GAMBINO REALTORS THE COLLECTION
MAY 2019
FREEPORT
Welcome to the May issue of The Collection! Articles in this issue pose many interesting questions pertaining to what your needs might be for your future home and will help you determine if a home or condo best suite your
BELVIDERE
needs. If a condo may be in your future, take a peek at some outstanding condos on page eight of this issue that feature stunning design elements and superior locations. Cordially, Jonathan R. Krause, CRB President JKrause@GoGambino.com
KIRKLAND
THE COLLECTION Only Gambino Realtors places your home directly in the email inbox of 62,500 homeowners with a household income of $250,000.00 or more. Our reach through this luxury pulbication covers Winnebago, Boone, McHenry and Kane Counties in Northern Illinois.
815•282•2222 www.gogambino.com
DURAND
ROCKFORD
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING YOUR HOME TO RETIRE IN As more and more baby boomers enter retirement age, the question of whether they should sell their homes and move has become a hot topic. In today’s housing market climate, with low available inventory in the starter and trade-up home categories, it makes sense to evaluate your home’s ability to adapt to your needs in retirement.
home may be enough to purchase your retirement home with little to no mortgage. Homeowners in the US gained an average of over $9,700 in equity last year.
3. Maintenance “As we age, our tolerance for cleaning gutters, raking leaves and shoveling snow can go right out the window. A condominium with lowAccording to the National Association maintenance needs can be a literal lifesaver, if of Exclusive Buyers Agents (NAEBA), your health or physical abilities decline.” there are seven factors that you should consider when choosing your As we mentioned earlier, would a condo retirement home. with an HOA fee be worth the added peace of mind of not having to do the 1. Affordability maintenance work yourself ? “It may be easy enough to purchase your home today but think long-term about your monthly 4. Security costs. Account for property taxes, insurance, “Elderly homeowners can be targets for scams HOA fees, utilities – all the things that will or break-ins. Living in a home with security be due whether or not you have a mortgage on features, such as a manned gate house, residentthe property.” only access and a security system can bring peace of mind.” Would moving to a complex with homeowner association fees actually As scary as that thought may be, any be cheaper than having to hire all additional security is helpful. An extra the contractors you would need to set of eyes looking out for you always maintain your home, lawn, etc.? Would adds to peace of mind. your taxes go down significantly if you relocated? What is your monthly 5. Pets income going to be like in retirement? “Renting won’t do if the dog can’t come too! The companionship of pets can provide 2. Equity emotional and physical benefits.” “If you have equity in your current home, you may be able to apply it to the purchase of your Consider all of your options when it next home. Maintaining a healthy amount of comes to bringing your ‘furever’ friend home equity gives you a source of emergency with you to a new home. Will there be funds to tap, via a home equity loan or reverse necessary additional deposits if you are mortgage.” renting or in a condo? Is the backyard fenced in? How far are you from your The equity you have in your current favorite veterinarian?
6. Mobility “No one wants to picture themselves in a wheelchair or a walker, but the home layout must be able to accommodate limited mobility.” Sixty is the new 40, right? People are living longer and are more active in retirement, but that doesn’t mean that down the road you won’t need your home to be more accessible. Installing handrails and making sure your hallways and doorways are wide enough may be a good reason to look for a home that was built to accommodate these needs. 7. Convenience “Is the new home close to the golf course, or to shopping and dining? Do you have amenities within easy walking distance? This can add to home value!” How close are you to your children and grandchildren? Would relocating to a new area make visits with family easier or more frequent? Beyond being close to your favorite stores and restaurants, there are a lot of factors to consider. Bottom Line When it comes to your forever home, evaluating your current house for its ability to adapt with you as you age can be the first step to guaranteeing your comfort in retirement. If after considering all these factors you find yourself curious about your options, contact Gambino Realtors to evaluate your ability to sell your house in today’s market and get you into your dream retirement home!
COUNTRY ELEGANCE $467,700.00 Settle in with this breath-taking 6.91 Acre estate and enjoy magnificent views of the scenic pond and gorgeous landscaping. The meticulous construction and planning that went into this home provide for the perfect country lifestyle of peace and quiet. This home includes many new updates such as new windows and doors, a 36’ x 16’ outbuilding, newly paved driveway, remote blinds on three skylights, five new ceiling fans and fresh exterior painting on the trim. Freshly painted deck and new well pump. Detached garage is drywalled and insulated. Spread out in the 5,300 Square Feet of total living space that includes additional storage areas. Enjoy the comforts of four bedrooms and a perfect in-law suite, three full bathrooms, and two half baths, a huge dining room for entertaining, a formal living room, great room with a gourmet kitchen and two wood burning fireplaces to warm you on the cold winter days. Revel in nature views from the three season room and full walk-out exposure with a sliding door. Plenty of room for all of your toys in the three car garage which is also heated. Come see this beautiful home and make it your own.
