Hello and happy November to Everyone
This is Charles McShan from Century 21 Universal in Chicago with my latest blog post entitled” Can I sell my Chicagoland home during the winter months?” Someone asked me that question, and the question is yes, you can sell your home during the wintertime. Officially it is still Autumn in the country. Here as the photos show leaves, not snow is blanketing the streets and the ground. While cold weather comes and goes in November, December will bring the true Chicago Hawk that Lou Rawls sanged about decades ago. so, let’s ask this question again. Can I really sell my home in the winter? We will get to that question in a minute, but let’s recap what has happened since my last post.
In my last post, the Chicago Bears were on a winning streak, and they have reversed that and are now on a losing streak. The weather was turning cold, then it turned around and we had record-breaking 70-degree temperatures. Now the weather has turned cold again. That’s Chicago for you. We had our first-holiday celebration of the fall season, we have elected a new president, and yes, the coronavirus pandemic is still raging out of control here in America and also worldwide. Will new lockdowns occur here like they are happening in Europe? Who knows, but one thing is for sure we all must continue to get up every day and continue to live our lives. We must go to school, go to work, and at the end of the day, we must continue to shelter ourselves and our families.
The word shelter normally means where you lay your head; that is your home. That takes us into the housing market. Throughout the country, we are still experiencing a low inventory of homes being sold. Every local housing market is different. Normally in a good market, home sales slow down, starting the month of November. But this year due to the virus things are different. Because of the coronavirus, some people are still looking want to move even now in November. When a home is placed on the market today the homeowner is receiving multiple offers. If the home is priced right it will sell quickly. If it is not priced right it will sit on the market and might become an expired listing. So the question of can I sell my Chicagoland home during the winter months is a fair one. Yes, I know November is still considered the autumn season, but let me give you 12 reasons to list your property now in November, and you can also stretch it into the month of December. See if you agree with these reasons.
Article Guide
12 Reasons for selling your home in the colder months!
1: Homeowners want their homes to look their best for the holidays, so they spruce up their exteriors and also add colorful lights to their properties.
2:You can also reverse the above reason. A lot of homeowners during these next 2 months will have many visitors which they want to give their full attention to so for privacy reasons they will not want to put their homes on the market to next year, so if you place your home on the market now, you will have less competition.
3: Because of the holidays and this time of the year, 9 times out of 10 homeowners will only encounter serious home buyers.
4:Interest rates might go up, but with this pandemic, do not count on it. Do not hold your breath, but anything is possible.
5: Many friends and relatives come to our area to visit and guess what? They might like the homes that they see for sale, and they might make an offer.
6: Despite the coronavirus, many large corporations move executives in November and mainly also in December.
7:Investors need tax shelters, especially now.
8: There is plenty of mortgage money available. Look at the interest rates. They are at an all-time low.
9: Lenders are not as busy and can process loans quicker.
10:For you homeowners out there waiting to sell your home next year, think about this. Something major could break in your home and cost you major money to repair.
11: The income from selling your home could come in handy for the holidays or for buying your next home in the place in the area you wish to live in.
12:We realtors want and need your business.
Can I sell my Chicagoland home during the winter months? I have given you 12 reasons why you can sell your home now and during the winter season. This was my list Realtor’s dot com just recently published an article talking about the same things, and you can read their article by clicking the link here >>https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/why-this-winters-home-selling-season-may-be-hotter-than-ever/?identityID=581eb638b3573ee807000005&MID=2020_1106_WeeklyNL&RID=4266573602&cid=eml_promo_Marketing_NonPRSL_WeeklyNL_cons.12118142_2020_1106_WeeklyNL-blog1ultrahotwinter-blogs_sell
Recent housing information report for certain Chicago areas!
My Century 21 Universal office is located at 7300 N.Western ave. That location is in the heart of the West Ridge area of Chicago. East Rogers Park is just down the street. For those who are interested are some of the homes that are sold in West Ridge are according to the September 2020 housing report. In West Ridge Chicago. Please click here >> https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/West-Ridge_Chicago_IL/overview
Just across Ridge Blvd. starts the lovely neighborhood of East Rogers Park. In the late 1980s, I chose this area to move into. Here is the latest housing information for this neighborhood. >https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/East-Rogers-Park_Chicago_IL/overview
South of West Ridge and Rogers Park is the Edgewater community. What was their latest housing market report? If you really want to know, please click here.>https://www.realtor.com/soldhomeprices/Edgewater_Chicago_IL
Well, since I started this, I cannot exclude the Uptown area. Check out this report on the housing market >>https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Uptown_Chicago_IL/overview
I will do 2 more Chicago area reports. The first is the Lincoln Park area> https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Lincoln-Park_Chicago_IL/overview.
The second is the Southside area named Chatham >>https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Chatham_Chicago_IL/overview
And we close by looking at the latest housing market report for the suburb of Skokie Il. >>https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Skokie_IL/overview
This is only a small fraction of the homes for sale on the market in the last 2months. Is that enough incentive for you to put your month on the market? The last point, we all have read that home prices have increased by 3% or more, so should you, the home seller ask for 3% or more on your home’s price? The answer is No! Why? Contact me, and I will let you know why.
To the Homebuyers out there!
Let us now turn our attention to the homebuyers. Because of the pandemic and the time of the year, many homebuyers will be like the Chicago Cubs and say wait till next year. The serious aggressive homebuyer will not wait. They are in it for the long haul. Are you also part of that group above who has to move to another location? Then I am here for you.
