photo credit: mach3

Chicago, Illinois has the third largest population in the United States. It is the largest city in the state of Illinois. Chicago is known for many things, both good and not so good. The era of Al Capone, is associated with the city, powerhouse politics are a stable in the city. The mayor of the city has held the position for many years and his father held the position several years prior. Chicago is also the home town of the United States first African-American President: Barack Obama. Chicago is also a very green city. Many of the government buildings in the city have green roofs, a first for one of the largest cities in the nation. Oprah Winfrey films in Chicago and that has made the city a major draw for travelers world wide for over twenty years! The cities center is known as the Magnificent Mile and has world class shopping. However many don’t realize that Chicago also houses one of the most important financial houses in not only the nation, but the world. The diversity of the people and the landscape is widely known worldwide and a draw to home owners looking to feel comfortable. So how is the housing market doing in “The Windy City”, as many locals refer to it?

Chicago was hit hard by the burst in the housing bubble. This has produced a bumper crop of foreclosures and short sales. It is definitely a buyers market in Chicago. However, it is very hard for potential home buyers to get financing. This has created a rental market that has almost surpassed the housing market. The median home price is still around 700k. This has been a deterrent to new home buyers; many of whom don’t have the hefty down payment for the average home in Chicago. Condominiums sales are also taking a hard hit in the “Windy City?. The high rises condos in the downtown area are not moving very quickly. Again, this has been a catalyst for the rental market to grow and thrive. The city is gigantic to say the least and you will need a knowledgeable Realtor to help you navigate through the neighborhoods and school districts. Chicago is a friendly city and finding a home here is easier than ever. Just make sure your finances are in place and you should have no problem.

photo credit: jbudlo2

In Atlanta, choosing a place to live based upon the school district alone is a problem. Atlanta districts are quite large and have excellent schools and very poor schools. As an example, the Dekalb School District includes both Dunwoody and Tucker schools. Dunwoody and Tucker are considered upscale areas to live, along with Alpharetta and Roswell which are in the Fulton County School District. You would find that in both school districts, the closer you get to the city of Atlanta, the quality drops quite a bit. The State of Georgia 2005 – 2006 report on schools in the Atlanta area rated the following selected high schools:

Cobb County High School – failed to show yearly improvement – graded as needs improvement
Marietta High School – showed yearly improvement – graded as needs improvement
Alpharetta High School – showed yearly imporvement – graded as making adequate progress
Roswell High School – showed yearly improvement – graded as Distinguished in showing improvement over a 3 year period
Kennesaw Mountain High School – showed yearly improvement – graded as Distinguished in showing improvement over a 3 year period

If you then compare the 2005-2006 report on the City of Atlanta and Dekalb County School Districts (PK thru 12) you would find all failed to meet yearly progress and all were graded as needing improvement. The Fulton County School District was also rated a failing to meet yearly progress, but was graded as not adequately progressing and if lack of progress continues it would be downgraded to needing improvement.

The following, listed in no particular order, are considered the better areas in Atlanta to live where school selection is a major criterea:

East Cobb County
Dunwoody
South Forsythe County
Alpharetta
Candler/Inman Park area
City of Decatur
Peachtree City
Buckhead
Tucker
Roswell
Morningside/Virginia Highlands area
Duluth/Sewanee

You should be aware that the areas listed above contain a large variety of private schools, and many choose to send their children to a private school versus using the public schools. But these areas also rate higher in comparison to other areas in their public school ratings.

Every year the Princeton Review publishes its much ballyhooed list of the best party schools within the United States. Obviously, we here aren’t exactly hunting for schools at the moment, but we are interested in real estate, and there is rarely little, if anything said about the areas where these party schools are found. And so, without further ado, we’re giving you a little tidbit about the so-called best party college towns. (more…)

photo credit: James Cridland

Population. You might not think it’s interesting, but “population density” ?That’s a different story. Why? Because whether it be culture, geography, or even a gimmick, there is usually some specific reason why people cram themselves into certain locations. Below we’ve listed just a few of the most densely populated cities on earth outside of the United States. Some are obvious, yet some may be a surprise. Enjoy!

