My listing at 2250 N. Ohio which is listed for sale as well as for rent at $4,750 a month.

I’d like to tip my hat to Jeff Kerr over at the ChiTown Living Blog for pointing out this informative article in the Chicago Tribune about what homeowners need to consider when renting out their homes.

As I’ve mentioned before, this is a conversation I have with my own clients from time to time. Of the 40 properties I have listed for sale at this time, five are also listed for rent.

Reasons to rent out your home

As a seller, there are a couple reasons to consider renting your home:

The first reason is equity retention. If your home is not selling in this market, pure and simple, you need to reduce the price until you find buyers. For some sellers, including myself, it can mean successive price reductions. Some of our clients do not need to sell and would rather not reduce their price. Instead, they opt to keep their home until the market recovers. As this may take months or even years, it makes sense to rent their home to offset the cost of ownership (mortgage, real estate taxes, insurance, and, in the case of condos, assessments).

The second reason is cash flow. If your basis is low or you bought well, you may be able to obtain a monthly rent that more than covers your expenses, kicking out a small income stream. Even if your cash flow is not positive, the overall benefit may be positive when you take into consideration the tax benefits that accompany writing off the expenses associated with owning and maintaining the property.

The third reason to rent is a part of an overall investment strategy. A friend of my parents lives off the revenue stream generated from a portfolio of property that she owns and rents out. Obviously, it takes time to build a portfolio, and it is a much different strategy than renting your home because of market conditions. However, with prices coming down and volatility in the financial markets, bricks and mortar can be an appealing option for savvy investors. (Note that mortgage financing for investment property is not as freely available as for a primary residence, so this opportunity is better suited to someone with cash in the bank.)

Why is the rental market so strong?

There are more people out looking for rentals than in recent years for the following reasons:

Firstly, fewer people qualify for purchase financing due to larger down payment requirements and more stringent underwriting standards.

Also, Potential buyers are hesitant to sell their stocks or mutual funds now because values are down. Without selling, they don’t have funds for their down payment.

Lastly, some people are unsure about the housing market, their job security, and/or their future plans. Renting allows them the ability to remain flexible.

The Downsides to Renting

However, as the Chicago Tribune article mentions, there are some reasons why you may not want to rent:

Renting may not provide enough income to fully cover the carrying costs for your home, and it may bring with it the extra hassle of managing a tenant. While there are management companies that can assist you, their services are rarely cost effective unless you have a portfolio of properties that you rent out. So, you have to be comfortable with the fact that you may get a late night call that the heat is out or a squirrel has found its way into the basement.

Based on my experience, you should also factor in a budget to repaint and make minor repairs after your tenant has moved out. The security deposit covers damage but not necessarily wear and tear. For that reason, I encourage my clients to only consider the rental option if they are willing to rent for two years or more. The hassles and expense associated with a short term rental are just not worth it.

Also be aware that some condominium associations are restricting the number of units that can be rented in their buildings. If the quota has already been reached, then you may not have the rental option.

Have Questions About Renting out a Property?

Ultimately, even though the Chicago Tribune article makes renting sound like a headache, it has proven a smart strategy for some of my clients. If you would like to better understand the benefits or renting versus selling your home, feel free to email me at jenny@jenniferames.com, call (312) 440-7525, or leave a comment on this post. And if you are looking for a rental, check out these fabulous options.

Most people don’t expect much innovation from their local governments, but two city services - the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the Chicago Public Library - have been rolling out some pretty neat tech features.

In the case of the CTA, their new bus tracker system is a feature that many of us have long wished for while waiting at the bus stop. Now, with a web-enabled phone, we can find just when the next bus will arrive on many of the most popular routes. The service is available both in a text format (telling you how many minutes until the next bus arrives) and in a map format (showing you where the buses on the route currently are).

The Chicago Public Library’s contribution is the recent addition of downloadable movies to their online downloads service. This means that in addition to e-books and audio books, you can now download select films to your home computer or iPod from the CPL website. Any downloaded programs will be accessible for three weeks, after which they will automatically delete themselves. You can browse the library’s current selection of downloadable content here.

While you shouldn’t hold your breath to see any blockbuster titles like The Dark Knight or Quantum of Solace appear anytime soon, there are still a few gems to be had - plus all the historical documentaries and do-it-yourself tutorials you could ever hope to watch.

