Chicago..City Home prices rise for first time ..Carpe Diem. Unprecedented time to buy

The median price of a home sold in the city of Chicago last month rose for the first time in 22 months, with all of that gain coming from the sale of single-family homes.

For the entire metropolitan area, the median home price didn't break the string of declines seen since March 2008. But with a decrease of just 0.5 percent, it was the best report in some time.

"I'm ecstatic about it," said Genie Birch, president of the Chicago Board of Realtors. "The free fall stopped. There's a bottom and then you make your way up. I think we are on the road to recovery if all the variables stay in place."
The news on pricing came as the Illinois Association of Realtors reported Monday that April existing homes sales in the Chicago area rose for the 10th consecutive month, year-over-year, to 7,071 single-family homes and condominiums sold last month. It was a 47.1 percent sales volume gain since April 2009.

Within the city, sales rose 41.1 percent, to 1,407 homes sold, in the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year gains while the median price increased 3.2 percent to $225,000. Sales of single-family homes rose 25.4 percent to 791 homes, which were sold at a median price of $155,000 -- a 14.8 percent increase.

Meanwhile, sales of condos within Chicago rose 53.9 percent, to 1,194 homes sold. The median price of $278,012 was a 3.9 percent decrease.

"For the first time since the recession began, the housing markets in Illinois and Chicagoland region almost presented positive indicators across the board," said Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of University of Illinois' Regional Economics Applications Laboratory in a statement. "Sales continue to exhibit positive increases through April, and the forecasts suggest a continuation of these trends through July."

All nine of the counties in northern Illinois recorded substantial double-digit sales volume gains of between 24 and 77 percent last month. But only Lake County showed a significant year-over-year gain in median home prices, with a 11.2 percent increase to $200,000 in April. The median home price rose 1.8 percent in Cook County, to $195,000. Other counties posted decreases.

Despite the good report, questions remain over whether the housing market can sustain any momentum generated by the now-expired home buyer tax credit. In order to qualify for the tax credit of up to $8,000, consumers had to have a contract signed on a home by April 30, and must close on the purchase transaction by June.

There's some evidence that those first-time sellers have now exited the market, as only 43.4 percent of April's home purchases were attributed to first-time home buyers, compared with 48.2 percent of buyers in March, according to a Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance monthly survey.

Last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported that mortgage loan applications for home purchases for the week ended May 14 fell 27 percent from a week earlier, to the lowest level of applications in 13 years, and applications had declined almost 20 percent during the past month.

April Showers Bring May Flowers

April Showers Bring May Flowers

One of the joys of spring and summer is that you can grow your own garden. Whether you want flowers, fruit or vegetables the options are limitless. Read on for successful gardening tips and ideas:
1. Survey the area and plan. Decide where to plant and clean up any winter debris. Make sure your pathway is clear and you won't have to redirect your planting midway through.
2. Buy the proper tools and plants. This means quality. It will make a world of difference when planting. For early spring choose trees, shrubs and perennials.
3. Check the pH level of soil. The soil you are using should be enriched. If you want to increase the pH level in the soil, you can add dolomitic lime, and similarly to reduce the pH level, you can add elemental sulfur.
4. When planting new plants, prepare new beds and remove all the weeds and debris from the soil. Spread manure or compost over the soil, and cultivate to a depth of 10 to 12 inches.
5. Also, if you plant flower beds in a diamond pattern rather than straight rows, they'll look fuller faster.
6. Lastly, when new growth takes place, apply fertilizer around trees and shrubs. Fertilize perennials only when the active growth takes place.
7. Enjoy your beautiful garden!

DECORATING DIFFICULTIES

DECORATING DIFFICULTIES
There are those who can simply plow right into decorating projects and end up with something beautiful. But for most of us, it can be a daunting challenge without professional help. This is especially true when it comes to awkward angles and odd-shaped rooms.

Odd shaped rooms can actually bring character to your decor. Just pick a focal point such as a fireplace, arranging furniture and accessories to bring attention to the area. Take advantage of a window by arranging seating or beds that easily access the view. If your room has no outstanding features, make your own. Faux fireplace mantles and artwork thoughtfully placed on a wall will do nicely.

Create balance with items that bring harmony and a sense of scale. An armoire that reaches the ceiling will take up more visual space than a shorter piece of the same dimensions. Rugs that are too small will look cheap no matter what the cost. Keep that in mind when selecting new items

Rooms that are long and narrow can be especially challenging until you visually divide them by two. For instance, a long living room can have one area with sofa and chairs with a secondary area for dining. Or you could use the secondary area for reading and games with a setting consisting of a table, chairs and proper lighting. Place a chess set on the table and you have an inviting place for fun with friends.

Dormers, though charming, can be tough, especially if you're using wallpaper. Plaids and stripes don't usually work well in these areas. But if wallpaper is your choice, a small repeating pattern will make the angles all but disappear. Just make sure the lighting is sufficient for working and take your time.

