Chicago’s new 758-unit Trump Tower made front page news again yesterday after a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter spent more than four hours in blustery conditions on Saturday delivering the building’s communications “spire.” Now, Chicago’s newest luxury hotel and condominium building is officially the second tallest building in the United States at 1,361 feet - just 90 feet shorter than the Sears Tower.

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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.

There are a number of benefits to renting out your home, especially in the current market, but there are also some pitfalls to be considered.

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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.

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!

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.

As you’re probably aware, both the Cubs and the Sox have made the playoffs, presenting the incredible possibility of a Cubs vs. Sox World Series. It’s truly an exciting time to be a Chicago sports fan, and if you live near Wrigleyville, you’re in for a truly exciting amount of fan traffic as well.

Here’s how the Cubs schedule is shaping up:

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008, 5:30 p.m. (home game)

Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008, 8:30 p.m. (home game)

Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008: (potential home game)

If you’ll be travelling in the area, be aware that there will be parking bans, street closures and buses rerouted on these days. This will happen two hours before and two hours after each game.  The westbound Addison bus will be boarded at Racine and the northbound Clark bus will be boarded on Clark just north of Waveland. There will be no limo drop off by the park, and taxis will be rerouted as well. The street closures are as follows:

Addison from Wilton to Racine

Clark from Waveland to Cornelia

Sheffield from Addison to Waveland

You can check the websites of Alderman Tunney, the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications and the Lake View Citizens’ Council for information as it becomes available.

Go Cubs…and Sox!

With increased down payment requirements and stricter lending criteria, some homeowners are opting to stay in their homes and renovate rather than move.

Others are taking advantage of the fact that builders are no longer bidding up the cost of land, so parcels can now be snatched up at better prices. These people are finally making their dream a reality and building custom homes.

If you are considering renovating or building a custom home, you won’t want to miss an upcoming design event. In celebration of National Kitchen and Bath Month, Chicago’s exclusive Merchandise Mart is opening its doors to the general public for an “Open House” showcasing the world’s largest collection of luxury boutiques for home building and renovation.

On Saturday, October 4^th, more than 30 luxury kitchen and bath boutiques including Waterworks, Ann Sacks, Kohler, and Christopher Peacock Cabinetry will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It’s a great opportunity to see what’s hot and what’s new while being wined and dined by showroom consultants.

The LuxeHome open house celebration starts with a keynote presentation from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. with Monica Pedersen of HGTV’s Designed to Sell: Luxury Properties. Monica will explain how to transform a luxury property into a showpiece using the best brands which, of course, have showrooms in the Mart. Her presentation will be held in the north lobby. To register, log in to www.luxehome.com/openhouse.

Monica and her team of carpenters from Designed to Sell will be available for autograph signings and photo opportunities in the Mart’s new Design Resource Center, Suite 163, following the lecture.

Other scheduled celebrity appearances include:

Ed Sanders of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Addition

Ed will be speaking at The Kohler Store (Suite 100) at 11:30, 1:00, 2:30 and 4:00 p.m. on the subject of Universal Design: Bathroom Design Solutions for Every Stage of Your Life.

Lou Manfredini a.k.a. “Mr. Fix It” on NBC5 Chicago’s House Smarts

Lou will be available for a “meet and greet” from 1:00 to 3:00 pm in the American International Tile showroom (Suite 134).

If you have extra time, you may want to run up to the Mart’s 12^th floor and check out the International Antiques Fair. It will be open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. Tickets are $15 and sold at the door.

It may be bad form to mix politics and real estate blogging (or politics and anything), but I feel compelled to pass along the following reminders.

In order to vote in the upcoming November election, you must be a US citizen, at least 18 years old, have lived in your precinct for at least 30 days before the election, and most importantly, you must be registered.

If you are not already registered to vote in Chicago, the deadline to do so is Tuesday, October 7th - in other words, it’s approaching  fast!

Registering is easy. You can register by mail (download the PDF form here) or in person at any driver’s license issuing branch before the deadline. Be sure to bring a photo ID.

If you miss the October 7^th deadline, you can still register to vote during a “grace period” until October 21^st, but it’s a lot less convenient. You must go to 69 W. Washington Street, Suite 600 and bring two ID’s including one with your current home address.

If you’re not sure if you’re registered, you can check your status here through the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners website (which has other useful voter resources).

Once registered, you have the option to vote early. Selected locations will be open between October 13^th  and 30^th. This is helpful if wading through long polling station lines doesn’t appeal to you, or if you plan to be out of town on Election Day.

To vote on Election Day, you need to go to your registered polling place. You can find that location by entering your home address here.

And, so you’re not surprised by the full list of candidates and referendums that will be tossed at you on Election Day, the official list of candidates and questions for Chicago voters is here (in PDF format). You will also need to know your legislative districts to know which items apply to you.

