Friday, May 30, 2008

Open Houses for the weekend May 31 and June 1

Sunday, June 1

942_N_Fairfield_Unit_2F_FrontView (Large) 942 North Fairfield - the Fairfield Greystone

Open from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Newly renovated Greystone building featuring brand new condominiums with two-beds, two-baths from $255,000.

www.fairfieldgreystone.info

2946_D_wood 003 (Large) 2946 North Wood, Unit D - Wellington Park Townhome

Open from 12:00 to 2:00 pm

Contemporary townhome in Wellington Park. Two beds, plus den, plus penthouse family room. Front yard, front balcony plus roof deck. Room for 4 cars in your 2-car garage plus 2-car driveway. List price $539,900.

www.wellingtonpark.net

1800_W_Erie_St_14_FrontView 1800 West Erie, #14 - West Town Penthouse

Open from 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Top floor condo overlooking Chicago Skyline with an amazing rooftop deck above. Two-beds, two-baths with gorgeous finishes. List price $400,000.

www.darrowwest.com/1800_w__erie,_.htm

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Olde Tyme Chicago on Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park

Lincoln Avenue north of Fullerton was transformed late last week into a bygone era of newly refrigerated movie theatres and gangsters for the filming of the new John Dillinger biopic starring Johnny Depp, "Public Enemies."

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The Biograph is actually the Biograph Theatre. It's a bit more modern today. Still air-conditioned.

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The Chop Suey restaurant is actually a Burrito joint!

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The fake trolley tracks screwed up traffic for nearly a week!

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That's how they do it!

Meeting the parents when the kids are shopping for real estate

I had a showing yesterday with a delightful young couple who returned to the Wellington Park Townhomes for a second viewing of a few of our units for sale.  Both members brought their parents and a brother and sister.  It was a three-car-full entourage!  Meeting the parents is always a bit of a gamble.   Teresa Boardman over at the St. Paul Real Estate Blog recently

posted an excellent article about meeting the parents.

Sometimes parents talk the children out of buying a particular home, other times they say go for it.  I would like to make one suggestion though to parents and their twenty somethings.  Shopping for a home is comparison shopping.  Buyers compare one home to another and are usually working in a particular price range, looking in a certain neighborhood and looking at a limited style of house that fits their needs.

If the parents have not been kept in the loop they don't have anything to compare the home to.  The children select a home and bring the parents but the parents don't understand that the home was in the best location, best condition and for the best prices as compared with the other 25 that the buyers looked at.  The parents see the home and raise objections.  The buyers explain that they really think the home is the best one for them.

To the buyers I suggest keeping the parents in the loop.  Email them links to some of the homes that are being considered.  Tell them about last weekends adventure in house hunting.

Mom from yesterday's showing would not stop asking everyone (me, the sellers, the buyers' agent - Brian, random neighbors outside, the other child in the couple, the other parents...) if they had seen the front page article from USA Today.  It was all about how economists were all atwitter whether the real estate market had finished crashing or not.  Also how prices have sunk 14% during the first quarter 2008 compared to Q1 2007.

It's just like our distinguished founder, Thad Wong says: 

Talking about nationwide real estate statistics is like talking about the average temperature in the US in January.

Of course, there was no convincing Mom that in Chicago, we have a slower market, but with slight price appreciation, or that in the Lakeview neighborhood, the market is less sluggish than the rest of the city with market times only 10 to 15%  longer than last year, and with price appreciation.

Teresa said it best:

Parents need to understand that the buyers have spent many hours shopping on the Internet and visiting homes in person.  They have done their homework and I have provided them with a great deal of information.  The process is almost like a treasure hunt and when the children bring you along to see the home they would like to purchase they have put a lot of thought into it.  Without anything to compare it to parents should point out the good and the bad as they see it but should also recognize that they have not seen enough homes to judge weather or not the home their children have selected really is the best home.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

John McCain advisor Phil Graham still lobbying for banks, but that's not the interesting part...

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann reported on Tuesday on former Senator Phil Graham's role in the deregulation of commercial banking which had been strictly regulated since shortly after the Great Depression, as well as Mr Graham's role as an advisor on national finance issues to the McCain campaign.

Notwithstanding the conflict of interest in having a current lobbyist for UBS Bank as an advisor to the campaign, what is more interesting to your guides is that Senator Graham's efforts towards deregulating the commercial finance system could be a key factor in today's mortgage crisis.

