Latest Posts

Lowest Interest Rate in 30 Years... See graph below...

Ann Pancotto
April 2, 2021

Lowest interest rate in 30 years. Good time to buy a home! If you have a home to sell, call me for a free consultation today at 630-479-4393!

Happy Easter - April Real Estate News and Great Info

Ann Pancotto
April 2, 2021

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Sending you warm wishes for a glorious Spring. 

Enjoy the warmer days everyone! Read on for everything you should do this month and discover lifestyle tips curated just for you.


Real Estate in the News


What Will Real Estate Look Like In 2021? 

Chances are, you, or someone you know, has bought or sold a house in the last 10 months. No matter if you are moving across the street or across the country, it’s all part of a record-setting real estate boom. Triggered by job and financial changes, the push to stay at home, and low-interest rates - the real estate boom is far from over. Here are three key home buying trends to look for in 2021. Learn more by Forbes.


Local Events

WNDR Museum | 

Until April 30th



Once again, the one-of-a-kind art installation at the home of Chicago's only Infinity Mirror Room is open to the public again. The WNDR Museum is presenting a new collection alongside some old favorites. Check out tickets here!


Healthy Kids Day 5k | April 24th 

Support the Northbrook YMCA and celebrate health by joining them for their 5k. Whether you chose to walk or race for 1st, it will be a great way to get outside, welcome spring, and move those muscles. 

Sign Up Here!

The ‘Friends’ Exp. | Until May 30th 

Visitors will have a chance to roam around the pop-up's 12 rooms, take photos and check out iconic show memorabilia like Rachel and Monica's purple door, a reconstruction of Central Perk (orange couch and all), and tons of other nostalgic highlights.

Check out tickets here. 



Early to List, Early to Sell.


Give your home the head start it deserves. 

With Compass Coming Soon, you can give a curated audience of potential buyers an early look at your property. With ample time to prepare, we can gather valuable feedback to drive demand and generate buzz prior to going live. Interested in learning more? 


Click here to learn more.

The Do's and Don'ts of 

Family-Friendly Design


Are you looking for ways to design your home to make it friendlier and safer for kids? HGTV has some do’s and don’ts for decorating a home with a family in mind. 

Courtesy of HGTV.

Lifestyle Tips & Tricks

24 Outdoor Kitchen Ideas 

for 

Dining Alfresco All Summer


Maximizing our outdoor spaces has never felt so important, and Veranda's on the lookout for fresh ways to make our patios, backyards, terraces, and balconies as functional as possible. One of the best ways to make the most of your outdoor space is equipping it with a kitchen, whether that's just a grill and sink or a state-of-the-art culinary masterpiece. Courtesy of Veranda.


12 Essential Spring Gardening 

Tips


Gardening should add joy-not stress-to your life, Martha Stewart has come up with some tasks to get you reacquainted with your outdoor space. Spring is a fabulous time to assess damage from winter, fix tools, fill in holes in the landscape, tend to your lawn, perform essential pruning, make new beds, and more. 

Courtesy of Martha Stewart.


Call Ann and the Pancotto Group today for all your Real Estate needs! Experts for over 30 years in all Residential and Commercial Real Estate! Servicing the Western Suburbs of Chicago and All over the the Chicagoland Area!

https://PancottoRealEstate.com/

630-479-4393



1571 Deep Lake Road
Antioch
4 Bed | 2.5 Bath

R.E. Broker | Pancotto Group
M: (630) 479-4393
annpancotto@gmail.com
ann.pancotto@compass.com

© Compass 2021 ¦ All Rights Reserved by Compass ¦ Made in NYC

Compass Real Estate is a Licensed Real Estate Broker with a principal office in New York, NY and abides by all applicable equal housing opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only, is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, and changes without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.

Real Estate News Update October 2020 ...

Ann Pancotto
October 7, 2020

Why Pricing Your House Right Is Essential

In today’s real estate market, setting the right price for your house is one of the most valuable things you can do.

