Elmhurst & DuPage County Illinois

Elmhurst IL Open Houses for Sat. & Sun., May 18-19

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT

Address: 261 E Church St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $589,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 2 pm

Address: 110 W Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $100,000

Scheduled for: Saturday, 5/18, 12 pm

Address: 100 W Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $114,900

Scheduled for: Saturday, 5/18, 12 pm

Address: 903 S Spring Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $338,500

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 1 pm

Address: 955 S Fern Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $349,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 1 pm

Address: 419 W 2nd St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $389,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 1 pm

Address: 570 S Berkley Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $409,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 1 pm

Address: 728 S Mitchell Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $425,000

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 1 pm

Address: 486 E South St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $429,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 1 pm

Address: 775 S Euclid Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $529,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 1 pm

Address: 837 S Linden Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $699,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 1 pm

Address: 826 S Hillside Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $787,500

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 12 pm

Address: 620 S Fairview Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $1,195,000

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/19, 1 pm

Elmhurst School Ranks 29th in the State

Wed, 15 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT

The U.S. News and World Report has published their annual Best High School rankings. Elmhurst’s own York Community High School has ranked highly in the state of Illinois and nationally. Out of 667 high schools in Illinois, York placed 29th. Nationally, the school ranked 809 out of more than 21,000 public U.S. high schools. By ranking 809, York Community High School was awarded a silver medal. The top 500 schools receive gold medals, and the next 1,790 receive silver medals.

The report shows that 39% of York students take Advanced Placement exams, with a ninety percent pass rate. This gives the school a College Readiness Index of 36.6. Scores for reading and math proficiency were above average for Illinois. Math proficiency was 73%, and reading proficiency scored 72%.

The U.S. News and World Report conducts the Best High School rankings once yearly. They obtain data from over 21,000 public U.S. high schools from 49 states and Washington, DC. To determine the Best High Schools nationally, the U.S. News and World Report uses a three-step process. The first step determines how well students are performing based on reading and math results in the state’s high school proficiency tests. Schools rank highly if their students performed better than the expected average for a student in that state. The second step compares how well least-advantaged students are performing and compares this to the state average. Lastly, the report judges schools on college readiness, using the College Readiness Index. This takes Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate test scores to evaluate percentage of participants passing these exams.

Four Chicago schools made the top four high schools in Illinois. Nearby schools that almost made the top of the list include Hinsdale Central (ranked 8th), Neuqua Valley (ranked 23rd), Wheaton Warrenville South (ranked 32nd), Naperville North (ranked 33rd), Glenbard South (ranked 34th) and Naperville Central (ranked 35th).

Here at the Gracik Makinney Real Estate Group, we’re proud of York Community High School for their dedication to the education of our children. We think Elmhurst is a great place to have a family and, as this report shows, it’s a great place to get an education. We’re happy to help you find the perfect home in Elmhurst. Come by for a visit at 190 North York Road here in Elmhurst, or give us a call at 630-441-5570.

Here's to Our Elmhurst Moms!

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT

Mothers have a profound influence on all of us, and their unconditional love gives us the courage to dream and reach for our goals. All of us here at The Gracik Makinney Group send out our best wishes, and our heartfelt thanks, to mothers everywhere.

Happy Mother's Day!

Spring Curb Appeal

Wed, 08 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT

As we head into May, the colors of spring are in full bloom. In Elmhurst, we’re seeing lawns growing lush and green, gardens sprouting flowers. Everyone wants to have the best lawn on the block, especially if you’re looking to sell in this spring real estate season.

Most people are shocked to hear how much value curb appeal can add to a home – in data collected from a HomeGain.com survey, nice landscaping can add nearly $1,777 to your home’s value. By following these tips, you can easily up your curb appeal in just a day or two.

The landscape is the first area that catches a person’s eye. Give your lawn an upgrade by re-sodding bare areas. Keep your lawn neat and green by applying fertilizer every 6 weeks. Trimming shrubs and adding flowers gives an instant makeover. This adds color and helps to liven up the landscape as a whole. Annual plants tend to be less expensive, but will only last one season. Perennials are more of an investment plant – they come back year after year if planted correctly. Be sure to ask your local garden center if you have any questions about what tree, plant or flower would be best for your home.

Porches are a great place to spend your Elmhurst summer. Porch maintenance is important, because this area is exposed to all the harsh elements. Wooden porches should be cleaned and resealed on a yearly basis. If your porch is vinyl or composite, these should be washed at least once annually. Before washing, make sure to remove any debris off the area using a putty knife. Once this is done, you can begin washing the floor and railings. Be sure to use the cleaning product recommended for your porch. The same maintenance is recommended for decks as well.

