About Me
- Specialize in both residential and commercial transactions!
- Member of MLSNI, LoopNet, and Chicagocdb/Corporate Connection.
- Strong public contact skills developed from past career
- Desire to please, able negotiator, patient and honest.
"Measuring success one transaction at a time!"
My educational background includes a BA History from Northeastern Illinois University and certification from the University of Illinois as a Master Gardener. I have continually attended training seminars and have up-to-date technology skills which enable me to take advantage of the newer programs available in real estate marketing. I am a retired United Airline flight attendant and have perfected the one quality most people expect of a realtor - customer/client service. I am honest to a fault and strive tirelessly to make sure that every client I have ultimately achieves their goal!
Membership Affiliation
Currently hold the elected position of Library Trustee for the Village of Addison. The library is moving forward with a new building project and are proud that we have negotiated a 55,000 sq. ft. building with the Village without needing a tax increase from the residents of Addison. This building broke ground in Spring 2007 and will be opening Summer of 2008.
Member of the Dupage Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners.
Member of the Addison Women's Club
Member of National Association of Realtors and Illinois Association of Realtors. Listing services include MLSNI (residential), Realtor.com, Corporate Connection, Loopnet, and CoStar.
Providing full service on the sale of your property
Price is not the only thing to consider when deciding what company and person to market your property. My marketing plan would include listing your property in several multiple listing services whether it is a commercial property or residential. I am able to offer a competitive commission stucture while continuing to offer ALL of the services necessary to bring the sale of your property from pricing, conditioning, marketing, and negotiating offers through to the final stage of closing the transaction. In all of these aspects, I am available to assist, advise, and represent you. I pride myself on being available to each and every client and always return any phone call or email in a timely manner.
Investment Owner
There is a very important aspect of my professional experience that is a tremendous benefit to commercial transactions. I bring hands on experience to these transactions that cannot be learned from a real estate course or from an instructor. I have been an investor in commercial property beginning with a 3 unit apartment building (1986) and later a 9 unit (1989) apartment building. I no longer own apartment buildings but have strip plazas located in Arlington Heights (1993), Joliet (2001) and Bloomingdale (2005). I recently purchased a 25,000 sq. ft. office building with 10,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space in Elk Grove (2006). My husband and I have personally managed these properties and I can certainly relate to the daily problems involved in property management. I have participated in a normal 1031 exchange, and also have experienced setting up a reverse starker. I know the importance of being familiar with capital gain tax and the benefit of using an experienced tax accountant.
Selling Residential Realty
Getting the House Ready to Sell! Disconnect Your Emotions!
When conversing with real estate agents, you will often find that when they talk to you about buying real estate, they will refer to your purchase as a "home." Yet if you are selling property, they will often refer to it as a "house." There is a reason for this. Buying real estate is often an emotional decision, but when selling real estate you need to remove emotion from the equation. You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Property. Real estate. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do not consciously make this decision, you can inadvertently create a situation where it takes longer to sell your property. The first step in getting your home ready to sell is to "de-personalize".
Make Your Home "Anonymous" If there is a new home sales development near your home, go visit. It doesn't matter what size the homes are. What you will find are some wonderfully (but sparsely) furnished homes that anyone could live in -- with the emphasis on "anyone." They are anonymous. There may be a baseball glove in the boy's room, but no family photos on the walls. There may be "personality" - but no person. The reason you want to make your home "anonymous" is because you want buyers to view it as potential home. When a potential homebuyer sees your family photos hanging on the wall, it puts your own brand on the home and momentarily shatters their illusions about living in the house themselves. Put away family photos, sports trophies, collectible items, knick-knacks, and souvenirs. Put them in a box. Rent a storage area for a few months and put the box in the storage unit. Do not just put the box in the attic, basement, garage or a closet. Part of preparing a house for sale is to remove "clutter," and that is the next step in preparing your house for sale.
Top 10 Mistakes Sellers Make When Choosing a Realtor by Crissie Cudd
Selling a home should be like any other business transaction, but all too often sellers make emotional or impulsive decisions that cost them money and time. Choosing the right Realtor to market a property and negotiate the sale is the most important step in the process. “My friend (or family member) sells real estate.”