Manila

photo credit: Oscar Papaorhum

The most densely populated city on earth, Manila, the capital of the Philippines. That’s right. The Philippines. With all of the stink made these days over how crammed India is, in the end, it’s the Philippines that still holds the title. The city of Manila boasts an average population density of 111,576 people per square mile. For those who enjoy the rural, open, outdoors, I think we’ve just found your veritable hell. You think that’s bad? Keep in mind, that number is an average. The most densely populated area within the city itself is District 6. The density there … 176,811 people per square mile.

Bogor

photo credit: DMahendra

If the world’s most densely populated city is in the Philippines, then the second most densely populated city must be in India… Right? Nope. The city laying claim to that title is Bogor, and it’s located in Indonesia. Bogor was the capital of Indonesia throughout parts of its history. Today though, Bogor is a major agricultural center, a role that ties back to the cities colonial history when it was primarily comprised of plantations. So just how dense is Bogor? 104,037 people per square mile.

Titagarh

photo credit: mckaysavage

And so here we are, finally, at number three. The third most densely populated city in the world it Titagarh, in India. And what is Titagarh? Is it the crowded slums of Mumbai, as seen in “Slumdog Millionaire” Nope. Not even close. Titagarh is a city of migrant workers… lots of them. Up to 90% of the population, at times, is comprised of migrant workers brought in to serve as the labor force for Titagarh’s jute mills. And what is jute? A type of cloth made from the jute plant. The population density of Titagarh is 99,293 people per square mile.

Levallois-Perret

Going down the list at this point, six out of eight of the next most densely populated cities are located in India (so this is where it gets its fame). The other two, are in the Philippines. Finally, at number 12, we find a new county. And to give this list some variety, we’re going to jump straight to it. France. Levallois-Perret is a suburb of Paris, and as we’ve already suggested, the most densely populated municipality in all of Europe. 67,984 people can be found per square mile in this area. As it stands, there are no obvious gimmicks as to why this area contains so many people. At last count, 82.5% of the population here were born in Metropolitan France. For whatever reason, this commune is certainly popular.

Neapoli

photo credit: Melina.

Number thirteen on the list is Neapoli, Greece. While this location features a population density of 67,027 per square mile, it also has a gimmick. And what is that? Simple… the town is less than half of a square mile in size. Neapoli is the most populated section of Thessaloniki, the second most populated city in Greece. Since this section is its own municipality, it makes the list.

Saint-Josse-ten-Noode

photo credit: glasseyes view

To find a new country that hasn’t been mentioned before on the list, we need to jump down all the way to number 17, where we find Belgium. Saint-Josse-ten-Noode is a municipality within the region of Brussels, Belgium’s capital. As with Neapoli, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode has a gimmick, and it is the same gimmick as Neapoli. Saint-Josse-ten-Noode is less than half of a square mile in size, and is comprised of the most populated area in a very urban region. Suffice to say, Saint-Josse-ten-Noode is not only the most densely populated region of Belgium, it is also the smallest.

Mislata

photo credit: cesarastudillo

Dropping down to number 27 on the list, we find Spain. And once again we find the same gimmick for the third time. Mislata is a suburb of Valencia only 0.8 square miles in size. With its population of 43,756 this gives it a population density of 54,695 per square mile. Despite Mislata’s diminutive size, however, it does feature some open space… but not for long. Recent construction within this open area only promises to increase Mislata’s population density even further.

Paris

photo credit: hipposrunsuperfast.com

Number 30 on the list finally gives us another true city that is not on the list for its diminutive size. Paris, France, the city of love. The capital city of France can boast a population density of 54,415 people per square mile. This, of course, also makes it the most densely populated full metropolis, let alone capital, in all of Europe. The city’s highest density areas are in the northern and eastern areas.

Dhaka

photo credit: joiseyshowaa

The capital of Bangladesh finds itself at number 34 on our list. The city features a population density of 50,368 people per square mile. Not only that, it is currently one of the fastest growing cities in Asia. There are currently just under 13 million people living in and around Dhaka. By 2025 it is estimated this number will double. So, why is that? Immigration. Dhaka is extremely popular with members of the rural population who want to move to the big cities.

