Free Chicago Museum Days, Home Safety, and the Chicago Real Estate Market

This time, I’m sharing money-saving and home safety tips as well as good news for home buyers and investors.

The Art Institute of Chicago is free to Illinois residents every weekday until February 13, 2013. If you don’t have an Illinois driver’s license or an Illinois State ID, please call them and ask what you can bring to prove your residency. The Field Museum also has SOME free days for Illinois residents in January and February. Additionally, here is another website with more Chicago freebies. Please check all websites for details.

According to a Forbes magazine article, Chicago has been a buyer’s market in 2012. While affordability is still high and mortgage rates continue to be historically low, you might want to consider pursuing buying a home or investment property this year.

Yesterday’s Chicago Sun-Times highlighted December’s spiked residential sales and prices during what has historically been the slowest time of the year. If you’re sitting on the fence about buying, you might want to start looking before home prices increase even more.

If you already own a home, January is National Radon Action Month, and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is asking Chicagoans to test their homes for harmful levels of radon, a cancer-causing, radioactive gas that can lead to death if unchecked.

As always, let us know if we can help you with any of your real estate questions or concerns.

Jerry A. Mustafa
MANAGING BROKER
Golden Arrow Realty Inc

Email: jerry@goldenarrowrealty.com
Website: http://www.goldenarrowrealty.com

Office: (773) 622-1100 x202
Cell: (773) 544-7790

Money-Saving Holiday Tips!

Everyone’s busy this time of year, so I thought you could use a money-saving gift tip and info about fun outdoor skating alternatives to MILLENIUM PARK.

In one tab, go to RESTAURANT.COM’S web site, to look up nearby restaurants by zip code or city, so you can get an idea of what restaurants accept their coupons.  If you like what you see, open another tab, and go to this COUPON CABIN link with promo codes for RESTAURANT.COM.  After you click on the online coupon for $1 for $25 gift certificates, it will take you to a RESTAURANT.COM link where you can continue your transaction.  You will be able to send your gift certificate via email or print it out.  Somewhere along the way it will ask you if you want to spend another $2 for another $25 gift certificate, so it will end up costing you $3 for two $25 gift certificates.  It’s a great deal that expires 12/24.

Here is a link to SOME FREE skating rinks in Chicago including RIIS PARK, WARREN PARK, and MILLENIUM PARK downtown.  For admission to the free skating rinks, you need to bring your own skates.  However, some skating rinks do charge whether you bring your own skates or not like they do at WRIGLEY FIELD. 

I hope you, your family, and friends enjoy a memorable and Happy Holiday and a healthy and prosperous New Year!

As always, let us know if we can help you with any of your real estate questions or concerns.

Visit our website at:  www.ownchicagorealty.com.

Email us at:  honestlyblog@goldenarrowrealty.com.

Tax Deductions Ending 12/31/11 & 12/31/12

I would like to wish every VFW a Happy Veterans Day and thank you for ensuring our freedom and democracy.  We can never thank you enough for your courage and immeasurable sacrifices.

Good news:  I found an article with major income tax deductions you can still take.  However, the bad news is some of these deductions expire 12/31/11 like the mortgage insurance premium deduction and some expire 12/31/12 like the marriage penalty equalization.  To contact the IRS with questions about these deductions, please click here.

If you would like to contact your US Senator about extending the deadlines, go to this link.  To find your US Congressman in the House of Representatives, so you can contact them, too, please click here. 

Here’s the article I mentioned where unfortunately, after 12/31/11, school teachers can no longer take their $250 deduction for buying school supplies for their students.

As always, let us know if we can help you with any of your real estate questions or concerns.

Visit our website at:  www.ownchicagorealty.com.

Email us at:  honestlyblog@goldenarrowrealty.com.

 

 

Helpful Tips: Mortgage Payment Assistance & Chicago Public Schools Portal

I would like to pass on some important information about the Illinois Hardest Hit Fund which provides temporary mortgage payment assistance for homeowners as part of a joint effort by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the U.S. Department of Treasury.  You WILL NOT be asked to pay for any eligibility determination services related to this application.

The Chicago Public Schools Parent Portal is another useful link.  Features include email or text messages if a child misses a class or drops below a desired grade percentage.  You will also be able to:  1.) View all absences and tardies; 2.) Have access to recently completed and upcoming assignments with due dates; and 3.) Online access to communicate with your child’s teachers.  Before signing up, you will need your child’s CPS ID# and your unique school-issued PIN #.

We hope you and your family enjoy a happy and safe school year.

As always, let us know if we can help you with any of your real estate questions or concerns.

Visit our website at:  www.ownchicagorealty.com.

Email us at:  honestlyblog@goldenarrowrealty.com.