Once you have your yard looking top notch, you want to show it off to the neighborhood. Do this by adding some outdoor lighting. By placing lights strategically outside, you can play up the architectural features of your home as well as accent your landscape. Additionally, extra lighting adds security to the home. Solar lights are popular now; these are a great choice because of their green energy source. LED lights are also recommended for outdoors. LED bulbs give off a warm light, recommended by lighting designers to best show off your home and landscape.

If you’re interested in learning about other outdoor improvements recommended for increasing your home’s value, we’d love to hear from you. All of us here at The Gracik Makinney Group are committed to helping our clients and keeping Elmhurst looking its best. Stop in for a visit at 190 North York Road here in Elmhurst, or give us a call at 630-441-5570, and let’s increase your curb appeal.

Elmhurst IL Open Houses for Sat. & Sun., May 4-5

Fri, 03 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT

Address: 110 W Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $100,000

Scheduled for: Saturday, 5/4, 1 pm

Address: 100 W Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $114,900

Scheduled for: Saturday, 5/4, 1 pm

Address: 470 N Elm St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $249,000

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/5, 1 pm

Address: 792 S York St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $325,000

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/5, 1 pm

Address: 419 W 2nd St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $399,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/5, 1 pm

Address: 570 S Berkley Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $425,000

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/5, 1 pm

Address: 304 N Addison Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $549,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/5, 1 pm

Address: 268 Highland St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $559,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/5, 12 pm

Address: 452 S Kenilworth Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $650,000

Scheduled for: Sunday, 5/5, 1 pm

After the Rain in Elmhurst

Thu, 02 May 2013 02:00:00 GMT

April 17^th brought Elmhurst seven inches of rain in just 15 hours. Mayor Levin provided comparisons to past years. The last time we had such a rainfall was July 2010 with 7.5 inches in 8 hours.

The Elmhurst Quarry proved to be a success. The heavy rain was coming in at such a rate that the ground became saturated. It reached a state where the ground just couldn’t absorb any more water, which led to an increase in the water in the storm sewer and stream system. Despite the quarry, flooding still occurred…there was more water coming in that it was designed to handle.

Mayor Levin has noted this storm was a call for further improvement. The Stormwater Task Force and other consultants have provided their recommendations. It is now up to the City Council to balance the cost versus the need for these improvements.

A big thank you to the emergency personnel who came to the aid of Elmhurst during this time. Emergency workers were available to help with flooded basements, fire alarms, and investigating electrical issues. There were residents rescued from their homes, residents rescued from the water, and help given with traffic accidents. Police responded to 200 calls between 6 am-11am on April 16^th. This was while their own police garage was flooded, and all vehicles and equipment had to be evacuated. Fire department personnel responded to 150 storm-related calls, calling in off duty firefighters at 3am on April 18^th.

The annual spring clean up day has been moved to June 12 -14. It was postponed in an effort to allow for storm cleanup. Residents are able to put items on the curb without purchasing waste stickers. Pickup will continue on regularly scheduled garbage days.

If you are in need of cleanup supplies, these are available free of charge courtesy of the DuPage Office of Emergency Management. Pickup is at Fire Station 1, 404 N. York St., and Fire Station 2, 601 S. York St. from 7am to 9pm. Flood cleanup kits include mop and bucket, bleach, latex gloves, work gloves, garbage bags, tarps, and more. Supplies are on a first come, first served basis, and limited to one per household.

From all of us here at The Gracik Makinney Group, we hope you and your families are doing well after the storm. We know this is a time of clean up, maintenance, and improvement for Elmhurst. With our real estate knowledge, we are available for advice on home improvements that will get you the most property value for your home. Drop by the office today at 190 North York Road here in Elmhurst, or give us a call at 630-441-5570, and let us help you today.

Elmhurst, IL Open Houses, Sat - Thurs, April 27 - May 2

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 02:00:00 GMT

Address: 110 Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $100,000

Scheduled for: Saturday, 4/27, 12 PM

Address: 100 W. Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $114,900

Scheduled for: Saturday, 4/27, 12 PM

Address: 479 N. Addison Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $225, 000

Scheduled for: Sunday, 4/28, 1 PM

Address: 1039 S. Sunset Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $339,900

Scheduled for: Sunday, 4/28, 1 PM

Address: 397 E. Fullerton Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $339,900

Scheduled for: Thursday, 5/2, 10 AM

Address: 585 N. Michigan St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $339,900

Scheduled for: Saturday, 4/27, 1 PM

Address: 570 S. Berkley Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $425,000

Scheduled for: Sunday, 4/28, 1 PM

Address: 437 Hill Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $1,349,000

Scheduled for: Monday, 4/29, 1 PM

Elmhurst Gets On the Move in Springtime

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 02:00:00 GMT

There’s something almost magical about emerging from winter into spring. Leaves swell, grass turns green, birds sing and dive in the sunshine, and you can even smell the change of seasons in the air. Those of us in the US real estate industry know it’s spring because it’s the busiest time of year for us, and it’s no different here in Elmhurst.

