Laurie, The Pych Team

About The Available Condos: http://budurl.com/2n8f

Regency Terrace: 922 North Blvd. ~ Boutique Downtown Oak Park elevator building w/ indoor pool & rooftop sundeck ~ pet and investor friendly!

Unit 406: $149,000 ~ 1BR, 1BA w/ garage pkg (add'l outdoor space avail), fresh paint + 26 ft balcony
Unit 507: $169,800 ~ 1BR, 1BA w/ garage pkg, chic & updated + 26 ft balcony
Unit 408: $219,800 ~ 2BR, 1.5BA w/ 2 outdoor pkg spaces, fresh paint + 40 ft balcony

Marketed by The Pych Team, "Your #1 Pick", @ RE/MAX In The Village About The Pych Team: http://budurl.com/PychTeam

Oak Park is a vibrant, diverse suburb just west of Chicago. It is a very pedestrian and bicycle-friendly community with access to the CTA via multiple blue and green line stops as well as a Metra station. The downtown area is very lively with many shops and restaurants. There are also smaller neighborhood "shopping districts" with boutiques, art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants, and the occasional bar/lounge. There are several parks and playgrounds scattered throughout the village as well. Our housing stock ranges from condos under $100K-500K+ and houses ranging from about $225K to $1M+. If you're interested in learning more about the opportunities in the area, I'd love to help you. Feel free to contact me via my website below. Laurie, Buyer Specialist with The Pych Team, "Your #1 Pick" RE/MAX In The Village, Realtors http://lchristofano.illinoisproperty.com

I'm working with some new buyers who are trying to find a bigger abode for their growing family.  We've been tromping through the most affordable single family and 2-flat properties in several nearby communities for a couple of weeks now, and they are totally discouraged and burnt out.  We haven't seen one property where they had any hopes of being able to do some rehabbing and updating themselves.  They all had major structural damage or severe mold issues. 

All of our time could have been spent looking at comparably priced condos in move-in condition if we'd had the opportunity to see ONE interior picture of any of these REO properties.  Or if the description of the property went beyond "GREAT INVESTMENT/ PROPERTY BEING SOLD IN "AS-IS" CONDITION".

At the end of another exhaustive day, I smile and urge my clients to keep going and to think positively, because in my experience with dealing with these foreclosures, I know that there must be a few dollhouses in the midst of the shacks.

Laurie Christofano, Realtor/Buyer Specialist with The Pych Team
@ RE/MAX in the Village, Oak Park's #1 Pick for real estate
Office: 708.386.1400 x186
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/PychTeamREMAX
About The Pych Team: http://marketing.remaxdesigncenter.com/39/65039/761308/761308.swf
RE/MAX Property Search: www.lchristofano.illinoisproperty.com
My Blog: www.lchristofano.activerain.com
The Pych Team Website: www.kyrapych.com
About RE/MAX: www.joinremax.com

Oak Park Area – January 2009 Market Activity*

With the real estate market playing a major role in today’s economy, many people are curious about their local real estate market. Here are the combined January 2009 statistics for Forest Park, Oak Park, and River Forest, Illinois.

                      Detached Attached

Number Closed     16        10

Days on Market   182        94

Avg Sales Price $443,969 $128,400

Avg SP:LP           93%      92%

How does this compare with sales one year ago?

January 2008 Oak Park Area Market Activity*

                      Detached Attached

Number Closed     24          18

Days on Market    139        171

Avg Sales Price  $524,704 $208,892

Avg SP:LP            95%       95%

In terms of volume, single family home sales are down 33% and condos are down 44%. The average selling price for single family homes is down 15% and condos 39%. Note that this does not necessarily correlate with that steep of a decline in value; rather, buyers may be choosing less expensive properties.

Are foreclosures affecting the real estate market in the Oak Park area? According to RealtyTrac, as of 2/11/2009 there are 171 pre-foreclosure properties, 42 set for a sheriff’s sale, and an additional 93 that are bank-owned in Oak Park alone. Undoubtedly, sellers must compete against these 306 distressed properties when trying to sell their homes. Working with experienced Realtors like us will help give you the edge!

It's a great time to be a buyer!  Let me show you the many great buys out there!

* Keep in mind that these are very general averages for the towns of Forest Park, Oak Park, and River Forest. For detailed information using particular criteria or for more information about our services, please contact me. http://lchristofano.illinoisproperty.com Laurie Christofano, The Pych Team @ RE/MAX In The Village, Realtors

I have helped some clients get some unbelievable deals on short sales and foreclosures this year - Let me help you start your portfolio as well!

