TODAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013 IS NATIONAL RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS DAY!

Today is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Spread the word by doing simple things: opening a door for a stranger, letting someone merge into your lane, without honking, pay for the person's meal behind you in the drive thru, offering a smile to the person in line with you at the grocery store, let the person go in front of you in the check out line, ask a stranger how their day is going today and really listen, adopt a pet, tell your family that you love them.
Yes, this is an actual day which was not created by the greeting card industry. It's a fairly simple, easy and no cost involved special day. Basically, you provide RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS to complete strangers. I welcome this idea and have been practicing RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS everyday for the past several years. We all need to be a little nicer to one another. Enjoy the rewards.
http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/
http://www.orphansofthestorm.org/

EIGHT WAYS THE 2013 HOUSING MARKET HAS CHANGED

1. HOME PRICES HAVE INCREASED BY 2 – 3.5%
With the economy improving and low interest rates, pent up buyers have entered the market decreasing supply and raising prices.

2. INTEREST RATES ARE PREDICTED TO INCREASE
The Federal Reserve has announced that it will soon start tapering its $85 billion monthly bond-purchasing program, which is expected to send mortgage rates rising from recent record lows.

3. LOW INVENTORY OF HOMES
Listed inventory is down 22.5% from a year ago, when there was a 7.1-month supply. prices haven't gone up enough to enable many homeowners to sell and recoup enough to put down on a move-up home. Also, the banks are funneling more of their distressed sales to investors as rental properties.

4. NEW MORTGAGE RULE WILL PROTECT BUYERS
The ABILITY TO REPAY RULE, officially takes effect in January 2014. This rule will protect consumers from risky practices such as "no doc" and "interest only" features that contributed to so many people losing their home in recent years.

5. HOME EQUITY LOANS ARE BACK (HELOC’s)
When a home owner defaulted on their mortgage, Lenders, the secondary lender received money only after the primary mortgage was satisfied, making a HELOC very risky for Lenders.

6. THERE ARE FEWER DISTRESSED HOMES ON THE MARKET
The number of distressed homes is still fairly high at 2.3 million units. However, fewer of these homes are getting a FOR SALE sign, due to the back log with their lender. Bank owned homes (REO’s) are being offered first to large investment companies where they are converted to rental properties.

7. NEW CONSTRUCTION IS COMING
After years of building inactivity and a low inventory of homes on the market, many buyers are welcoming the chance to buy new and have it their way. Record-low interest rates and an uptick in hiring spurred the increased activity by builders. New-home sales are up 15.3% over the past year

8. THE LUXURY MARKET HAS A TAX INCENTIVE
Sales of homes over $1 million surged 51% in November, as high-net-worth owners rushed to list their existing homes and buy new ones to avoid the capital-gains tax hikes in January that were part of the fiscal-cliff deal. Under these changes, high-income earners would pay $88,000 less in taxes if they made a $1 million profit on their home in 2012 rather than in 2013. So, out went the for-sale signs, and down came the inventory of luxury homes in the last quarter of 2012.

CONCLUSION: The housing market is very different today than it was 6 years ago. The Real Estate market is now in full recovery mode.

ARCHITECTURALLY STUNNING KECK & KECK RANCH HOME AVAILABLE IN HIGHLAND PARK, IL

Rarely available, this one of a kind ranch home located in Highland Park, Il is ready for new owners. Designed by Keck and Keck, modernist architects based in Chicago, Illinois. This home was built in 1962, with the intention of the indoor swimming pool with completely retractable roof as the primary focal point. Truly a hidden gem, this mid-century modern home grabs your attention as soon as you enter the property. The oval home (floor plan on video), offers a separate 3 car garage, with a porte-cochère leading to the main entrance. Upon entering the home you are time warped back to the 60's. The current home owners have meticulously re-modeled the interior of the modernist home, preserving yesterdays charm with today's materials. 2077 Partridge Lane offers five bedrooms, five baths, 3 car garage, and 5,100 square feet of living space. Floor to ceiling windows let the outdoors in, allowing for warm sunny rooms. The heated pool is accessed from every major room. The outdoor entertaining space is private with it's custom built outdoor fireplace. Situated on 1.75 acres, every attention to detail has been given to this mid-century modern home, truly an architectural gem, one not to be missed!
Please call: Pam Devendorf, Broker (847) 681-4143, for your private appointment.
Visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNkQcoEdH84

HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN DATES BACK TO EARLY 16th CENTURY IRELAND

