Home Help

Lead Based Paint in your home? Rehab Safely!

March 13, 2010
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If you own a home built before 1978, it probably contained lead based paint, and you were given a lead paint brochure and disclosure when you bought the home. This disclosed the presence of lead paint in the home if the seller was aware of it. When you sell, you will disclose any knowledge you [...]

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Condo Owners and Boards – Manage your Property Managers!

March 7, 2010
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Condo owners annually elect a board of directors to oversee the property’s maintenance and management.    (If not self-managed),  these boards hire property managers to advise them, to collect assessment fees, manage the maintenance staff, oversee repairs to the common elements, and to facilitate the transfer of property between condo buyers and sellers. I’ve worked [...]

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Green Home, Historic Home

February 20, 2010

When we moved into our 1908 Foursquare in Lakewood Balmoral’s Historic District, one of the many priorities was removing the weather stripping, caulking, and plastic that the previous owners had installed to be energy efficient.  Yes, it kept some drafts away, but BOY, WAS IT UGLY!  Today our house BREATHES!  But I must confess, it [...]

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How to Protest your Property Taxes

August 9, 2009

Property Tax reassessment notices are out, and if you want to protest your tax increase, you must file by September 3. There are 2 meetings scheduled on Chicago’s north side where you can go to learn about property taxes, reassessments, and filing protests to reduce your tax amount. Cook County Assessment Appeal Process Seminar Tuesday, [...]

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2009 First Time Buyer Tax Credit Explained

March 28, 2009

This video from Pat Callan, President of the Illinois Association of Realtors, discusses key housing provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.   In it, he talks about how Illinois residents can benefit from the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit, increased Illinois FHA loan limits and energy-efficient housing tax credits. Links: Tax Credits for Energy [...]

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Digg — Save time by bookmarking relevant articles

March 26, 2009

I include a Digg widget in my blog (see block in the 2nd column) because I know my readers don’t have a lot of time to thumb through online articles. I add articles from time to time from my Google Reader that I think you’d be interested in seeing. Digg does not mean “I agree” [...]

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