Painting the walls and ceiling a single color will also fool the eye by not accentuating the area where the angles meet the ceiling. Or, you can use a slightly lighter hue for the ceiling. This will also act to blend the two areas. If, on the other hand, you wish to make the angle stand out, you can accent with a different color. This can be a dramatic effect.

When choosing colors for rooms that have only three walls, be sure to coordinate your paint choices to blend seamlessly. The goal is to make every room look inviting - a room you can't wait to enter and enjoy.

TIME VS MONEY

TIME VS MONEY
Most of us live quite happily with our home's little idiosyncrasies. It's easy to become accustomed to a leaky faucet or a door knob that falls off occasionally. And you may have covered that cracked tile with a small rug. We usually put up with it for quite a while, thinking we'll get it fixed later. Sometimes, later never comes. So, what do you do if you suddenly need to sell your home?

You obviously want top market price for your property, but potential buyers may be turned off by a house that appears to need repair. Or, they will want to pay less money, thinking they will have to invest refurbishing dollars later.

Resist the temptation to fix things on the cheap. Cover-up jobs never work and could come back to haunt you. Some homeowners are quite capable of putting in a new faucet or replacing the tile. If you are experienced and have all the right tools, go ahead and tackle it. If not, hire a professional to do the job for you. Why? Time and money! There may be many details to attend to and your time could be limited. Save your energy for the important issues that only you can handle. You may be faced with lots of small, but very important, decisions every day. If you're caught up doing an extensive repair job yourself, you may be too tired to make the right choices. It could also take you a lot longer to complete something a professional could attend to quickly.

It can be more expensive in the long run to try to cover up or patch a problem. The buyer will recognize it quickly and it could cost you a sale. It will probably be much more economical to hire a plumber to take care of that leak than to try to do it yourself. Professionals have the know-how to tackle any unseen problems. Attempting a repair job yourself when you don't have the skills could result in a much bigger problem later. Major issues with electrical and heating and air should always be looked at by a professional.

Consider the best use of all your resources (that time and money thing again). Get quotes for work that needs to be attended to by a professional and always get it in writing.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL YARD SALE
Moving time is the best time to clear out all that stuff you don't want to take with you AND make a little cash for moving expenses.

First, set a date and time when you can devote your full attention to this sale, for gathering up various articles as well as being able to attend the sale full time. Second, plan just what you're going to put in the sale, if you're going to have the sale alone, or with other families. Third, have plenty of change on hand - both coin and paper money.

Now, get down to business. A sale is work, but the returns more than justify the effort. Clean out your closets and anything that is useless to you or you don't want - put it in the sale. One person's trash may be another person's goldmine! Besides, the more you sell, the less you'll have to pack.

Of course you need to advertise. Run an ad in your daily newspaper. The best days for your Garage Sale are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If you run your ad one day only, have it in the Thursday paper. You might like to run the ad two days to appear in both the Thursday and Friday editions. Two day advertising is usually adequate unless your sale is continued late Saturday night and Sunday. Be specific, concise and honest. State place, date, hours. If you have a large amount of clothing, specify some of the sizes. Give good descriptive details to save disappointments.

In addition to placing an ad in the paper, place signs at points where people will see them. Some stores have bulletin boards on which you can place notices. Advertise all you can and be ready to meet any customer as soon as the paper hits the street. Some eager buyers may come before the sale even begins!

Make arrangements to have all your remaining 'treasures' picked up after the sale for donation or disposal. Remember, if you were willing to sell it - you don't need to move it to your next house. Be discriminating and stick to your resolve!

On the day of the sale, think merchandising! Display your wares attractively. Be sure they are clean, usable, and priced temptingly. Place like items together, such as glassware next to silverware and lamps next to furniture. String up a clothesline to display clothing or hang a pole between two ladders. Children's clothing goes over best especially in the fall when school is about to begin. Antiques are popular items regardless of state of repair or condition.

Other items in big demand are varied and include bottles (old and new) baseball cards, lawn mowers, camping articles, tools, coins, old books, comic books (old and new), aprons, old-fashioned bonnets, salt and pepper shakers, needlework, jewelry, watches, and dishes. Doll clothing and accessories are also always in demand. Toys go over big at any time. Make a hit with the kiddies and they, in turn, might persuade their parents to buy something. Don't be afraid to drag out those outgrown items, old dishes and two-of-a-kind items you don't really need. You'll find the money in your pocket is better than all the clutter in the house.

Set up card tables or ping-pong tables to display small merchandise. Place tables in a manner that will leave room for shoppers to browse without feeling crowded. Colorful table covers draw a lot of attention to your items. Take advantage of the space under the tables, if you need more display room. You'll be amazed how buyers spot the smallest item under the table. You'll save yourself a lot of time answering questions if you show a price on all merchandise. Use small stickers and a heavy black felt marking pen for lettering.

Be sure you have electrical outlets nearby for appliances to show customers that your articles do work. If you have to use an extension cord, make sure it is in excellent condition and preferably a heavy duty one. If you have any fragile, rare or expensive items such as crystal, cut glass or jewelry, be sure it is displayed on a sturdy table and out of reach from children. Drinking glasses, dishes, and cups will sell faster if you price them in sets rather than individually. Paperback books, magazines, records and items that have titles will sell more readily if they are marked separately. If they want them collectively, they'll ask you.