4750 West Stephenson Street • 4 BEDROOMS • 6.91 ACRES • IN-LAW SUITE • GOURMET KITCHEN
Tom Zarembski 815|218|9210 Contact View Full Listing for Details
SLICE OF PARADISE $449,900.00 Relax in your very own slice of paradise with this beautiful gem that includes all the bells and whistles. This bright home is a custom built beauty with an original design. There is plenty of room for everyone with four bedrooms, three full baths, and a fully exposed lower-level. Park all of your toys in the pristine four-car garage. Enjoy the weather on the well-designed resort quality patio and pool area. This unique estate is nestled on 1.66 Acres in a private setting where you can feel as though you have the surrounding nature all to yourself. Be inspired by the top quality design and construction throughout with unique angles and soaring ceilings creating a spacious feeling. Your private retreat awaits as this custom home is ready to sell.
916 Olson Spring Road • 4 BEDROOMS • INGROUND POOL • PRIVATE SETTING • SOARING CEILINGS
Frank Gambino 815|637|0113 Contact View Full Listing for Details
NATURE LOVER’S DELIGHT $415,500.00
Explore this unique and beautiful, one of a kind home. This 4,250 Square Foot home sits on 6.55 Acres, more or less, nestled in tall trees back off a quiet country road and comes with a four paddock horse stable, hay and tack storage and pasture, large garden shed and dog run. The main house started as a hexagon. Additions added more living space, sunlight and spectacular views. An additional garage with a private entrance to an apartment or guest home above adds to the property. The main house has three bedrooms, two full baths, and two handcrafted wood-burning fireplaces plus an additional two bedrooms and one bath in the guest house. All of this adds up to five bedrooms three full baths and a four-car garage estate. Enjoy the comforts of three energy efficient heat pumps that warm and cool the entire home. There is also a large deck and patio to enjoy the mature landscape with beautiful walnut, oak and hickory trees along with nature and wildlife at its best. Conveniently located 20 minutes to the new Mercy Hospital, 40 minutes to Elgin, 5 minutes to I-90 and 45-55 minutes to O’Hare Airport.
35184 Wheeler Road • 4,250 SQUARE FEET • HORSE STABLE • GUEST HOUSE ATTACHED • LARGE GARDEN SHED
Sandy Basel 815|494|4132 Contact View Full Listing for Details
CUSTOM-BUILT OPEN CONCEPT $410,000.00 This impressive custom built five-year-old ranch with an open concept design boasts four bedrooms, three and a half baths all on a beautiful secluded 11.08 Acres. Enjoy the fresh air on a stroll through wooded trails and a peaceful creek to relax by. Relish is luxury finishes from hardwood floors, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. The spacious master suite includes a walk-in closet and views of amazing sunsets. Entertain in the lower-level rec-room, spacious brick patio with a hot tub and wet bar with granite countertop. For guests, there is a lower-level bedroom that includes a full bath with a rain shower head and glass doors. This property comes complete with two outbuildings and great land to explore.
10024 Wheeler Road • 11.08 ACRES • LOWER LEVEL REC ROOM • WOODED TRAILS • TWO OUTBUILDINGS
Michelle Dollak 815|988|4363 Contact View Full Listing for Details
CUL-DE-SAC COMFORT $339,000.00 Nothing to do but move in with this beautiful home that boasts oversized rooms and loads of space for everyone. Almost everything has been replaced or redone here. Enjoy the comforts of newer famous named appliances, windows, brand new granite, updated baths, gutters and downspouts, garage door and opener, LED lighting, paint, and much more. All appliances stay including in the second kitchen. A hot tub sits on the two-level maintenance free deck with new deck rails, entry doors, and all. The huge eat-in kitchen opens to a large family room with a cozy fireplace and if that does not keep you warm, there is also a fireplace in the oversized master suite that welcomes you with its newer bath. This all sits on a private, tree-lined lot at the end of a cul-de-sac so no busy traffic to disturb your relaxing days.