According to the U.S. Economic Outlook by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing home prices nationwide are forecasted to increase 4.7% in 2020 and 4.1% in 2021. This means experts anticipate home values will continue climbing into next year. Today, low inventory is largely keeping prices from depreciating. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at realtor.com, notes:

“Looking at the sheer number of buyers, low mortgage rates, and limited sellers, the strength of home prices–which are now growing at the highest pace since January 2018–makes sense. ”When it comes to pricing your home, the goal is to increase visibility and drive more buyers your way. Instead of trying to win the negotiation with one buyer, you should price your house so that demand is maximized and more buyers want to take a look. How to Price Your Home, As a seller, you might be thinking about pricing your house on the high end while so many of today’s buyers are searching harder than ever just to find a home to purchase. You’re thinking, higher price, greater profit, right? But here’s the thing – a high price tag does not mean you’re going to cash in big on the sale. It’s actually more likely to deter buyers and have them looking at the houses your neighbors are selling instead. Even today, when the advantage tips toward sellers because there are so few houses for sale, your house is more likely to sit on the market longer or require a price drop that can send buyers running in the other direction if it isn’t priced just right.Why Pricing Your House Right Is Essential | Keeping Current MattersA Trusted Real Estate Professional Will Help It’s important to make sure your house is priced correctly by working in partnership with a trusted real estate professional. When you price it competitively, you won’t be negotiating with one buyer over the price. Instead, you’ll have multiple buyers competing for the home, and that’s what ultimately increases the final sale price. The key is making sure your house is priced to sell immediately. That way, it will be seen by the most buyers. More than one of them may be interested, and your house will be more likely to sell at a competitive price. Bottom Line If you’re thinking about listing your house this fall, contact me, Ann and the Pancotto Group to help you price it right so you can maximize your exposure and your return.




Did you know?

Ann Pancotto
May 29, 2020

Good morning,


DID YOU KNOW?  31 million small businesses employ over 60 million people, almost half the total U.S. workforce. Here is a website to help small businesses -  mostly restaurants - at the onset of the lockdown.  It's a wonderful way for individuals to buy gift cards for restaurants in all 50 states. It's brilliant and simple.  Here is Medium article describing how Nihal Mehta came up with the idea. 

DID YOU KNOW?  COMPASS pioneering agent Jason Saft features boldly in this story in the WSJ about the importance of ART in staging.  (You need to be a subscriber to see this)

DID YOU KNOW? William Macarthur-Stanham, COMPASS Senior Product Manager /Data Product, shared that flooding is the leading cause of natural-disaster losses in the U.S, averaging $8B annually. Homeowners that live on floodplains have a 1 in 4 chance that their home will experience a major flooding event over the period of a 30-year mortgage. In 2019, a particularly high-incident year, almost 14 million people were impacted by floods and since 1996, 99% of US counties have experienced a flooding event. Soon COMPASS will have FEMA flood maps so you can check easily whether a property is in a flood zone or not. And.....if you live on the 20th floor of a condo, don't forget the neighbors above can flood you too with a burst pipe! 

DID YOU KNOW? The UK government has opened a path to citizenship for more than 300,000 Hong Kong residents. A large chunk of highly educated, enterprising immigrants to the UK could spur exceptional economic activity.... (FT)

DID YOU KNOW? The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to an average of 3.15% during the week ending May 28, a decrease of nine basis points from the previous week, Freddie Mac, the lowest level since Freddie Mac began tracking this data starting in 1971. A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.99%.The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped eight basis points to an average of 2.62%. The 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 3.13%, down four basis points from a week ago. (Marketwatch) The previous record low was set at the end of April, when the average rate on a 30-year home loan dropped to 3.23%. This is now the third time in 2020 when the mortgage market has recorded a new historical low for interest rates.

DID YOU KNOW? By 2018, the New York metro area accounted for 13% of all of the USA’s arts, entertainment and recreation output, up from 9% in 2001, according to the Commerce Department. One out of every 12 museums in America was there, one out of every eight dance companies and one out of every 12 bars or restaurants. (WSJ)

“Don’t bet against New York.” - Bill Rudin, WSJ. 

DID YOU KNOW? Between 1900 and 1930—a span that included the Spanish flu pandemic—New York's population doubled from 3.4 million to 6.9 million. 

DID YOU KNOW? A majority of American millionaires say they plan to spend less this summer than in years past, according to the Q2 CNBC Millionaire Survey, which polls 750 people with investable assets of $1 million or more. Real estate, new cars and vacations are the expenses they are most likely to put on hold, and many won’t complete those purchases for at least a year. A majority said their assets will be the same or higher at the end of the year, and nearly three quarters say their incomes will be the same or higher. REMEMBER: sentiments change as time passes. (CNBC)

DID YOU KNOW? Big tech companies are hunting for deals at their fastest pace in years, racking up acquisitions and strategic investments despite increased regulatory scrutiny during the coronavirus-led market turmoil. Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft have announced 19 deals this year, according to Refinitiv data from May 26, representing the fastest pace of acquisitions to this date since 2015. (FT)

Call Ann today for All your Real Estate needs!

630-479-4393

 

Compass Catch


Update on Real Estate during the Covid-19 ...

Ann Pancotto
March 28, 2020


compass

YOUR COMPASS AGENT IS LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR BEST INTEREST

Under the Governor's Stay at Home order, a number of businesses are listed as essential. These include real estate firms, appraisers, title companies, movers and others essential to allow home owners to complete the purchase and sale of homes. While we continue to support all of our clients, being cognizant of the need for isolation and social distancing, we are doing all we can to work virtually with our many partners to help our clients successfully navigate during this time of uncertainty. We are here to support you in any way possible.


Virtual Listing Presentations and Photography


We are leveraging virtual tours of properties for a walk through combined with a virtual meeting with our clients.


Showings of Listings with Buyers


In advance of any showing, we are confirming that both buyers and sellers are healthy per CDC guidelines. 


Sharing Compass Collections, photography, and video with our buyer clients ensures they have vetted as much digital content as possible in advance and are attending a listing with a lot of knowledge already. 


During showings, we are following safety protocols from the CDC, practicing social distancing (6' apart), removing shoes or using shoe covers, asking anyone entering a home to not touch any surface, and sanitizing surfaces upon completion of the showings. 

 


Open Houses 


During this current environment, and in an effort not to promote private or public gatherings that are prohibited under the Governor Stay at Home order, we are not recommending any in-person (live) public 

open houses.  In lieu of live open houses, 

we are hosting Virtual Open Houses that our agents can live stream to potential buyers and their agents.   


Inspections on Properties


Using video calls such as Facetime or Google Hangouts, we are suggesting that only the inspector be allowed into the property to perform the inspection and be sure inspector follows all recommended safety precautions. The inspector will sanitize the home upon completion of their work. 

Closings


We are working with attorneys and title companies to keep closings to the minimum of attendees necessary and to practice social distancing among those attending. 


Preparing our clients for the closing in advance allows them to know what to expect and ensures the closing is carried out successfully. 

Most title companies are preparing for entirely virtual closings.


2 Oak Brook Club Drive, Unit C108
Oak Brook
2 Bed | 2 Bath

718 East Liberty Drive
Wheaton
5 Bed | 3 Bath

7936 West Grand Avenue, Unit 4W
Elmwood Park
2 Bed | 2 Bath

945 Burlington Avenue, Unit 404
Downers Grove
2 Bed | 2 Bath

7S560 Donwood Drive West
Naperville
3 Bed | 2.5 Bath

1571 Deep Lake Road
Antioch
4 Bed | 2.5 Bath

2 North Edgewood Avenue
La Grange
6 Bed | 2 Bath

13232 South Oak Hills Parkway
Oak Hills
2 Bed | 2 Bath

231 South Lincoln Street
Westmont
3 Bed | 3.5 Bath

42411 Deep Lake Road
Antioch

112 Illinois Street
Park Forest
Studio |

2333 North Neva Avenue, Unit 405C
Austin
1 Bed | 1 Bath

612 Spring Leaf Drive, Unit 394
Joliet
2 Bed | 2.5 Bath

Right now we are being reminded of what’s most important in life - the health and well being of our clients, family and friends. Let’s continue to support one another, our loved ones, and our communities during this challenging time. Your Agent and the entire Compass team behind them are here to support you. Please don't hesitate to reach out for counsel or support of any kind. We will get through this, and end up stronger for it on the other side.

Please click onto my website for your property search in any area of the Chicagoland area:

https://pancottorealestate.com/

You can also click my signature box below to be directed to my Compass.com website!

Real Estate Broker | The Pancotto Group
(630) 479-4393
ann.pancotto@compass.com

© Compass 2020 ¦ All Rights Reserved by Compass ¦ Made in NYC

Compass Real Estate is a Licensed Real Estate Broker with a principal office in New York, NY and abides by all applicable equal housing opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only, is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, and changes without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.

Great Time to Buy is Now... Guaranteed Mortgage Rates as of September 27, 2019

Ann Pancotto
September 27, 2019

CONFORMING AND GOVERNMENT LOANSLOAN TYPERATEAPR15-Year Fixed3.375%3.550%30-Year Fixed3.750%3.850%VA 30-Year Fixed3.500%3.874%FHA 30-Year Fixed3.500%4.612%5-Year ARM3.500%4.081%7-Year ARM3.625%4.054%

Compass Real Estate News July 30th, 2019 ...

Ann Pancotto
July 30, 2019

Good morning,

Not unlike any other day at Compass, today is gonna be yuuuuuuuuuge!  

Our Series G financing round of $370 million in new capital was just announced by Robert on CNBC. This round includes new investor Dragoneer Investment Group, (which has invested in companies like Slack, Uber and DoorDash), as well as long-time partners, such as the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) and the Softbank Vision Fund, who are reaffirming their continued belief in our strategy and success. This investment brings our total capital raised to over $1.5 billion. Thanks so much to everyone in the Compass Family - those who have been here since DAY 1, those who have joined us recently, and everyone who joined  somewhere inbetween - who continue to do extraordinary work every day, who help us build this wonderful place we call home, who strive daily to improve our world as well as our profession. THANK YOU!


DID YOU KNOW? The average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was 3.75% last week, down from 4.94% in November. It's possible mortgage rates have already factored in a Fed rate cut. Lenders made $565 billion of mortgage loans in the second quarter, the most in more than two years, as falling rates encouraged homeowners to refinance. At that pace, originations could exceed $2 trillion for only the third year since the financial crisis, according to the industry research group Inside Mortgage Finance. If you want to reach out to your clientele with a favor, maybe let them know this factoid as they may benefit by refinancing a mortgage they took out a year ago..... (WSJ)


DID YOU KNOW? For anyone scratching their head about low government inflation figures as they see rent prices, food prices, healthcare prices, etc rise, know you are not alone.....

 

Compass Catch

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Humility

Humility is one human attribute I seek most in others. I have found that most truly successful and accomplished people are humble about their achievements, don't brag relentlesly and often mix in some self-deprecating humor to demonstrate to the world that thay are not nearly as important as some might believe.


It is true that success and great achievements have the capacity to erode humility. It is at these times especially that we need our inner triggers - and friends, family and colleagues - to nip what can be a rather ugly human trait in the bud. So with to-day's new funding announcement, pat yourself on the back and know this is an enormous achievement, but be humble about it. Be elegant about it. Roar and yell with glee.....but do so behind closed doors.


Some may argue that all Compass' success could be attributed to our large pool of capital. That may be partly true, yet we should remind ourselves that our competitors - and those who want humans out of the real esatet profession altogether - are equally well funded. Some are far richer with multiple alternative sources of income. We have to compete on the same level. And we will.


In this world, no-one can ever stop learning, growing, improving and learning from their mistakes. Let's all continune to live by our Compass Principles and continue to SOAR!





No warranty, express or implied, is made or should be assumed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality or reliability of any information, in part or whole, contained herein. All data and information provided herein is for informational purposes only and does not represent or constitute a legal analysis or financial advice. The opinions expressed herein are those of Leonard Steinberg and do not necessarily reflect the views of Compass. Furthermore, this information may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is made available to advance understanding of general real estate market conditions, which should constitute a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.

90 Fifth Ave., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10011

Did you know ...

Ann Pancotto
July 14, 2019

Good morning,

DID YOU KNOW? There is a growing movement for vegan interior design. This not only excludes the obvious like leather, wool and cowhide rugs, but also most paints that contain casein derived from cows milk. (FT)


DID YOU KNOW? Barney's may be declaring bankruptcy soon as it faces a liquidity crunch spurred by a rent hike at its Manhattan flagship. So far, 7,062 store closures have been announced by U.S. retailers this year, according to Coresight Research. The tally could top 12,000 by the end of 2019, setting a new record.  In 2018 there were about 5,524 store closures, down more than 30% from an all-time high of 8,139 closures announced in 2017. (CNBC)


DID YOU KNOW? Sonder, a company that straddles the ever-blurring line between hospitality and multifamily real estate, has secured major funding for its continued expansion. Sonder leases blocks of apartments from multifamily landlords, furnishes them and customizes them to rent for stays as short as one night and as long as several months. The units, called Sonders, come in a range of properties from row houses to high-rises and are serviced like hotel rooms. (Bisnow)


DID YOU KNOW? Texas’ top 3 office markets - Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin - housed roughly 104M SF of the 430M SF of new U.S. office space that came online during the last decade.  Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and Houston accounted for 24% of the nation’s new office construction pipeline during the 10-year span running from 2009 onward. (COSTAR) 

Call the Pancotto Group for all your Real Estate needs... Work a group with great integrity, knowledge and expertise with over 27 years of experience in every area of the Real Estate Industry all over the Chicagoland Area!  https://PancottoRealEstate.com  Call me today!

June 2019 Home News ....

Ann Pancotto
June 12, 2019

Gen Xers Driving Multi-Generational Housing Trend
decorative image
MultiGen LivingThis Is Us. Jane the Virgin. Black-ish. What do they have in common? They are all family television programs that have members of multiple generations living under one roof. But the reality of multi-generational living is more than sitcom fodder. 

According to the 2019 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends report by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), multi-generational housing continues to be a growing trend among homebuyers. This trend is driven largely by Gen Xers, who are the second-largest band of homebuyers today at 24%. Of that cohort, one in six purchased a multi-gen home, half of whom cited accommodating adult children as their reason for doing so. 

When it comes to millennial buyers, nine percent purchased a multi-generational property they could share with aging parents, per the report. 

Whether you're looking to accommodate aging parents or making room for your boomerang child, these tips will help you find the right place to make it work. 

Look for a home that was built with multi-generational living in mind.
Schumacher HomesLennar, and Plantation Homes are just a few of the builders offering a multi-gen solution in a brand-new residence. 

Tailor your home search.
If custom built multi-generational home isn't doable, look for a home that's easily convertible. A downstairs bedroom and bath is key for older residents, and an en suite bathroom is even better. A home with a basement or attic may seem like an ideal place to turn into a grandparent's haven, but stairs can be dangerous and obviously wouldn't work for a parent using a walker or wheelchair. 

A property with a guesthouse or enough land on which to place a granny suite or tiny home is another option. Just make sure the land is zoned properly to accommodate this type of structure. 

Make smart renovations.
Taking down walls to create an open floorplan is a smart move that can have a positive impact on your home's value and also make it more accessible for aging parents. 

The National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Aging-In-Place Remodeling Checklist recommends a "5-foot by 5-foot clear/turn space in living area, kitchen, a bedroom, and a bathroom." They also suggest wide hallways that measure a minimum of 36-inches across, good lighting, and non-slip flooring.
6 Kitchen Design Trends Inspired by Restaurant Kitchens
decorative image
Not all kitchen design trends stand the test of time, but a restaurant kitchen is meant to be as functional as possible for as long as possible. Taking a few cues from restaurant kitchens can help you create a residential kitchen that you'll be sure to love for years to come!

Restaurant Kitchen1. Forget the Island
A kitchen island allows for lots of prep space and storage but can also make even a large space seem cramped and crowded. A work table in place of the kitchen island still provides plenty of room to work, offers shelving underneath for storage, and can be moved easily when not in use.

2. Consider a Stainless Steel Backsplash
Stainless steel is durable, doesn't absorb microbes, and is fire-resistant, which is why it's long been a popular material for commercial kitchen backsplashes. It's also easy to clean and coordinates with most kitchen styles.

3. Hang Utensil Rods
Rarely do restaurant kitchens keep utensils in drawers, as this is a surefire way to create a cluttered, jumbled mess. A utensil rod or two will keep all your kitchen tools organized, in plain sight, and close at hand.

4. Install a Magnetic Knife Strip
Much like utensil rods, many commercial kitchens include magnetic strips along walls to hold chefs' knives. Storing knives on a magnetic wall strip reduces the risk of cutting yourself while rooting around in a drawer and also allows you to easily see each knife blade type and size. A magnetic knife strip also eliminates the need for a bulky knife block on the countertop.

5. Use Wire Shelving in Your Pantry
Wire shelving allows for air circulation around your stored foodstuffs, reducing damage from heat and humidity. Wire shelves also don't need cleaning as often as standard wood shelves.

6. Install an Open Shelf Over the Stovetop
Many commercial kitchens feature an open shelf or two over the stovetop, for holding pots and pans, spices, timers, and even a recipe or prep instructions. Consider asking your kitchen contractor about an open shelf over your new stovetop, for added convenience and to break up the look of a bare wall behind the stove.

Call me today for all your home selling and buying questions and for all your Real Estate needs!  630-479-4393

Image of Ann Pancotto | Compass

Ann Pancotto | Compass

annpancotto@gmail.com

(630) 479-4393