You’ll need a CPL library card to access the service which is free to Chicago residents and Chicago property tax payers. You can apply for one at any branch location.

These are two nice new services that are now available - and coincidently, they both mean less time exposed to the Chicago winter and more time enjoying ourselves in warmer settings. That’s never a bad thing.

It’s not every day you can see what $10 million will buy, but if you tuned into NBC 5 last Sunday morning, you had an opportunity to do just that!

I had the pleasure of showing my listing at 1524  N. Astor Street for LXTV’s new television series “OpenHouse Chicago.” You can view the three minute video piece here.

The one challenge with a show like this is that it’s merely a teaser. This one-of-a-kind Gold Coast home has been completely renovated throughout and offers exquisite Art Deco-inspired interior architecture. However, the segment does not afford enough time to cover all the cool details. For example, the koi pond with a running waterfall in the backyard didn’t make the cut!

Still, this home is one of my all-time favorites, and it’s located in an area that is near and dear to me. I lived as a child in a home just a few blocks away, and my grandparents lived two doors down from us.  Our family was friends of the prior owners of this home, and we enjoyed many a holiday party there. Still, it never looked this nice!

You can view our team’s full listing and brochure for 1524 Astor here.

These past few days, Chicago has enjoyed an “Indian Summer,” a period of unseasonably warm weather in autumn. In short order, we’ve gone from 50 degree weather last week to 60 and 70 degree temperatures these past few days. It’s heavenly!

This fair weather brings to mind the old “Injun Summer” cartoon from the famed Chicago Tribune cartoonist John T. McCutcheon. While McCutcheon’s verbiage is unfortunately politically incorrect in hindsight, his wonderfully drawn cartoon is a good reminder of just how long beautiful autumn weather like this has been appreciated.

One thing that isn’t politically incorrect, however, is voting, and today’s Election Day weather is ideal for that. Reports from the polls tell of long lines out the doors at some polling stations, but that’s almost a blessing on a day like this. Of course, many polling stations are moving much smoother. I voted myself today and made it in and out in ten minutes.

The rally in Grant Park tonight for Chicago’s native son, Barack Obama, had obtained permits to sell hot chocolate, but there may be little demand for that tonight. Back when it was chilly, Mayor Daley predicted a million attendees for the event. Who knows how big the crowds will be now?

Whatever your plans for these next couple days, be sure you get out and make the most of this Chicago Indian Summer.

Earlier this fall, Chicago attorney Peter Marx came to our weekly sales meeting at Coldwell Banker’s Gold Coast Office. He had been invited to speak to us about “short sales.”

Until this year, I had never been involved in a short sale. Now, I have good friends who purchased a condo in a conversion in 2005 and have since seen the interest rate on their loan reset to an excessive rate (over 9%) and the husband lose his job. My team and I at Coldwell Banker have been trying to help them sell their condo for a price in excess of their mortgage amount but have received no offers. So, just last week, we canceled and relisted their home at a price that is more than 10% below the principal balance on their mortgage. When we get a buyer, we will work with Peter to contact their lender and negotiate a short sale.

Given that short sales are becoming more frequent in our Chicago area residential market, I asked Peter if he would consider writing a guest post for the blog that I could share with our readers. If you’re considering a short sale yourself or are just curious about this arrangement that has been grabbing headlines, you will find Peter’s post very helpful. - Jenny

In my fourteen years of real estate practice, I have never seen the conditions we are experiencing in the real estate market today. This is a very difficult market for anybody involved in real estate, but it is especially challenging for people trying to sell property. Some sellers have found themselves in a position where they owe more money on their property than it will sell for on the market. Others are behind on mortgage payments due to adjustable rate mortgages or other dangerous creative financing that was previously available. Still others are in trouble simply because they bought at the peak of the market, and since then, the property values in their neighborhood have dropped significantly.

Regardless of the reason why the property owner is in trouble, a “short sale” is a viable solution for many of these situations. A short sale is when a lender (lien holder) agrees to accept a loan payoff that is less than the full amount due on the mortgage. While this may, in some cases, adversely affect the homeowner’s credit score, it is not as damaging to a person’s credit as a foreclosure or a bankruptcy. In some cases, if a person has significant other debts that they cannot pay (e.g. credit cards, car loans, etc.) a bankruptcy may be more suitable. However, if the only debt problem is real estate, a short sale is a good option for many homeowners.

