Welcome Home Heroes Home Down Payment Assistance For Veterans

Written by on January 27, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Real Estate Down Payment Assistance Available for Veterans

Real Estate for Sale Call Terry

Are you a veteran who will be buying a home this year? Do you know someone who is? If so, read on because there is Illinois grant money available for just this purpose! Earlier this week I attended a seminar outlining the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) Welcome Home Heroes Program (WWHP). This program is a financing package designed to assist veterans and active military personnel in home purchases. Financing assistance is available to help 1000 veterans and active military personnel purchase homes in Illinois this year.

As with all programs, there are eligibility requirements. Here are a few basic requirements:
• Qualified veterans and active military personnel
• Active military personnel must be a first time home buyer if taking advantage of a Mortgage Credit Certificate (explained below)
• Income and purchase price limitations ($89,760 income for 1 or 2 household members, $104,720 for 3 or more. Purchase price limit $373,670)
• Homebuyers must purchase a qualified 1-2 unit residential property within Illinois
• Home must be purchased as a borrowers’ primary residence

When a person qualifies for the program, a Program grant of $10,000 is provided for down payment and closing cost assistance. To avoid any confusion, IHDA does not lend the money for the mortgage but only provides the financing assistance. Borrowers can use a loan type of their choice (VA, FHA, Conventional) and would borrow through an approved lender such as Wintrust.

A Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) is a certificate authorized by the Federal Government and issued by IHDA. It allows the borrower to take 20 percent of the annual mortgage interest paid as a dollar-for-dollar reduction to their annual Federal income tax liabilities. There is a $500 cost for this program and the savings can be huge. As a simple example, if the yearly mortgage interest was $5000, the borrower would receive a $1000 tax savings.

There was much information given at the seminar and I’ve tried to explain it simply. If you think that you or someone you know may qualify for this program, contact me. I’d be happy to discuss real estate available in Lake Zurich, Buffalo Grove and other Lake, Cook and McHenry County areas and put you in touch with an approved lender.

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Long Grove Apple Haus Closing is a Heartbreak

Written by on January 26, 2012 · Leave a Comment

 Let Long Grove Apple Haus Closing Be a Wake-up Call!

Last fall when the Farmside Country Store and Winery in Long Grove closed, I was surprised. It had always been there. A sweet store sitting high on the corner of Old McHenry and Robert Parker Coffin Roads, it has been there in some form since 1869. Sure, the building is still there but it sadly stands empty. When I read the news that the Long Grove Apple Haus closed, I was shocked.

Having lived in Long Grove for over 25 years, I have seen stores come and go. But Farmside and the Apple Haus? These two stores were cornerstones of the village. Many a cider donut has been eaten in our house, brought to friends’ homes and to Coldwell Banker events. Our daughter Kristin rode her bike or walked to her first job at the Apple Haus. I’ve talked with others over the past few days and the sentiment seems to be the same: We haven’t just lost stores, we’ve lost a part of our community.

As a community we need to take action. We can’t just wait for the next small business to close and lament its passing. There are things that we can do right now and the very first is to shop at those businesses. I know that it’s sometimes easier to purchase a greeting card at the grocery store but I promise you that it’s not as much fun as shopping at Diane’s Hallmark in Lake Zurich. The women there are helpful and fun. It’s probably more convenient to run to the mall but have you been to Within Reach in Long Grove for a gift? You’ll be delighted by the beautifully arranged displays of unique items.

Next, tell everyone about your experiences at these establishments. When you eat at Enzo and Lucia’s, D&J Bistro or any of our local restaurants, let your friends know how great the food is. Tell everyone you know about the fine products and experiences at our locally owned businesses. Visit yelp.com and Yelp about it!

Adorable Baby Items at Within Reach

I’m committing to blog about at least one small business in the Lake Zurich area communities each week. If you know of one that you’d like to have featured, contact me. After you’ve read my blog posts, share them on Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites. Together we can get the word out and help our local business owners prosper.

Friendly Faces at Diane's Hallmark

 

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Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove Pumpkin Festival October 15th

Written by on October 13, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Community Event: Free Pumpkins! Games! Refreshments!

My fellow Realtors and I at Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove are excited to once again sponsor the Fall Festival! On Saturday, October 15th, stop by and see us between 11 am and 3 pm. We’ll be waiting for you with a free pumpkin (while supplies last), face painting and tattoos, games and prizes for the kids, and refreshments.