Are you a Veteran looking to purchase a home for you and your family? You have served your country well, and now it is time to reap the benefits. Your government has not forgotten you. This article is for you>>https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/va-loans-home-buying-costs/?guide_ref=223057
Mike Griffin of NRL mortgage specializes in loans for Veterans. Together we have produced this flyer, so as a Veteran you know that we are in your corner. You served your country and now let us serve you. Check the flyer out by clicking here>>https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wj4QXOWwln01_r5BDZ824X6rdojZNn5t/view?usp=sharing
I have shared this article before, and I will share it again today for the rest of the homebuyers. There are steps you should follow, and if you follow those steps, homeownership will be within your reach. This article goes into a lot of detail. Check it out by clicking this link >>https://www.realtor.com/welcome/first-time-buyer/?cid=email_firstTimeBuyer_shares_page
I also wrote a blog post entitled Steps To Homeownership. It was a 4 part article that went into precise detail on the step involved in purchasing a home. Feel free to go to the blog page and read them.
Government assistance programs are available to the public!
The Illinois Association of Realtors recently published a PDF chart highlighting all the available financing programs for your home buyers. I have included that chart here below. I could not get the Pdf to work properly but it is essential that you see this chart so my apologies in advance. If you know what I did wrong, please let me know in the comments. For now, click that link blue typing below to open it up.
This PDF highlights the various state-county programs available to you, the homebuyer. Your local town or county might also have additional programs. For us local Chi-Towners, here are programs offered by the city of Chicago to its residents.>>.https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/doh/provdrs/homebuyers.html
This is a lot of information, but if you dig into it and do your research, you will find out that you can purchase a home with sometimes only 3 to 5 % down depending on your credit and other circumstances. Your local mortgage specialists can help you to see if you qualify. If you do not know any mortgage specialist, I do, and they are only 1 phone call away.
What is the latest news for Chicago Renters still suffering through the pandemic in November?
For the most part, this time of the year, the apartment renters have either renewed their leases or moved to their new rental units. The exceptions will be the tenants who, because of the coronavirus, loss their jobs. They are still in their apartment trying to survive. If the mortarium imposed by the Federal and State government not to evict tenants is not extended, they face a January 1st, 2021 eviction date. For the few apartment dwellers who need to move in these fall/winter months due to an emergency or job relocation. If you are up to date on your rental payments you should be alright. Landlords are now more strict about your credit score. Today they want credit scores 630 or higher with no evictions or bankruptcies.
Now let’s address those apartment dwellers who through no fault on their own are still behind in their rental payments. I hope by now that you have sat down with your landlord and have worked out a payment plan for back rent. Please do not think the landlord is going to let you walk away from that debt. They, too, have bills to pay. The government cannot extend these moratoriums forever. There will be a day of judgment, and you could get evicted when that day comes. If you have a past due rental bill, no future landlord will rent to you because you cannot pay 2 rental bills simultaneously.
If that is not enough bad news keeps this in mind. Commonwealth Edison, People’s Gas, and Nicor Gas cannot disconnect service to their customers when Winter officially starts. But if they can disconnect your services now in Autumn, they will do so. People are being sent disconnection notices as you read this. So if you cannot afford to pay utility bills all at once now, please set up a payment plan and stick to it. The same rule applies to the back rent you own your landlord. I know that it is a rough time for many out there financially. But if you have future hopes of moving into another rental unit or purchasing your own home, you must get your credit and rental debts in order. Do it one step at a time, and you will soon see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Summary!
Back to my original question. Can I sell my Chicagoland home during the winter months? Yes, you can. If you price your right, a homebuyer will purchase it. For the home seller, at the end of this post, I have placed a link for you to read a digital copy of my book entitled ‘Insider secrets to get top dollar for your home.” You homebuyers, please do not read it. Ha! Ha! If homebuyers like yourself wish to read something, contact me, and I have something special for you. For sale by owners and homeowners whose properties expired recently I have something for you also. So it’s all about communication. So please contact me.
Conclusion!
The year 2020 is slowly coming to an end. It was not a good year, the whole world changed, and the coronavirus fight will carry 2021. We must stay strong and protect our families. I live in the West Ridge area. I love this area for its culture, its diversity its history. I met someone who lives in the same area, and they did not know that this area was called West Ridge. They thought it was mainly called West Rogers Park, which technically it is. If you know your history, West Ridge and Rogers Park were engaged in a conflict called the cabbage wars decades ago. That was a long time ago, but it makes for interesting reading.
I remember when I moved into the West Ridge/Rogers Park area years ago. Animal life was abundant. Today you see fewer possums, deers, foxes and raccoons, but the skunks are still here along with rabbits with the coyotes. Speaking of coyotes, you small dog owners beware; coyotes will attack and try to eat your small dog, so be on the lookout. Do not leave your small dogs in the yard at night. The animals were here before us so we must co-exist with the wildlife. If you look up into the air, you will sometimes see Eagles and Falcons, especially Falcons, they feed on the pigeons.
Yes, I love my West Ridge/ Rogers Park area. My office is located at 7300 N.Western Ave. If you live in the area one day, I hope to meet you. If you live in other areas, I hope to meet you too for my Real Estate services take me everywhere, especially on the Southside of the city. So let’s ask that question again 1 more time. Can I sell my Chicagoland home during the Winter Months? Yes, you can. This blog post has provided reasons why the serious homeowner should put their home on the market now. If they do so the serious homebuyer will visit and make an will make an offer on your home. Homeowner, please contact me. I will get you fair market value for your home. Homebuyer I will work with you to get the home of your dream. Thank you all for reading this blog. May GOD bless you and your family. Winter is approaching; stay warm and safe. Until the next time.
Charles McShan
chicago-charlesmcshan.Realtor
Main website http://www.charlesmcshanchicagolandrealtor.com
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Click this link to read my book; hopefully, you will pass it on>.https://my.book.live/view/389146/