HALLOWEEN is an interpretation of “All Hallow’s Evening”, an annual celebration observed in a number of countries on October 31. It is the eve of the Western Christian of All Hallow’s Day. It initiates the time in the Christian Community dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints, martyrs and all the faithful departed believers. According to many scholars, All Hallows' Eve is a Christianized feast initially influenced by the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain", which comes from the Old Irish word for "summer's end. Samhain Festival marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the 'darker half' of the year. It was seen as a point of conscious awareness, when the spirits or fairies (the Super Natural) could more easily come into our world and were particularly active. At Samhain, it was believed that the Spirits/Fairies needed to be appeased to ensure that the people and their livestock would survive the winter. Offerings of food and drink, or portions of the crops, were left for the Spirits/Fairies. In modern Ireland, Scotland, Mann and Wales, the festival included celebrating in disguise or wearing a mask and performing a song or performance in exchange for food or money. This goes back as far as the 16th century. The "traditional illumination for the group of children performers was provided by turnips or beets which had been hollowed out to act as lanterns and often carved with grotesque faces to represent spirits or goblins". In the 20th century they spread to England and became generally known as jack-o’-lanterns.
Today’s festive Halloween activities include trick or treating, attending costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o'-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted houses, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO ALL YOU GOBLINS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lantIHjpMe0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jpBACP6eoM

HALLOWEEN FUN DOWNTOWN DEERFIELD, IL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26

Looking for something fun to do this Saturday, October 26th? Visit downtown Deerfield, Illinois where you will witness: "THE INVASION OF THE PUMPKINS". This event is co-sponsored by The Village of Deerfield, DBR Chamber of
Commerce and local retail establishments.
Sixteen large fiber glass pumpkins were painted by Deerfield High School students and have been displayed around the village of Deerfield. Each pumpkin has a coin slot, were you can deposit coins to vote for your favorite pumpkin. The winning pumpkin for the most money collected will receive a $5,000 check for their charity of choice.

The winning pumpkin will be decided at 2:30PM, when all the pumpkins will gather and their change will be counted.
The entire day is jam packed with great Halloween Activities, the fun takes place at Deerfield Square and Jewett Park Community Center.

10 AM - 3 PM: FACE PAINTING & BALLOON ANIMALS

11 AM - NOON: CUPCAKE DECORATING AT WHOLE FOODS

11:30 AM - 2:30PM: A-Z Entertainment

NOON: PIE EATING CONTEST AT WHOLE FOODS

12 PM - 4:00 PM: TRICK OR TREATING WITH LOCAL MERCHANTS (look for Orange sign in their window)

2 PM: HALLOWEEN HOUND PARADE

2:30 PM: INVASION OF THE PUMPKINS CEREMONY

3 PM: HALLOWEEN HOOPLA AT JEWETT PARK (across the street from Deerfield Square)

7 PM: MOVIE NIGHT: ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S, "THE BIRDS" (Bring a blanket or chairs)

http://www.deerfield.il.us/assets/1/village_government/Invasion_of_the_Pumpkins_with_Map.pdf
HAVE FUN! ~Pam

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING JERKY TREATS TO ALL DOG OWNERS!!!

During the past several months there has been an unknown cause of death and illness attributed to Jerky Treats which has affected over 3,600 dogs nation wide!The FDA is investigating a mystery illness being linked to pet jerky treats.

The treats in question are sold as jerky tenders or strips made of chicken, duck, sweet potatoes and dried fruit and have been linked to Chinese manufacturers, according to the FDA.

Despite rigorous testing, U.S. officials cannot find the reason the foods are causing symptoms as severe as kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding and urinary issues.

"This is one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we've encountered," Center for Veterinary Medicine Director Bernadette Dunham said in the FDA release. "Our beloved four-legged companions deserve our best effort, and we are giving it."

With no known leads as to what is causing the sickness, the FDA is asking consumers to be wary when feeding pets treats.

After the dog has ingested the treat, within a few hours the dog can become lethargic, dizzy, throwing up and more. If this happens to your dog, please take them to their vet immediately with the treat bag so, the FDA can narrow down the cause!
My suggestion: Discard ALL Jerky treats from China and replace with Organic!
Source: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/national-international/Reasons-for-Dog-Treat-Deaths-Remain-Unknown-According-to-FDA-228817621.html#ixzz2ifBu5P00
I AM A PET FRIENDLY REALTOR ;)

3rd QUARTER SOLD DATA FOR THE NORTH SHORE of IL ~ JULY 1 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

THE NORTH SHORE OF ILLINOIS
....................Units...DAYS on MARKET...Median Sold $.................TOTAL SOLD
Attached ....... 542.…................78.....…................$192,500.................$129,342,367
Detached........1,114................. 91.........................$470,000….............$614,593,395
TOTAL……..1,656….…….....87…………….…$362,750……….…$743,935,762

2012 JULY – SEPTEMBER 3rd QUARTER:
……………..1,253……………145………………..$330,000………….$516,064,765

JULY 1st – SEPTEMBER 30th, 2013 ~ RENTALS
…………......Units...... DAYS on MARKET…….Median Rental $....TOTAL VOLUME
.........................556.....................26..…………………. $1,980…………….$1,238,664
Data provided by 2013 MRED, LLC, not Guaranteed. Fair Housing Compliant.

This Data Includes the Following Areas: Deerfield, Bannockburn, Riverwoods, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Lincolnshire, Northbrook, Glenview/Golf, Mundelein/Ivanhoe, Vernon Hills/Indian Creek and Buffalo Grove.