The following are some of the requirements necessary to have a bank approve a short sale:

The Seller can receive no proceeds. All customary closing costs (i.e. commission, taxes, title fees, attorney’s fees) are paid by the bank.

- There is no guarantee the bank will approve the sale.

- The real estate sales contract and any Realtor commissions must be stated as “contingent upon the approval of the lender”.

- The seller must accept an offer. Then the bank must approve the terms of the offer as well as sign off on the seller’s financial hardship circumstances.

- The seller (homeowner) will need to prove a financial hardship in order for the bank to approve their “short sale”. This will be done by the negotiating attorney providing the contract, title report, proposed settlement statement and extensive financial information to the bank. (i.e. the seller’s income/asset/debt statements, bank statements, hardship letters, tax returns, employment information, etc).

- The bank will do its own research on the property to confirm that the sale price is justified. They do this by having a local real estate agent complete a BPO (Broker’s Price Opinion). This is the equivalent of their appraisal. Therefore, it is very important that the property is not sold at a price far below the market value. The listing real estate agent must make sure there are comparative sales similar to the sales price that is accepted or the bank will reject the transaction.

It is very important that the Seller, listing agent and the attorney handling the short sale negotiation with the bank are all efficient, experienced and detailed in their work. The following is a timeline of steps that should be taken to complete a short sale:

1. The seller lists the property for sale with a Realtor after agreeing on a competitive listing price that is in line with the prices for other similar homes that sold recently.

2. The seller meets with their short sale attorney to retain them to negotiate the transaction with the seller’s lender(s), and executes a client authorization agreement to allow the attorney to communicate with their lender.

3. The seller gathers all requested financial and hardship information and provides it to their attorney.

4. The seller’s Realtor provides a copy of the listing agreement, comparable sales, and marketing history to the seller’s short sale attorney.

5. An offer is received and negotiated between a buyer and the seller. Once the parties reach agreement, the contact is signed by the buyer and the seller. The bank does not sign the contract. They only approve the contract and sale.

6. The contract, client authorization agreement, listing agreement, settlement statement, hardship information and all financial information are submitted to the Seller’s lender or lenders if there are two loans. (This is typical if a homeowner took out an equity line of credit against their home.)

7. The seller’s file is eventually assigned to a specific loss mitigation negotiator at the bank(s).

8. In approximately 60-120 days, the bank(s) complete their price opinion and provide an approval or denial of the short sale.

There is no guarantee that the “short sale” will be approved. The risks increase if there are two loans as the second lender is often not offered enough money by the first lien holder (lender) to satisfy them, and so they reject the sale. Other potential risks and potentially fatal problems for a short sale are as follows:

- Some short sale lenders will not approve of payments of mechanics liens, outstanding homeowners or association dues.

- Most lenders will reject a short sale if there are federal tax liens on a property.

- If the Seller has significant liquid assets (not retirement accounts), the bank will often ask them to pay the shortage owed on the mortgage from these assets.

- Often times, the second lien holder will expect the seller to remain liable, through a promissory note, for the balance of the mortgage that is released from the property. For example, if the seller owes $50,000 on a second loan and the second lender is only offered $2,000 by the first lender, who has priority over them, that second lien holder may have the seller sign a promissory note to repay the remaining $48,000 after the sale.

- Lenders have the option of assessing tax liability to the seller for the amount forgiven (in the form of a 1099).

While the above issues can be obstacles in the way of a short sale, there is always a chance of negotiating with the bank or increasing a sales price to convince a lender to agree to a specific short sale.It is important to know about the Debt Forgiveness Act that was passed in December 2007. This allows lenders to write off as a loss the amount forgiven in a short sale for the borrower’s principal residence. Therefore, lenders generally will not seek additional recovery or compensation from the seller if the short sale is approved. However, as discussed above, there are always exceptions, every short sale is unique, and lenders may respond differently.

Completing a short sale is a complicated process. However, if you hire an attorney who specializes in these transactions and an experienced Realtor, a short sale can be a tremendous alternative to foreclosure, bankruptcy or financial disaster.

Feel free to contact attorney Peter Marx for all your real estate, legal, and short sale needs. Peter can be reached at (773) 283-8960 or at petermarxlaw@aol.com.

One of the really cool things about living in Chicago is the incredible diversity of unique cultural offerings including great theatre, improv, music, dance, opera, and of course, cinema.

