Julie's Blog

The following single family properties in Greywall Club in Joliet IL have recently closed:

• 2300 Waterbury Dr. closed on 12/30/08 for $144,400 as a bank owned property
  
• 8207 Waterbury Dr. closed on 11/24/08 for $180,000 as a short sale
• 2109 Sienna Dr. closed on 10/07/08 for $180,000 as a bank owned property 

The following town-home and duplex properties have recently closed in the neighborhood as well:

• 2204 Pembridge Ln. closed on 2/18/09 for $117,000 as a bank owned property
  
• 2220 Pembridge Ln. closed on 12/1/08 for $141,000 as a short sale
• 2105 Tremont Ave. closed on 3/9/09 for $162,000 as new construction
• 8200 Woodview Ave. closed on 2/5/09 for $173,000 as a retail sale.

Based on the data available on the MLS, its 5 of the last 7 closed sale comps in the neighborhood have been part of a foreclosure process.  The properties did not seem to be distressed, but the motivation for the bank to sell these properties at a discounted price is to be to sell them quickly in a slow real estate economy.

Greywall Club in Joliet IL is located west of County Line Rd in Kendall County near the Plainfield South High School.  The Greywall Club neighborhood features a community pool, clubhouse, workout room and park.  The association assessments vary depending on the type of home you own.  The neighborhood was developed by Lennar Homes in 2006, and include single family homes, duplexes, and town-homes within the community.

The school age students of Greywall Club attend the following schools:

• Thomas Jefferson Elementary
• Aux Sable Middle School
• Plainfield South High School

If you are interested in a purchasing a home in the Greywall Club subdivision in Joliet IL, or have a home to sell in the area call me at 630-673-6233. 

If you, or someone you know, is having trouble making your mortgage payments, you may qualify for a loan modification or short sale with your lender.   Call me for a confidential conversation regarding your options.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor
Joliet IL Homes
630-673-6233

I made a bad financial decision in regard to my business last July when I changed brokerages. 

I thought that being affiliated with a local name brand brokerage would help me weather the tough real estate market, better than being affiliated with a different name brand brokerage quite a distance from my target market. 

I couldn't have been more wrong, and it was a very expensive mistake.

At my previous office, I was making a phenomenal commmission.  Trust me when I say it's almost too good to be true. I work from home so the distance from this office to my house wasn't an issue.  Escrow was directly deposited and all documents were either PDF'd or faxed to-and-from.  It was a great arrangement, but I just had to mess with a good thing.  Stupid... stupid... stupid!

I had often wondered if the 30 miles from the Elmwood Park IL office to my target market in Plainfield IL was costing me business, so I made a business decision to try to increase my local exposure by joining a local office in town.

This was an expensive and time consuming mistake just to find out one important thing:  It's the agent that makes the difference!

My market suffered huge losses as foreclosures, short sales, and REO properties over took the market.  The new office did not offer much more in the way of support and training than I had been receiving before, but my cost of doing business had increased by about 800% through fees, commission splits and the change over for my marketing.  I thought that a new level of productivity would compensate for these costs but sadly, it hasn't even come close.  I'm going back to my previous office next Wednesday, April 1st.

I have had to pave a new path in the market to remain active and profitable.  I have expanded my services to include the rental market and have gone back to doing short sales. When I realized that I am the one who dictates how busy and profitable I am, it made me realize that I deserved to keep more of the money that I earned.  My leads come from my referrals, my websites, my blogging, and my efforts.

I think that blogging and the Internet, in addition to tools like Active Rain, make it possible to rely less heavily on a traditional office setting.  If you think about it, your main place of business is probably located on 4 wheels and sitting in your very own driveway!

I thought it was important to remind the agents out there to consider what is important in this market:  Delivering great customer service to your peers, your clients, your customers, and your community.  If you continue to concentrate on this, the logo next to your name will seem less and less significant.

To the buyers and sellers out there: Remember, your agent is the one working to help you with your real estate needs, not the logo attached to their business card.  Real estate has changed over the last 5-10 years, make sure you are working with an agent who has kept up with the changes!