So, if you don’t have an answer to this question…

Should the City of Chicago adopt a policy whereby beneficiaries of public subsidies (including TIF) with more than 15 employees must give local residents first chance to apply for jobs, certify that all employees and contractors’ employees receive a living wage and pledge to honor worker rights, including safety standards and the right to organize without interference?

…now may be a better time to sort out your feelings than when you’re in the voting booth.

Hope that helps sort out some of the election year confusion!

It’s a fantastic day today - the autumn air is cool and crisp, and I am enjoying a stunning panoramic view of Lake Michigan and Chicago’s skyline from my desk in the Gold Coast Office of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in the John Hancock Center. As is often the case with Mother Nature, today’s brilliant blue sky belies the drama we experienced this past weekend.

After two days of non-stop heavy rain, including a record breaking 6.64 inches of rain that fell on Saturday, many of my friends and real estate clients reported flooded basements and/or roof leaks in their homes. As if that wasn’t enough, O’Hare airport was temporarily closed, wreaking havoc for travelers.

Although my home remained dry (thankfully), my weekend was turned upside down by impassable roads, cancelled appointments, and a flooded open house. My inconveniences were minor, however, when compared to what this “Storm of the Century” dumped on other parts of Chicago.

Although it has been a couple days since the rain has stopped, the challenges are not over yet. Just this morning, one of the members of my residential real estate team was late to work because his commuter train had to idle through standing water up to the top of the train’s wheels (which had damaged many of the track’s signals as well). He likened the experience to being on a water ride at Disney World - only in slow motion.

Thankfully, the upcoming week should continue to be a dry one, and this should allow those affected by the rain and flooding to start the cleanup. (If that group happens to include you, the Chicago Tribune has a list of guidelines for safely cleaning and inspecting your home).

As rough as this weekend was for Chicago, we fared much better than the Gulf Coast did under Hurricane Ike. The scope of the devastation in communities like Galveston, Texas where some residents no longer have homes is pretty hard to fathom. Thank goodness The Windy City never truly lives up to its name.

As a luxury real estate sales professional, I make sure my buyers are making a sound investment by encouraging them to get a professional home inspection. The purpose of a home inspection is to discover hidden defects that are not obvious during a casual walkthrough.

In the City of Chicago, our inspections rarely include testing for radon gas. Radon comes from the ground, and the test is therefore typically conducted in basements. Usually this simply involves leaving a radon meter in the home for 48 hours. Obviously, for condos and other properties that are above street level, this would be a non-issue.

Recently, however, I read a disturbing article in The New York Times that warns about a possible new, invisible danger for homeowners.

What’s Lurking in Your Countertop?

SHORTLY before Lynn Sugarman of Teaneck, N.J., bought her summer home in Lake George, N.Y., two years ago, a routine inspection revealed it had elevated levels of radon, a radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. So she called a radon measurement and mitigation technician to find the source.”He went from room to room,” said Dr. Sugarman, a pediatrician.

But he stopped in his tracks in the kitchen, which had richly grained cream, brown and burgundy granite countertops. His Geiger counter indicated that the granite was emitting radiation at levels 10 times higher than those he had measured elsewhere in the house.

And in case that doesn’t make you nervous:

“It’s not that all granite is dangerous,” said Stanley Liebert, the quality assurance director at CMT Laboratories in Clifton Park, N.Y., who took radiation measurements at Dr. Sugarman’s house. “But I’ve seen a few that might heat up your Cheerios a little.”

Frightening stuff. For many people, the kitchen is the most important room in their home, and nothing’s scarier than knowing (or not knowing!) that you and your family are being exposed to invisible, cancer-causing rays there.

As always, however, the important thing to remember is the numbers.

David J. Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University in New York, said the cancer risk from granite countertops, even those emitting radiation above background levels, is “on the order of one in a million.” Being struck by lightning is more likely.

I contacted some of the inspectors I know about this issue. 

Ed Wengren of Home Touch Inspection, who our team uses for our radon inspections, test solely for ground-based radon, but he confirmed that state inspection guidelines instruct them to keep their meters away from granite in homes to prevent their readings from being thrown off.

Radon Detection Specialists, which serves Northern Illinois, recommends testing kits sold at hardware stores (and which they carry for $25) for concerned homeowners who want to test their granite for harmful emissions. RDS’s technicians can also perform more thorough tests on granite. They said, however, that they’ve yet to encounter a kitchen with the kind of alarming emissions showcased in the Times article.

As a Realtor and not a radiation expert, I can’t give specific advice on this subject. However, if you have granite in your home (or are considering installing it), you can read the full article and decide for yourself if buying a testing kit or contacting professionals like the ones above is in your family’s best interest.

Jennifer Ames

(312) 440-7525

jenny@jenniferames.com

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