BOURBONNAIS ILLINOIS - Kankakee County Homes and Real Estate For Sale

The photo above is of the B. Harley Bradley House in Kankakee, IL, Frank Lloyd Wright's first Prairie Style home built. The Bradley House was built circa 1900 on the Kankakee River. It is uniquely located next door to another Frank Lloyd Wright home, the Hickox House.

SEARCH HUNDREDS OF HOMES ON VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE MLS SYSTEM FOR KANKAKEE, IROQUOIS & FORD COUNTIES HERE!

Everything you need to know about buying or selling a home can be found here! This site was built for your convenience! Feel free to bookmark this site and return often! Also, I can answer questions about any listing you find on this site or show you any home, so feel free to use me as "your resource for real estate in Kankakee County"! Read some feedback from a few satisfied customers.

2010 CENSUS

In March, you should be receiving your copy of the census. Please fill it out and send it back to be counted. It will help out your village or city to get as much funding as possible. Some cities and villages in Kankakee County were undercounted last time and didn't get their fair share of funding from the Federal Government. Please tell your friends and neighbors to send the census back, also.

WHO DO YOU KNOW WHO IS A FIRST TIME HOME BUYER?

Now is a great time to buy your dream home! The expression "Buy low, Sell high" was never so timely as today! Conditions are ideal for buyers with prices moderating, interest rates so low we may never see them at this level again in our lifetime, and a healthy supply of homes available. If you're a buyer, this market is for you. If you're a seller, be patient and price your home accordingly. Experts agree that well-priced homes sell faster & for more money.

The long-term value of housing as an investment is compounded by the power of leveraging. According to the National Association of Realtors research, a downpayment of $10,000 on a median-price U.S. home at a typical home price appreciation of 5 percent will return approximately $110,000 after 10 years. The same $10,000 invested in the stock market appreciating at 10 percent annually will return $23,600. This helps explain why, according to the Federal Reserve Board, the average renters net worth is $4,800. The average homeowners net worth is $171,000.

UPDATE! Don't ignore the new Tax Credit of up to $8,000 for 1st Time Home Buyers! UPDATE 11/07/2009 The President has just signed the extension to the FIRST TIME BUYER'S TAX CREDIT which extends the time to get an accpeted offer to April 30, 2010. It also allows for a $6,500 tax credit for current homeowners who buy another owner occupied home if they have occupied their home 5 of the last 8 years. Talk to your tax advisor for advice and details! There are grant programs for first time buyers through the State of Illinois and also the City of Kankakee. It does pay to be a homeowner! Those investing in a home now and keeping it for the average holding period of 7 - 8 years will likely see their investment pay off significantly. At the same time, they will enjoy all of the non-tangible benefits of homeownership!

Another way to build your wealth right now is to buy a second home or rental property. With todays lower prices, coupled with the low interest rates, if you hold onto it for the long term it will be a great supplement to your retirement plan as well as diversifying your retirement holdings. Call me to help you conservatively build your wealth today!

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYER FINANCING HIGHLIGHT!

One option some savvy homebuyers are asking about today are "temporary buydowns". Simply put, a temporary buydown allows a buyer to ease themselves into a mortgage by giving them a reduced interest rate and, therefore, reduced payments. The seller puts up the money to make up the difference between the lower buydown interest rate and the market interest rate. The buyer has to qualify at the higher market rate, making it a low risk loan. First-time homebuyers may find a temporary buydown appealing since they, many times, need to furnish the home, buy appliances or invesst some money decorating. For example, a 2-1 temporary buydown offered on a 5.50% conventional 30 year fixed rate loan, would mean that payments are made as follows on a $100,000 home with a 10% downpayment:

1st 12 months - the payments are made at 3.50% interest. Principal & interest only would be approximately $404.14.

2nd 12 months - the payments are made at 4.50% interest Principal & interest only would be approximately $456.02

Remaining term - the payments are made at 5.50% interest. Principal & interest only would be approximately $511.01

That is a substantial payment reduction saving you almost $2000 in 2 years! Please contact me with any questions you may have!

FREE MONEY FOR HOMEBUYERS!