The following closed real estate transactions for properties in Plainfield, in the Grande Park subdivsion are:

• 26537 Rustling Birch Way closed on 10/27/08 for $349,990
• 13303 Morning Mist closed on 10/03/08 for $362,000
• 26661 Lindengate Cir. closed on 1/30/09 for $362,500
• 12904 Peppertree Dr. closed on 10/30/08 for $367,000
• 12712 Grande Pines Blvd. closed on 2/01/09 for $389,900
• 27114 Rustic Woods Ave. closed on 2/13/09 for $415,000
• 13426 Lindengate Ct. closed on 9/25/08 for $425,000
• 26005 Whispering Woods Cir. closed on 2/05/09 for $445,000
• 26501 Rustling Birch Way closed on 12/12/08 for $455,800
• 26112 Oakcrest Ln. closed on 11/14/08 for $472,500
• 12842 Grande Pines Blvd. closed on 9/20/08 for $475,000
• 13033 Timber Wood Cir. closed on 10/31/2008 for $525,000
• 27015 Rustic Wood Ln. closed on 11/21/08 for $549,900
• 12911 Grande Pines Blvd. closed on 9/17/08 for 560,000
• 12924 Grande Pines Blvd. closed on 2/13/09 for $644,678

The Grande Park Subdivision is comprised of custom and luxury single family homes on premium home sites. The Grande Park subdivision is located near Rt. 30 and 127th  Street in Plainfield.  Construction in the community began in 2006 and homesites are currently available for new construction, though many of the custom home builders in that area have spec homes available for purchase.

Students attending public school in the Grand Park Subdivision in Plainfield attend the following schools if they are in the Kendall County and Oswego Township section of the subdivision:

• Grande Park Elementary
• Bednarcik Jr High
• Oswego East High School

Students attending public school in the Grande Park subdivision in Plainfield attend the following schools if they are in the Will County and Wheatland Township section of the subdivision:

• Walkers Grove Elementary
• Richard Ira Jones Middle School
• Plainfield North High School

If you want to know what your home in the Grande Park Subdivision is worth, or have a property in another subdivision in Plainfield, contact me at the tab on the top of this page or call me at 630-673-6233. It would be my pleasure to help you with any of your real estate questions.

Are you behind in your mortgage payments?  You may qualify for a loan modification or short sale.  Call me at 630-673-6233 to find out if you qualify for either of these programs.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield Real Estate
630-673-6233

As anyone who has been living in Plainfield IL for the last year knows, the downtown area has recently been renovated.  Unfortunately, that meant avoiding the area for quite some time.  About 2 months ago, my car needed some work so I took it up to Plainfield Automotive Inc. on Rt. 59. Since the time it was going to take to fix my car was going to overlap lunch time, I decided to walk into town to get a bite to eat.  I wasn’t sure where I was going to go, but I started down Rt. 59 in the rain and turned down Des Plaines St and ran right into The Front Street Cantina in Plainfield.

I felt like a loser sitting down in the restaurant all by myself since the kids were with my father in law at home, but that wasn’t about to stop this hungry pregnant girl from embarrassing myself!

I’d never been to the Front Street Cantina to eat before, but the food was absolutely delicious.  They had some really terrific lunch specials and authentic complementary chips and salsa.  I thought to myself, this is the perfect place to bring the family for some casual authentic Mexican food, or great place to grab a couple of drinks with friends on the weekend.

I’ve been back several times since my recent discovery of  The Front Street Cantina in Plainfield IL (but this time I wasn’t alone ), and everything I’ve tried on the menu is delicious.  My personal favorites are the Chicken Fajitas and the Cheese Enchiladas.  The food is served fast and hot, which is great if you get the chance to sneak in on your lunch break.

If you’ve never been to The Front Street Cantina in Plainfield, I highly recommend it.  You won’t be dissapointed!

The Front Street Cantina is located at:

15120 N. Des Plaines St.
Plainfield, IL 60544
1-815-254-3474
Or check them out at the their two other locations in Wheaton and Naperville!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Real Estate
630-673-6233

Mayfair’s most recent real estate closings in Plainfield IL are:

• 6510 Benich Ln. closed on 11/06/08 for $158,000
• 2509 Joe Adler Dr. closed on 2/27/09 for $160,000
• 6607 Peyla Ln. closed on 11/21/08 for $180,000
• 6510 Goldhaber Ln. closed on 1/5/09 for $197,500
• 3001 Ruth Fitzgerald Dr. on 1/12/09 for $208,500
• 2809 Joe Alder Dr. on 9/8/08 for $215,000

The average sale price for a home in the Mayfair subdivision from September 2008 to February 2009 was $186,500.