The world renowned Chicago International Film Festival is now in full swing. North America’s oldest competitive international film event, the Festival’s goals are to discover and present new filmmakers and to acknowledge and award them for their artistry.

The first Festival opened in 1965 at which time actress Bette Davis was honored for her contributions to American cinema. Since then, the Festival has grown to become a world-renowned annual event introducing innovative new directors like Martin Scorsese and Peter Weir, to name a few. However, unless your children are into films such as subtle Hong Kongese social commentaries in English-subtitled Mandarin, this may not be an ideal activity for families like mine with young children.

Fortunately, Chicago is also host to the world’s largest festival of films produced specifically for young audiences (children ages 3 to 16). The 2008 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival opens today and runs through November 2^nd. Over 200 animated and live action films from 44 countries will be shown. 25,000 children, adults, and educators are expected to attend. The event is also the only Academy Award-qualifying children’s film festival in the world.

Approximately 150 filmmakers will be on hand to host interactive question and answer sessions after their movies have been screened. In addition, the festival includes interactive Take One! Workshops designed to introduce children to various aspects of the filmmaking process.

To check out the schedule, purchase tickets (only $6 for children and $8 for adults per movie), or sign up for workshops, visit the official Chicago International Children’s Film Festival website. Enjoy!

If you have even a casual interest in historic architecture, you may be interested in this chance to tour the work of the greatest American architect of all time, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Just west of the Chicago city limits, Oak Park, Illinois is home to the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes in the world. With 25 homes and buildings constructed between 1889 and 1913, the town is a monument to his innovative Prairie-style design.

On Saturday, May 16, 2009, The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust is hosting 2009 Wright Plus, a celebration of Frank Lloyd Wright including an all-day housewalk featuring eight privately owned Oak Park homes designed by Wright and his contemporaries. Other stops on the tour include Wright’s Home & Studio, the Unity Temple, and the Robie House.

This may seem like early notice, but tickets for Wright Plus events sell out well in advance, as architecture aficionados fly in from all over the world, and opportunities to experience an inside view of the homes Wright designed are rare.

Tickets are on sale here for $95 for non-members and $80 for members. If one day is not enough, you can register for “The Ultimate Plus Package” and enjoy four days of architectural activities as well as a three-night stay at a nearby Oak Park hotel.

I have had the opportunity to tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings at the SC Johnson campus in Racine, Wisconsin as well as The Unity Temple and Robie House in Oak Park. In addition, earlier in my career, I sold a Chicago area Wright-designed home to friends. All were truly inspiring sights to behold.

So, book your tickets now while the time is “Wright”!

Chicago may be best known for its Chicago-style hot dogs and deep dish pizza, but the Windy City can also brew an impressive cup of Joe as well.

In fact, the latest edition of the food and wine magazine Saveur highlights some of the best coffees in the world - and two of the top picks are Chicago-based brands (San Rafael Lot 1 from Metropolis Coffee Company and Hacienda La Esmeralda from Intelligentsia Coffee and Tea).

And if there’s anyone who appreciates good coffee it’s the Ames family. My own sister, fellow Realtor Nathalie Ames, founded her own coffee shop in Mesa, Colorado after finding the area to be nearly devoid of coffee venues. Now, in a place where the nearest Starbucks is 18 miles away, Mesa has a wonderful boutique coffee shop in Nathalie’s Blink Coffee.

Thankfully, here on Chicago’s North Side, one need not go to such extremes to get great coffee. In fact, even though Starbucks is still the most (in)famous name in town, there is still a rich offering of small chain and independent coffee shops here as well. Below are some that offer both the best ambience and the best coffee and tea.

Peet’s Coffee and Tea
Lincoln Park
1000 West North Avenue (at Sheffield)

The Chicago branch of this San Francisco-based chain is known for its extra-friendly staff, the permeating “coffee smell” of its café, and their “Freddos” (Peet’s answer to the Starbucks Frappuccino). Located in the same shopping complex as Whole Foods and Best Buy, Peet’s reportedly makes a mean hot chocolate as well, and their coffee is good and strong.

Tea Gschwendner
Gold Coast
1160 North State Street

This tea vendor may lack both coffee and a pronounceable name, but it more than makes up for this with a vast selection of leaf teas and a genuinely knowledgeable staff to advise tea novices. They’ll even brew you a sample or send some home with you before you buy.

