Tasty Polpettas – Find a Home in Chicago

Looking for a tasty lunch, but don’t have time for a sit down meal? You may want to consider visiting the food truck line. That’s right, Getta Polpetta travels throughout downtown Chicago delivering homemade, tasty meals from a shiny green and red, mustached food truck. Focusing on such favorites as Polpetta Panino (meatball sandwich) and Polpetta del’ouva (vegetarian “meatball” sandwich) wrapped in bright red and white checked wax paper, we at Sergio and Banks believe both versions outclass many polettas you would enjoy in some fine restaurants! Using a family recipe, Anna Caterinicchia and her childhood friend Jenn have created the best in Italian home cooked meatballs, even for those who refrain from eating meat. Whether you live in Lincoln Park or have a condo in Bucktown, keep your eyes on the lookout for the adorable meatball truck!

Although headquartered in the West Loop, Getta Polpetta is always on the go and you can call 312.804.0405 to find out about catering options or future plans, including new menu items. They even do parties! To see a schedule of planned stops for Getta Polpetta and find out when they will be in your Chicago neighborhood, please click here.

Chicago’s Red Balloon is Home to Great Gifts

Chicago has some fantastic choices when it comes to shopping and Sergio and Banks Realty loves to explore them, especially this close to Mother’s Day!  One of our favorite children’s stores is The Red Balloon Co., a store dedicated to quality children’s handmade furniture and whimsical clothing, books, toys, and room accessories. In their celebration of motherhood and spring, The Red Balloon Co. has brought in a new series of books to delight moms and their babies!  Offering gift wrapping and shipping services, even people who do not live in Chicago can benefit from their amazing collection.  However, if you are lucky enough to call Chicago home, you’ll be excited to know that The Red Balloon has two locations, one at 1940 North Damen Avenue in Bucktown and the other in Andersonville, located at 5407 North Clark Street.

While we hope you will take the time to visit and enjoy this special treat, it’ s nice to know that The Red Balloon also offers a personal shopping service where you can order a personally selected gift, as you can be sure any of their items (or several)  will brighten your loved one’s day!  Call them for more information or visit there website here.  An added benefit of shopping at this community based and oriented company is that they give back!  Simply mention your Chicago school’s name and every time you shop  at The Red Balloon Co. a portion of your purchases (3%) will be donated back to your child’s school which gives you an excellent reason to shop locally.

Play to Win When Buying a Home

Throughout the United States, real estate market surveys are seeing a shift towards a seller’s market. In a seller’s market, homes for sale may receive multiple offers and are often sold in less time. Home sellers get excited at that news, but if you are trying to purchase a home in Chicago, it may make competition a bit tougher. If you have been searching for a home in Chicago and have finally settled on one that you love, don’t delay on contacting your lender or us, or you may miss out on the home of your dreams.

Recently interest rates have been reduced to historic lows allowing you, the home buyer, to get more home for the same amount of money, which sounds fantastic. However, if you do not “lock” in your rate and then follow through with providing the necessary paperwork in a timely manner, you could lose your opportunity. More than ever, now is the time for you to know the rules and play to win in the housing and lending market. If you are wondering about how you can make sure you are doing all you need to qualify for your loan and your Chicago home, contact us and consult the following list.

• DO get your paperwork in time.  Whether you are asked for a letter of employment verification or 27 pages of bank statements, do not delay in submitting these documents to your lender.  Any delay can result in your loan taking longer than necessary, making the seller potentially question your ability to purchase, especially when back up offers have been submitted.
• Do not encourage the seller to begin any construction work until after the appraisal, even if your inspection warrants changes being made.  An appraiser could see the hardhats and debris and devalue the property.  Wait until AFTER the appraisal is complete to request repairs OR agree to do the work yourself once you own the home.
• Do not buy a new car or new furniture or go on a celebratory shopping  spree until your escrow has funded!  Credit ratios are VERY important at this time and if they become out of balance or new credit is extended, it can make you less likely to qualify for your home loan.  It does not matter if the offer is ZERO percent interest… it still affects your credit line.
• DO pay your current financial obligations.  During the busy home buying time, it can be easy to forget to pay bills or miss deadlines – be careful because late payments will reflect negatively on your credit and could even result in your loan being denied.
• Do not make changes in your employment – including changing jobs to make more money.  The key to getting a mortgage is showing a picture of stability and a job change could tarnish that image.  Wait until after escrow closes to accept the new position.

For more information on current interest rates, please click here.

Illinois Homeowners get Short Sale Help

The U.S. Department of Treasury and National Association of Realtors has combined forces.  In recent “Making Home Affordable” seminars, the U.S. Treasury department announced several new initiatives designed to make the process of selling a home with a short sale much easier.  The initiatives include a number of educational seminars for realtors and workshops for homeowners on how to avoid foreclosure.

Video: new luxuriously appointed single-family home in West Lakeview

Located in a part of North Center that’s often referred to as West Lakeview, the newly-listed home at 1928 W Wolfram is the latest offering from Noah Properties.

