News Articles

Northbrook, Ill. (Jan. 30, 2011) – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is proud to welcome two new leaders, Susan Swift and Lori Wyatt, veteran Realtors serving the Chicago market. Swift and Wyatt, previously with Keller Williams, will capitalize on their residential real estate industry expertise and specialties as they join the Coldwell Banker team.

“Susan and Lori are both well-respected and successful in Chicago, known for their thought leadership, outstanding service and exceptional performance,” said Kathy Kalnes, regional vice president of Coldwell Banker. “We are thrilled to have them join the Coldwell Banker team and to be able to leverage their combined 46 years of real estate experience and well-honed skills to offices across the city.”

Moving into the role of City Leadership Team Transition and Technology and Systems Training Director, Susan Swift will transition new Coldwell Banker agents to the network, programs and systems Coldwell Banker has to offer. Swift will regularly meet with the city leadership team to cultivate culture and vision, assist with bringing in quality agents, as well as training current talented agents on the wide array of Coldwell Banker tools and technology. In addition, Swift will develop and provide progressive curriculum, further expanding the organization’s educational offering and support to agents.

“Coldwell Banker has incredible resources in place to assist agents and clients throughout all parts of the buying and selling process,” said Swift. “I am excited to take on this role and look forward to growing our current offerings, as well as supporting agents with our current programs.”

Lori Wyatt is no stranger to the real estate industry with nearly 20 years of experience. This experience will continue to serve her well as she remains in her role as Branch Manager in the recently acquired Coldwell Banker Lincoln Square office. With a keen eye on client service, Wyatt is incredibly well-versed in online marketing, utilizing social media to promote the agents she works alongside of and the clients they serve.

“The Coldwell Banker brand is respected not only locally, but also globally for being the leader in real estate,” Wyatt said. “Their agent support is unparalleled and I am excited to continue serving Lincoln Square with their leadership and support.”

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a leading residential real estate brokerage company serving Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana, Southeast Wisconsin and Southwest Michigan, operates 53 offices with more than 3,400 sales associates. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information, please visit www.coldwellbankeronline.com.

Back in 2008, in an interview for the San Francisco Chronicle, then candidate, Barack Obama said he wanted to “bankrupt” the coal industry and raise energy prices.  With the new EPA rules coming out this month, he may just do it  The EPA acknowledges that this new rule is the most expensive rule the EPA has ever written for power plants and it will cause plants to shut down and cost as much as $130 billion to comply.  What makes this so serious is that almost 50% of all electricity in the U.S. is generated from coal.

In the last 20 years, coal fired plants have invested over $100 billion in technology that reduced the 3 major air pollutants by almost 90% - but the EPA wants more.  Industry experts report that we could lose a quarter of all coal-fired power plants.  Some newer coal-fired plants could possibly switch to natural gas as a fuel, however, they will also have to shut down during the conversion.  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission estimates that a minimum of 677 plants will need to be shut down to install retrofits like scrubbers or baghouses on the chimney.

The problem is we don’t have excess capacity in other plants to make up the loss of electricity due to the shut downs or the infrastructure to transport electricity to meet the needs of the people who’s plants are shut down.  All the experts report that reliability depends on building new power plants to cover the loss.

Replacing power is not like replacing a lost cell phone.  There are bottlenecks in permitting, engineering, financing and building a new plant and then tying it into the electric grid network. Needless to say it sometimes takes 3 years just to get a permit to build a plant or remodel and convert an existing plant.  One might ask, why is all this necessary? Because the EPA is giving plants 3 years to comply. What is so amazing is that the EPA itself says America will no longer have reliable electricity with these new rules.  Twenty-seven states say they can’t provide reliable electricity at any cost with the new regulation. 

What is even more insane is that the EPA says the benefits to society from mercury reduction in the utility rule max out at $6.1 million.   TOTAL.  FOREVER.  But the new rules by EPA’s own estimate will impose at least      $11 billion in compliance costs.  ANNUALLY.  FOREVER.  That is a crazy trade-off—even if it did not endanger the electric grid.

