Real Estate Blog

If you're looking for some cool gifts this holiday, you've come to the right place! We have compiled a list of today's popular technology gifts for the home.  Get some of these as gifts for others or buy them for your own home.

For Your Entryway

I posted an article this year about home security (the link to the post, with a video, is below this article).  Home security systems are becoming commonplace, but not everyone has jumped on the trend.  For those that are still on the fence, you might want to get them the gift of security. 

Smart Lighting

Did you know that the inventor of Ring video doorbells was turned down on Shark Tank?  They are kicking themselves now! 

The Ring Smart Light System offers accessories that work in conjunction

I have to admit that I'm kind of surprised when I begin working with a buyer and they truly don't know their FICO score or much about their credit at all.  I've worked with several buyers that assured me they were pre-qualified by a mortgage lender only to find out that they weren't.  These buyers just figured they could buy a house.  When I had them speak to one of my lenders, they had to clean up their bad credit.

The first thing you need to do before looking at homes is to check on your credit.  It's not a good feeling when you fall in love with a house only to find out you can't get a mortgage on it.  You put time, effort and emotions into house hunting and it really hurts when you find out you are not creditworthy to buy, after you've found

5329 Woodland Dr, Unit B, Oak Forest IL  60452

Click the address link above to see the website created for this unique main level condo with a private entrance and no one on top!  Located in popular Shade Tree subdivision, this cute Oak Forest condominium is affordable and move-in ready.  Check out more with multiple photos and room sizes here.

This unit has great curb appeal and the interior has been freshly painted and has brand new carpet in the two bedrooms.  The living/dining combo has wood laminate flooring and features a fireplace for those cold winter nights. The cute galley kitchen has a window and all appliances will remain.

The master bedroom is large with a wall of closets.  It also has access to the shared full bathroom.  There is a

Whether you're putting your home on the market this year or in the next five years, it is a smart decision to start building your home's resale value now. Here are some ways to create a comfortable home while making it easier to put more money into your bank account on closing day. 

Small Maintenance and Repairs

We show so many homes that lack basic maintenance.  The house might look fine and we usually don't find out how normal maintenance has been deferred until the home inspection.  Don't think of maintenance as something you don't need to keep up with, or that it's a waste of time.

Neglecting small maintenance and repairs can cost you around 10% of your home's value. Most appraisers claim that homes showing little to no preventative

1034 Viking Court, Batavia IL  60510

Click the address link above to see the entire website created just for this home. This is your chance to get a true ranch home with a full basement in the desirable Breton Manor subdivision.  This is located in a quiet cul-de-sac and has an attached 2.5 car garage to keep you out of inclement weather.

As you enter the foyer you'll see the 3-sided fireplace that is also viewable from the sunken living room.  The formal dining room has hardwood floors and has access to both the living room and the kitchen.

The kitchen is brand new with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, new counters & backsplash - it's all recently updated!  The kitchen opens up to the family room, or use it as a dinette & den combo -

5156 Oakwood Court, Oak Forest IL  60452

SOLD & CLOSED! Another agent had this home up for sale during our busy summer but it didn't sell.  We took the listing and got it sold in less than a week!  Click to search other Oak Forest homes for sale.  You can customize the search to your requirements.  

Welcome home to this great split-level home in a quiet cul-de-sac in Oak Forest, IL.  If you look at the top left photo closely above, you'll see that besides the attached one-car garage, there is a second, detached garage in back.  The detached garage has extra space on the main level plus an upper level!  There are a lot of possibilities with this.

The living room has beautiful hardwood floors and is open to the updated kitchen with a small island

Garage doors allow us convenient access to our garages. Until one day, they don’t.

Issues and malfunctions are expected of mechanical products after years of use – and your garage door is no exception. That thing weighs around 150 pounds; closed and opened multiple times a day or over a thousand times in a year – of course, it’s going to fail at one point (or several).

Most garage door problems, however, are simple issues with simple solutions that you can do on your own.

Here’s a rundown of the most common garage door problems, along with their likely fixes. If, however, none of these solutions correct the problem, contact professional garage door repair services near you.

The garage door opener isn’t working.

This is, perhaps, the

There are always things you need to do when making such a large investment as buying a home so that you can make a more educated purchase.  Following are some tips from the pros. 

Be aware of how much you can really afford 

What is your home buying power? It is the combination of your credit score, the amount of money you are working with, and your salary, which tells the lender how much you can realistically afford to pay for your monthly mortgage payment.

There are costs to buying a home that most buyers don't think about. You could possibly qualify for a mortgage with as little as 3-3 1/2% down payment.  There are also other closing fees that both a seller and a buyer has.  A buyer will have title fees plus prepaid mortgage, escrow, and

8728 S 81st CT, Hickory Hills IL  60457

Click the address link above to view all of the photos and get the details on this Hickory Hills "Juliet" styled split-level.  

• 3 bedrooms
• 1 1/2 bathrooms
• Hardwood floors plus wood laminate flooring
• Vaulted ceiling in the living room
• Spacious updated kitchen
• Stainless steel appliances
• Lower level family room
• All appliances remain
• Central air
• 2 car garage with newer cement side driveway
• Covered patio off the garage to relax on fair weather days
• Above ground pool
• Large fenced backyard
• Move-in condition

Give Judy Orr a call at 708-536-8200 if you'd like to see this wonderful Hickory Hills tri-level home.

12159 McDaniels Ct, Alsip IL  60803

Convenient one-level living in this move-in ready, end unit Alsip townhouse for sale.  You'll step into the spacious living room that has an open concept to the dining area, which opens to the kitchen.  All stainless steel appliances will remain.  Sliding glass doors take you to the semi-private, fenced patio for fair weather dining, entertaining & relaxing.

There are two bedrooms and two bathrooms, including the master ensuite with a walk-in closet and a private full bathroom with a shower.  The 2nd bedroom's closet was retrofitted with a stackable washer and dryer so the owner didn't have to go down to the basement to do her laundry.

The full basement is huge and ready to be finished if you'd like.  More