NewsTribune_Illinois Valley Homes_061924

Illinois Valley Homes

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Publication | June 19, 2024

MLS #12060802 621 Hickory Ave, Oglesby - $260,000

FEATURED PROPERTY

Wonderful Oglesby location! This gorgeous 3 bedroom 3 full bath home, enhanced with cathedral ceilings and soaring windows is situated on a .68 acre mature lot. The main level living room with oor to ceiling brick replace provides plenty of light plus views of and access to the beautifully landscaped back yard. Eat-in kitchen plus separate dining area. The windowed sunroom with hottub opens to the paver patio. The upper level houses the primary bedroom suite featuring sliders to the private balcony, and its own bath with large tub, separate shower and skylights. A loft area overlooks the lower level and also provides backyard views! All appliances remain and hot tub to remain. The partially nished basement brings extra living space with a family room featuring built in bunkbeds, kitchen area, 3rd full bath and storage rooms. Main level laundry. 2 car attached garage includes an overhead door for back yard access and a pull down attic access. 200 amp electric. Roof 2023. Furnace 2015.

See listing on page 2

How to keep an AC unit running strong

How to buy a home in a high interest rate environment PAGE 9

PAGE 6 What every homeowner should know about the clean energy tax credit PAGE 12

Oglesby-Affordable 3 bedroom, 1 bath home on 1.10 scenic acres, 2+ car attached garage.

#12060808 $95,000

Peru-Recently renovated all brick 3 bedroom, 1 bath home, full basement with walk out, 2 car garage.

#12039443 $124,900

Hennepin-Nice and neat 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath ranch home, 2 car garage, deck and concrete patio.

#12016146 $153,500

RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS

Peru- Lovely affordable 2 story, 4 bedroom, 2 bath steel sided home, original woodwork, covered porch.

#12059561 $145,000

Mark-Charming 2 bedroom, 1 bath home on corner lot, wood burning fireplace, large outbuilding.

#12027823 $92,000

LaSalle-Split level 3 bedroom, 2 bath home, 2 car attached garage, above ground pool with deck.

#11996961 $227,000

Spring Valley- Abundant space in this 3 bedroom, 1 bath home, enclosed front porch, full basement.

#12058135 $69,000

DePue-Ranch style home features 2 bedroom, 1 bath, unfinished basement, off street parking.

#12023519 $39,000

Oglesby- Spacious and well maintained 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home, living room has cathedral ceilings.

#11995337 $224,000

Oglesby- Charm throughout this 3 bedroom, 1 bath home, original hardwood floors, fenced backyard. #12052192 $129,900

Peru-Very nice 4 bedroom, 2 bath home, covered front porch and sunny deck, oversized 1 car garage.

#12021053 $220,000

Oglesby-Gorgeous 3 bedroom, 3 bath home situated on .68 acre mature lot, 3 car garage.

#12060802 $260,000

Jaimie Bazydlo

Janet Benvenutti

Wendy Fulmer

Robin Guerrero

Pietro Alfano

Kelli Geinosky

Barb Kuzma

Lester Garry Schroeder Vincent Jessen

Jessica Jeffrey Lacey Monterastelli

Chris Hopps

LaSalle-

LaSalle-

VERMILIONVUE SUBDIVISION

This exclusive community offers the perfect blend of country living and modern convenience. City sewer, water and underground utilities are all available. Lot sizes up to 1+ acre, covenants are available, starting at $29,000. Call Wendy Fulmer at 815-252-8280 or Barb Kuzma at 815-343-1433. MLS #12061416

HERITAGE FIELDS SUBDIVISION

Large residential building lots starting at $19,900. Curb & gutters, city sewer & water available. Close to I-39! Lot size begins at .25 an acre & covenants are available. Call Garry Schroeder at 815-252-5854. MLS#10141625

Bob Huber

Carol Wlodarchak

TJ Templeton Amber Witek Karen Zermeno Heidi Huber

Tom Guttilla

How to keep an AC unit running strong

Air conditioners are a lifeline come the dog days of summer, when soaring temperatures make a well-cooled home a welcome respite from the outdoors. Maintaining an AC unit ensures it will be there to keep everyone cool when the mercury rises. The following are some steps homeowners can take to keep their AC units in tip-top shape this summer.

■ Replace the air lter on the unit. Dirt, dust, debris, and pollen can quickly fill the filter on an AC unit. Replacing these filters prior to summer can make the unit operate more efficiently and keep cool air circulating throughout the house all summer. Homeowners can first identify which type of unit they have and then find an online tutorial to see how to replace the filter. Some filters are more expensive than others, but the cost is still low and the energy savings can be substantial.

■ Schedule annual maintenance on the unit. Routine maintenance performed by a local HVAC technician is another way to ensure an AC unit is running at peak capacity when it’s most needed. Such maintenance is perhaps most effective in spring, as that ensures the unit is running strong from the first heat wave of the summer all the way through Labor Day. HVAC technicians can identify problems and recommend services that homeowners may not recognize they need until it’s already hot out. Annual maintenance appointments also give HVAC

professionals a chance to assess a system compared to the previous year, which can help them identify if a unit is nearing its end. That can ensure homeowners are not caught off guard when the unit needs to replaced.

