Part 2: Ways to make your home sell faster

Deciding to sell your home is a crucial decision and the selling process can be quite demanding. Here’s a checklist of suggested exterior improvements to help you get started:

• Painting:  Touch up your house’s exterior paint before you put it on the market. Paint and/or clean the front door.
• Lawn:  Keep your lawn freshly mowed and neatly trimmed.
• Sidewalks:  Sweep your sidewalks daily.
• Shrubbery: Remove or replace any dead or dying trees, hedges, or shrubs; prune anything that looks unsightly or overgrown.
• Flowers: Filling flowerbeds with seasonal flowers is an inexpensive way to add color and charm to your property.
• Repairs:  Be sure that all gutters and downspouts are in place and clean. Replace missing roof shingles and broken or cracked windows.
• Make sure the garage door is greased and working properly and the house address numbers are easily visible.
• Replace stray or warped roofing shingles. Straighten sagging gutters. Repaint or replace your mailbox if it shows signs of wear.
• Windows: Keep your windows spotless.
• Eliminate or hide clutter:  Clear everything out of the garage that you don’t need.

Original Source: www.coldwellbankeronline.com

Once you decide to sell your home, Bradford Miller Law, P.C. can help you with your transaction at a very reasonable rate. Our experienced Real Estate Attorneys have been representing real estate clients for several years now and have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. Please feel free to visit our website for information about our firm and information about selling a home. To discuss your pending or potential real estate transaction call us at 312-238-9298 for a Free 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602
312-238-9298
http://www.bradfordmillerlaw.com

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, Short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Part 1: Ways to make your home sell faster

Deciding to sell your home is a crucial decision and the selling process can be quite demanding. Here’s a checklist of suggested interior home improvements to help you get started:

• Clean, scrub, and polish: Keep your stove, oven, refrigerator, microwave, and other appliances spotlessly clean inside and out.
• Clean and spot-treat all carpeting. Polish wood floors and vinyl flooring. Clean walls, doors, and woodwork.
• Eliminate odors: Buyers will notice strong smells as soon as they walk through your front door. Eliminate smoke, mildew, and pet odors.
• Fix drippy faucets and running toilets: If any of your sinks or bathtubs drain slowly, unclog them.
• Get rid of clutter: Keep clutter off of kitchen counters and dirty dishes out of the sink.  Straighten all closets.
• Make cosmetic improvements: Painting is not expensive if you do it yourself, and be sure to choose neutral colors.

Original Source: www.coldwellbankeronline.com

Once you decide to sell your home, Bradford Miller Law, P.C. can help you with your transaction at a very reasonable rate. Our experienced Real Estate Attorneys have been representing real estate clients for several years now and have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. Please feel free to visit our website for information about our firm and information about selling a home. To discuss your pending or potential real estate transaction call us at 312-238-9298 for a Free 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602
312-238-9298
http://www.bradfordmillerlaw.com

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, Short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Statistics show that homeowners financial positions are improving

Frederic Scovell, a Coldwell Banker Residential  Broker recently reported an article titled "Equity Position of U.S. Households Improves."  Fred reported on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors' recently released statistics on the financial accounts of U.S. households. The release shows continued improvement in the financial position of U.S. households with real estate. In fact, the household real estate equity position improved to a level last reached in the second quarter of 2007.

He found that according to the National Association of  Home Builder's tabulations of the quarterly series, the asset value or market value of owner-occupied real estate held by U.S. households increased by $758 billion dollars or 3.9%. The liability total – home mortgages – decreased by $37 billion or 0.4%. The equity position, the difference between assets and liabilities, increased by $795 billion or nearly 7.9%.

Fred points out that the figures provided by the Federal Reserve Board of Governors are not adjusted for inflation. Therefore, it is useful to examine the owners' equity in real estate as a percentage of household real estate. The ratio is calculated by taking the equity position divided by the market value of owner-occupied real estate held by U.S. households. The higher the ratio the more favorable is the financial position of U.S. households with real estate.