Helpful Info for Struggling Homeowners & Free Things to Do in Chicago

I recently read an article about a struggling homeowner with a happy ending, so I wanted to share it with you.  Not only is it great to hear when someone is able to save their home, but it provides a resource for others overwhelmed by the same types of problems.

This organization helped the homeowner find a non-profit that provided a one-time house payment, another resource which assisted her with her heating bill, and also helped her win an exemption from a recent property tax increase.  To read the entire article, click here.

For anyone looking to save a little money, I found a website with free things to do in Chicago.  You can also send it to friends and relatives in other parts of the country since they provide information for all U.S. cities.  You can check it out here.

Remember, to be extra careful when you’re out on the road this Labor Day weekend.  Until next time, I hope you, your family and friends enjoy a happy and safe holiday.

As always, let us know if we can help you with any of your real estate questions or concerns.

Visit our website at:  www.ownchicagorealty.com.

Email us at:  honestlyblog@goldenarrowrealty.com.

Good News for Buyers & Ethics Legislation for IL

 National Rept Says in Chicago it’s “MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE TO BUY THAN TO RENT”

Credit Scores As Low As 500 Can Qualify For Financing

Out of 50 U.S. cities analyzed by Trulia, their recent quarterly report shows that Chicago is among 36 cities that are considered “MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE TO BUY THAN TO RENT.”

You may be thinking, “What does that mean for me?”  It means you should consider buying residential property even if you’re thinking about buying property as an investment.  As we all know, prices are pretty depressed right now, but they will be going up.  If you buy at these prices, you’ll be glad you did when prices go back up.

Don’t think you can?  Why wonder when you can just give it a shot?  You won’t know until you try.  Getting pre-qualified is a quick and easy process.  You just go to a bank or mortgage company and bring your ID and proof of income.  With a credit score as low as 500, I can advise you where you can go to qualify for financing.  If you need a referral, just let me know.  Remember, if you know someone already in foreclosure we might be able to help.  Tell them to call me anytime.

Ethics Legislation You Might Want to Consider Supporting

If you’re fed up with pay-to-play politics, I have good news.  U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, a Northwest Side Democrat, and Republican, U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk announced ethics legislation on Monday. 

According to the Chicago Sun-times, “One bill would allow Illinois to ban those who hold or bid on large transportation contracts from giving campaign contributions to statewide officeholders who have influence over those contracts. It closes a loophole on a ban that already applies to all other large state contracts.”

“The other ethics measure…would respond to a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limits the ability of prosecutors to criminally charge public officials and executives with a failure to deliver ‘honest services.’”

“The measure backed by Kirk and Quigley would restore other definitions of theft of honest services, such as financial self-dealing. It would prohibit an officeholder, the officeholder’s spouse and the officeholder’s private business from benefitting financially from the officeholder’s elected office. ”

For information on these current US bills, click here, look in the middle section for “Legislation in Current Congress” and type in the corresponding bill numbers.

• Introduced 3/17/11, the transparency bill is:  HR1144. 
• Introduced 5/13/11, the ethics legislation is:  HR1924. 

Registered voters in the 5^th Congressional District can go to Congressman Mike Quigley’s contact page on his website to voice their support for these two bills.  Here’s the link.

Let us know if we can ever help you with your real estate needs.

Visit our website at:  www.ownchicagorealty.com.

Email us at:  honestlyblog@goldenarrowrealty.com.

Kids & Kites Festival: You Know You Want to Go Even If You Don’t Have Kids

While it’s true that times are tough all over, there’s no reason to put off outdoor activities with your family.  They grow up so fast.  My oldest son is turning 13 pretty soon he won’t want to hang out with old dad anymore.  While also trying to keep costs down, I’ve learned to become creative about finding fun things to do with the kids.

It’s true!  Some of the best things in life are free like Mayor Daley’s Kids & Kites Festival:  FREE paper kites will be provided.   If you’re kids love running around and playing like mine do, I suggest you check out this event.  Other fun activities include face painting, crafts, balloon artists, and more.

Date:  Saturday, May 7, 2011

Time:  10am – 4pm

Location:  Montrose Harbor, Chicago, IL (Northeast of Wrigley Field)

For more information, visit www.chicagokidsandkites.us or call 312.744.3316.

When you Google for directions, be sure to use Montrose Harbor, Chicago, IL

In keeping with our company slogan, AIMING FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND, I just wanted to pass this on to you as a FREE, fun and stress-free activity for you and your family.

What does this have to do with real estate?  Nothing, but who cares.  Our kids are more important.

If you really want to read something real estate related, I recommend the Sun-times article in last Thursday’s paper, about low housing prices and the lowest mortgage rates in 50 years in this Chicago Sun-times article which you can click here to read.

Visit our website at:  www.ownchicagorealty.com

Email us at:  honestlyblog@goldenarrowrealty.com