A new program has been passed by Kankakee Mayor Nina Epstein in Kankakee. It will give anyone who puts 10% down on an owner - occupied, single family home in the City of Kankakee an additional $2,500 for downpayment! There are limited opportunities for FHA & VA financing, too. There is no restriction for income or on the price of the home. The buyer doesn't have to be a first time homebuyer. The only restriction is the buyers have to stay in the home for 5 years or more or they would have to pay back the downpayment assistance over a 5 year time frame. Imagine, making $2,500 more on the sale of your home without any more appreciation than normal! Also, with the downpayment assistance, your payments will be reduced. This will help the values of homes in Kankakee!

AREA HIGHLIGHTS

Kankakee County is a great area to live! Some of the highlights include the Kankakee River State Park, The Chicago Bears football Training Camp, an Historic District, both a private university (Olivet Nazarene University) and a fantastic community college (Kankakee Community College), lots of entertainment, the arts, the Childrens Museum, outstanding area school districts including Magnet & Montessori programs, the Kankakee River and the most updated Planetarium in the state of Illinois! We have an area rich in history. Whether you have an area in mind or are looking for some suggestions, contact me today and, as a lifelong resident of Kankakee County, we can discuss any question you might have about Kankakee County and any of the surrounding communities!

RELOCATING? You can use this relocation link to check out everything you ever wanted to know about relocating (and some things you never thought of!) You can research moving tips, a moving calculator, cost of living calculator for different cities, school reports, crime statistics and more! Then contact me to help you find the right Realtor in the area you are moving from or moving to.

SELLING? Do you want someone who knows how to effectively market your home to as many buyers as possible? Do you want someone who listens to your needs? I make sure as many buyers know your home is for sale by using innovative advertising and marketing techniques to attract as many buyers as possible. We advertise in up to 40 different print publications! I advertise your home online in such websites as YAHOO!, AOL, MSN, REALTOR.COM and more! I attract more buyers for your home so I can create more competition for your home ... competition will sell your home for more money! Ask me how I can feature your home at the top of most of the search pages on the #1 real estate website - even before customers see your competition! That alone can drive 5-10 times the number of buyers to see your home online! You deserve to have your home prominently displayed on the website that has 82% of all the time spent on all real estate websites! Do you want to find out how your home can sell for more money? Contact me for a FREE Market Analysis on your home!

BUYING? For buyers, when you work with me exclusively as your Realtor, you can sign up for my unique e-mail program that e-mails you with any new listings that match your custom search criteria as soon as they come on the market...sometimes even before I know! That's convenience! Through my years of experience, I will let you know who is the best professional for what you need - home inspector, lender, home warranty company, etc. - to help make the purchase of your new home as enjoyable & stress free as possible. Search virtually the entire MLS right here from this website for your convenience!

"NEED A HOME LOAN?" Kankakee County is very fortunate to have many excellent banks and many excellent lenders for good buyers. We do have lenders looking for people with whom to make loans. Finding the right financial solution for your real estate transaction can be intimidating with all the choices. I can help you narrow down the choices for you and your particular situation. It's important for you to know the facts about your mortgage before you buy a house. Making sure that you know how much you can afford and the best interest rates as well as closing costs for your purchase can save you more than money, it can save you time and stress! Make sure you click on "Pre-Qualify Now!" to take the first step to financing your home purchase.

As one of the leading real estate professionals in Kankakee County, I am dedicated to providing the finest service available! I take great pride in receiving many referrals from hundreds of satisfied buyers and sellers who have become friends in the process. Need expert advice? You can contact me for one-on-one expert help and advice anytime. That's what I enjoy most. Because the real estate industry is becoming more sophisticated and challenging every day, you need a professional that understands real estate in Kankakee County and is positioned to stay ahead of the market. Put my knowledge and 20+ years of experience to work for you today!

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Thank you for visiting http://www.berrymccracken.com - your Kankakee Illinois Real Estate Information Source! I strive to provide the highest quality of service to all my clients whe making each transaction as profitable, professional, successful and stress-free as possible. We understand the importance of professional ethics, integrity and continued education. Call or email me today for information on your next Kankakee IL real estate transaction.

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