At the end of the day, you should have money in your pocket, some new acquaintances, and a lighter load when it's time to move!

HAPPY SELLING AND GOOD LUCK!

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Carpe Diem..Time is Running Out on Home Buyer Tax Credits

Carpe Diem..Time is Running Out on Home Buyer Tax Credits

The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 has extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence. The tax credit now applies to sales occurring on or after January 1, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010. However, in cases where a binding sales contract is signed by April 30, 2010, a home purchase completed by June 30, 2010 will qualify.

It also authorized a tax credit of up to $6,500 for qualified repeat home buyers purchasing a principal residence after November 6, 2009 and on or before April 30, 2010 (or purchased by June 30, 2010 with a binding sales contract signed by April 30, 2010). Check out http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/ for full details

Carpe Diem...Getting the Feds to Modify your mortgage

Carpe Diem...Getting the Feds to Modify your mortgage

Rates can fall to 2%--if you know how to play the game.


If your income slumped along with the economy, you've got plenty of company these days. So much so that the government has a program meant to help you out by cutting your mortgage payments to 31% of your gross income. But it turns out that qualifying for this benefit will probably take some fancy footwork, a sympathetic partner and a little luck. Here are some pointers for navigating the terrain.

Get to Know the Program

The program in question is the Obama administration's $75 billion Making Home Affordable program.

It applies to mortgages held by Fannie Mae ( FNM - news - people ) and Freddie Mac ( FRE - news - people ), the two giant mortgage holders that the government took control of a year ago. Under the government's auspices, Fannie and Freddie are now cutting interest rates on mortgages they own to as little as 2%, with the aim of lowering payments to no more than 31% of a homeowner's gross income.

How do you know if Fannie or Freddie own your mortgage? The simplest way is to visit each of the lender's Web sites and type in the information requested about you and your residence. Remember: The giant home financing organizations buy loans that were originated by commercial banks and own a significant portion the nation's entire home loan assets. That means you may have taken out your mortgage through Bank of America ( BAC - news - people ), Wells Fargo ( WFC - news - people ) or another private lender, and they may still be servicing your account, while ownership has actually been transferred to Fannie or Freddie (if not, you may be out of luck. A list of other lenders participating in the Making Home Affordable program can be found here).

Estimate Whether You Qualify

If you do have a Fannie or Freddie loan, then figure out what portion of your gross monthly income your housing payment consumes. In this case, your "housing payment" means not only your mortgage costs but your PITI (principal, interest, taxes and insurance). Since you first took out your mortgage, it may have zoomed way up as a percentage of your household income, either because you and your spouse's income has fallen or because the adjustable rate of interest on the loan has ratcheted up. In either case, you should consider applying.


Navigating the Process

Even when Fannie and Freddie own loans, they don't handle homeowner paperwork themselves. Instead, they rely on banks to service their loans and to decide who qualifies for the Making Home Affordable program. The banks have been both stingy about granting approvals and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of applications.

The key to receiving a modification seems to be convincing the bank that you're in its modification "sweet spot." That means you're in dire enough financial straits to need help but not so deeply in trouble as to be hopeless. After all, the point of the program is to modify loans in a way that borrowers will be able to keep up.


What might disqualify you? Savings, for one thing. We spoke with nearly a dozen homeowners who applied for modifications. Several were turned down because of their hefty savings accounts.

On the other hand, if you have no savings and no job or income, you'll likely be turned down for a modification too. The program requires that applicants show proof of current income and that the income is likely to continue for at least nine months. Since in most cases unemployment benefits are part of a six-month program, they're unlikely to qualify you.

Other variables that can influence the odds of getting approved include your other debts (credit cards and car loans) and fixed costs. Once again, banks are looking for modifications that borrowers can live with. If you're seeking to have your housing payment cut to 31% of your income but are spending another 60% on private school tuition and health club memberships, the bank is unlikely to be convinced that you're a viable candidate.

Showing Just Enough Distress

It isn't pretty, but to go to the top of the list in your bank's loan modification department, it might help to miss a mortgage payment or two. "It feels terrible to say it, but go delinquent" if you have no real choice, says Ron Morgan, chief executive of Sterling Home Retention Services. Morgan's firm specializes in home-loan workouts, and many banks are outsourcing their problem loans to firms like his.

Getting Help

If you need help with the application process, it's probably available. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a network of debt counselors, many available to work with you free of charge.

Tools on the Internet may also help you improve your chances at getting a modification. The owner of Homeowner's Toolbox is a former California mortgage broker who says he has consulted with the banks he used to source loans for and has a sense of each bank's modification "sweet spot." Homeowner's Toolbox is free to users and claims to estimate the probability that a homeowner will be approved for a modification.

Beware:

The last thing you want to do is make your financial problems worse. That means avoiding any for-profit outfit that "promises" to get you a modification or that insists on a large payment upfront.