There’s definitely a less to be learned here. If you want to be one of the most densely populated places on Earth, take a well populated urban area, then simply declare the most densely populated portion of it as an independent municipality. Presto! You’re in the record books. That said, there is a plus side to this. With so many entries requiring a gimmick to make this list, it only makes the legitimate cities, like Manila, that much more impressive.

1. Do you like the community where your vacation property is located? Is development being planned in the community in the future which would detract from your enjoyment of the property?

2. Can you see yourself coming here on a regular basis over the next several years?

3. Is your property an easy drive from your present home or is it a major production to get back and forth?

4. Many people plan to make their vacation property their full-time residence when they retire. Would this vacation property fill that need for you?

5. If you don’t plan to retire there, is it important that your property also be a good investment and appreciate in value in the short term?

6. Are your children enthusiastic about your vacation property? If they want to bring their friends along, will there be enough room?

7. If your property is in a development which has a community association, familiarize yourself with the association’s governance and how the association fees are calculated.

8. If you do not plan to rent out your property, you may want to hire a local management company that will keep an eye on your property if you are not going to visit it for several weeks or months. This is especially important in places where your property needs to be “winterized” before the weather gets cold.

9. If you rent and manage your property yourself, it’s still smart to hire a reputable local property manager. They are your eyes and ears when you are not there, and can act as your agent when a renter has an issue and you are not there to deal with it.

10. Familiarize yourself with tax regulations affecting your vacation property, in particular with respect to any applicable tax deductions you can take.

Atlanta is one of the few cities in the southern part of the United States that is truly considered as cosmopolitan as cities up north. That?s in part due to the businesses and even celebrities that have elected to make Atlanta their home and place of business. However Atlanta too has been affected by the housing crisis. However not as bad as other larger cities in the United States.

Currently in Atlanta there are only about five thousand homes on the market. That number is very low compared to other cities the size of Atlanta. Over four hundred of the homes in the Atlanta market have been closed since the beginning of the year. The median sale of homes in Atlanta is around $250,000, which is comparable with the median prices of home sales in Los Angeles! So again there?s no wonder why many refer to Atlanta as being the hottest destination in the southern part of the U.S. for those who aren?t planning to retire any time soon.

However even though $250k is the median price for homes in Atlanta, as of February of 2010 there were over 150 homes under contract for almost half a million dollars. The exact figure is over $470k. This shows great promise for a strong rebound in the Atlanta real estate market! Despite this Atlanta is still plagued with foreclosures. These homes were hard for owners to lose and even more difficult for the banks to put on the market. These homes, those in foreclosure, are not moving as fast as resell and new homes in Atlanta. Many don?t view this as a problem and say that the fact that buyers in Atlanta want new and resold homes shows the amount of money that is in the area. However if most of those homes that are in foreclosure can?t be sold, they can really bring certain pockets of the Atlanta area down. The verdict is still out on how this will play out. However overall the Atlanta real estate market is overall doing better than most.

The real estate market in Los Angeles has always been watched very closely. However in recent years the market has taken center stage. First as an indication of how well individuals were doing and then just how badly the housing market bubble had truly burst. Many in the U.S. saw very wealthy and popular stars fall into foreclosure in the city of Los Angeles. Well now that we are being told that the economy is recovering how is the market in Los Angeles, better known as LA doing currently?

Well, as of February of 2010 there were about fifteen thousand homes both new and resale homes. January was about the same number. This speaks to the distressed and foreclosed homes that buyers are hurrying to take advantage of. Home sales prices also rose and that?s an encouraging statistic for the Los Angeles area. Even though the tilt is more toward homes that are in foreclosure and possibly distressed, the sales are still higher than a year ago. Many are getting back to basics since the adjustable rate mortgages that helped cause the problem are looked down on now. People in L.A. are truly evaluating if they can afford the home in the next five years before making the purchase.