Fred states that the current ratio of owners' equity in real estate as a percentage of household real estate is 53.6%. The ratio was last at this level in the first quarter of 2007. The ratio has rebounded rapidly since the first quarter of 2009 when it was at an all-time low of 36.6%.

He found that the quarterly series shows continued improvement in the balance for U.S. households with real estate. This should not be a surprise given the increase in home prices and the low mortgage rates. The continuing improvement in the financial position of U.S. households with real estate is a welcome sign. The improved equity position represents fewer underwater homeowners, thereby unlocking housing supply and demand.

Original Source: National Association of Home Builders

Frederic Scovell is an experienced local real estate agent at the Coldwell Banker Gold Coast office in Chicago, IL. He can be reached at (312) 914-1045. Once you decide to sell or purchase a home, Bradford Miller Law can help you with your transaction at a very reasonable rate. Our experienced Real Estate Attorneys have been representing real estate clients for several years now and have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. Please feel free to visit our website  for information about our firm and information about buying or selling a home. To discuss your pending or potential real estate transaction call us at 312-238-9298 for a Free 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602
312-238-9298
http://www.bradfordmillerlaw.com

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, Short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Housing market projected to grow

On May 16, 2014, Journalist Scott Morgan, published an article in DS News titled "Economy and Housing Market Projected to Grow in 2015."

He states in part that despite many beginning-of-the-year predictions about spring growth in the housing market falling flat, and despite a still chugging economy that changes its mind quarter-to-quarter, economists at the National Association of Realtors and other industry groups expect an uptick in the economy and housing market through next year. The key to the NAR's optimism, as expressed by the organization's chief economist, Lawrence Yun, is a hefty pent-up demand for houses coupled with expectations of job growth.

He also reported that Eric Belsky, managing director of the JointCenter for Housing Studies at Harvard University, said that growth in the stock market and the recovery in housing, along with pent-up demand, are major factors driving the economy right now, leading economists like Yun and Belsky to suggest that housing will improve, just not on the schedule many other economists had expected.

Once you decide to sell or purchase a home, Bradford Miller Law can help you with your transaction at a very reasonable rate. Our experienced Real Estate Attorneys have been representing real estate clients for several years now and have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. Please feel free to visit our website  for information about our firm and information about buying or selling a home. To discuss your pending or potential real estate transaction call us at 312-238-9298 for a Free 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602
312-238-9298
http://www.bradfordmillerlaw.com

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, Short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Don't damage your credit

Are you a homeowner struggling with your mortgage payment? The most important thing is to avoid foreclosure. You have options available to you. A short sale is a real estate transaction in which the lender agrees to the sale of a house for less than the balance owed on the loan. Banks are usually much more interested in facilitating short sales which avoid costly foreclosures. And, short sales allow you to repair your credit sooner than if you went through a foreclosure.

Bradford Miller Law has been representing both buyers and sellers of short sale properties for several years. We offer free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale. Call us to help you with your short sale transaction.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602
312-238-9298
http://www.bradfordmillerlaw.com

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago residential real estate attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago eviction attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago building code violations, Chicago real estate attorney fees. This is intended to be advertising. Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Buying property increases your net worth

Owning a home rather than renting is a great way for you to build wealth. If you are thinking of buying a home or purchasing an income property, Bradford Miller Law, P.C. can help you every step of the way. From buying, selling, renting and even helping you with a building code violation we are here to help with all your real estate needs at a very reasonable rate. Our experienced Real Estate Attorneys have been representing real estate clients for several years now and have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. Our website has information about our firm and helpful real estate information. To discuss your pending or potential real estate transaction call us at 312-238-9298 for a Free 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602
312-238-9298
http://www.bradfordmillerlaw.com

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, Short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Warranty deed versus a special warranty deed

On July 6, 2014, Howard Dakoff, Condo Adviser for the Chicago Tribune answered the following question:

"I am contemplating buying a condominium unit that is in foreclosure and was informed that I would receive only a special warranty deed versus a warranty deed at closing. What is the difference?"