We’re also having a coloring contest. If you haven’t received an entry and would like one, give me a call or send me an email. I’ll be happy to deliver one to you or send it by return email. We’ll have a coloring station set up on Saturday if the kids want to create their masterpiece then. Prizes will be awarded in 4 age groups.The contest is being judged by Susan Dubin of the Buffalo Grove Countryside. Susan has been our judge in the past and also written about the winners in her column. Thanks, Susan!

Regional Manager Jeff Polanzi and Friend at a previous event

This event has been sponsored by Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove agents almost every year for the past 25 years or so. It’s always been fun and has evolved from dressing up and handing out pumpkins in the parking lot to today’s “festival” with added activities. This year we’re asking those who can to bring a nonperishable food item that we will donate to the Vernon Township food pantry.

Thanks to Lori Amato (American Home Shield), David Weinberg (PHH Home Mortgage), and Cindy Lachowicz (Burnet Title) for assisting us with the refreshments, decorations and prizes. They’re a very important part of our team and will be helping out at the Festival on Saturday.

Our Coldwell Banker office is located at 350 Half Day Road, Buffalo Grove. Our agents and support staff are working hard to make this our best event ever and we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

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Didier Farms Pumpkin Fest in Prairie View

Written by on October 11, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Quinn at the corn maze

Quinn at the corn maze

Fun For the Whole Family at Didier Farms

Several weeks ago I enjoyed a walk through a corn maze in Wisconsin with my daughter and her family. It was so much fun that I wanted to check out local corn mazes and pumpkin farms to recommend to readers. I had to look no farther than (almost) my own back yard.  Each day as I drive to my Coldwell Banker real estate office in Buffalo Grove, I pass by Didier Farms in Prairie View. Didier is the place where I took my children to purchase their pumpkins when they were small. But it sure has expanded over the years! The whole family can spend a fun-filled day there with a variety of activities.

The Didier Pumpkin Fest is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm through October 31st. In addition to buying the perfect pumpkin, here are some of the activities:

• Hay rides • Petting zoo • Corn maze • Straw maze • Pony rides
• Moon bounce • Mechanical rides • Bird exhibit• White tiger exhibit

Didier also has beautiful mums in a plethora of colors to decorate your home. Parking and admission are free. Check out the Didier website for information on activity costs. I recommend that you get there early; the parking lot is filling up when I drive by in the morning.

Things certainly have changed at Didier over the years. It’s nice to see that this family-owned, local business continues to thrive with support from the community.

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5 Fun Things To Do This Weekend In and Around Lake Zurich

Written by on September 8, 2011 · Leave a Comment

5 Free or Inexpensive Things To Do This Weekend

The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting cooler. This is a great weekend to get some outdoor time in before it’s too late! Here are 5 fun and inexpensive things to do this weekend in and around Lake Zurich!

1. Take a Forest Fitness Hike: The Lake County Forest Preserve offers a Fitness Hike each week at a different preserve. This week’s is Friday, September 9th at the Half Day Preserve in Vernon Hills. It goes from 8 am to 9 am and the cost is $1 for residents and $2 for non-residents. For more information, visit their website.
2. Visit a Farmers Market: We only have a few weeks left to support our local markets! Visit one of these:
        *Long Grove Farmers Market – Sundays from 8 am to 1pm through October.  
        *Buffalo Grove Farmers Market – Sundays from 8 am to12:30 pm through October 16th. .
        *Hawthorn Woods Farmers Market – Fridays from 3 to 7 pm through October.

3.      Looking for a little more excitement? Attend the Wings Over Waukegan Air Show on Saturday, September 10th. It starts at 10 am and tickets are $5 for adults. Kids 12 and under are free.
4.  Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden. I haven’t been there in a while and can’t wait to see the changes in the Garden. There’s a plant giveaway today and a Roadside Flower Sale on Friday. Check out the full calendar of events.
5. Last, but not least, simply take some time to have an impromptu barbeque with family and friends. Play a little bocce or bags and enjoy the important people in your lives!

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Buffalo Grove Farmers’ Market Opens Sunday, June 19th

Written by on June 17, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Buffalo Grove Market Opens June 19th at 7:30 AM

The Buffalo Grove Farmers’ Market is back again this year! It opens on Sunday, June 19th at 7:30 am and will close at 12:30 pm. Because it’s Father’s Day, there will be a special raffle for dads. Stop by the information booth and enter a drawing for a Farmers’ Market gift certificate.