With all of the features that have become Noah Properties’ signature, the 5-bedroom, 3 ½ bath single-family includes coffered ceilings, an over-the-top kitchen, lavish master bath, floor-to-ceiling windows in the front bedroom, two laundry rooms and wet bars, ample storage space and a lower level with high ceiling.

Sergio & Banks‘ Melissa Govedarica is our guide in this sponsored video tour.

Irazu Delivers Deliciousness to Your Bucktown Home

Irazu has been bringing delicious traditionally home-cooked food into the lives of Chicagoans since 1990.  From simple, inexpensively-priced treats that delight like banana oatmeal shakes to the more hearty and satisfying tacos, sandwiches and platters, Irazu aims to please.  Located near your Bucktown home, at 1865 N. Milwaukee Avenue, the restaurant features indoor and patio dining and is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and closed on Sunday.  If you live in Bucktown, you can even enjoy home delivery!

The menu features a wide variety of choices, including vegetarian selections. Be sure to ask your server for recommendations the first time you go. Get ready to experience a Costa Rican sensation complete with Lizano sauce, sweet plantains, cabbage salad, spicy gallo pinto and mole, if you like. If you plan to dine in, make sure to get a reservation as the restaurant is quite popular and fills up quickly. For large groups you can even choose a prix fixe menu. Sergio and Banks’ agent Melissa Govedarica has been a fan of Irazu for years and even call the famous Avena oatmeal shakes, “off the chain!” Visit Irazu’s descriptive website and read through their menu by clicking here.

Market Reports for Homes in Chicago Neighborhoods

Chicago is a dynamic and diverse place to live. Combining the best of old and new, Chicago and it’s many communities (officially known as districts or wards), offer so much to experience!  We can teach you about areas that fit you and your lifestyle. We’d love to show you around the homes in Chicago, from historic beauties to gorgeous newly developed properties! Please call us if you need immediate assistance in finding your next home in Chicago at 773.235.6100.

If you are interested in finding out about home values in any of our Chicago zipcodes, please click on the links below for up to date Real Estate Market Statistics.

• 60607 Chicago Condo Executive Summary Report
• 60607 Chicago SFR Executive Summary Report
• 60610 Chicago Condo Executive Summary Report
• 60610 Chicago SFR Executive Summary Report
• 60611 Chicago Condo Executive Summary Report
• 60611 Chicago SFR Executive Summary Report
• 60613 Chicago Condo Executive Summary Report
• 60613 Chicago SFR Executive Summary Report
• 60622 Chicago Condo Executive Summary Report
• 60622 Chicago SFR Executive Summary Report
• 60634 Chicago Condo Executive Summary Report
• 60634 Chicago SFR Executive Summary Report
• 60640 Chicago Condo Executive Summary Report
• 60640 Chicago SFR Executive Summary Report
• 60647 Chicago Condo Executive Summary Report
• 60647 Chicago SFR Executive Summary Report

Video: renovated 3-bedroom condo in Gold Coast high-rise

Wrapping around 3 sides of its Gold Coast building, great views and light abound from the floor-to-ceiling windows in Unit 2505 at 50 E Bellevue Pl.

Extensively renovated and upgraded, the home features 2,350 square feet of living space, 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, generously sized rooms, hardwood flooring and custom built-ins. The unit also boasts a great location, sitting near Tavern on Rush, as well as the wide array of other restaurants in the immediate vicinity. You can also walk down tree-lined Bellevue Place to the lake and turn right for the Magnificent Mile and Oak Street boutiques.

Sergio & Banks’ Tina Culver is our guide in this sponsored video tour.

Grand Opening Party at New North Center Home

Interested in seeing how your potential new home would work for entertaining guests?  Thinking that you would like to preview some of the new construction properties being built in Chicago?  Then you have got to join in on the party at 1928 West Wolfram, North Center this week!  On Thursday, April 26th from 5-8 p.m., you can check out this amazing new construction home in style at our Grand Opening Party.  The list price for this 5 bedroom 3.5 bath North Center home by Noah Properties is $1,499,000 and it won’t last long.

You’ll love the new iPad Sono sound system and Theater room with 7.1 surround sound, along with the 200+ bottle wine cellar and lower level heated floors.  Four outdoor spaces, the nest temperature control and snow-melt system give it even more amazing features for you to see! You can get more details on both home and party information by calling Sergio and Banks Realty and asking for Melissa Govedarica at 630-973-7745.   See the construction video for this property here.

Video: unique new home overlooking Smith Park

Anchored by its namesake park with a pool, and featuring a field house with an indoor basketball court and multi-purpose rooms, tennis courts, baseball diamonds and newer playground, Smith Park is one of Chicago’s little-known neighborhoods.

Facing south on Smith Park is this new 4,000 square foot, 4-5 bedroom, 3 ½ bath, contemporary single-family home at 2550 W Huron St that boasts a sprawling first floor that is open from front to back, punctuated by an open, floating stainless steel staircase. The second floor features a master suite unlike anything you’ve seen, as the large master bedroom has natural woods and a half-wall of translucent designer glass looking into a huge master bath.

Izabela Sloma of Sergio & Banks is our guide in this sponsored video tour.