5133 Woodie Ranch Lane • 4 BEDROOMS • UPDATES GALORE • TWO FIREPLACES • QUIET SETTING
Jill Jarek 815|621|5255 Contact View Full Listing for Details
WHY PET FRIENDLY HOMES ARE IN HIGH DEMAND
One of the many benefits of owning your own home is the freedom to find your ‘furever’ friend. By pointing out the aspects of your home that make it ‘pet-friendly’ in your listing, you’ll attract these buyers, rather than alienating the 68% of American households that have a pet! If you are one of the many homeowners looking to list your home for sale, how do you stand out to pet parents searching for their dream home? Whether a dog person, a cat person, or someone who prefers the company of another pet species, 99% of pet owners say that they consider their animal to be family. When finding a home, 95% of animal owners believe it is important that a housing community allows animals. A study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that there are many aspects of the home buying, selling and owning experience that have been greatly impacted by our love for our pets. This should come as no surprise, as $72 billion was spent on pets in the U.S in 2018. NAR’s President William E. Brown shed some light on the impact of pet owners and their home search. “It is important to understand the unique needs and wants of animal owners when it comes to homeownership. REALTORS® understand that when someone buys a home, they are buying it with the needs of their whole family in mind; ask pet owners, and they will enthusiastically agree that their animals are part of their family.” The Power of Pets When Choosing the Right Home • 89% of pet owners say they would not give up their pet due to a housing restriction
• 81% of Americans say their pets play a role in their housing situation • 31% of animal owners have refused to put in an offer on a home because it wasn’t a good fit for their animals • 19% of Americans say they would consider moving for their pet • 12% percent have moved for their pet New home builders have actually begun installing retractable pet gates that tuck away neatly inside door jams as a highly requested feature in new homes to attract petparents. So, if you are a homeowner looking to sell in today’s petfriendly environment, point out the features of your home that will attract pet owners: • Fully fenced in backyard – (91% of pet owners ranked this as the most important feature of a home to accommodate their pet) • Locations of dog parks/walking paths/pet-friendly beaches in the area (71% ranked this as the top feature of any neighborhood they would consider) • Proximity to veterinarians/groomers/pet supply stores (31%) Bottom Line Americans love their pets and will look for pet-friendly features in the home they wish to buy, so take advantage of this knowledge by pointing out your home’s ability to meet their needs.
THE CONDO LIFESTYLE 1214 Sanctuary | Rockford
SOLD
1463 Boulder Creek | Rockford
• 3 BEDROOMS • SUN ROOM • MAIN FLOOR MASTER Perfect for entertaining and perfect location tucked away in a small, quiet, private cul-de-sac of upscale condos, this three story stunner has it all! Chef ’s delight kitchen with Five Star Range with bun warmer, Subzero refrigerator, wine cooler, butler’s pantry, tons of cabinets and breakfast bar open to dining and great room. Hardwoods in open concept kitchen, foyer, dining and great rooms. Great room with wall of windows and soaring ceilings with built-in shelving and fireplace.
Kathy Heeren-Ellis | 815•708•4061 | heerenellis4@aol.com • 3 BEDROOMS • GOURMET KITCHEN • CONVENIENT LOCATION
Open concept, soaring ceilings, neutral décor condo near shopping, restaurants and easy highway access. Large gourmet kitchen with a center island, granite countertops, cabinets galore, stainless steel appliances and pantry. Master suite with walk in closet, Jacuzzi tub, shower, custom vanity and granite countertop. Open staircase leads to large finished lower level with family room, office area, full bath, two walk-in closets, bedroom and tons of storage! Newer roof.
5359 Winding Creek | Rockford
SOLD 929 High Point | Rockton
SOLD
Kathy Heeren-Ellis | 815•708•4061 | heerenellis4@aol.com • 3 BEDROOMS • 3 FULL BATHS • DESIRABLE SHADOW WOODS
Gorgeous condo filled with character and charm located in desirable Shadow Woods. The foyer opens to the living room and formal dining room with 12 foot ceilings and crown molding. Large living room features gas fireplace and patio doors to light filled sunroom. Delightful kitchen with eating area boasts cherry cabinets, quartz countertops, tile floors and backsplash and includes Sub Zero fridge, smooth surface cooktop, built-in ovens and dishwasher.
David Palmer | 815•566•2437 | dpalmer@gogambino.com • CUSTOM ZENTZ CONDO • 2 BEDROOMS • WALKOUT LOWER LEVEL Zentz all brick fully exposed condo in Summit East. Open floor plan with living room, dining area and kitchen. Convenient first floor laundry. Nice master suite. Finished walkout lower level with huge rec room, workshop and full bath. Composite deck and patio.
Heather Porter | 815•988•7443 | hporter@gogambino.com
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Call Gambino Realtors 815 | 282 | 2222 Or log onto gogambino.com to start your home buying and selling process today!