If you are interested in knowing what your home in the Mayfair subdivision is worth, or have questions about buying or selling a home in Plainfield IL, call me at 630-673-6233.  I love working and living in Plainfield, and it would be my pleasure to help you buy or sell your next home in Plainfield, IL!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Real Estate
630-673-6233

The following homes have recently closed in the Kensington Club subdivision in Plainfield IL:

• 13040 Stockton Ave. closed on 1/07/09 for $268,000
• 24231 Bristol Ave. closed on 11/24/08 for $303,000
• 13053 Stockton Ave. closed on 11/03/08 for $315,000
• 24137 Newcastle St. closed on 2/24/09 for $320,000

The Kensington Club subdivision is located off of 127th St. just west of  Rt. 59.  The subdivision does have a $670 per year association fee that is paid annually that covers the neighborhood amenities such as the clubhouse, pool, and ponds.

The homes in Kensington Club were built between 2001 and 2004, and are conveniently located near shopping and dining.

The public school attendance zones for Kensington Club in Plainfield IL are:

• Eagle Pointe Elementary
• Heritage Grove Middle School
• Plainfield North High School

If you are looking for a new home in the Kensington Club subdivision, or anywhere in Plainfield IL, call me at 630-673-6233.  I’d love to help you make Plainfield your new home!

Have a question or comment about the Kensington Club subdivision?  Leave a comment!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Homes
630-673-6233

The following properties have recently closed in the Liberty Grove subdivision in Plainfield IL:

• 14415 Meadow Ln. closed on 3/13/09 for $210,000
• 14719 Independence Dr. closed on 9/10/08 for $252,000
• 25217 Declaration Dr. closed on 10/24/08 for $255,000
• 25216 Soldier Ct. closed on 1/20/09 for $259,000
• 15160 Freedom Way closed on 3/06/09 for $290,000
• 15215 Freedom Way closed on 11/14/08 for $319,000

The Liberty Grove subdivision is located just south of historic downtown Plainfield IL.  The Liberty Grove neighborhood features a community pool, park, and pond, in addition to an on-site elementary school located centrally within the neighborhood.

The neighborhood was built by Cambridge Homes beginning around 2003.  There are two separate phases to the development: the Executive Series and the Horizon Series.  The differentiation between these two sections in Liberty Grove is the exterior style of the architecture as well as the interior features and price points.

Students who attend public school in the Liberty Grove subdivision in Plainfield IL go to the following schools:

• Lincoln Elementary
• Richard Ira Jones Middle School
• Plainfield North High School

If you want to know what your home in the Liberty Grove subdivision is worth, or have a property in another subdivision in Plainfield IL, contact me at the tab on the top of this page or call me at 630-673-6233. It would be my pleasure to help you with any of your real estate questions.

Are you behind in your mortgage payments?  You may qualify for a loan modification or short sale.  Call me to find out if you qualify for either of these programs.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield IL Real Estate
630-673-6233

Please leave a comment!

The following properties have recently closed in the Champion Creek subdivision in Plainfield, IL:

• 11351  S. Churchill Dr. closed on 9/30/08 for $223,000
• 11604 S. Olympic Dr. closed on 9/22/08 for $235,000
• 11336 S. Preakness Dr. closed on 9/29/2008 for $237,000
• 11344 S. Churchill Dr. closed on 12/4/08 for $248,000

It looks as though many of the homes that closed in this neighborhood closed in September of 2008, just before the the economic crisis was announced in October.  There were also significant changes to the seller assisted down payment program that dramatically affected financing qualifications for buyers at about the same time.  There has been an increase in the spring market recently with pending transactions, as well as a spike in the amount of rentals taking place on the MLS.

The Champion Creek subdivision is located just south of 111th Street and Rt. 59 on the north side of Plainfield.  Homes in the area were built aroung 1997.  Students attending public school in this subdivision go to:

• Freedom Elementary
  
• Heritage Grove Middle School
  
• Plainfield North High School

If you want to know what your home in the Champion Creek subdivision is worth, or have a property in another subdivision in Plainfield, contact me at the tab on the top of this page or call me at 630-673-6233. It would be my pleasure to help you with any of your real estate questions.