With over 25 vendors, there will be a multitude of items to choose from. Offerings will include meats, cheeses, produce, flowers, spices and bakery items. Fresh donuts will be made onsite. With the delicious aroma of cooking donuts, that’s probably a booth I’ll visit! Entertainment this Sunday includes an acoustic guitar and singing act of folk, kids and pop music.

The Buffalo Grove Farmers’ Market is a great place to meet local vendors and catch up with your neighbors. I’ve found that farmers’ market vendors are always glad to take a few minutes to talk about themselves and the items that they have for sale. You can learn a lot about sustainable growing and local crafters. While you’re there, pick up some fresh items for that Father’s Day dinner!

The Buffalo Grove Farmers’ Market is held at the Spray ‘n Play Park, 951 N. McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove. Visitors are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for donation to the Vernon Township Food Pantry. Stop by on Sunday and support local businesses!

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Fun Things To Do Around Lake Zurich This Weekend

Written by on May 27, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Parades, Barbeques and Festivals Around Lake Zurich

Memorial Day weekend is the official start of summer activities! Weather.com tells me that it will be a beautiful weekend for traditional celebrations like parades and barbeques. Here are some happenings in Lake Zurich, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Barrington an even one in St. Charles that is extra special. There’s always something fun happening in Terry’s Towns!

1. Whole Foods in Palatine  (1331 N. Rand),  is offering grilling demonstrations and tastings in their outdoor café today. Stop by on Friday, May 27th from 11 am to 4pm. It’s free and Whole Foods will be featuring kabobs, seafood skewers, veggies and burgers.
 
2. The Barrington Art Festival  is being held on May 28th and 29th from 10 am to 5 pm. Located at Village Center Station and Cook Streets, the event will feature live music, kids’ activities and food vendors in addition to the art offerings.

3. The Lake Zurich Memorial Day Parade  is on Monday, May 30th at 10 am. The parade route is from American Legion 51 Lions Drive, west on Main Street, south on Old Rand Road, ending at 200 Mohawk Trail at the Veterans Memorial, in front of the Police Facility.

4. Paulus Park Beach on Lake Zurich will be open on Sunday, May 28th through Monday, May 30th from 10 am to 8 pm. Season passes for residents and non-residents are available. If you prefer, you can pay by day. Paulus Park offers barbeque area, concessions, bocce courts and sprayground.

5. When I read about “Letters Home: A Memorial Day Remembrance”,  I just had to write about it. Pheasant Run in St. Charles will be featuring two concerts this weekend that will include World War II era music along with actual correspondence between soldiers. Also included are actual letters between a soldier and his wife. Concerts are at 8 pm on Saturday, May 28th and 2pm on Sunday, May 29th. Tickets are $20 and partial proceeds benefit Fox Valley Troop Support and Illinois Wounded Warriors program.

My weekend is full but not too full. I like to leave some time for something spontaneous. I’ll be taking real estate clients out on Saturday. If I finish early enough, I’ll be popping by some clients’ homes with a little surprise. My family is coming over on Sunday for an afternoon of fun and food. That leaves Monday. Botanic Garden?  Lake Zurich Memorial Day Parade?  Hanging out on the deck with a good book? So much to do, so little time. What are you doing this weekend?

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Terry Dahlem & Coldwell Banker Sponsor Shred Event

Written by on May 18, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Buffalo Grove Area Community Shred Event May 21st

If you’re like me, during spring cleaning you unearthed boxes of personal papers that need to be shredded! I’ll be bringing mine to the Coldwell Banker Buffalo Grove Community Shred Event on Saturday. We’ve hired Secure Eco Shred to set up in our parking lot from 10 am to 1 pm to shred sensitive papers for our clients, friends and neighbors.

As a Realtor, I am always concerned with my clients’ confidential information. I’ll be adding some of those files to the shredder on Saturday. Secure Eco Shred offers high security paper shredding. You can even leave the staples in so it’s nice and easy. One of the best parts is that all of the paper is recycled.

This event will be held at Coldwell Banker, 350 Half Day Road, Buffalo Grove on Saturday, May 21st from 10 am to 1 pm. Our community events are always fun, so bring your shreddables and stop by to see us!