Noble Tree Coffee
Lincoln Park
2444 North Clark Street

There’s no mistaking this East Lincoln Park café for any other. Encompassing three floors of a vintage building on North Clark Street, the Noble Tree features an inviting, library-like environment replete with countless volumes of free books to browse. The seating is comfortable, the Wi-Fi is free, and best of all, there’s pie by the slice to go with your simmering cup of coffee.

Intelligentsia
Lakeview
3123 North Broadway Avenue

My husband swears by this trendy Chicago-based coffee bar chain, and regularly swings by their East Lakeview location to stock up on their beans. The rest of the neighborhood seemingly shares his sentiment as this café always does swift business, drawing customers with its hip atmosphere, comfy couches, tasty local dishes, and of course, fantastic coffee. Intelligentsia cafes are now also open in the Loop by Millennium Park  (53 East Randolph) and in Chicago’s historic Monadnock Building  (53 East Jackson) as well as a location in Los Angeles.

Nada’s Tea and Coffee House
DePaul
1553 West Fullerton Avenue

In west DePaul, a Zen atmosphere, an assortment of quality teas, free Wi-Fi, and a charming owner all contribute to this pleasant little Japanese-style tea house. It’s the perfect place for a change of pace from your usual caffeine fix.

Julius Meinl
Southport Corridor
3601 North Southport Avenue
Lincoln Square
4363 North Lincoln Avenue

With cafes in two of the city’s trendy North Side locations, Julius Meinl is an authentic Austrian café with table service and a full menu. If you have the time to sit, you can enjoy your drink on a silver platter and doily accompanied by your choice of crepe, torte, apfelstrudel, or other pastry. Julius Meinl truly offers an experience not found elsewhere in the city.

Café Latakia
Lakeview
3204 North Broadway Avenue

Everything one could ask for in a café is here: coffee, iced/blended drinks, ice cream, made-to-order sandwiches, pastries, great ambience, free Wi-Fi, and a friendly owner.

My Place for Tea
Lakeview
3210 North Sheffield Avenue

This is the place for tea with a quiet, cozy location, a huge selection of leaf teas, bubble teas, and tea pots, and a fantastic owner who presides over it all. If you’re looking for a break from coffee, this is the place to find it.

Stubbs Café
North Center
3827 North Lincoln Avenue

The independent coffee shop spirit is alive and well at this North Center café with friendly service, a laid back attitude, and original artwork and décor. The coffee is locally roasted, and goes well with the small but tasty menu offerings and the free Wi-Fi service.

Dollop Coffee Co.
Uptown
4181 N Clarendon Avenue

Built in a former Buena Park pharmacy, this café offers unique charm with its vintage furniture and high ceilings. The staff is nice, the Wi-Fi is free, and there is great coffee, smoothies, and locally made treats to be enjoyed.

The Coffee Studio
Andersonville
5628 North Clark Street

Friendly staff, great coffee drinks, delightful treats, and a largely organic menu all lend themselves to this modern Andersonville café with a cool, laid back vibe.

Too groggy to tell north from south before you get your morning java? Consult the Google map below to see which of the above establishments is nearest to you.

Metropolis Coffee
Edgewater Beach
1039 W Granville Avenue

A unique, delightful coffeeshop with friendly service, free Wi-Fi, and amazing, award-winning coffee.

View Larger Map

It’s property tax time again, and if you’ve cracked open your recent bill (or a copy of the Chicago Tribune), you know that while your home’s value may have dipped in the past year, your taxes almost certainly haven’t.

If your bill is more than expected, you might investigate the following potential money saving options:

Protest your taxes if they are higher than comparable properties in the area. You might start by calling your real estate agent to ask for help in researching what your neighbors are paying for their property taxes. Then call your real estate attorney to see if they can represent you in a protest filing. If so, know that they are typically compensated based on a percentage of any reduction obtained.

If your real estate tax bill is for your primary home, you should be receiving a “Homeowner’s Exemption.” Depending on the value of your home, this can amount to more than $1,000 in savings per year. You can verify if you are getting the exemption by looking at the Cook County Treasurer’s Website. Click on the “Exemption History” link and then enter your PIN number.

If you are not receiving your Homeowner’s Exemption, you can file a Certificate of Error with the county and get money back. Attorney Kent Novit has helped several of my clients with this process for a nominal fee. His number is (312) 332-2407 ext. 203, and his email address is novitlaw@covad.net.

