. If you are ready to benefit from today’s low rates, call Lenka Duffy @ 773.680.5282. She will guide you through the process and make you feel at ease. Work with a professional and you won't go wrong.

Conforming Loans not exceeding $417,000   60 day Lock

30 Year Fixed Rate             4.625%

15 Year Fixed Rate             3.875%

5/1 ARM                              3.250%

Non-conforming Loans exceeding $417,000    60 day lock

30 Year Fixed Rate             4.625%

5/1 ARM                              3.375%

Pet Adoption for May 14, 2011

 Dipity is a beautiful, friendly, playful, fun and loving, 18-month-old, 39-pound, female pocket pit bull (possibly with some French bulldog) looking for a loving home. 
Found as a stray in Terre Haute, Indiana, Dipity is already housebroken, crate-trained, wonderfully playful, submissive and friendly with other dogs. She’s very energetic and jumps really high with her canine buns of steel.

 

Dipity is more accustomed to running and doing her business in a yard, but can be trained on leash. She’s no couch potato. She is full of tail wags, kisses, muscles and smiles for all. When she’s all worn out, she is fun to snuggle with because she’s got an incredibly glossy soft coat.

 

Dipity knows the command sit and takes treats incredibly gently from your fingers. She’d probably be best with older children due to her energy level. To meet and possibly adopt Dipity, please contact her foster mom Debbie at kruegerd55@gmail.com  or 847-571-1860. Her adoption fee of $250 benefits rescued pets. She is very healthy, spayed, de-wormed, up-to-date on vaccines, micro-chipped, and heartworm-tested.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit

http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

Glinda is a beautiful, playful, sweet, happy, and friendly, three-year-old, 42-pound, female, blue and brown-eyed cattle dog/pit-mix looking for a loving guardian.

Glinda was rescued along with her four puppies from Chicago Animal Care and Control. She is living in a foster home where she sleeps at the foot of her foster dad’s bed. She is extremely loving and cuddles up and rolls over for belly rubs. She is housebroken, and non-destructive in the home.

Glinda would be wonderful as the only dog in your home. She’s full of kisses, and loves to plop herself down in your lap for hugs and kisses. She loves to play with balls and toys. Her foster dad is training her in commands like sit and down; she is very gentle taking treats from your fingers. She just loves to snuggle, cuddle and hang out.

She may be okay with select dog friends, but she does have a high prey drive, so she’s looking for a home without cats. And, she’s best with older children as she can be enthusiastic when she greets you and can knock down a toddler.

To meet and possibly adopt Glinda, please fill out the CCR adoption application at: http://chicagocaninerescue.org/
You can follow up on your application at info@chicagocaninerescue.com or calling 773.697.8848.

Glinda is very healthy, de-wormed, spayed, micro-chipped, heartworm-tested, and up-to-date on vaccines. Her adoption fee of $205 benefits Chicago Canine Rescue.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

Momi is a very beautiful, shy, and loving, one-year-old black and white tuxedo cat looking for a loving home.

Momi was found outside with a litter of kittens. If she looks a little crabby, maybe it’s because all her kids have found homes and she hasn’t. She doesn’t ask for much … a soft bed to sleep on and a window to look out at birds and squirrels.

Momi is fine with other cats and fits right in … In fact, she may prefer their company to that of people. Do you blame her?

Momi is very healthy, spayed, de-wormed, up-to-date on rabies and distemper vaccines, micro-chipped, and virus-tested. To meet and possibly adopt her, please contact Anne at almaclaren@sbcglobal.net or 773-576-5085. Her adoption fee of $50 benefits rescued pets.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

 Patches is a beautiful, loving, spunky, snugly and friendly, 14-to-16-year-old, female, calico cat looking for a loving guardian. 

This sweet senior was brought to the Chicago Animal Care and Control shelter when her people could no longer care for her. She is living in a wonderful foster home through the Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control group. She is a true lap cat who loves nothing more than to sit in the laps of her favorite humans - she would do it all day if you let her.

Patches uses her litter box like a good girl, and the vet says that based on her teeth she may actually be younger than her listed age. She still plays with toys and has a lot of love to give. She would really enhance the life of a feline-lover looking for a sweet companion. Patches is being fostered in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago. Her adoption fee of $75 will help the Friends of Chicago Animal Care & Control rescue more pets from an uncertain fate. To meet and possibly adopt Patches, please contact her foster mom, Kathy, at kbwilson60612@yahoo.com

Patches is healthy, spayed, up-to-date on vaccines, virus-tested, micro-chipped, and de-wormed.
 
To help “Friends” rescue more pets like Patches, please consider fostering a dog and cat in your home by contacting Kathleen at kbudrean@hotmail.com or 312-823-9930.

Don’t miss the Creature Comfort Fundraiser tomorrow night (Saturday, May 14th) at 7:00 pm at the Atlantic Pub, 5062 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. For more info, please visit: http://fcacc.org/fcacc_home/events/event-calendar/details/12-creature-comfort

To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you know of an animal that needs a home, call me, Thomas Reid @ 773.572.6512 and I will find that animal a home. Thank you.

Establishing Credit and Repairing Credit

Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in your life. This number will determine how much money you can borrow and how much you will pay for it. It can help land that dream job, and the perfect apartment. A good credit score can open doors, while a bad credit score slams them closed.

Take the necessary actions to protect your credit. There are a number of steps you take to get your house in order.