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5 Things Lake Zurich Area Home Buyers are Searching For

Written by on February 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Easy Steps to Update Your Home

Real Estate for Sale Call Terry

The spring real estate market is here! I’ve been busy taking buyers to homes in and around Lake Zurich. They’re in different price ranges and their wants and needs are different but there are some things that they all look for. Read on to see what they want and some simple updates to prepare your home for the market or just update for your own enjoyment.

1. Updated kitchens: It doesn’t matter if they are looking in Lake Zurich, Wauconda, Buffalo Grove or Long Grove, home buyers want updated kitchens. They’d all love to have new cabinets, solid surface counters and stainless steel appliances. If that’s not in your budget, consider doing a few simpler things. A fresh coat of paint works wonders. If your cabinets have seen better days, consider painting them and adding new hardware. If you’re considering new appliances, see Janette Iversen at Abt (1200 N. Milwaukee in Glenview) and tell her that Terry sent you!

2. Updated baths: Make it sparkle! New faucets can make the whole vanity look newer. Paint vanities and replace hardware. A new shower curtain and fluffy towels help to make it look inviting.

3. Clutter-free homes: While showing a home last week in Lake Zurich, my clients were quite distracted by the walls full of photos and children’s toys throughout the home. They commented that the house wasn’t big enough for them. The reality is that it was larger than another home they were considering. I am not a proponent of removing every personal item. I think it makes homes seem cold. But it’s important to remove enough of them so the buyer doesn’t feel like he or she is intruding.

4. Clean houses: For years I’ve been telling home sellers that the way you live is not necessarily the way that you sell. While a few dishes in the sink don’t usually bother me at home, (Note to my family: It’s so easy to put them in the dishwasher. It’s right next to the sink!), it does bother potential buyers. They want to see everything spic and span. So keep the dishes out of the sink, toothpaste off the mirrors and cabinets neatly organized.

5. Curb appeal: Everyone wants to love driving up to their home. While showing homes in Lake Zurich and Mundelein this weekend, I was slipping and sliding on driveways and sidewalks. Keep driveways and paths clear. Don’t underestimate the power of your front door. A fresh coat of paint and updated hardware works wonders. In this weather, that’s probably all you can do outside for now. In a few weeks, I’ll tell you how to use cold-hardy plants to spruce up your home.

Staging a home prior to putting it on the market is a top priority. It’s one of the services that I offer as a Realtor. You can see Coldwell Banker’s fact sheet with some great tips for enhancing your home. When you’re ready to make a move, I’ll be happy to come over and help you get your home in tip-top shape.

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Buffalo Grove Real Estate Pricing and Sales Report

Written by on February 7, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Terry Dahlem Reports January 2011 Buffalo Grove Real Estate Results

Real Estate for Sale Call Terry

The week after Super Bowl is when the spring real estate market usually begins to heat up. This year is seems that it began a little bit early. Well, at least until Blizzard 2011 slowed us down for a few days! Realtors are resilient. We’re all back to work and my office is a beehive of activity with new listings, new buyers and homes being sold. How did Buffalo Grove  real estate perform in January? Let’s take a look!

There were nine single family home sales in Buffalo Grove in January; down 25% from 12 that sold January of 2010.  These are homes that CLOSED, not simply went under contract. It takes an average of 30 to 60 days to close on a home from the time of contract. So, it’s safe to assume that these nine homes went “under contract” in November or December.

The median sale price (half the properties sold above and half below) in January was $273,000. This is down 5.7% from January, 2010’s median of $289,500. The average sale price was $312,043, down 0.2% from January 2010’s average of $312,583.  If you’d like specific information on any of the properties, contact me and I’d be happy to provide it.

The attached report shows data collected by our local multiple listing service, Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC (MRED). Homes that sold in Buffalo Grove but were not listed through MRED are not included in the report. Buffalo Grove, like many of Chicago’s suburbs, is a town where housing prices vary widely by subdivision. If you’d like information on your particular house or subdivision, contact me.

Now is a great time to buy a home in Buffalo Grove. Favorable interest rates coupled with attractive home pricing make buying your Buffalo Grove real estate more affordable than in recent years. If you’re making a move to or from Buffalo Grove, I would welcome the opportunity to assist you!

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