Come see or call us this Sunday!

No, we are not having an Open House Sunday. We will be volunteering at the Riverplex for the Children’s Miracle Network Telethon. Rich & Tara will be busy all day as Hour Co-Chairs. Adam will be answering the phones from 12 to 1. The Telethon will be on WEEK News 25. Please call and donate! Help us support the Children’s Hospital of Illinois!

Ladies First

Tips for first-time, single female home buyers

Single females continue to be a driving force in the housing market. The Coldwell Banker® organization recommends the following steps for women considering buying their first home:

Get your finances in order. First and foremost, check your credit history. Order a report from one of the three major agencies and take immediate steps to rectify any problems. Make sure you pay your bills on time and have established a solid savings plan. You want to be on firm financial footing when you begin the home buying process especially since you will be funding the purchase on one income, especially with lending institutions tightening their output.

Buy within reason. Have a good idea of what you willing, or not willing, to do with a home. Determine whether you want a house that is move-in ready, or whether you want “the handyman special.” If you decide to take the do-it-yourself route, be sure to establish a separate budget for that process so you stay on top of both the mortgage and renovation costs.

Work with a reliable real estate sales associate. Buying a home is likely the largest transaction you will ever make. When you are buying on your own, be sure to surround yourself with a team of professionals who will help you navigate through the process. An established real estate sales associate can coordinate information from beginning to end and help identify the professionals you will need (inspectors, lawyers, contractors) to make the experience is as smooth as possible. As a professional REALTOR®, I can be your resource. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 today!

Beautiful Home in Chillicothe's Sycamore Trail Subdivision

1606 Greystone Court, Chillicothe
Absolutely immaculate 4 bedroom, 3-1/2 bath Colonial style home in Chillicothe. This beauty was built by Plum Creek Builders in 2005. The main floor offers an open floor plan with a living room, fireplaced family room, inf.dining room, laundry room, half bath, and a kitchen with granite tops, stainless appliances and an island/breakfast bar. All 4 bedrooms are up with a master suite offering a walk-in closet, dual sinks, and an extra large whirlpool tub. Approximately half of the basement is finished with a rec room, office area, and a full bath. The yard is meticulously maintained with beautiful landscaping and a patio and play area in the back. Check out the listing for more details. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you have any questions.

Just Listed!

629 E Swords, Edelstein
Looking for a great home away from the hustle and bustle of the city? This amazing 4 bedroom 2 and a half bath home is located on a 1 acre wooded lot with year round lake views with lake rights and a dock. The many updates in this house include a complete kitchen remodel w granite tops, newly finished hardwood floors in the dining room and living room, new carpet in the family room, and zoned heating and cooling. The elegant master suite offers a marble and ceramic master bath with whirlpool tub, dual sinks, and a double sided fireplace. There is a large bonus room off the master. The full walk out basement has a rec room and a built in bar. The Peoria park district is your neighbor in the back. $259,900 See the listing for more details. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you are interested.

Home Staging Article in Illinois Realtor

There is a good article about staging in month’s Illinois Realtor Magazine. I have include a few key comments below.

• “You only get five seconds to make a great first impression and if you can’t wow them at the curb and then keep wowing them as they walk in the front door, then it’s history,” says Betty Cunningham, a REALTOR® with Re/Max Unlimited Northwest.
• “There isn’t a lot of statistical research on home staging, but a study by Coldwell Banker Realty several years ago found that staged homes sold faster and for more money. In a 2008 survey, Stagedhomes.com found that homes staged by its Accredited Staging Professionals spent 80 percent less time on the market than homes that hadn’t been staged. The Real Estate Staging Association recently released its latest statistics and found that even in 2008’s slower housing market, staged vacant homes spent 85 percent less time on the market and staged occupied homes 89 percent. The Real Estate Staging Association recently released its latest statistics and found that even in 2008’s slower housing market, staged vacant homes spent 85 percent less time on the market and staged occupied homes 89 percent.”