He responded: "In essence, the primary difference between a warranty and special warranty deed is that a warranty deed is a seller representation to the buyer that the seller has good title to the property that extends back through the chain of title, whereas a special warranty deed grants the same representation as to title, but limits the time of the representation to the period of ownership of the seller.

As a general proposition, warranty deeds are preferred over special warranty deeds because of the representations extending for a longer period. However, special warranty deeds are standard in foreclosures because lenders are willing to make representations regarding title only during their period of ownership.

To address this differential, it is highly recommended that title insurance be procured when accepting a special warranty deed (or a warranty deed for that matter) to have insurance coverage in case of a claim against title. "

If you are buying a foreclosure property, Bradford Miller Law. P.C. can help you with your real estate needs at a very reasonable rate. We can advise you from a legal standpoint so you can make the right decisions to protect your assets. Our experienced Real Estate Attorneys have been representing real estate clients for several years now and have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. Please feel free to visit our website  for information about our firm and information about buying or selling a home. To discuss your pending or potential real estate transaction call us at 312-238-9298 for a Free 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602
312-238-9298
http://www.bradfordmillerlaw.com

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, Short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Accreditation with the Better Business Bureau

Bradford Miller Law, P.C. has been an accredited business member of the Better Business Bureau since June 1, 2013, maintaining an A rating.

What this means is that the BBB determined that Bradford Miller Law, P.C. meets their accreditation standards, which includes a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. We are proud of the fact that to date, we have not received any complaints.

Bradford Miller Law, P.C. focuses on real estate law, landlord tenant law, building code violations and estate planning. We are committed to providing you with expert legal support and approach every client with a focus on integrity, advocacy, and understanding. At www.bradfordmillerlaw.com you will find information about our firm and can review the BBB accreditation by simply clicking on the icon in the upper left corner.

Our office is located on LaSalle Street in the heart of downtown Chicago, near many major title companies' offices. We accomplish as much as possible for our clients by telephone and electronic communications to minimize demands on their valuable time. To discuss your pending or potential real estate transaction, your ongoing legal needs as a property owner or landlord, or your estate planning concerns, call us at 312-238-9298 for a free 15-minute consultation.

Our website also has testimonials from our clients and professional peers. I encourage you to read them to learn more about our approach.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602
312-238-9298
http://www.bradfordmillerlaw.com

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.

Best long term investment is Real Estate

Frederic Scovell, a Coldwell Banker Residental Broker reported on a poll regarding real estate and long term investments. He found that the Gallup organization just released their April Economy and Personal Finances Poll which asked Americans to choose the best option for long term investment. It was no surprise to us that real estate returned to the top position over other investment categories (gold, stocks/mutual funds, savings accounts/CDs and bonds).

Fred reported that back in 2011, gold was the most popular long-term investment among Americans. However, with the housing market improving across the U.S. and home prices rising, more Americans now consider real estate the best option for long-term investments. The poll also revealed that real estate was considered to be the best long term investment by all four subgroups by age and two out of three by income and provided this chart:



Original Source: Keeping Current Matters

Fred Scovell  is an experienced local real estate broker and can be reached at (312) 914-1045. Once you decide to sell or purchase a home, Bradford Miller Law can help you with your transaction at a very reasonable rate. Our experienced Real Estate Attorneys have been representing real estate clients for several years now and have earned membership in the Better Business Bureau. Please feel free to visit our website  for information about our firm and information about buying or selling a home. To discuss your pending or potential real estate transaction call us at 312-238-9298 for a Free 15-minute consultation.

Posted by Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
Practicing in Real Estate Law, Landlord Tenant Law, and Estate Planning
134 N. LaSalle, Suite 1040
Chicago, IL 60602
312-238-9298
http://www.bradfordmillerlaw.com

Offering free legal representation to homeowners seeking a short sale

Key words: Chicago short sale attorney, Chicago landlord tenant law attorney, Chicago estate planning attorney, Estate Planning Lawyer, Chicago leases, Chicago real estate attorney, Chicago real estate lawyer, Chicago real estate closings, Chicago building code violations, Short sale attorney Chicago. This is intended to be advertising.  Please consult with an attorney before acting on any information given here.