The loss of that much power production makes brownouts and “rolling blackouts” a virtual certainty in some regions of the country – notably the industrial heartland.  Bottom Line:  For the sake of the U.S. economy and the quality of American life, Congress needs to put an end to Obama’s war on coal and the EPA! 

NORTHBROOK, Ill. (January 30, 2012) – The majority of homes listed with a warranty covering major appliances, plumbing, electrical and other mechanical systems have a better chance of selling than those without. This should come as no surprise as today’s buyers are looking for some assurances that the home they’re purchasing doesn’t have a large amount of unforeseen expenses.

“A home warranty gives both parties peace of mind,” said Fran Broude, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “Our home warranty at Coldwell Banker protects the seller while the home is listed and provides protection for the buyer after the transaction is complete. This guarantee makes the home more attractive to prospective buyers.”

Here are several things sellers should consider when it comes to investing in a home warranty:

Check out pre-sale coverage. Make sure that the home warranty service you’re investing in covers the home while it’s listed. For a few hundred dollars, it means that any mechanical failures you experience while the home is on the market are not out-of-pocket expenses. This is especially helpful if you plan to move out of your home before it sells.

Understand what is covered. Review a full list of all that’s included in the home warranty. You may need to consider optional coverage for an in-ground pool or well pump.

Know the deductible. As with any insurance policy, be aware of the deductible you’ll have to pay for repair requests. The dollar figure may vary depending on the size of the claim.

Read the fine print. You don’t want any surprises. Check to see if there are any restrictions, like how many claims you can make in a certain time period. You’ll also want to ask the provider who will do the repair work. Find out if there is a network of repair people or if you can select your own contractor.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a leading residential real estate brokerage company serving Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana, Southeast Wisconsin and Southwest Michigan, operates 52 offices with more than 3,300 sales associates. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information, please visit www.coldwellbankeronline.com.

Northbrook, Ill. (Jan. 25, 2011) – Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is pleased to name Craig Hogan previews luxury director of its Previews luxury practice group for the City of Chicago. Hogan comes to Coldwell Banker from Keller Williams bringing with him 14 years of residential real estate experience, primarily in the Chicago luxury market.

In his new role, Hogan will be responsible for developing initiatives including interactive marketing solutions and social media programs to continue to enhance the leading luxury program in Chicagoland.

“Craig Hogan has a rich history in luxury properties, providing outstanding service to both agents and clients,” said Kathy Kalnes, regional vice president of Coldwell Banker. “We are proud to have him lead our Previews practice in the city region adding his experience and knowledge to our incredibly strong team.”

With a wealth of experience in the real estate industry, Hogan is well-versed in luxury properties, attributing his success to broad city knowledge, top notch client service and his broad network throughout the city. As an agent Hogan was consistently in the top 5 to 10 percent, selling an average of 45 units a year with his team.

“Coldwell Banker is known for being the leader in the luxury market, working with clients throughout Chicagoland with unparalleled service,” said Hogan. “I am proud to be a part of this client-centric team, offering support to all agents for the best measure of success.”                

Hogan was the managing broker for the Keller Williams Gold Coast office, the largest Keller Williams office in Chicago. He launched Keller Williams’ luxury brand in Chicago and was a standing board member. He is also an active member of the Chicago Area of Realtors Pro Standards Committee 2012.  

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a leading residential real estate brokerage company serving Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana, Southeast Wisconsin and Southwest Michigan, operates 53 offices with more than 3,400 sales associates. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information, please visit www.coldwellbankeronline.com.

 Last July, Chicago city council passed an ordinance expanding the definition of “property owner” to include a mortgagee or its assignee or agent, thereby making mortgage lenders responsible for vacant properties.  The measure also requires owners of more than five properties—including lenders—to post signs in front of all vacancies with the owner’s contact information, maintain the exterior of the building and post security guards at night.  Under the new law, a lender must pay a $500 fee to register vacant properties with the city and fines of $1,000 per day for violating upkeep requirements.

Legal experts said at the time, that this law will not stand.  One can’t automatically say if you live within the Chicago city limits you don’t own your home, the bank does.  The FHFA filed suit in Federal Court in Chicago arguing that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be immune from the ordinance’s requirements because the city has no right to regulate them, or to force them to pay fines.  FHFA also wants a refund of any money it’s mortgage services have had to pay the city so far to comply with the law.

