Three Chicago Suburbs Make Best Places to Live List

New homes in Chicago buyers now have another reason to be happy with ther purchase. Several Chicago suburbs were ranked in the top 100 of the CNN Money Magazine “Best Places to Live in the U.S.” 2012 list.
The list was revealed in August and ranks communities based on the following characteristics: quality of school systems, jobs, affordable housing and recreational opportunities.

Naperville earned the top spot and was ranked as number 53. The decision was influenced by Naperville's devotion to providing lots of entertainment to its residents such as parades, jazz festivals and heritage celebrations. These events are funded by an additional 1% tax that Naperville adds to food and beverage purchases.

Naperville also boasts top schools and many established businesses, and has a picturesque downtown which features the 1.75 mile Riverwalk and a variety of shops and restaurants.

Bolingbrook earned spot number 62 on the list. During the past few years the suburb has experienced economic growth due to companies such as G&W Electric and WeatherTech opening their headquarters in town. Similar to Naperville, Bolingbrook offers plenty for its residents to do, whether it’s going to a local theater performance or relaxing at the local fishing lake.

Wheaton was ranked as number 80. The town was given accolades for its stellar education system and is also home to Wheaton College.

Bolingbrook and Naperville were featured on the list in 2010, while Wheaton previously made the 2009 list.

Enjoy Fall Foliage in McHenry County New Homes

A McHenry County new home from Gerstad Builders can make it easy to enjoy the fall sights when you have the option of a four-season room. These sun-filled additions not only bring in extra light, they also add approximately 168 square feet of living space to the main floor. As a bonus, Gerstad Builders makes the basement larger to accommodate for the room which gives the home buyer a total of 336 square feet of usable space.

Four-season rooms aren't the only cutzomized option that Gerstad Builders offers. Home buyers can also choose from a variety of finishes including hardwoods,ceramic tile, granite counter tops, designer millwork, and much more. Each home also comes with state-of-the-art GE appliances and Kohler fixtures.

Gerstad Builders currenlty offers homes in four communities throughout the Richmond, Williams Bay, McHenry County and Poplar Grove real estate markets. Residents in these high-quality communities will enjoy close proximity to the best dining, shopping and entertainment that the area has to offer.

Interested in one of these custom homes? Be sure to visit the Gerstad Builders website today!

Get Your Home Ready to Sell This Fall!

Spring and summer may be the busiest real estate seasons, but Chicago home owners can still make a successful fall sale.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage has some great tips on how to spruce up your home in preparation for colder weather and shorter days.

Tip #1
Take advantage of your landscaping and make sure your lawn doesn’t look unkempt. A yard full of colorful trees will make your residence the standout home on the block. Keep up with your raking, so that your yard is neat.

Tip #2
Make sure to use the holidays to your advantage. Show off your home’s best features using holiday decorations and consider setting up the dining room table the same way you would for a holiday meal.

Tip #3
Pay lots of attention to the cold weather essentials of your home. Have someone check your heating system and clean your gutters. If you have a fireplace, clean it and make sure it is working properly.

Tip #4
Be mindful of the current real estate market. Buyers have access to lots of information via the Internet and they are savvier than ever! Do you homework and work with your Realtor to find out more about similar homes for sale so that you can successfully negotiate the perfect deal.

If you are putting your home up for sale this fall, make sure to share your own tips.

Highland Woods Perfect for Back to School Season

Back to school season has just begun and residents looking for a new Chicago home may want to check out the Crown Communities neighborhood Highland Woods. Families living at Highland Woods have access to the top-rated Central Community School District #301.

Highland Woods is a new community in Elgin that offers spacious and modern homes with access to a variety of amenities, such as a fitness center and water park. Access to an award winning school district is just another bonus

The nearest elementary school is Country Trails Elementary which is close enough for many children to walk to school. Country Trails opened in 2007 and won an Academic Excellence Award from the State of Illinois in 2011.

Prairie Knolls Middle School is also nearby. The school boasts average test scores in the 90th percentle and also provides a variety of extracurricular activities for students, from sports to music clubs.

High school students living in Highland Woods receive the benefits of Central High School, where teachers give each student one-on-one attention. Students can also participate in a variety of clubs and sports.

Even students at the preschool level will benefit from the location of Highlands Woods, which is nearby several pre-K facilities.

So if you’re looking to move into a new home before back to school season is over, stop by Highland Woods from Crown Communities and check out one of their model homes.

Investment Strategies must take Risks and Fees into Account

If you have money set aside and are ready for an investment strategy, you should be aware that in addition to the inherent risk of loss when investing money, there are costs that should be considered to make sure your money gets invested to the right place at the right time. These fees need to be accounted for when you are planning on saving for anything from retirement to a new Chicago home. The Equifax Finance Blog has an article explaining many of these fees and charges called "Breaking Down Investment Fees and Commissions."

Putting together a fund, like a mutual fund or IRA, takes money and the expertise of a financial professional, or if you are working with a large brokerage, it may require many professionals to make sure
everything goes smoothly when it is supposed to.  There is a general fee for this, called a "management fee," which is often expressed as a percentage. This percentage will charge on the amount invested, and is usually taken from the investment return. Generally, you want to look for the lower expense ratio, but some brokerages may charge higher for additional services so make sure you measure these costs and pick the financial group that is right for you.

Catch Errors in Your FICO Score Before Paying More

Check your FICO Score for errors which are
keeping you from being approved for loans.

If you are considering a big purchase, you should make sure your FICO score is ready to support you. Even if you have combed through your score for inaccuracies, there’s now a safety net in case you missed some. The Equifax Finance Blog explains in the article, “Are You Receiving the Best Interest Rates on Your Loans?”

Due to recent financial reforms, lenders have to give you a Risk-Based Pricing Notice when you don’t qualify for the best rates. This notice can highlight any problems which are causing you to be charged more for a loan. If you find these problems to be report inaccuracies, the path to a better FICO score and lower interest rate is clear. All you have to do is contact the reporting agencies and request a fix.

KBIS is a Showcase of Inspiration for Remodelers

See gorgeous Cambria Quartz counter tops like these
matched perfectly with Wellborn Cabinet styles
at booth 2603 at KBIS 2012!

The doors have opened, and the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is underway. It is the best chance to see new products and developing trends for some of the most active parts of the home. The event includes an extensive exhibition floor that showcases the latest products, a highly relevant and informative conference program, the Best of KBIS awards program and networking opportunities for builders, suppliers, remodelers and more.

Just one of the great combinations of high profile kitchen and bath producers at KBIS will be at the Wellborn Cabinet booth, #2603. There, you can find Cambria quartz tastefully paired with Wellborn cabinets, specifically nine Cambria color designs matching Wellborn’s all new and simplified Elegant Bath Collection. This is an extensive collection of vanity styles which are available in their most popular door styles and finishes. The Cambria countertops involved in this presentation were prepared and fabricated by Atlanta Kitchen, one of the premier fabricators of Cambria, as well as skilled artisans with many other materials, from granite to Vetrazzo recycled glass.