Friendship alone isn’t enough to establish a professional’s credentials. Use tough standards when selecting an agent, just as you would when hiring an attorney, a doctor, or an accountant to handle your taxes. A true friend will understand and appreciate that this is a business decision and will offer their credentials and expect to compete for the listing. Besides, if a problem...
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Buying Residential Realty
On Your Way to Your First Home
Buying a home is one of the most important personal and financial decisions you'll ever make. It's also one of the most stressful. I'll be continually available to answer your questions along the way. I want your first real estate experience to be both hassle-free and rewarding. The following information explains the real estate process and procedures normally followed in a typical home purchase. Read on and see how finding and owning your own home can be easier than you think.
Choosing Your Real Estate Professional
Because this process is so important, it is in your best interest to choose an experienced real estate agent who will listen to and understand your needs. Most first time buyers don't really understand that the commission in this transaction is being paid by the seller of the home. You are able to reap the benefits of an experienced agent and it is at no additional cost to you. Some of things that will be detailed in our first conversation or email will include the type of home that you like, the neighborhood where you want to live, home prices, schools, and transportation requirements. Before we can actually start looking at homes, however, you'll need to have a conversation with a mortgage representative about getting a "mortgage pre-approval". This will help determine what price range we begin our search.
Establishing Credit
Having an established credit history plays an important role in the home buying process. It's never too soon to start building a good credit history. Start by diversifying how you pay for things. Don't pay for everything with cash. Pay your bills on time, limit your debt, reduce the number of credit cards you have, and use them responsibly. Your goal is to show that you are financially responsible and a "good credit risk". One of the first things a mortgage representative will do is review your credit report and history. This history is one of the documents that give the mortgage lender confidence in you. The better your credit hisoty, the better your credit score. And the higher your credit score, the more likely your mortgage lender will offer you more morgage options with better terms. Following is a brief explanation of (1) Mortgage Pre-approval, (2) Down Payment, (3) Mortgage Options, and (4) Closing Costs.
(1) Mortgage Pre-approval
A pre-approval is a simple calculation done by a mortgage lender that tells you (a) the amount you'll be able to finance through a loan and (b) what your monthly payment will be. When we find a home to buy, this pre-approval from your mortgage representative must be included with the contract and reassures the seller that you have the financial means to purchase their home. There is some extra thought that needs to go into this on your part. There is a difference between what you will qualify for and what you are comfortable with in payments. Your lender doesn't take your lifestyle into consideration or ask how often you like to go out with friends for dinner or entertain friends. There are extra costs besides just the mortage payment and I'll talk about those a little later.
(2) Your Down Payment
A down payment is the money you pay up front toward the purchase of your new home. In the last few years, 100% financing options were available through almost any lending institutions. Those programs are no longer available, however, there are still many programs with minimal money done but they are very dependent on a good credit history. The more money that you put done on your home, the less amount you finance, and the lower your payment. This down payment is deducted from the purchase price of the home at closing.
(3) Your Mortgage
Your options for financing the home we find depend on your personal financial situation and your unique needs. Here is an overview of the types of financial options that are available.
* Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM): This is a mortgage in which the interest rate is tied to a specific economic index and may adjust at specific times. Overall, your monthly payment may go up or down at intervals specified in the disclosure associated with this type of morgage, depending on the current interest rate.
* Fixed Rate Mortgage: This is a mortgage with an interest rate that does not change during the entire term of the loan. This means the monthly payments for principal and interrest are also fixed for the life of the loan.
* Conventional Mortgage: This is a mortgage that is not part of a government-housring program, typically has a limit of $322,700, and is not insured by the federal government.
* Jumbo Mortgage: This is a mortgage that typically exceeds $322,700 and is not insured by the federal government. These loans usually have higher interest rates.
* Government Backed Loans: There a two types of government backed loans - FHA and VA. FHA loans are insured by HUD (the Department of Housing and Urban Development of the United States) and VA loans are insured by the Veteran's Administration.
(4) Closing and Other Additional Costs
After we find your home and receive mortgage approval (this usually takes a minimum of four weeks), the closing is scheduled. This is when ownership of your new home officially transfers from the seller to you. Closing costs typically run approximately 2 - 5% in addition to the price of the home. Your mortgage representative will detail these costs to you in the form of a "good faith estimate". This estimate is required by law and should be provided to you.