Senator Graham's efforts at deregulation introduced the entire system of mortgage backed securities whereby banks could bundle mortgage instruments with other similar mortgages, and sell them as securities.


More tenants sign up for space in Chicago's Block 37

Blog May 28-2008 002

Your guides were downtown last night to take advantage of the Memorial Day sales at Macy's and catch the 7:30 performance for Wicked and were delighted and wistful at the progress at Block 37. 

For my entire life, the block on the west side of State Street from Randolph to Washington has been vacant.  There was never much going on in Summertime, but in Winter, the city opened up a makeshift ice skating rink.  The empty space afforded good views both of and from Marshall Fields (now Macy's) department store.

Anyhow, there are about 6 stories of glass and steel rising from the street now, crowding Macy's (see the green clock in the distance) and the Ford Oriental Theatre across the street.  What's amazing is that there has been an entire vacant city block right in the heart of downtown Chicago for 40 years!

New anchor tenants include a snazzy new CTA train station - transfers, tourist tickets, and airport check-in, the new street-level glass studio for Channel 2-CBS/WBBM (a-la-channel 7 and NBC's Today Show in New York) and the newly announced Puma Sports Wear store.

Cain's reports that the developer is also speaking with computer maker/retailer Apple to take 6,000 square feet for a Chicago flagship store.

Read more over at www.glasssteelandstone.com.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Chicago "No Parking" street signs contain new fine print...

Blog May 27-2008

Always a fixture in Chicago's neighborhoods, the "Street Sweeping - No Parking" signs have a new look this Spring.

The fine print (or not-so-fine-print) foretells of new photo enforcement. No longer will a lazy officer slowly troll down side streets hand-writing (gasp - the horror) parking tickets for unfortunate residents who didn't see the sign put up the night before. Nope, a high-tech van simply zips through the neighborhood snapping photos of every license plate on the street. You'll get your parking ticket in the mail.

How convenient!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Cool stuff in Lakeview & Chicago on Monday, Memorial Day


events, originally uploaded by digifun.us.

The Wellington-Oakdale Old Glory Marching Society (WOOGMS) parade, a Memorial Day tradition in Chicago's Lake View neighborhood, steps off from Pine Grove and Wellington at 11 a.m. on Monday. It will end with entertainment that includes the Jesse White Tumblers on the lawn of St. Joseph Hospital, 2900 N. Lake Shore. Visit www.44thward.org.

Remember - everybody walks; nobody watches!

A special recognition of the Illinois Gold Star Families who have lost loved ones in military conflicts since Sept. 11, 2001, will be part of the Chicago Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony and parade on Saturday. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Eternal Flame on Daley Plaza, Dearborn and Washington. The annual Memorial Day Parade steps off at noon on State and Wacker, and heads south to Van Buren. Call (312) 744-3315 or visit www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Chicago still ray of light in gloomy Real Estate Market

The National Association of Realtors reported Friday that existing-home sales in April dropped by 1 percent, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.89 million units, matching the all-time low set in January. These figures are nationwide.

Locally, the Illinois Association of Realtors said Friday that sales of single-family homes and condominiums rose 8.5 percent in April over March but were down more than 27 percent from April 2007.

Prices are also still on the rise. In Chicago the median price of a home increased 3.4 percent, to $300,000, from a year ago. These prices are being driven by codominium sales, which make up 64% of home sales in Chicago.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Photo Goodness in Chicago for Thursday, May 22

On quiet, tree lined, Arthur Street in West Ridge springs forth "Arthland" - I have no idea why.  The baby cow is riding a mini-motor cycle.

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The Buddhist Temple on Ashland at Wilson is preparing for Buddha's Birthday Celebration.  This should be quite a weekend.  Happy Birthday, Buddha.

 

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Today's Lawyer Joke

Q: How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?

A: How many can you afford?

Thanks to Your Daily Personal Lawyer - Jonathan Dixon - link in the sidebar. Jonathan publishes daily on his website as well as hosts a "Talk to a Lawyer Night" here in Chicago once a month.

"Ask The Lawyer Night" is in session on the first Tuesdays of each month from 6:30 to 8:00 at Ennui Cafe (6981 N. Sheridan -- Lunt and Sheridan) in Chicago. Anyone is invited to stop in to ask any legal questions they have. We'll either get you an answer, or point you to where you can get an answer.