1^st Get your credit report and fix any errors. Go to Annualcreditreport.com. This is a free centralized service for consumers. Fill out the form and request a report from each of the three credit-reporting companies. In 2004, a survey discovered that 79% of all credit reports have errors. Chances are yours does too. Go through each account with a fine-tooth comb and challenge any errors in writing.

2^nd, Automate all your bill payments, so you never miss a payment again. Missing payments can destroy your FICO score; a long record of on-line payments will dramatically improve it.

3^rd Keep your credit card balances below their limits. Don’t “max” out your credit cards. Pay off your highest cards first. After you pay off your credit cards, leave them open even if you don’t use them.

These are just some of the things you can do to improve your credit score. One great source I want to recommend is David Bach. His website, www.finishrich.com  is a treasure trove of wonderful advice that will improve your financial well-being.

Buying a home today is one the best investments you can make. Take these simple steps to improve your home buying leverage. If you think I might be able to help you with your real estate needs, call me @773.572.6512

Interest Rates for May 9th,2011

Here is the latest rate sheet from my colleagues at Wells Fargo. Rates have dropped a little bit from week before. With rates at historical lows, now is a terrific to time to buy a new home or refinance your current place. If you are ready to benefit from today’s low rates, call Ken Dickerson @ 312.882.1866 or Lenka Duffy @ 773.680.5282. They will guide you through the process and make you feel at ease. Work with a professional and you won't go wrong.

Conforming Loans not exceeding $417,000   60 day Lock

30 Year Fixed Rate             4.750%

15 Year Fixed Rate             3.875%

5/1 ARM                              3.250%

Non-conforming Loans exceeding $417,000    60 day lock

30 Year Fixed Rate             4.625%

5/1 ARM                              3.375%

Happy Mother's Day

I'm taking a moment to thank my Mother for all the love and support she has given to me over the years. I am so grateful to you. Thank you.

Pet Adoption for May 7, 2011

Chaco is a handsome, muscular and fun, one-year-old, 65-pound, male fawn and white Am Staff-mix with warm brown eyes looking for a loving home.

Chaco has a very pleasant demeanor. He knows how to sit on command and takes treats gently from your fingers.

Chaco is healthy, neutered, heart worm-tested, micro-chipped, and up-to-date on rabies and distemper vaccines. To meet and possibly adopt, foster, or rescue him, please contact Melia at melia88@comcast.net or 708-224-1900. His adoption fee of $200 benefits rescued pets. He is currently being kenneled in Steger, Illinois, and would love to get out of a kennel and into a home setting.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

 Johnny Rocket is an absolutely gorgeous, happy, friendly, energetic, and sweet, one-year-old, 45-pound, fawn brindle American Staffordshire Terrier looking for a loving home. 

Found as a stray in Chicago, Johnny’s tail is always happily wagging. He is great on leash and gets along with other dogs and cats.

He is crate-trained, housebroken, very healthy, neutered, micro-chipped, heart worm-tested, de-wormed, and up-to-date on vaccines.

To meet and possibly adopt him, please contact his foster mom Nancy at plaidpjs@sbcglobal.net or 773-631-8999. His adoption fee of $200 benefits rescued dogs. He is living on the northwest side of Chicago.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html  

 Luci is an ultra snuggly, extremely friendly, gentle, sweet, and adorable, ten-month-old, female Calico kitten looking for a loving home.
 
Luci has some Oriental qualities … she’s talkative, has a pointy face, and a very long tail. She is wonderful with people of all ages, other cats and dogs.

Luci is not one to hide; she loves attention. She’s very playful, but loves to be held in your arms, and will follow you around the house like a puppy dog.

Luci is very healthy, spayed, micro-chipped, up-to-date on vaccines, de-wormed, and heart worm-tested. To meet and possibly adopt her, please phone, e-mail or text her foster mom Katye at singsingkitty@yahoo.com or 815-603-1157. Her adoption fee of $75 benefits the Friends of Chicago Animal Care & Control.

To help “Friends” rescue more kittens like Luci from a cage at Chicago Animal Care & Control, please consider fostering a dog, cat or rabbit in your home by contacting Kat at kbudrean@hotmail.com or 312-823-9930.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit
http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

 Palmetto and Frond are a pair of mother/daughter cat and baby kitten looking for a loving home together. 

Palmetto is a four-year-old, loving, cuddly, extremely friendly and talkative, black and white female tuxedo cat. Frond is her gorgeous golden-eyed, 10-week-old, sleek and sweet, 2.2-pound, black female kitten.

The two adore each other and love people too. Palmetto is affectionate, active and cuddly. Frond is extremely playful and fun – she has just discovered how fun toys can be and she’s loves to bat her toys around or jump for a feather!

They were relinquished to Chicago Animal Care and Control when their family could no longer keep them. They are now living with me and have proven perfect litter box habits … and perfect little house guests – they even get along with my rabbits! They would love to find a wonderful new home together. Their adoption fee of $150 - as a pair - benefits Friends of Chicago Animal Care and Control rescue group. To meet and possibly adopt them, please contact me directly at sheri@petraits.com or 312-961-4571. They are very healthy, spayed, vaccinated, micro-chipped and virus-tested.

To see other pets for adoption, please visit http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter72998-pets.html

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you know of animal that needs a home, please call me, Thomas Reid at 773.572.6512 and I will find that lovely creature a home.