The median price is still down dramatically from a few years ago, with the average homes selling price hovering around $250,000. This is again good news for those who want to live in the Los Angeles area and who may not have been able to afford the half a million median price of only a couple of years ago. This lower median will continue to help the real estate market in Los Angeles.

Foreclosures too, will help the real estate market in Los Angels to improve. Foreclosures account for over forty percent (40%) of the resale market. That?s a large figure, but it?s down from last years percentage and shows that there are sales of homes that aren?t in foreclosure and that?s always a healthy sign for the real estate market in Los Angeles.

In the excitement of viewing and preparing to purchase a home, sometimes people tend to be overly optimistic about what they can live with. Here are some important things to remember while you search for the perfect house:

1. School district is important. Even if you will not be using the public schools, their quality will be linked to the value of your property. While a great improvement in schools isn’t impossible, it’s not the norm.

2. Higher taxes are not necessarily a bad thing, but they may affect what you can afford to offer.

3. Square footage should be adequate for your daily activities. It is easy to forget how much space will be taken up once your belongings arrive.

4. Good room layout can make up a bit for a lack of square footage. Bad layout can make even enough space feel too small.

5. It is possible to add a room to a house, but almost no way to increase your yard.

6. Try to meet your neighbors before purchasing, so that their garage band or large barking dog isn’t a surprise on moving day.

7. Remember that locations near main roads are convenient but can be loud; more remote neighborhoods offer quiet and privacy but can be difficult to get to.

8. Some things are easily changed: wall colors, fixtures, floor coverings, landscaping.

9. The professional inspection is of utmost importance. Ask around for recommendations, and find someone who is really working for you, so that you know the true condition of the house and areas that could create trouble for you.

10. Don’t settle, thinking you’ll only be living there for a short time. Buy what you really think you need because plans change all the time, and you may stay longer than you’d planned.

Chicago, the windy city. Up to just a few decades ago, when Los Angeles surpassed it, Chicago was the second largest city in the United States. Suffice to say, the place has quite a history. A century ago, a third of the city, including the entire business district, burnt to the ground in the “Great Chicago Fire of 1871″. But something even greater would happen just 50 years later, an event for which the city is especially known today. That event?? Prohibition. The 1920′s. For many of us today, historic Chicago is the world people like Al Capone and events such as the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Many of the buildings from this era no longer survive, but there’s still plenty of history to be found in Chi-Town.

Biograph Theater

It may appear to be just another boring theater. But it’s not. In fact, you possibly saw it in a Johnny Depp Film recently. The Biograph Theater is none other than the place where John Dillinger was gunned down by the FBI. In 1934, on July 22nd, John Dillinger saw the film “Manhattan Melodrama”. Little did he know that the FBI was staked out outside waiting for him. As Dillinger left theater, he spotted the FBI agents and moved to flee, only to be shot several times, ensuring he would never escape again. The Biograph still functions today, although it now hosts live venues. The theater even went through an overhaul in 2006. And yes, the theater portrayed itself in the film “Public Enemies”. It’s facade and neighboring storefronts were redressed to look as they did back in 1934.? photo credit:?ejojola

Green Mill Jazz Club

The speakeasy, 1920′s icon. When prohibition began, outlawing the sale of alcohol in the United States paved the way for criminals like Al Capone to come to fruition. And if you think prohibition stopped alcohol, well, then… the word naive comes to mind. Alcohol, if anything, was more rampant in the 1920′s. Want to make something that’s already fun even more popular?? Make it taboo. The “speakeasy” was the slang term for an establishment that illegally sold alcohol during these times. Some were seedy bars, others were extravagant nightclubs filled with the rich and famous. The Green Mill Jazz Club, still open today, was a popular speakeasy back during prohibition and at one point even owned by Jack McGurn, a right hand man of Al Capone.? photo credit:?swanksalot