The next "Ask The Lawyer Night" is Tuesday, June 3 from 6:30 to 8:00 at Ennui Cafe!

For daily legal updates, visit his legal blog at www.yourdailypersonallawyer.blogspot.com, which is updated daily M-F. Each day he focuses on a specific area of law:

Monday's daily focus: estates, wills, trusts, and probate law
Tuesday's daily focus: condo law
Wednesday's daily focus: residential real estate law
Thursday's daily focus: landlord/tenant law
Friday's daily focus: divorce and family law

Friday, May 16, 2008

Things to do in Chicago this weekend

  mayfest_2008 Finally, Festival Season is upon us.  Closest to our neighborhood, Mayfest is held on Friday night through Saturday night in the parking lot for Augustus Burley School, at Ashland and Barry.  There is supposed to be some sort of German Heritage being celebrated here, but I couldn't find out exactly what as the website is overcrowded with logos for Hoffbrau Haus beer as well as that old German standby, Pabst Blue Ribbon.  Don't miss the "Traditional Keg Tapping" (see what I mean) on Friday at 8 pm.

 

Not so much an event, but noteworthy nonetheless, American Science and Surplus (5316 N. Milwaukee, at Foster) is having its annual scratch and dent sale.  Odd since I thought everything at American Science and Surplus was scratch and dent merchandise.  Where else on earth can you find an Ancient Radiation Meter:

Are the kids growing up with pride? Radiating good cheer? You can tell for sure with...What? It’s for nuclear radiation? An old Civil Defense meter? Bummer. Apparently, this OCD radiation meter from the Victoreen Mfg. Co. was Radiationmade to sniff out the residue of the nuclear holocaust when you emerged from your bomb shelter. Calibrated 5 r/hr (Roentgen) with a X 0.1, X1, X10, X100 sensitivity selector, it runs on (1) “D” battery (not included.) The Civil Defense yellow boxes are about 8” x 4–1/2” x 3–1/2”. It comes with complete instructions for use. The CD V–777–2 includes two 4–1/2” long x 1/2” dia dosimeters and a 2” x 4” x 4” dosimeter charger. This one is used, but it works fine, even if it looks a bit scuffed.

And in case you're still on the hunt for the perfect bargain, check out the Ravenswood Manor Annual Garage Sale.  There's a link in one of the topmost entries with a map of all the participating houses.  This is one of the oldest and largest garage sales in Chicago.  And if I do say so myself, these homes probably have some pretty noteworthy trash/treasures to rummage through.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Open Houses for the weekend of May 17 & 18

Saturday, May 17

The Warren Corner Condominiums

Open from 2:00 to 3:30

2034 W. Warner & 6504 N. Seeley

Newly renovated condominiums from $155,000.  Two bedrooms from $200,000.

www.warrencorner.info

Sunday, May 18

2946 N. Wood Street, Unit D

Open from Noon to 2:00

Wellington Park Townhome. Two beds plus den, two and a half baths, on four floors of living with a two car garage plus a two car driveway.  Just dropped the price to $539,900 for a really fast sale!

www.wellingtonpark.net

3450 N. Ashland, #3N

Open from 2:00 to 4:00

Two bedroom, two bath condo in a new construction walk-up with an open kitchen, rear balcony, and garage parking all included.  List Price $418,000.

www.darrowwest.com/3450_n__ashland_.htm

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

More interesting stats on Chicago's Real Estate market

So the news over the last few days has not been good. The number of homes sold across Illinois, as well as inside Chicago is down from one year ago. And the average price of a home in Illinois, and in Chicago is down.

One interesting statistic is that the average price for a condominium (attached property including townhomes, condos and co-ops) in the City of Chicago is up 7%. The number that have sold in Q1 2008 is down dramatically from Q1 2007, but prices are holding up. Very interesting.

For example, in Lakeview, the price for a typical 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo is up 4% from last year, but the price for a typical single family home is down 3.3%.

Other news today, Appraisal Research Counselors report that in the Downtown area, nearly 6,000 condominiums are scheduled to come on the market as they near finishing of construction. This will be the greatest number of new condos to go up for sale in history - even counting the boom years in the early 2000's.

On the downside, sales of newly built downtown condominiums plummeted by about 83 percent during the first quarter, to 201 units from 1,207 units a year earlier, according to the same report to be released Wednesday by Appraisal Research Counselors. Yikes!