Finally, Beginning the Search
You'll want to have an idea of the feature you "want" versus "need". Some of the questions you should be asking yourself are:
* What features are most imprortant to me? Number of bedrooms? Bathrooms?
* Do you want special features like a garden, a fireplace, a big yard, or a two car garage?
* Do I want a newly constructed house or a house that has been lived in before?
* Is it most important that the house be in a specific school district, close to work, or is public transportation important?
* Am I willing to improve the home myself or am I looking for a home totally updated?
Approximately six months or even a year before you know you want to purchase a house, I input your criteria into a program called "ConnectMLS". This program enables me to have exact listings of houses that fit your initial criteria sent direct to you the minute the listing is entered into the computer and into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This gives you the opportunity to look at homes, prices, and features of the houses in the areas that you have selected with the criteria that you want. I usually don't like to be too specific on the criteria at this point because I want you to be able to view a wide variety of homes available. This is a great educational tool in terms of allowing you to see the activity and prices prior to us actively searching for a home. We will usually begin the actual viewing of homes somewhere between 3 to 4 months before your targeted purchase date. Now the fun begins!
Few first time homebuyers really know what they are looking for. We begin the search based on the criteria that you have selected. The "ConnectMLS" program allows you to make notes and check homes that you are interested in. We start with those homes and then I add a few that I think you might have overlooked. It's really a process of elimination. It's easy to look at a home and decide it isn't what you can see yourself living in. We'll discuss what you especially like about a house and what you didn't like. We've gotten to know each very well during this time period and have had a lot of laughs! Then we walk into a house and from almost the minute we walk through the door, we recognize that this is the house we've been looking for. I can feel your excitement as you go room to room! It's really important to point out here that everyone who is going to be involved in this purchase needs to be along for the searching. Without "kissing all the frogs", they won't know that this is the prince!
Making an offer
Once we find the house that you are prepared to buy, we'll make the seller an offer in writing. We'll use a standard real estate contract that will include the following details:
* the purchase price
* the amount of down payment (we include a copy of the check only)
* the personal property that is to be included with the sale
* how you intend to finance the home
* date you will take physical ownership and possession of the house
* contingencies
Contingencies allow you to anticipate potential problems so that if something is not what was expected, you can cancel the contract and receive your down payment back without any penalty. Normal contingencies that are part of the standard real estate contract include contingencies for attorney modification, inspection, and for a mortgage. There can be other contingencies as well but these are the usual contingencies for a first time home buyer.
Once we submit the offer to the seller's real estate agent, we then wait for the seller's response. The seller can accept, reject or counter your offer with one for a higher amount. This begins the process of price negotiation that continues until both parties either agree on terms or decide that mutual acceptance is no longer possible. This is a very emotional process for both the seller and the buyer and happens to be something that I excel in. I strive to find that happy median where both the buyer and the seller are content with the terms and feel that they have both been treated fairly. This is crucial to the culmination of a successful closing. It has been my experience that if either party is not emotionally satisfied with the terms of the contract, they will find a way to terminate the contract at some point prior to closing. This requires both the seller's real estate agent and the buyer's real estate agent to work as a team. You can't pick the seller's real estate agent, but this quality should be very important in the real estate agent you decide to work with!
Your Down Payment or Ernest Money
Along with your offer, we'll provide a down payment that demonstrates to the seller your serious interest in buying his house. This ernest money is held by me until the contact has been accepted and signed by both parties. At that time, it is delivered to the seller's real estate agent along with the signed contract and deposited into an escrow account. This down payment is credited toward the purchase price of the house at closing.
The Home Inspection
It is highly recommended that you hire a licensed home inspection company to complete an entire report on the house that you have fallen in love with. In a typical inspection, his services cover from the basement to the attic as well as the exterior of the home, walls, chimneys, roof, as well as included appliances. In addition, he will report on the plumbing, electrical details. septic tanks, furnace, and hot water heater. This is an overwhelming experience for most first time homebuyers. I will detail some information here but a more extensive conversation needs to happen at this point in the transaction.
