Rockford Information Center

John & Diane's Blog

Aug
02

Property Tax Appeals!

Posted At: 12:40 PM | Posted By : John Dowd
Related Categories: Real Estate

 

Property Tax Protests:   Get ready to do something! Last year property assessments continued to rise throughout our area in spite of the decline in home prices across the country and locally. This lead to numerous challenges to assessments….and questions about procedures to protest. Here are some quick answers on what to do depending upon where you live:
 
Winnebago County: Tax assessments go out published August 5th and you have 30 days to file an appeal. We are planning to have appeal forms at our office so please call us if you want to drop by to pick one up...or let us know if you want one by email at HotProp@aol.com. Appeal forms are also available at the Winnebago County Supervisor of Assessment’s Office, 405 Elm St., Room 301, Rockford, IL 61101 or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to have a form mailed. You have until September 10 to return the completed form to Winnebago County. Email or call us with questions. If you would like to hire a specialist to handle your appeal, call or email and we will give you our recommendations.
 
Boone and Ogle County: Have not been sent out and probably will not be until October or November.   Call Boone County at 815-544-2958 or Ogle County at 815-732-1150 for forms and dates as we get closer to that time.
 

 

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Apr
11

Recent March Real Estate Sales Improvement for Rockford!

Posted At: 11:46 AM | Posted By : John Dowd
Related Categories: Real Estate

The latest information is for sales in March of 2009 shows 289 homes and condos sold in the area. This is 60% higher tham February and almost the same a last year March which may indicate overall improvement and a turnaround.  The first time homebuyer stymulus incentive from the government of $8000 has been encouraging action Plus at least one builder in the area is matching with another $8000.

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Nov
06

Rockford Real Estate Trends for October, 2008

Posted At: 3:44 PM | Posted By : John Dowd
Related Categories: Real Estate

Here is the latest information on the sales of homes and condos in the Rockford area.  We will be updating you periodically on the sales and trends in this area and will evolve over time to a newsletter format which we feel will better inform our customers and friends about this market. Comment below if you would like to have additional information included in the reports that we post in this web site. If you have questions of comments please email or call us at 815-494-0320. Your suggestions are welcome as we begin to build a format with information that will be helpful to you.

October 2008 Sales: 344                                         October 2007 Sales:  469
Average Oct. 2008 Sale Price:  $138,478                Average Oct. 2007 Sale Price:  $143,854
Total Listings Sept. 2008:  3456                               Total Listings Sept. 2007:  3462

Total Sales 2008 Year to Date: 3490                         Total Sales 2007 Year to Date:  5116

Sales have remained relatively steady through the last 4 months with totals of 369 for July and 373 for August, 370 for September....and, of course, October reported above at 344.  

Mortgages remain available for most buyers at favorable rates. The range of rates today stated below are approximate. Other programs are available including some for first time buyers.

30 Year Conv Fixed:  6.25% to 6.85%
15 Year Conv Fixed: 5.75% to 6.50%
FHA & VA 30 Year: 6% to 6.75%

If you have questions or need referrals for mortgage questions, just let us know.

The Top 5 Sales in Winnebago & Boone Counties for September were:

1654 Summerwood Ln. Belvidere, IL -- Listed: $999,999, Sold: $900,000. (5.85 Acre Estate in Boone County.)
2856 Lowden Rd., Oregon, IL -- Listed: $995,000, Sold: $825,000. (20 Acre Estate on Rock River, Ogle Cty.)
11155 Walton, Roscoe, IL -- Listed: $645,000, Sold: $595,000.  (Resale in Briarcliff area)
1980 Winding Priairie, Belvidere, IL -- Listed: $525,000, Sold: $465,500. (Resale in Boone Cty.)
9623 Pebble Creek Cir -- Listed: $469,000, Sold: $425,000. (Located in Stonegate of Boone Cty.)

This is the latest factual statistics.  If you know of anyone else who may want to review this type of information on a regular basis, please forward a link to our blog or email their contact information with email address and we will include them in future updates.

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Oct
15

Rockford Real Estate Trends for September, 2008

Posted At: 12:00 AM | Posted By : John Dowd
Related Categories: General News

Many of you have requested information on the sales of home and condos in the Rockford area.  We will start updating you periodically here on the sales and trends in this area and may evolve over time to a newsletter format which we feel will better inform our customers and friends about this market. If you have questions of comments please email or call us at 815-494-0320. Your suggestions are welcome as we begin to build a format with information that will be helpful to you.

September 2008 Sales: 370                                       September 2007 Sales:  441
Aveage Sept. 2008 Sale Price:  $138,614                 Average Sept. 2007 Sale Price:  $144,284
Total Listings Sept. 2008:  3621                                Total Listings Sept. 2007:  3436

Total Sales 2008 Year to Date: 3146                         Total Sales 2007 Year to Date:  4647

Sales have remained relatively steady through the last 3 months with totals of 369 for July and 373 for August....and, of course, September reported above at 370.  

Mortgages remain available for most buyers at favorable rates. The range of rates today stated below are approximate. Other programs are available including some for first time buyers.

30 Year Conv Fixed:  5.875% to 6.75%
15 Year Conv Fixed: 5.625% to 6.5%
FHA & VA 30 Year: 6% to 6.75%

If you have questions or need referrals for mortgage questions, just let us know.

The Top 5 Sales in Winnebago & Boone Counties for September were:

12513 Lock Lane, Winnebago, IL --  Listed: $399,900, Sold: $350,000.  (New Construcion at Westlake.)
722 Kelly Road, Caledonia, IL -- Listed: 370,000, Sold: $ 362,000. (4.69 Acres in Boone County)
9727 Country Knolls Dr, Roscoe, IL -- Listed: $369,900, Sold: $358,500.  (Resale on 1.15 acres)
410 Maple Leaf Lane, Poplar Grove, IL -- Listed: $359,900, Sold: $349,900. (New Construction)
4764 Raymond Dr, Belvidere, IL -- Listed: 359,900, Sold: $355,000. (Located Karr Farms)

If you have questions about real estate or suggestions about aditional topics or statistics, please email or call.  Hopefully, this will begin to put you on top of the local real estate market.  If you know of anyone else who may want to receive this type of information on a regular basis, please forward a link to them or send us their contact information with email address and we will include them in future updates.

 

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