Most of the buildings that make up the figures contained in the report are already under construction, so most likely can not be cancelled. Your guides predict a mass conversion to apartment buildings later this year. These will be pretty darn nice apartment buildings as most of the condominiums under construction are quite luxurious.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Illinois home prices hold steady, number of sold falls dramatically

Illinois median home prices held their own in the first quarter while sales were constrained by the ongoing credit crunch and a softening economy. According to IAR's first quarter report, home sales totaled 21,576, down 27.0 percent from 29,553 home sales in the first quarter of 2007. The first quarter statewide median home sale price was $187,500, down 4.3 percent from $196,000 a year earlier. “Extreme winter weather on top of shaky consumer confidence due to rising gas and food prices and the uncertain economy affected overall home sales activity statewide. REALTORS do anticipate a boost in activity as we enter the spring housing market from pent-up demand held over for so many months,” said IAR President Kay Wirth, in the release. “The fundamental elements of a solid housing market are in place with low interest rates and ample inventory of homes.”

Home-Price-Appreciation-Chicago-IL

You can see from Zillow's latest Home Value Report the breakdown by neighborhood of home value declines.  All of Chicago's Lakefront neighborhoods posted slight gains or held prices steady in the first quarter 2008 compared to 2007. 

You can also drill down into every neighborhood at the @properties Market Report which breaks down prices, appreciation and number of units sold by neighborhood and by unit size.

Buying in Chicago? Know your closing costs.

So you've finally saved up your down payment for your new home.  Heck, you even realize that now might be a good time to buy if you have predicted that we've hit bottom and prices are as low as they're going to go.

But do you know all the costs involved in buying a new home in Chicago?  Let's dive in.

First, you'll pay your lender an application fee.  They generally run $250 to $500.  You will pay this up front at the time of your loan application.  This fee covers your credit check (around $50 worth) and the appraisal on your property.  Some lenders will credit this back to you at closing.

Most people want a home inspection.  You'll pay your inspector anywhere between $250 for a simple condo to $800 for a 4-flat building.  You'll pay your inspector up front.

Points:  Points are pre-paid interest to reduce the interest rate on your loan over the long run.  I haven't had anyone pay points in the last 10 years, so let's not worry about them.

The City of Chicago will charge you $7.50 per $1,000 of your purchase price.  Or $750 per $100,000.  On a typical $300,000 condo, this works out to $2,250 in transfer taxes.  This is the big one ~ so be aware.  (There are taxes levied on the seller as well, but let's save those for another post.)

If you put less than 20% down on your new place, you'll probably pay PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance.)  This will typically cost 0.5% to 1% of your loan at closing.  (And more over the life of the loan.)

Here in Illinois, Lawyers run the closing.  Most attorneys charge a flat fee to look over your contract, and then babysit your contract to closing, as well as babysit you at the closing table.  You'll pay $450 to $800 for the privilege.

Title Insurance:  the seller will buy you insurance - so you think you're covered, right?  But you have to buy it for your Lender/Bank/Mortgage company.  This will run about $400 additional.

Other fees will add up to around another $400 to $800.  These B.S. fees include things like:

  • $35 for a flood certificate.  This irks me to no end, because the entire City of Chicago is NOT in a flood plain, but buyers are required to purchase a certificate that SAYS the same thing from the U.S. Government.
  • Escrow charges.  These are fees that the Title Company charges to mind the incoming and outflowing money.  It's usually a requirement of your lender ~ and therefore, you're stuck paying a fee to rent the conference room at the title company.  Otherwise you could close in your living room.
  • Wire fees.  Of course, you borrowed the money, but your lender charges YOU $50 to send the money to the Title Company.
  • Overnight fees.  You just signed your big fat loan package.  The Title Company charges you $50 to FedEx it back to the lender.
  • Recording fees.  These are worth it.  A representative from the Title Company goes down to the Recorder's Office and stands in line; pays your recording fees, and records all your documents into the public record.  And they charge you a premium to do so.

Other little surprise items: 

  • Did you buy in a new condominium?  Then you'll pay up 2 or 3 months of assessments to get the reserve fund started.  Bye Bye $300.
  • Ditto?  Then you'll pay the developer back for the building insurance policy that he pre-paid for, but you get the benefit of after you own your new condo.  Another $200.