You can read the article at http://www.illinoisrealtor.org/node/1622 There is some good information and tips provided by Staging expert Barb Schwarz of StagedHomes.com. This is who I received my training and certification through.

The Gillespie Group includes a Free Home Staging Consultation when you list with us! To learn more, check out Staging Your Home in the Sellers section at http://www.richgillespie.com/ and my website at http://www.peoriastagedhomes.com/. Email or call me at 309-657-1038 if you have any questions.

Tara Gillespie, Accredited Staging Professional

Come See Us Sunday in Dunlap’s Wynncrest Subdivision

We are having an Open House at 2602 W Carrington in Dunlap from 2:00 to 4:00 this Sunday. Don’t miss this 5 bedroom 3 ½ bath “Signature Home” located in Dunlap’s Wynncrest Subdivision. This home offers granite countertops in the kitchen with hardwood floors, carried through to the foyer and pass-through from the garage. A large 2 story foyer with a loft welcomes your guests into the home. Upstairs are 4 bedrooms with 2 full baths. The master suite offers a walk-in closet and a large bathroom. The partially finished basement offers a bedroom, full bathroom and a rec room for all your entertaining. Don’t miss this 5 bedroom 3 ½ bath “Signature Home” located in Dunlap’s Wynncrest Subdivision. $327,400 Check out the listing for more details.

Two New Listings!

1312 Willow, Washington
Over 2500 finished square feet! Magnificent 2 story new construction in Bristol Park. Very open floor plan in this 4 bedroom and 2-1/2 bath home with a fireplaced Great Room, Kitchen with hard surface countertops, Formal Dining, Informal Dining, & main floor laundry. This home offers hardwood and ceramic tile floors, arched doorways, rounded corners, vaulted ceilings, tray ceilings, 9’ ceilings on the main level and a 9’ basement. All 4 bedrooms are upstairs including a Master Suite with 2 walk in closets. The Master Bath has dual sinks, a walk-in shower, and a corner whirlpool tub. Bedrooms 3 & 4 also have walk in closets, and the main bath also has dual sinks. Still time to make selections! Estimated completion date is mid September. $256,900. Check-out the listing for all the details. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you are interested.

201 S Kellogg, Yates City
Great country home located in the town of Yates City. This 2 story home is located on a great corner lot with over a half acre of land. The home has 3 bedrooms upstairs, a formal dining area, and a nice family room with an enclosed porch. There is a 1 stall garage with a nice walkway and deck on the back of the home. Do not miss this opportunity. $57,900 Check-out the listing for all the details. Email or call us at 309-657-0063 if you are interested.

Love, Marriage, and Real Estate

Today, more and more young adults are spreading their wings and enjoying life before choosing to settle down. The savvier have moved away from monthly rent and are taking advantage of the real estate market. As a result, it is not uncommon to see new marriages in which both the bride and the groom enter the union with a dowry that includes real estate!

So, what to do with an extra house? Perhaps the first temptation is to immediately sell one and use the proceeds to fix up the other house or buy something different altogether. A good idea, and one that will set you up with a nice down payment when it is time to purchase a larger house for a growing family.

This is not the only option for newlyweds with two homes. According to the professionals at Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation, another good idea is to keep one house as a rental unit. The tax codes allow you to immediately depreciate the value of the building over 27 years, and any taxes, insurance, visits to your property and fix-ups are all write-offs. With this approach, both homes are investments and you build equity in each. Or yet another suggestion is to sell one of the homes and buy a condominium to turn into a rental unit.

No matter which option you choose, consult with a knowledgeable real estate sales associate before making any big decisions. A good REALTOR will know the market and be able to counsel you on the type of cash flow you may expect with a rental in your particular neighborhood or whether a straight sale is the better way to go. If you choose to rent, seek the advice of a good accountant to help you navigate the various tax advantages to being a landlord.

We would love to help you! Email or call us at 309-657-0063 today.