When we made an offer on the house, we did it based on the past six month activity for the area and also on the condition of the house. We based our price on what we knew and on what we could see when we viewed the house. We can see that there were cracks in the sidewalk or that the appliances were old. We knew that the bathrooms or kitchen might need to be updated and that the furnace was old. We already based our price on this criteria and we assumed by contract that everything that is included in the house would be in working condition. This inspection is meant to uncover information that is not readily visible. It is not meant to reopen negotiation for the price already agreed on. Who you decide to select for this home inspection is very important and it needs to be someone who has either come recommended through a friend or relative or through me. You have the opportunity to be present during the time the home inspection is taking place. How thorough and how willing to explain what will be included in this report determines how this transaction proceeds. We are usually dealing with older homes and the details in this report are very extensive. Your home inspector needs to accurately describe what he finds and also what types of corrections are necessary. You'll be new to this and won't know unless he tells you that something might be a problem. The inspector needs to be able to pass along really is a problem and what might only require a $5 part from the hardware store. This inspector needs to be able to separate what truly is a problem and what is easily corrected. Once we have his report, we will submit this report to your attorney along with what specific items we would like to have addressed.
Insurance
Before a mortgage company will approve your lending arrangment and allow you to close on your new house, they will typically ask you to show proof of title, title insurance, and homeowner's insurance. Your real estate attorney will provide counsel on title issues and title insurance.
The Final Walk-Through
Before the closing and property ownership is transferred, we will be allowed the opportunity for a final walk-through. This is typically done the morning of closing or the day or two prior. This walk-through enables us to revisit the house to ensure that the house and personal property included in the contract have been left in expected condition.
The Closing
The actual closing is held either at the office of the title company or at the office of the seller's attorney. We are usually given the date, place, and time of closing a few days prior. Those in attendance include the closing officer for the title company, both the seller's and your attorney, both real estate agents, and the buyer and seller. The seller can presign the papers and choose to have his attorney present to represent them. You, as a buyer, must always be present! My job at this point is to answer any questions that are addressed to me regarding the transaction, but your attorney and the closing officer handle the necessary paperwork. Once the paperwork is completed and the funds are dispersed, you will be handled the keys to your new house. Congratulations, you are now a homeowner!
Finding and buying a new house should be a rewarding experience. I know that the search for this home is more about just putting a roof over your head. It's an expression of your hopes and dreams, your lifestyle and values. It's a place to spend time with family and friends, as well as your personal retreat at the end of a long day. It's about making changes for your future. As a Century 21 professional, I hope to be part of this change in your life. If you enjoyed reading this, I guarantee that you will enjoy working with me even more!
Testimonials
3234 N. Prairie, Brookfield - Steve and Barb Costellano
"I want to thank you for your guidance, support, and great insight into the real estate market when it came time to sell Steve’s mom’s house. It was a difficult time for us and you made the selling of her home easy on all of us. You investigated the market in an area that you hadn’t sold in before and were quickly able to come up with a great strategy. Who would have believed that in less than a week’s time, you would have the house sold and at our asking price, too? It was a great burden that you lifted from our shoulders and we are so grateful. Your warm, friendly personable style made Steve and his sister feel so comfortable. Thank you again and we will definitely recommend you to our families and colleagues."
237 N. Mill Road, #13, Addison -Paul Bush ABR, GRI, Prudential Prairie Path
"The professionalism and concern you showed me is much appreciated and sadly lacking with many others is this profession. I especially enjoyed your diligence which lead to a quick possession for my client. You are a credit to your agency."
1209 Crystal Lake Road, Lake in the Hills - Nancy Becerra
"After my dad passed away, I was faced with selling my childhood home. I had never sold a house before and I was very grateful for your suggestions, options, and advice. Your friendly, gentle manner put me right at ease. With your help, I was able to make the best possible choices and decisions regarding the sale. I would recommend you to a friend, family, or a coworker without any hesitation."
497 James Court, Unit B, Glendale Heights - Donna Cordello
"My first contact with Linda was only in a telephone conversation. I made an offer with another realtor a few days later. I called back to speak to her regarding references for an attorney. Even though Linda was not involved in the transaction, she was nice enough to provide recommendations. Ironically the deal fell through with the other realtor, and I decided to work with Linda. I found the home buying experience to be stressful yet enjoyable due to her honesty and sense of humor while viewing properties. I had two previous realtors whom I felt were not honest of the conditions of the properties! Linda seemed to be more honest and made me feel more comfortable while guiding me to the best property to purchase as my FIRST home."