On the same $300,000 condominium from our example above, it would be wise to budget an extra 2% - $6,000 - in closing costs on top of your down payment for the property. 

Now, let's see if the math holds up.

  • $450 Loan app.
  • $300 Inspection.
  • $2,250 Chicago Transfer Tax.
  • $500 Attorney fee.
  • $1,450 PMI
  • $400 Lenders policy
  • $35 Flood
  • $200 Escrow charges
  • $50 Wire
  • $50 Overnight
  • $100 Recording
  • Grand Total:  $5,785  (Not Bad!)

All of these charges are added up on your "Settlement Statement" which also goes by the name "HUD1" or "RESPA."  It's a standardized spreadsheet or balance sheet that is prepared for every closing.

Ask your lawyer to send you a copy of your statement a day or 2 in advance - maybe he'll have all the figures.  But it's also likely he won't, and you won't see your settlement statement until closing.  On the other hand, you should be given the "Final Figure" which is the size of the check you should bring to closing - and it contains all the numbers on the "RESPA" but not all typed up and formal.  You should find out your "Final Figure" a day before closing so you have time to go to the bank.

The final piece of advice - you will need to bring a cashier's check to the closing.  No personal checks.  And remember to bring your Drivers' License.  You need proof of identity to close.

Monday, May 12, 2008

Upcoming Festivals in Chicago for May

Gospel_singer May 16 & 17 - Chicago Mayfest

3100 North Ashland Avenue. $5 to enter

May 24 - Memorial Day Parade

250 North State Street. Free

May 28 to 31 - Chicago Turkish Festival

50 West Washington - Daley Plaza. Free

May 30 to June 1 - 24th Annual Gospel Music Festival

Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph Street. Free

May 31 to June 1 - Belmont/Sheffield Music Festival

3200 North Sheffield - $5 to enter

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Some Suburbs and Neighborhoods of Chicago now "Declining Markets."

For the first time, this week I heard the term "declining market" applied to a Suburb of Chicago - Western Springs. I heard from a loan officer friend of mine that this new designation pretty much torpedoed a deal he was working on.

So, what's a declining market?

When a property is located in an area identified as declining, Fannie Mae will now require the lender to offer financing at LTV and CLTV ratios that are five percentage points below the maximum ratios allowed for the selected mortgage product. For example, when the highest LTV allowed for a particular mortgage product is 100 percent, maximum financing would be 95 percent if the subject property is located in an area identified as declining.

Yikes!

Here's a map from Countrywide Mortgage of their "declining markets."



It's important to know that the map is dynamic - constantly changing. It could even happen that a town or a neighborhood may not be labeled "declining" when you apply for your loan, but get the designation at some time during the mortgage processing.

In my friend's example above, the first mortgage was approved. But the second mortgage didn't get processed in time to beat the dreaded designation, and was denied.

This is a stern reminder to borrowers out there to be ever more vigilant about monitoring every step of their mortgage process. And a vivid reminder that it's not just the borrower that has to qualify for the mortgage. So does the property; and today - so does your new neighborhood.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Reader question on Security Deposit Interest in Chicago

A reader wrote:

Thanks for your article "Series: Getting started with Chicago Investment Property. Part 3." Very good info there. I am new to the rental market; I have a condo unit in Chicago to rent; I wonder where should I put the security deposit? The city requires 1.26% for the year of 2008. I checked into several banks but the trust account only pays O.5% interest. Which bank has a better offer? Or is there a better way to deal with this money? I only have one unit. Can I be exempt from the rule that I must hold this money separately? I looked into a CD that requires a certain amount, that means I must put some of my money into it in order to meet the requirement, however that must be under my name. The rate is much better. Is it legal to do it? Please advise!

Hi Jean,

The short answer is that, if you are subject to it, there is no way to get out of complying with the Chicago Landlord Tenant Ordinance. And if you own a condo, it sounds like you're not living in an owner occupied two, three or four unit.

However, the Ordinance only states that you must keep the security deposit funds in an interest bearing, Federally insured institution that is located in Illinois. It does NOT require you to keep it in a "trust account." To comply with the law, you merely need to open a savings account. You can even open a CD. Savings accounts seem to be paying around 3% and CD's appear to be paying around 5% . Open a savings account and have your bank (Federally insured) name the account "Your Name – Security Deposits."