FHFA said that the ordinance would impose on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac “The responsibility, but not the benefits of ownership of vacant property on which they hold mortgages.”  FHFA which oversees Fannie and Freddie is threatening to stop guaranteeing mortgages in the city or at least increase the cost of new and refinanced mortgages for Chicago homeowners to cover the expenses associated with the ordinance. Does the Mayor only want cash buyers in Chicago?  Does he realize the devastation to the housing market in Chicago if Fannie & Freddie pull out?           

 Questions? Comments?   Email me at dick.greenwood@cbexchange.com   or 847–313-6522. If you do not wish to receive any further e-mail communications from us, you may contact us at Laurie.kirchen@cbexchange.com to have your name removed from our Distribution List.      

NORTHBROOK, Ill.  (January 23, 2012) – If you’re taking a look at today’s housing market, it’s impossible to ignore the many signs that say “Buy Now”. While current buying conditions present viable opportunities for first-timers, it still requires serious work to make the significant financial leap. As a soon-to-be homeowner, you must get your finances in order during the months leading up to the purchase.   

“Today’s market presents an excellent opportunity for first-time buyers to find competitive home prices and very low interest rates,” said Fran Broude, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “But none of that matters if there isn’t a good sense of your financial situation before starting your search.”

Here are some useful starter steps:  

·         Run a credit check. When a mortgage company considers you for a loan, it checks into all your vitals including your credit score. They want to see how responsible applicants are when it comes to paying bills on time and if they have a detrimental amount of debt. These expectations have risen significantly in past years making it even more important to know your score and possibly improve it before applying.

·         Assess buying power. Buying power is determined by the amount of debt an applicant is carrying. Your Realtor and lender can help assess your income to debt ratio, and provide you with a realistic idea of how much you will be able to borrow, which will reveal what kind of house you can ultimately afford. You may also discover adjustments that can be made to improve your loanability.

·         Get pre-approved. All of your work above is geared toward achieving one thing: pre-approval for a home loan. Pre-approval is a good gauge of how much you can borrow and it shows home sellers that you have the backing to buy. Now, you can work with your Realtor to kick off that home search.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a leading residential real estate brokerage company serving Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana, Southeast Wisconsin and Southwest Michigan, operates 52 offices with more than 3,300 sales associates. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information, please visit www.coldwellbankeronline.com.

For years, comics and late night television made jokes about the ridiculous decisions that come out of the Ninth Circuit Court in California.  Their recent decision, if allowed to stand, could kill the timber industry and housing in the U.S. as well as damage our ability to manage agricultural crops.

The case involved is Georgia Pacific vs. Northwest Environmental Defense Center, concerning whether rural roads used for hauling timber should be subject to the same stringent environmental permitting process as major industrial sites and municipal systems.  That’s right!  A temporary (3 week use) road, requires the same permitting standards as a major sewage treatment plant!

An environmental group claimed that water run-off from logging roads was getting into fish-bearing streams.  The District Court said there was no case but the ever liberal Ninth Circuit overturned the ruling that the road should fall under so called “point source” standards, which require special permits from the EPA.

The stricter classification is a perennial on the wish list of environmentalists because it would introduce an array of layers and specialists every time a new logging road was built.  Under the roads’ historical Clean Water Act classification as “non-point source” storm water run-off on the roads is regulated by the states, which develop their own requirements and restrictions on road use.

The U.S. Forest Service says that if the ruling stands, it would have to obtain more than 400,000 permits working with 46 states, a process that could take 10 years.  And that’s the “Green Goal” — to create enough delay and bureaucracy that timber harvesting will cease to be profitable. 

NORTHBROOK, Ill. (January 16, 2012) – So, you’ve decided it’s time to sell your home. For sellers in any size home, the first and most important step involves finding a professional that can represent your home best and provide the effective services you need. Having the right listing agent can be the key to moving from “For Sale” to “Sold”.

“Selling a home takes work, whether you are upgrading, downsizing or relocating,” says Fran Broude, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “Partnering with a professional can help alleviate the work load and pressure, but it’s important to find a Realtor who can meet your expectations and prepare your home to sell.”

