We are proud to announce that John D’Ambrogio received the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Chairman’s Service Recognition Award. This award was presented March 28 at the 2009 Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Conference in Scottsdale, AZ, which attracted top real estate brokers, managers, relocation professionals, sponsors and guests from across the U.S. and eight countries worldwide.
This service recognition program formally acknowledges contributions such as committee and board involvement, presentations at network conferences, and service in various network capacities. This program offers three levels of awards based on cumulative points earned through service activities: the President’s Service Award, the Chairman’s Service Award and the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Hall of Fame Award.
D’Ambrogio was also recognized with the Propopoly® Achievement Award. The award is given for excellence in engaging consumers online using blogs.
As reported in realtor magazine moderately priced upgrades STILL result in significant paybacks. So whether relocating to of from Chicago a little investment before selling your home can pay big dividends. And we ALL need dividends in today’s marketplace! It was noted that these improvements take away many of the tactics that buyers use in this market – nitpicking about small things. If you’ve already redone the kitchen cabinets or powder room, their reason for asking for a $10,000 bathroom redo credit mysteriously disappears.
The top ten project paybacks are:
1. Upscale fiber cement siding (86.7%)
2. Midrange wood deck (81.8%)
3. Midrange vinyl siding (80.7%)
4. Upscale foam-backed vinyl (80.4%)
5. Midrange minor kitchen remodel (79.5%)
6. Upscale vinyl window replacement (79.2%)
7. Midrange wood window replacement (77.7%)
8. Midrange vinyl window replacement (77.2%)
9. Upscale wood window replacement (76.5%
10. Midrange major kitchen remodel (76.0%)
The entire article goes into many specific examples that are worth a closer look! So get out that hammer!
Deborah Benavides, CRP, Shorewest Realtors discusses relocation and real estate trends in 2009 and how to promote the likelihood of relocations in this challenging market. Deborah is optimistic about the future of real estate and relocation in Chicago and Milwuakee.
Or a twit? Twittee? Not sure of the proper name here. HOWEVER, the point is if you’re relocating into our out of Chicago you really should ask your agent if they’re promoting your listing via social networking — Facebook (yes, my agents get leads on in, and the savvy ones post their listings and open houses there); syndicating your video tours to www.youtube.com; using Linked In (by feeding blog posts about your listings there) and finally – TWITTER.
It takes awhile to get over the self-importance one must place on themselves to write micro-blogs and send them to their “followers.” However, the truth is – 11% of online American use Twitter, according to a research report conducted by Pew Internet & American Life Project in December and released today. The number in November was 9%. In may it was 6%. I wish my stock portfolio was showing those increases since May.
Someday we’ll chat about the really weird ones lik Hulu and Veoh. By the time I write about those, they’ll probably me mainstream as well.
Mr. Obama’s budget, released Feb 26th, has really angered NAR! As stated in the recent Chicago Association of Realtors article “NAR is 100% opposed to the provision that modifies the Mortgage Interest Deduction and is prepared to use its formidable array of resources against its enactment.” In short, the plan will change mortgage interest deductions by affecting mortgage deductibility on families earning over $250K and individuals with incomes above $200K. While this may be less than 5% of total taxpayers, it surely is a larger portion of those transferees moving into Chicago or out of Chicago. NAR’s position is that this program will set “a new round of price depreciation” and further heighten the current spiral of home values.
NAR plans to form a coalition with other industries and groups affected by this proposal.
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