You should then only use this account for Security deposits – NOT FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. Any personal money that you have or rent money, etc, should never go into or out of this account.

All banks vary what interest they pay on basic savings accounts so, check with the bank you like to work with. If you have more than one account with a bank they may give a more favorable rate. Keep in mind however that on a $1,500.00 security deposit, the difference from what you earn and what you pay is not that huge. In your example you said you could get 0.5%. If the required interest you pay is 1.28% then 0.78% is what you have to come up with out of your own pocket. On that $1,500.00 security deposit, that amounts to a $19.20 interest payment of which you made $7.50 in interest. That means your total annual out of pocket is $11.20. That's not too bad.

Check with your accountant as well, because you should be able to write off any excess interest that you pay to the tenants.

Guide to articles

Part 1: Identifying potential property
Part 2: Marketing
Part 3: Taking an application and lease
Part 4: Move in day

Chicago Condo Market Report for April

The latest stats from our friends over at Chicago Condos Online


Recent Sales (2008 & 2007)

Condo Market Indicators

Year Over Year (April 2008 – April 2007)

Category
April 2008
April 2007
Change
Actives
14,127
14,757
-4%
New Listings
4,464
4,928
-9%
Closings
1,148
1,765
-35%
Median Sales Price
$320,000
$290,000
+10%
Total Sales Volume
$441 million
$575 million
-23%
Avg. Days on Market
123
132
-7%
Supply
9.4 months
9.2 months
+2%




Month Over Month (April 2008 – March 2008)

Category
April 2008
March 2008
Change
Actives
14,127
13,593
+4%
New Listings
4,464
3,743 +19%
Closings
1,148
1,280 -10%
Median Sales Price
$320,000
312,000 -7%
Total Sales Volume
$441 million
$474 million -7%
Avg. Days on Market
123
137 -10%
Supply
9.4 months
9.1 months
+3%


Statistics above based on units closed or listed on the Multiple Listing Service. MLS figures do not include for-sale-by-owner units (FSBOs), typically less than ten percent of all sales.

Based on sales of 18,000 units in 2007. Nationally, inventory, or supply, of more than six months generally indicates a buyer’s market.


Sunday, May 4, 2008

For Teresa who photographs, but doesn't sell, the bridges. Lake Street.

History Repeating



I am reminded that the more things change, the more they stay the same after trying to drive around Chicago on one of our first beautiful days of Spring. And picking up a friend at the Airport.


I think the sign above is being a bit optimistic.

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Bicycles in Chicago must yield to "pretty much everyone"

Bike Sign Great article over at The Chicagoist today on who has right away in Chicago - cars or bikes?

...this all pretty much means that bicycles yield to everyone all the time: "Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near as practicable to the right-hand side of the roadway, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction and at all times giving the right-of-way to other moving vehicles."

Link to post

Friday, May 2, 2008

Love Hate Relationship with Blogger & Google

Rasberry

I host this blog at Blogger.  It's part of Google.  I started blogging a couple years ago and wasn't sure how it would work out.  And as the blog got bigger and more popular, it never seemed like it would be worth the hassle to move it to my own hosting company.  And to learn how to publish the blog in WordPress.  Or other platform.

But earlier this week, the automatic spam software at Blogger decided your humble real estate writer was a spammer and the Windy City Guide was a spam blog.  And the blog got locked.

When your blog gets locked, you can't make any more posts.  You get a nasty note that tells you that you need to follow some directions to have a human review your blog or that the whole thing gets deleted in 20 days.  And since the service is free, it's not like you get instant customer service. 

All in all, a rotten experience.  If I was paying for the service, I'd really be angry.  Even so, it's a terrible feeling to feel like you're losing control of something you've invested a couple years of work in.

Feel free to send along your suggestions on where and how to move.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Open Houses for the weekend of May 3 & 4

 

942_N_Fairfield_Unit_2F_FrontView (Large)

Sunday, May 4

The Fairfield Greystone

942 North Fairfield

Open Sunday from 11:00 to 1:00

New condos from $255,000

www.fairfieldgreystone.info

 

1800_W_Erie_St_14_FrontView

1800 West Erie, #14

New listing in West Town

Open Sunday from 1:00 to 3:00

Two bedrooms, two baths, balcony, rooftop terrace and parking all included for $400,000.

  www.darrowwest.com