Are you behind in your mortgage payments?  You may qualify for a loan modification or short sale.  Call me at 630-673-6233 to find out if you qualify for either of these programs.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield Real Estate
630-673-6233

These homes have recently closed in the Prairie Knoll subdivision in Plainfield, IL:

• 13830 Trillium Ln. closed on 12/17/08 for $245,000
• 13826 Trillium Ln. closed on 10/31/08 for $250,000
• 13717 Marigold closed on 10/22/08 for $302,695
• 13916 Briar Ln. closed on 10/13/08 for $304,360

It looks as though the builder recently sold off their remaining homesites with the properties that sold in October of 2008, and they are no longer building new construction in the subdivision.  The Prairie Knoll Subdivision was built by Town & Country Homes, and construction in that area began in 2003.  The neighborhood features distinct and interesting architecture.  There is an annual $227 homeowners association fee for the neighborhood that is paid once a year.

If you want to know what your home in the Prairie Knoll subdivision is worth, or have a property in another subdivision in Plainfield, contact me at the tab on the top of this page or call me at 630-673-6233. It would be my pleasure to help you with any of your real estate questions.

Are you behind in your mortgage payments?  You may qualify for a loan modification or short sale.  Call me at 630-673-6233 to find out if you qualify for either of these programs.

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor®
Plainfield Real Estate
630-673-6233

Plainfield, IL is located approximately 45 minutes southwest of downtown Chicago, on the border of the neighboring communities of Naperville, Romeoville, Joliet, Shorewood, Bolingbrook and Aurora.

Real estate in Plainfield exploded in the mid to early 90’s as a new generation of home buyers sought affordable housing in the suburbs of the Chicago. Easy access to interstate I-55, the highly publicized Plainfield school district, and low county real estate taxes made Plainfield a top choice for buyers looking for affordable new construction. Plainfield became an alternative to the older communities in the northwest suburbs.

Approximately 18 years after the buzz that made Plainfield one of the top 5 fastest growing cities in the nation, it is still going strong. As a 9 year resident of the community, I have personally seen the landscape changes that appeared to occur on a weekly basis.

A number of builders have moved in and out of Plainfield over the years like, Pulte, Neuman Homes, Lennar, Leach Homes, Phoenix Builders, Cambridge Homes, Lakewood Homes, Montalbano; not to mention the countless individual Plainfield custom home builders.

Plainfield is home to the Plainfield Community Consolidated School District #202 which serves not only Plainfield, but areas of Joliet, Bolingbrook and Romeoville. With 16 Elementary Schools, 7 Middle Schools, and 4 High Schools, it is one of the largest schools in the area.

The Plainfield Park district is especially large as well, and is quick to keep up with the needs of it’s growing community. The Plainfield Park district offers programs for both the young and old.

Shopping and dining is convenient from every neighborhood in Plainfield. Two new open air shopping centers are beginning construction this summer which are scheduled to open in 2009. The Louis Joliet Mall is conveniently located near I-55 and Route 30, and nearby Fox Valley Mall and Bolingbrook’s new Promenade are also close alternatives. My other site, Living In Plainfield, profiles individual establishments to give newcomers to Plainfield a little bit of a directory to the community.

The restaurant industry quickly realized the need for family dining in Plainfield, and now there’s an amazing selection of both independent and national restaurants in the area like Bacci’s, Moe Joe’s, Chesdan’s, Gunthers, Buffalo Wild Wings, Applebee’s, Lonestar, Outback, TGI Fridays, Red Robbin, Steak and Shake, Chuck E Cheese… oh, the list goes on and on.

Plainfield has become a well established community with an eclectic mix of neighborhoods within it. Here is a list of subdivisions in Plainfield which I will be profiling individually in subsequent posts. Brace yourself… Plainfield is one BIG place! Here they are:

If you are interested in learning more about any of the communities profiled on this page, please contact me at 630-673-6233 to learn more about the neighborhood or the community!

Julie Ferenzi | Realtor ®
Plainfield Real Estate
630-673-6233