Asking the right questions can make it easier to find the perfect match:

Market presence. Make sure you look for agents that have experience not only in your neighborhood, but also on the type of home you own and its price range. Agents that specialize in a particular market usually have the skills and network to reach buyers in that category.

Ask the right questions. Get a feel for how each Realtor does business by asking about their professional qualifications, sales tactics, working style, and resources. The resources an agent has access to can determine the degree of service they will provide.

Request references. Any good agent should have past clients willing to attest to their expertise. Speak with clients who recently sold their home and take the time to contact an agent’s references to ask about their strengths and weaknesses.

Put agents to the test. After narrowing down the pool of agents, ask each of them to create a “listing presentation” for selling your home. It should include a comparative market analysis of recent sales and listings of comparable homes in your area, a promotional plan for your home and a proposed selling price.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a leading residential real estate brokerage company serving Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana, Southeast Wisconsin and Southwest Michigan, operates 52 offices with more than 3,300 sales associates. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information, please visit www.coldwellbankeronline.com.

CHICAGO, Ill. (Jan. 12, 2012) — Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Chicago today announced it has acquired the assets of Keller Williams Gold Coast in the Lincoln Park, Gold Coast, Lincoln Square and the West Loop neighborhoods of Chicago.  The 200 sales associates of Keller Williams Gold Coast’s four offices now will operate under the banner of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.   

“This is a great opportunity to expand our presence in Chicago — and what better way than by joining these talented and knowledgeable sales teams,” said Fran Broude, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.  “We are excited about adding this highly reputable group of real estate professionals to our company, expanding our city team and growing our already significant market share.”  

“I am very confident that Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage will be a wonderful new home for our agents as we collectively look to the future,” said William O’Kane, a previous owner of the four Keller Williams offices.  “Coldwell Banker’s commitment to providing agents with the most advanced tools, technology, training, and their strong national brand presence combined with our local expertise makes this team the best in the area.”  

“Our new agents will be able to immediately utilize our comprehensive marketing programs including our enhanced online branding strategy, strong local web site and single property web site program. All of these tools, and many more, help our agents grow their business and provide outstanding, professional service to their clients,” said Broude.  “Of course, all of our agents also benefit from Coldwell Banker’s national and international network and the additional exposure this brings to their business.”  

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a leading residential real estate brokerage company serving Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana, Southeast Wisconsin and Southwest Michigan, operates 51 offices with more than 3,300 sales associates. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information, please visit www.coldwellbankeronline.com.

NORTHBROOK, Ill. (January 3, 2012) – Homeowners, are you thinking of settling down for that long winter’s nap? Think again. Many winter weather hazards can cause costly, time-consuming repairs. As ice, snow and sleet make their way into the Midwest, beware of how these conditions can negatively impact your home.

“The damage done to your home by subzero temperatures can go unseen until the thaw comes,” said Fran Broude, president and COO of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. “Taking the right precautions to protect your home in the winter will pay off in the spring.”

Here are some tips to protect your home in the dead of winter:

-          Fire it up. If you turn the thermostat down during the workday or for a vacation, keep the temperature set around 60 degrees. Low temps and shifting interior conditions can have damaging effects, especially with wood.

-          Map it out. Water pipes can and do burst. In the event of a ruptured water line, know exactly where the main water valve is, and how to shut it off. If you are not able to this, have your plumber’s number handy.

-          Deicing the safe way. When spreading deicing salt, stay away from plants and grass that can be damaged. Check out salt spreads that are safe for pets and the environment or use sand to build traction on slick walkways.

-          Protect the garage or shed. A concrete garage or shed floor is porous and absorbed liquid can freeze and cause cracks. Keeping the garage door down will help, but for extreme cold, consider a floor covering or mat.

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, a leading residential real estate brokerage company serving Chicagoland, Northwest Indiana, Southeast Wisconsin and Southwest Michigan, operates 51 offices with more than 3,300 sales associates. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is part of NRT LLC, the nation’s largest residential real estate brokerage company. NRT, a subsidiary of Realogy Corporation, operates Realogy’s company-owned real estate brokerage offices. For more information, please visit www.coldwellbankeronline.com.