01 Mar 2025
Home-Related Tax Deductions
Tax season. Just the words can send shivers down your spine. But if you’re a homeowner, there’s a silver lining: potential savings! You’ve probably heard that you can deduct the interest you pay on...
Every house has stories to tell: stories of quests and homecomings; of romance, love, and loss; of hilarity and grief. Stories of first steps, spilled sauce, lost socks, slammed doors, carved turkeys, binge-watching...I help clients find the cover that best binds their unique stories – whether that’s the opening chapter or the next installment in the story of their lives. My business cards say I’m an agent. But when you get right down to it, I’m much more—I’m a marketer, a connector, a facilitator, a negotiator, a referrer, a last-minute problem solver. I believe that we don’t buy and sell homes the way we do other "stuff." Not only will your residence be your biggest financial transaction, whether buying or selling, it will be the one with the most resonance. As a buyer, you may start your house search based on location and features. But you will choose your home based on emotion, "gut feel" and that sense of belonging. My role is to connect you with the right house, a home where you will inscribe your life. I have intimate knowledge of the neighborhoods where I work, which could range from knowing a certain block has had flooding issues, or has great block parties, or is built on a former contamination site, or across from a business with known noise issues, or is in a sought-after school attendance boundary. I don't want you to only feel okay about the house on which you make an offer, I want you to fall in love with it! As a seller, you need to complete the difficult process of ending the relationship with the space where the most intimate moments of your family’s life have occurred. My job is to guide you through this process, so that your home becomes a product, and is shown to its best advantage among like products in its neighborhood. I will bring to bear a full suite of robust marketing tools so that your product will catch buyers' eyes, and entice them to make an appointment, and then submit an offer as your property clearly showed as the one they love best! Whether you're a buyer or a seller, I will use my top-notch negotiation skills to get you your desired financial position with as little drama as necessary. As the situation warrants, I will be patient and polite but sometimes pointed; understanding but firm; assertive but never adversarial; and always, always keep my eye on the goal: getting you to the closing table on time. To do that, I develop congenial relationships with other local agents, with lenders and stagers, inspectors and attorneys and everyone else who will help make your transaction a success story. Will you and I click? Here's some fun facts to help you decide. I used to teach kindergarten and first grade; I’m creative, great at multi-tasking, and dealing with tantrums. I compete in trivia tournaments; I’m detail-oriented and enjoy solving puzzles. I am a huge reader; I know where to find resources. I love holidays and throw awesome parties. I know just about every line in "The Wizard of Oz", "It's a Wonderful Life", and most "I Love Lucy" episodes. I’ll even bake you a pie when we close. Will I be the right Realtor for you? I don’t know until you tell me what you’re looking for. Contact me at deborahsellsoakpark4U@gmail.com, whether you want to begin your first draft or next chapter.
01 Mar 2025
Tax season. Just the words can send shivers down your spine. But if you’re a homeowner, there’s a silver lining: potential savings! You’ve probably heard that you can deduct the interest you pay on...
01 Feb 2025
Ask any homeowner about what they would like to change about their home, and most will say, “How much time do you have? Home improvements (cue Tim Allen) or home remodeling projects can stem...
01 Feb 2025
Ask any homeowner about what they would like to change about their home, and most will say, “How much time do you have? Home improvements (cue Tim Allen) or home remodeling projects can stem...
01 Jan 2025
Experts Predict Home Values to Increase 1.5% to 3.6% in 2025. Top housing experts and economists give a glimpse of what mortgage rates, home values and the national real estate market will do in...
09 Dec 2024
The holidays are a time for joy, family, and celebration, but they also bring added responsibilities. Between decorating, hosting, and just keeping up with your daily routines, your home can quickly start to feel...
01 Dec 2024
The holidays are a time for joy, family, and celebration, but they also bring added responsibilities. Between decorating, hosting, and just keeping up with your daily routines, your home can quickly start to feel...
01 Nov 2024
For many homebuyers, multigenerational living used to be considered an option of last resort: it was a route families took only when they needed to ride out a financial storm or care for ailing...
30 Sep 2024
Selling your home quickly and at the right price takes more than just listing it online. To draw in potential buyers and secure top offers, your home needs to stand out. That’s where home...
01 Sep 2024
A recent survey found that more than half (52%) of American homeowners have a renovation project planned this year.1 If you’re among them, you know that embarking on home improvements can be both exciting...
02 Aug 2024
With home prices and rates still relatively high, securing a mortgage can feel daunting––even to the most experienced borrowers. But don’t let that deter you: If other homebuyers’ experiences are any indication, odds are...
Sold | 2 BR | 1.1 BA | 1,289 sqft
Check out 845 Forest Ave Oak Park IL 60302! The happy new owners moved-up from a condo to this northwest Oak Park charmer! They fell in love with its hardwood floors, stained glass windows and...
Sold | 4 BR | 2 BA | sqft
This very cool Mid-Century Modern 2-flat with gorgeous updated kitchens sold in only 2 days with multiple offers; as a result seller got $10,000 above list! Buyers loved the huge basement and shady fenced...