Click here to start searching the MLS via RE/MAX now: www.lchristofano.illinoisproperty.com

Laurie Christofano, Realtor
The Pych Team, Your #1 Pick

RE/MAX In The Village
Oak Park, IL
708-434-2145

VIEW THE VIRTUAL TOUR: http://marketing.remaxdesigncenter.com/39/65039/726203

The one you've been waiting for! Rarely available 8th floor, 2BR corner loft in Printer's Row with protected southwest views! AMAZING SUNSET VIEWS! Exposed brick, high ceilings, & oak hardwood floors. Perfect entertainer's layout with wide open great room & kitchen. Great building with huge rooftop deck, exercise room, laundry. Close to downtown, lakefront, nightlife. Near downtown loop, UIC, medical district. Steps to public transportation. $25/year zoned street parking + 6 months paid garage parking included!

Marketed by The Pych Team @ RE/MAX in the Village, your #1 pick for local FULL SERVICE real estate services * www.KyraPych.com * 708-434-2145

With the "busy season" behind us for 2008, I'm sure you're wondering how the year is shaping up for the market in Oak Park.

As of 09/30/2008, $185,953,123.00 worth of houses and condos were sold in Oak Park.  That's not too shabby,  especially compared with other suburbs: La Grange - $54.8M, Oak Brook - $33.5M, and River Forest - $47.3M.

The Break-Down: 1st 3 Quarters of 2008
(Data compiled from Midwest Real Estate Data LLC)

Single Family Homes
Total # Sold: 286
Average Days on Market: 137 days
Average List Price:Sale Price Ratio: 95%
Sales Price Range: $132,000 - $2,250,000

Condos
Total # Sold: 200
Average Days on Market: 164
Average List Price:Sale Price Ratio: 96%
Sales Price Range: $55,000 - $555,000

If you would like or need to sell your home at this time, there are many buyers out there who are looking to move to Oak Park.  Let us help you handle all the details, from getting your home market-ready, pricing it competitively, and aggressively marketing it to the maximum number of potential buyers - to negotiating the deal and getting you to the closing table.  No one will work harder for you than Kyra and Laurie, The Pych Team @ RE/MAX In The Village, Realtors.
Office: 708.386.1400
Web: www.KyraPych.com

I appreciate that everyone wants to save the most money they can when buying a house, and many people think that by eliminating real estate agents from the equation, they will have more money in their pocket... However, this isn't necessarily the case.

FSBO's (For Sale By Owner) are trying to pocket the most money they can, and thus they oftentimes overprice their homes. You'll also probably be able to find some listing agents who are willing to rebate you some of their commission, but you're probably not getting the house for the least price possible because the agent isn't motivated to get you the best deal. Experienced buyer's agents can potentially save their clients a lot more money than the amount you might get rebated from a listing agent.

Let me help you find one of the great deals out there today!

Laurie Christofano, Realtor with The Pych Team @ RE/MAX In The Village
Your #1 Pick for FULL SERVICE Chicagoland real estate services
708-386-1400
www.myspace.com/OakParkRealtor
Property search: lchristofano.illinoisproperty.com

Check out www.grubhub.com to find out!  Customize your search based on your location and cuisine preference.  See complete menus and even order online for many restaurants!  They also offset carbon emissions with carbon credits for every order placed on the site.  Check out some neighborhood cuisine today!

Laurie Christofano, Realtor with The Pych Team @ RE/MAX In The Village, your #1 pick for local real estate services

Located in southeast Oak Park, IL, Harrison Arts District encompasses a several block stretch of eclectic shops including art galleries, fashion boutiques and dance studios.  There have been a couple of long standing restaurants and cafes in this part of town, but new businesses are starting to join them, widening the variety of cuisine and culture one can experience in the Oak Park Arts District.  Located at 225 Harrison, Trattoria 225 is an authentic rustic Italian restaurant and bar featuring seasonal flavorings and sustainable seafood options.  Easily accessible via I-290 or the blue line, the Oak Park Arts District is sure not to disappoint!

Got another Oak Park or real estate related question? 

Week of 12/6/07 - 12/13/07

Single Family Homes
New Listings: 6
Price Changes: 10
Contingent/Pending: 9
Closed Listings: 4
Total Active Listings: 254

Condos/Townhouses
New Listings: 17
Price Changes: 6
Contingent/Pending: 7
Closed Listings: 6
Total Active Listings: 334

What does this information mean to you as a buyer or seller?  Feel free to contact me to find out how this pertains to your particular situation.

Data Source: MLSNI (Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois)