Don’t miss a rare opportunity to own a fabulous home on Little Cedar Lake. Situated on a 2.2 acre wooded lot with 800ft of lake frontage. The open concept floor plan fills with views of the lake from nearly every room, on multiple decks & through patio doors. Great room has stone fireplace, vaulted ceilings and adjoins an updated kitchen. Lower family room has natural fireplace, exposed walk-out, plus tiled room with counters, bar & laundry. The home features 4 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms. Also included is a boat lift, pier and wonderful sandy beach. There is plenty of room for lakeside entertaining!

Build a multi-family apartment building, condominium project or whatever your heart desires on these stunning 17.5 acres. This rare opportunity in Franklin is available for an incredible price! The land offers a blend of privacy and natural beauty – both set the stage to custom tailor endless opportunities for your build. Call today for details.

Over the past 16 years of selling real estate, I have worked through many stages of a real estate market. Instead of focusing on any negatives of our past and current market, I recommend that we focus on the positive. This year there is a new momentum in the real estate market.

As a buyer, be smart about your options and take advantage of the current market before it becomes a seller’s market. Interest rates are still low (4.5% and lower for qualified buyers) and there is a strong supply of homes. Note, mortgage rates in the early “80’s” hit a record high of 18%. With today’s low mortgage rates, buyers are saving incredible amounts of money on their home purchases. After facing these great benefits in today’s real estate market, why would you want to rent and give your money to someone else? Isn’t one of the American Dreams to own your own home?

While owning a home is part of the American Dream, I am sympathetic to the tougher financial economy we live in today. Although our country has seen worse, we are still struggling to improve again. This doesn’t mean that owning a home has to be out of reach. If you’re interested in buying a home or investment property, you should take advantage of the current economic state. There is speculation that the real estate market has started it’s upswing again. While that upswing continues to improve, the supply of homes will get smaller, house prices will go up and mortgage rates will again climb. Instead of waiting to see what happens, now is the time to lock in the best deals in real estate. The investment will be worth it.

I believe in the American Dream. I also know that real estate is one of the safest places to invest your money! Be smart and speak to a realtor today about your options.

Dutch colonial duplex in pristine shape. There are 2 bedrooms in each unit, remodeled bathrooms & kitchens, built in china cabinets and hardwood floors. The property also includes copper piping throughout, two separate basements, new central air units, new roof, well maintained yard and two car garage plus two car slab. Perfect for owner occupied or investor.

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Spacious Shorewood duplex, upper unit with cathedral ceilings and an open concept living space, cook’s kitchen, impressive master bedroom & in unit washer and dryer. Both units have updated kitchens and bathrooms with ceramic tile and whirlpool tubs. Also included is new plumbing and electrical and separate utilities and basements. Upper is wired for sound. Features a two car garage. Located across Lake Bluff Elementary School and walking distance to shops and more. Make this your investment or home. This is a one of a kind!

The answer is yes: The kitchen is the heart of the home and is typically the most used area. It is where we cook, entertain and share time as a family. Even for the non-cook, the kitchen tends to be a central space.

With that in mind, know that buyers today are often looking for a move-in ready home. As a seller, spending money to improve your kitchen is a wise marketing move. However, before you tackle your kitchen project, make sure you set a budget that you can handle. Above all, remember to stay within the value of your home and neighborhood. If you have questions about your home and neighborhood values, contact a real estate agent in your area to help supply those answers. A real estate agent can tell you what your home is worth today and what the value of a kitchen remodel can bring to you.

Remodeling a kitchen can be a very exciting process. Try to enjoy it! You can either do a total rehab to your space or can make smaller updates to your existing kitchen. The length of time that you plan to live at your current home is a great thing to consider when deciding how large of a project you want to manage. If you only plan on being in your home for a short time, pay close attention to your return on investment since this return will be seen immediately. If you plan on living at your home for a long period of time, you should make sure to make design choices that you can enjoy and will love.

Typically, if you want a good return on investment on a total rehab of your space, you can expect to spend 10% to 20% the value of your home on the project. This budget can give you a conservative return of 75-80%. You can expect to recoup more or less depending on the workmanship, appeal to buyers and usability of the floor plan.

With this basic kitchen remodeling information in mind, here are some tips you can use as a general checklist to plan your project:

• Create an efficient work space. A kitchen work triangle is well known as the best use of space and flow.
• If your budget does not have room for new cabinets, you can still make great changes. Updating the cabinet hardware or painting/re-varnishing the cabinets are great options to give new life to your space.
• Updated countertops are ideal for buyers. Stay neutral with the color to appeal to the largest audience.
• Pay attention to your flooring. Whatever material you use, keep it looking fresh and modern.
• Invest in energy efficient and stainless steel appliances. Throw out the dated almond, green or yellow appliances.
• Replace & update kitchen faucets.
• Replace & update light fixtures.
• Don’t forget your walls! Paint the room a current color to enhance your design.

To help you further along in the planning process, visit the many kitchen showrooms in your area as you can. If you are willing to drive to Kohler, the Kohler Design Center is another great resource for potential idea. Last but not least, make sure you do your due dilligence when hiring a contractor for your project.

Kitchens improvements will pay off greatly. So if you plan on upgrading your space, I hope you enjoy your new kitchen and I wish you the best return on investment when it comes time to sell.