Kelly Leggett's Blog


    A New Perk for First-Time Buyers in Chicago
    In addition to the lowest mortgage rates in decades, lower real estate prices and the generous $8,000 federal tax incentive, a new perk has appeared that makes it even sweeter for a first-time buyer to purchase a home in Chicago. The City of Chicago Department of Housing has announced the TaxSmart program.  This product is offered by [...]

    Time is Running Out on the $8,000 First-Time Buyer?s Credit!
    Don’t look now, but summer is quickly passing by and we’ll soon be saying hello to autumn.  Real estate activity typically takes a dip in the latter part of the summer as prospective buyers take vacations and basically try to wring the most out of the remaining days of summer.  But this year it may [...]

    Classic Car Show in Sauganash
    The third annual Polish National Alliance (PNA) Classic & Antique Car show will take place this Sunday, June 28 at the Polish National Alliance headquarters property at 6100 N Cicero Avenue.  The show runs from 1:00 - 5:00 PM and those car owners who wish to participate should bring their cars between 11:30 AM - [...]

    Using the $8000 First Time Buyer Credit for Down Payment - Can We or Can?t We?
    Well, that seems to be the big question these days.  When the $8000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit was first introduced as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that was signed into law on February 17 of this year, the intent was to have the qualifying home buyer redeem the [...]

    Refi?s Helping the Mortgage Business
    Mortgage rates have been running at historically low levels for the last few months and the mortgage industry is seeing a huge upswing in the number of refinance requests from homeowners who are eager to save whatever, and wherever, they can. According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, information from the Mortgage Bankers [...]

    Protect Yourself from Identity Theft
    What is Identity Theft? I recently attended a very informative (and maybe a little scary?) meeting at the City of Chicago’s 17th District Police Station, on the subject of identity theft.  Information was distributed at that meeting that was very enlightening and it is a subject of which we should all be aware.  The following information is a summary of the materials [...]

    Sales Volume and Prices Down, but Dig Deeper?
    The Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) organization, the company that provides Multiple Listing Service (MLS) services to northern Illinois customers, reported sales of condos in Chicago are down 54% so far this year as compared to 2008.  Total dollar volume fell 60% in the same period. To be more specific, the number of closed condo sales in Chicago in [...]

    Don?t Forget The Digital Television Conversion!
    The long-awaited transition from analog to full digital television transmission is set to occur on June 12, 2009. Congress mandated this change in 1996.  What are the benefits of digital television transmission?One of the most significant benefits of this transition is that it will free up the analog broadcast spectrum currently used by television stations [...]

    How Long Should They Last?
    The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently completed a study that provides some insights into the average life expectancy of more than 100 household appliances and various types of building materials and home systems.  This can be helpful information when a prospective buyer considers purchasing a property:  if the refrigerator is ten years old, [...]

    First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
    Calling all first-time buyers… take advantage of the new tax credit while supplies last!!! Part of the economic stimulus package recently passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama includes a first-time home buyer tax credit.  The full credit is available to any first-time buyer (or a buyer who hasn’t owned a home in the [...]