Category Archives: Real Estate
BEST Summer Vacation Rentals
Beaches, boats, lighthouses, quaint shops, a variety of restaurants, and exciting nightlife awaits you as you enjoy one of our beautiful waterfront condos…
Majestic Getaways offers premier condo rentals in major locations throughout the Midwest;
including Saugatuck and Douglas Michigan. 140 miles from Chicago, these Small towns = BIG Fun! Visit the twin cities of Saugatuck and Douglas Michigan for a welcoming, casual atmosphere that makes you feel like part of the community. Lots of LGBTQ folks from the Midwest flock here to get away from the bigger city life to enjoy the small town feel and great outdoors. Grassy dunes, white sand beaches and quaint streets of shopping make these harbor towns the perfect getaway.
St Joe Michigan. St. Joseph is carefully nestled on the southern tip of what has been termed “The Riviera of the Midwest.” This deepwater port town is a growing resort community – part of a “small town” chain stretching from the state line in a spectacular arc along Lake Michigan. The lakeshore is peppered with remarkable sand dune formations and lined further inland with a lush countryside that produces some of the nation’s finest orchards and vineyards. It is the largest non-citrus fruit growing region in the nation.
Located just 90 miles from downtown Chicago, St. Joseph is a quaint community situated within the larger Benton Harbor/St. Joseph MSA.
South Haven Michigan. One of Michigan’s featured Beachtowns, South Haven defines resorting on Lake Michigan’s eastern shore with majestic vistas and dazzling sunsets.You’ll feel this rich heritage as you gaze over our 100-year old lighthouse -a welcoming beacon in an often turbulent world.
Sandusky Ohio. Sandusky is midway between Toledo to the west and Cleveland to the east. Thrill seekers will have no trouble getting their kicks in Sandusky, home to the world-renowned Cedar Point Amusement Park, boasting 17 roller coasters, plentiful children’s attractions and carousels.
Outside the park, the city entices travelers with its sandy white Erie shores, stunning coastal trails, mysterious Seneca Caverns and numerous refreshing water parks. The downtown waterfront boasts historic architecture, charming boutiques and unparalleled views over Lake Erie.
and Chicago Illinois – Besides Pizza, hot dogs, skyscrapers and world class shopping, Chicago is also known for it’s waterfront. Spanning Over 30 miles of beaches and waterfront that offer the perfect settings for playing, relaxing and soaking it all in. An 18 mile bike path, kayak rentals, dinner cruise on Lake Michigan it’s all here! And you can rent a place Downtown Chicago located in the heart of the city, overlooking the Chicago River!
WATERFRONT VACATION RENTALS by MAJESTIC GETAWAYS offers premier condo rentals! Visit their website for more details and photos. Call them at (269) 349-7700!
Gerber House is 2nd National LGBT Landmark
The Henry Gerber House is a house at 1710 North Crilly Court in the Old Town Triangle Chicago Landmark District of Chicago, Illinois, United States. The house was built in 1885. In the 1920s it housed the apartment occupied by Henry Gerber, founder of the short-lived Society for Human Rights, which was incorporated in Illinois as the first American organization working for gay rights. The building was designated a Chicago Landmark on June 6, 2001. This month, it was designated a United States’ National Historic Landmark.
The Gerber House is only the second LGBT-related property in the country to receive the recognition. The iconic Stonewall Inn in New York City is the other building listed primarily for its impact in LGBT history, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Carrie Barnett, board president of the Gerber/Hart Library and Archives, said the spotlight on Gerber and his home helps to fill in the historical narrative of the gay rights movement. The library in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood is named for Gerber and Pearl M. Hart, an attorney who also fought for the rights of gays and lesbians.
“Given the often hidden and erased nature of gay and lesbian history, and the frequent difficulty of finding even basic documents pertaining to such history, it is doubly fortunate that this house has remained so well preserved,” the landmark application states.
The recognition of the Gerber House is part of an effort by the Interior Department to document a more complete story of the gay rights movement. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced the initiative in May 2014.
5 Tips for First Time Home Owners
Are you tired of renting and are a first-time home buyer eager to get into the market? Here
are steps to take to help you decide whether you’re ready to take the
plunge.
1. Check the selling prices of comparable homes in your area. Web sites such as Zillow and Homegain
can give you a general idea of what you should expect to pay. You can
also do a quick search of actual MLS listings in your area on a number
of Web sites, including the site of the National Association of Realtors. Better yet, contact a knowledgeable real estate agent in Chicago, who knows the area’s and the prices well.
2. See what you can afford. Use Bankrate’s mortgage calculator
to see what your payment would be. To get a sense of the maximum you
should spend, use MSN Real Estate’s home affordability calculator
(here).
3. Find out what your total monthly housing cost would be, including
taxes and homeowners insurance. To get a feel for the maximum amount you
should spend, including taxes and insurance, use MSN Real Estate’s home affordability calculator. In some areas, what you’ll pay for your taxes and insurance escrow can almost double your mortgage payment.
4. Find out how much you’ll likely pay in closing costs. The upfront
cost of settling on your home shouldn’t be overlooked. Closing costs
include origination fees charged by the lender, title and settlement
fees, taxes and prepaid items such as homeowners insurance or homeowners
association fees. You can see what closing costs average in your state
by looking at Bankrate.com’s annual closing cost survey.
5. Look at your budget and determine how a house fits into it. Fannie
Mae recommends that buyers spend no more than 28% of their income on
housing costs. Go much past 30% and you risk becoming house poor.
Sponsored by Pam Plotkin
Whether you are buying or selling a home, you’ve come to the right place
to achieve success in Chicago’s exciting housing market. As one of
Dream Town’s highly-trained real estate agents, I will help you reach
your goals through expert knowledge of area neighborhoods and
exceptional client services.