Chicago Water Tower

This is the second oldest ornamental water tower in the United States, the oldest being in Louisville Kentucky. But this structure is important for a second reason the reaches much, much deeper into the history of Chicago. When the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 burnt down a third of the city, this tower was the only public building in the burnt zone to survive. Today it is the only surviving structure one can still see. This makes the Chicago Water Tower an anchor linking the Chicago of today, to the original Chicago of pre-1871.? photo credit:?nautical2k

Wrigley Building

Enjoy chewing gum?? Then you’ve probably enjoyed gum made by Wrigley. Wrigley has been around surround, it’s even likely your great grandparents enjoyed Wrigley gum too. The company was founded in Chicago in 1891. The Wrigley Building, located at 400-410 North Michigan is a skyscraper built as the corporate headquarters of the Wrigley Company. It was also the first air conditioned office building in Chicago. Construction began in 1920. The building is comprised of two towers. The 30 story, south tower was completed in April 1921, and the 21 story, north tower in May 1924. Walkways connect the two towers at the ground level, third floor, and fourteenth floor. The taller, south tower features a clock with a face pointing in each direction.? photo credit:?scmikeburton

Wrigley Field

photo credit: Matt Watts

The Chicago Cubs. The haven’t won the World Series since 1908, but at least they have a great stadium. Originally known as Weeghman Park, the park was built in 1914 over a period of just six weeks. In 1918, William Wrigley Jr. (the same Wrigley as in the “Wrigley Building”) purchased a controlling interest. A few short years later, in 1926, he would rename the park “Wrigley Field”. The stadium is one of the most famous in Major League Baseball. The park has recently gone through several renovations as well as a change in ownership. Further renovations have now been scheduled.

Mount Carmel Cemetery

Some people enjoy visiting cemeteries. If you’re one of those people, and in Chicago, then this is the one for you. This Roman Catholic cemetery, still active today, is home to a number of famous (infamous?) organized crime figures. Sam Giancana, Jack “Machine Gun” McGurn, and most notably Al Capone are buried here. On the more moral side of things, the Bishops and Archbishops of Chicago are also buried here within the “Bishop’s Mausoleum”.? photo credit:?karla kaulfuss

Lexington Hotel

Image via Wikipedia

Although it no longer exists, the former site of the Lexington Hotel is worth a nod as one drives past. Found at the corner of Cermak Road (originally known as 22nd street) and Michigan Avenue, the Lexington served as none other than the headquarters of crime lord Al Capone. The hotel gained more recent notoriety in 1986 when Geraldo Rivera hosted a one time television special, “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vault”. A vault, once belonging to Al Capone, was found at the long abandoned hotel, and opened for the first time since God knows when on national television. Some 30 million people watched as the safe was opened to reveal… nothing but dirt and some empty bottles. To this day “Al Capone’s Vault” is used as slang for an event that doesn’t live up to its hype. The hotel was torn down in 1995. Found on the site today are the new “Lexington Park Condominiums”.

The historic sites of Chicago are, if anything, eclectic. Whereas some cities may simply boast historic homes and government buildings, Chicago boasts theaters, night clubs, stadiums and nearly every other manner of historic site. Chicago is well worth checking out, and without doubt one of the greatest cities in the United States.

Moving is an incredibly stressful evening in your life but the stress can be minimized by using the following moving tips.

Color Code

Give each room in the house (or each person) a color and have them label their boxes in that color. Then create a code so movers can easily put boxes in the appropriate room.

Number System

Prioritize your boxes and number the ones that contain everyday items with a one. This way you won’t be searching through everything to find the things you need.

Valuables at Hand

Don’t trust your most treasured valuables with strangers. Keep a few boxes of important papers, valuable heirlooms and other items you’d be devastated if you lost with you at all times.

Be Willing to Say Good bye

As you’re packing be honest with yourself, if you don’t use it then get rid of it. Why move stuff you don’t want or need? Create a pile of items you’ll take to a local charity or sell at a garage sale.

Address Labels

Order address labels with your new address and slap them on everything. Remember to inform anyone who bills you of the address change. Stick the address labels on your moving boxes too just so nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

And most importantly, allow yourself some time to unpack and put things away. Don’t create additional stress by having irrational timelines.

photo credit:?roland