This pervasive feeling of new beginnings that comes along with spring may be the primary driver behind the surge in real estate transactions at this time of year. Buyers and sellers alike are ready to get the property ownership ball rolling after a long winter of cold and snow. No one wants to think about navigating slippery roads and sidewalks with all their worldly possessions. It’s a much better experience to do that when it’s warm and sunny, and when you can set down a box without worrying about its becoming the base of a snow sculpture.

For buyers, spring may be the first opportunity they’ve had in months to see a property in its true form. With a cover of snow and ice, it’s not only unpleasant to stand outside and take a good look at the exterior of a home, it may also be impossible to see all of the details clearly. A roof covered with snow may be hiding some questionable shingles, and an idyllic-looking snow-covered backyard may actually be covering up some serious landscaping issues.

For sellers, it’s important not to underestimate the power of the spring selling season, especially this year. Inventories of homes for sale are unusually low at the moment, and mortgage interest rates continue to hover near rock bottom. Couple that with this seasonal urge to buy, and you may just find yourself juggling multiple offers. That being said, before you put your home on the market, take a hard look at it with a buyer’s eye. This is a great time to take advantage of the warm weather and get your home into tip-top shape before any showings.

Whether you’re a prospective buyer or a seller, The Gracik Makinney Group is here to help you make the most of this spring real estate season. With extensive local knowledge and professional experience, we can get you started on the way to realizing your property ownership goals. Stop by the office at 190 North York Street here in Elmhurst, or give us a call at 630-441-5570, and let’s take advantage of this great timing.

Elmhurst IL Open Houses for Sat. & Sun., Apr. 20-21

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 02:00:00 GMT

Maria and Tom will be participating in the National Association of Realtors Nationwide Open House this weekend!

Address: 249 E St. Charles Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $730,000

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 2 pm

Address: 903 Chatham Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $995,000

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 2 pm

Address: 110 Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $100,000

Scheduled for: Saturday 4/20, 12 pm

Address: 100 W Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $114,900

Scheduled for: Saturday 4/20, 12 pm

Address: 2 S Antrim Way

City: Elmhurst

Price: $169,900

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Address: OS600 Old York Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $199,900

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Address: 827 N Adele St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $299,900

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Address: 565 W Babcock Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $319,900

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Address: 690 S York Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $350,000

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Address: 903 S Spring Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $354,900

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Address: 449 W Vallette St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $432,500

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Address: 106 N Geneva Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $639,900

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Address: 452 S Kenilworth Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $650,000

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Address: 485 S Washington St

City: Elmhurst

Price: $795,000

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Address: 437 Hill Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $1,349,000

Scheduled for: Sunday 4/21, 1 pm

Elmhurst Declaration of Emergency Due to Excessive Flooding

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 02:00:00 GMT

Mayor Levin has signed a Declaration of Emergency for the city of Elmhurst due to excessive flooding.

Sand and bags are available at the Chicago Stone Quarry (400 W. First St) and the Public Works Garage (985 S. Riverside Dr). Residents must fill their own bags.

Short term emergency shelters are available at the Elmhurst Police Station (125 E. First St), Wagner Community Center (615 N. West Ave), and The Abbey (407 W. St Charles Road).

More information can be found on the City of Elmhurst's website http://www.elmhurst.org

Bringing the Boomerang Back to Elmhurst

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 02:00:00 GMT

The real estate market turndown of the past five or six years hit the industry hard, and as the market now moves into recovery, an overlooked segment of homeowners affected by it is also bouncing back. The so-called boomerang buyers, people whose mortgages were foreclosed upon during the dark days, are now re-entering the market, and this is good news for Elmhurst.

Natalie Lohrenz, director of development and counseling for the Credit Counseling Service, says that there are primarily two types of foreclosed homeowners: people who had a bad loan that they couldn’t afford; and people whose overall finances got pummeled. The first group couldn’t meet their mortgage obligations but were able to keep the rest of their finances in order and continued paying their bills. The second group, who most likely went through a divorce or job loss, ended up with nothing, and their credit scores suffered the most.

Boomerang buyers have different wait time requirements before they can expect to get back into homeownership – it depends upon their particular situations and the types of mortgages they had. For individuals who were foreclosed upon, the wait can be anywhere from one to seven years. If it was an FHA loan with extenuating circumstances, such as an illness or the death of a wage earner, the wait may be just one or two years. For individuals who had a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan, the wait can be up to seven years.