If you are over 65 years old, you qualify get a Senior Citizen Homestead Break.

In the meantime, don’t forget your second installment bills are due November 2, 2008. If you miss that deadline, then penalties start to accrue.

UPDATE: Alderman Gene Schulter of the 47th Ward has released this notice regarding the filing of assessment appeal complaints for Lakeview township residents.

Many of the luxury homes I sell may be finely finished for adults, but that’s not always the case as far as babies and small children are concerned.

Childproofing a home is an important part of starting a family, but it can be difficult to balance safety and practicality. I know one couple who pulled out all the stops and spent thousands of dollars childproofing their home right after they had their baby. Ultimately, they ended up moving out of their home before their child was even old enough to crawl.

My advice is that childproofing is something that should be taken in baby steps (no pun intended). With a little planning, you can make your home safe for your young ones without spending more than you need or locking your home down like a fortress.

If you’re just starting out, there are some straightforward steps you can take to childproof your home. Each of these measures will need to be completed before your child is developed enough to access each specific danger. Many of the safety products described below can be purchased at hardware or home improvement stores or over the Internet at baby safety websites.

Here’s what needs to be done:

Install protective covers on your electrical outlet covers before your child begins crawling. The two-pronged plug in outlet covers were once the signature product of childproofing, but they’re no longer recommended by safety experts. Many children are able to pry them off, and the products can pose a choking hazard as well. Instead, plate-style covers are now the item of choice. Be sure to install them on any outlets within your child’s reach.

Install safety gates to prevent access to stairways and other unsafe areas. Child safety gates come in all shapes, sizes and styles. They may be permanent or removable, but either way, it’s important that you ensure that your child is unable to climb or dislodge them.

Secure cabinets, drawers, and bottles that contain harmful substances. Any substance that is harmful if contacted or ingested by your child needs to be moved out of reach or secured in a childproofed cabinet or drawer. Some solutions include expensive interior magnets or locks, but I prefer the simple plastic locks that fit over the cabinet’s hardware. Buying products like medicine and dish detergent in childproof packaging is also a good second level of protection.

Turn down your water heater to prevent scalding. It’s advisable to reduce your water heater’s temperature to no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Test your faucets afterwards to ensure that they can no longer produce dangerously hot water.

Protect your child from sharp, fragile, or dangerous objects. This means moving small objects like scissors and vases out of reach and equipping the hard or pointed edges of larger objects with protective covers or cushions. Even the metal faucet of your bathtub can be covered with a fun, rubberized animal head (pictured above) to prevent unfortunate bumps on the head during bath time. Other protective covers are available as well to secure appliances knobs (such as oven dials) from little hands.

If your child is tall enough to open an exterior door, outfit it with a childproof handle cover. I was shocked the first time I saw my son Max reach up, open our front door, and attempt to wander solo to our neighborhood playground. We immediately equipped the door with a childproof handle cover to prevent a repeat exodus.

Secure hanging hazards. These include window blind and appliance cords which can pose a choking risk or allow a child to pull a heavy or dangerous object off of a counter. Keep them out of reach.

This is by no means an exhaustive guide to childproofing, so be sure you walkthrough your home (from a child’s perspective) to spot and correct the less obvious hazards. If you have additional dangers in your home like a pool or a fireplace, more steps will need to be taken.

As always, the Internet is a great resource for this topic (About.com has a good article for starters). However, if you feel you don’t have the time or the handiness to tackle the job, you can look into hiring a professional childproofer. I’ve personally hired the Chicago-based A&H Childproofers to install my safety gates, and I was very satisfied with the speed of their response and the quality of their work.

All of these add-ons may not do much to improve the value or décor of your home, but they will go a long way to ensuring that your children have a safe, healthy upbringing and you have a bit more peace of mind.

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Jennifer Ames

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Recently Written

• Do Not Want to Sell in the Current Chicago Market? Rent!
• Helpful Chicago Tech
• What $10 Million Will Buy
• Indian Summer in Chicago
• Attorney Peter Marx Explains Short Sales
• Chicago International Childrens Film Festival Kicks Off Today
• Frank Lloyd Wright Housewalk Tickets on Sale
• The North Side’s Best Coffee
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• Childproofing Your Home

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