For homeowners who went through short sales, the type of mortgage at the time of short sale is considered along with how much is available now for a down payment. For example, a short sale on a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loan with a current down payment of 20 percent requires only a two-year wait. After a short sale on an FHA loan, the wait is three years, but after a short sale on a Freddie Mae or Freddie Mac loan with a current down payment of less than 10 percent, count on waiting up to seven years.

In mid-February, the Orange County Register published a surprisingly uplifting story about an area homeowner who went through a short sale and is now not only getting back into the market, but has also salvaged her credit rating. You can read it here.

For up-to-date, accurate information about your real estate options, your best source is a professional realtor. Here at The Gracik Makinney Group, we’re committed to providing not only the best information, but also the best service possible. Stop by the office at 190 North York Street here in Elmhurst, or give us a call at 630-441-5570, and let’s talk about what choices are available to you.

Elmhurst IL Open Houses for Sat. & Sun., Apr. 13-14

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 02:00:00 GMT

Address: 249 E. St. Charles Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $750,000

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 2 pm

Address: 903 Chatham Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $995,000

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 2 pm

Address: 110 Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $100,000

Scheduled For: Saturday, 4/13, 12 pm

Address: 100 W. Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $114,900

Scheduled For: Saturday, 4/13, 12 pm

Address: 122 S. Pick Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $144,900

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 1 pm

Address: 585 N. Michigan St.

City: Elmhurst

Price: $349,900

Scheduled For: Saturday, 4/13, 1 pm

Address: 903 S. Spring Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $354,900

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 1 pm

Address: 203 Berteau

City: Elmhurst

Price: $369,900

Scheduled For: Saturday, 4/13, 1 pm

Address: 621 W. Belden Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $439,900

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 1 pm

Address: 728 S. Mitchell Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $450,000

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 1 pm

Address: 304 N. Addison Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $549,900

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 1 pm

Address: 215 E. St. Charles Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $575,000

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 1 pm

Address: 452 S. Kenilworth Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $650,000

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 1 pm

Address: 837 S. Linden Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $699,900

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 1 pm

Address: 432 S. Prairie Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $1,124,000

Scheduled For: Sunday, 4/14, 1 pm

The Earth Day Spirit in Elmhurst

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 02:00:00 GMT

The first time any of us celebrated Earth Day was way back in 1970 on April 22nd. It’s estimated that something like 20 million people here in the US participated in events marking the occasion. Now, Earth Day has gone international thanks in part to a UN resolution in 2009, and more than 1 billion people worldwide celebrate it each year on the same date. Listed below are some startling facts and simple ideas that we can use here in Elmhurst to keep the spirit of conservation going all year long.

If everyone who bought a newspaper recycled it, about 250 million trees would be spared annually. In reality, US statistics show that only about 27% of us recycle our newspapers, and about 500,000 trees are cut down each week to produce our Sunday newspapers. What’s more, the amount of all recyclable paper we discard every year amounts to the cutting down of 1 billion trees. Going even further, recycled paper requires about 64% less energy to make than paper produced using virgin wood pulp. For every ton of paper that we recycle, we save 17 trees. Each of us uses the equivalent of seven trees per year in paper, wood, and other tree-based products. Nationwide, this comes out to about 2 billion trees annually.

Nationwide, we use more than 80 billion aluminum soda cans each year. When you recycle just one of them, you save enough energy to watch TV for three hours. Recycling aluminum cans uses just 10% of the energy required to make new ones. Also, an aluminum can needs 500 years to break down in a landfill. Here in America, we discard enough aluminum every year to rebuild the US commercial air fleet four times over. Even something as simple as a Hershey Kiss has an environmental impact – with almost 80 million of them wrapped in aluminum foil every day, that’s enough foil to cover more than 50 acres, or 40 football fields.

Like our friends and neighbors, The Gracik Makinney Group is happy to call Elmhurst home, and we’re dedicated to helping it remain a great place to live. Stop by our office at 190 North York Rd here in Elmhurst, or give us a call at 630-441-5570, and let’s talk about what we can do together to make it your home, too.

Elmhurst IL Open Houses for Sat. & Sun., Apr. 6-7

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 02:00:00 GMT

Address: 827 Chatham Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $839,000

Scheduled For: Sunday, Apr. 7, 2:00pm

Address: 903 Chatham Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $995,000

Scheduled For: Sunday, Apr. 7, 2:00pm

Address: 110 Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $100,000

Scheduled For: Saturday, Apr. 6, 12:00pm

Address: 100 Butterfield Rd

City: Elmhurst

Price: $114,900

Scheduled For: Saturday, Apr. 6, 12:00pm

Address: 141 S. Villa Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $249,000

Scheduled For: Saturday, Apr. 6, 12:00pm

Address: 687 S. Spring Ave

City: Elmhurst

Price: $288,000