■ Help the unit make it through the summer. Whether it’s a typical summer or one marked by a handful of heat waves, AC units can use a little help to get through the season. Closing curtains throughout the house on hot afternoons is a natural way to keep a home cool during a heat wave, and that can cut back on home cooling costs and protect a unit from being overworked. Ceiling fans also can be installed to keep rooms cool and circulate air, which also makes a hot summer a little less taxing on an AC unit.

■ Use a programmable thermostat . Programmable thermostats allow homeowners to set the temperatures inside their homes throughout the day. If no one is home during the afternoon, there’s no reason to have the AC cranking. Program the thermostat so the house is comfortable when people are home, but raise the desired temperature when no one is around. That gives the AC unit a break during the day and can help to dramatically reduce the cost of cooling the home.

AC units will not last forever, but some simple maintenance can improve their life expectancy and keep homes comfortable throughout the summer.

TF247114

3 Bedroom • 2 Bath

Rare opportunity to own this spacious home in a highly desirable location on over an acre of land! A beautiful kitchen remodeled in 2006 with gorgeous new cabinetry, a ceiling skylight, and all stainless steel appliances. A new family room addition in 2004 has a gas fireplace with on/off wall switch plus a wet bar and the convenience of a mini fridge. An attached three-car garage gives lots of extra space, plus an outside, detached onecar garage. The outdoor pool area has a large wrap-around deck for sunbathing plus a bar area if outdoor refreshments are desired.

Neaves, Managing Broker

How to buy a home in a high interest rate environment

(BPT) - Following years of all-time low mortgage interest rates, 2023 saw rates fluctuate between 6% and 8%, complicating the plans of some homebuyers, particularly those looking to purchase their first home. What many renters who are looking to become homeowners may not realize is that mortgage rates are only one aspect of affordability, which should be viewed as a three-legged stool: home price, mortgage interest rate, and down payment. Even in a challenging interest rate or home price environment, private mortgage insurance (MI) can be used to help low down payment borrowers achieve the American dream of homeownership.

In some markets, high interest rates have cooled the trajectory of home price appreciation; with home sales dropping 18.7% from 2022 to 2023 and the national median home price increasing less than 1% in 2023. This is good

news for first-time homebuyers who saw home prices in some markets increase 20% or 30% in prior years.

So, if the home price is within range, how much cash do you need for a down payment? You may think it is 20%, but the truth is, you can qualify for a mortgage with as little as 3% down.

According to U.S. Mortgage Insurers, private MI has helped nearly 39 million borrowers access homeownership with low down payments. Further, private MI helped nearly 800,000 homeowners purchase a home or refinance a mortgage in 2023, with nearly 35% having incomes below $75,000 and more than 64% of those loans going to firsttime buyers. In addition, the most common form of private MI, paid monthly by the borrower, helps homeowners begin building equity sooner and is also only a temporary cost that can be canceled after

20% equity is established. Importantly, once private MI is canceled, the monthly mortgage payment goes down, unlike loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a government program featuring monthly MI premiums that are generally not cancelable.

Each homebuyer’s finances are different, therefore it is important to do the math before buying a home. Home prices and interest rates impact the monthly cost, but luckily the private MI industry is able to help homebuyers overcome one of the biggest hurdles to homeownership: the need for a large cash down payment.

There is a saying, “date the rate, marry the home.” Borrowers should always stay within their budget, but those who purchase a home now with a low down payment may be able to refinance later when rates decrease. These borrowers can achieve the American

dream of homeownership sooner, start to build equity and avoid some competition from other borrowers who are waiting on rates to drop.

If you’re interested in learning more about private MI, visit lowdownpaymentfacts. com to learn more about your homeownership options.

Kristen‘s expertise andknowledge ofthe Illinois Valleyand surroundingareas is agreat benefit when searchingfor your future home. She cares about makingadifference, as a real estate agent her first priorityis to make sure her clients are satisfiedand comfortable with the real estate process.

Kristen listens to her client’s wants andneeds inorder to achieve the best outcome in everytransaction. She strives to ensure that the buyer andsellingprocess is fun, easyandstress-free. her clients can count on her every step of the way.

What every homeowner should know about the clean energy tax credit

(BPT) - Whether you are in the market for a new home or ready to upgrade your current residence, investing in energy-efficient home improvements could help you save money thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.

When you’re ready to enhance your home’s efficiency, here’s what you need to know:

Energy-Efficient Home Improvement Credit: Beginning with products installed on Jan. 1, 2023, and extending through the end of 2032, energy tax credits have been expanded from previous programs with increased cost-saving values. They now offer homeowners a rebate up to 30% of eligible expenses up to $1,200 per year each year that the program is active. Homeowners considering an

energy-efficient heat pump can save even more money with an additional rebate up to $2,000 available. Eligible upgrades include:

◆ Home energy audits

◆ Heat pump HVAC or water heaters

◆ Biomass stoves and boilers

◆ High-efficiency gas furnaces

◆ High-efficiency central air conditioning

◆ ENERGY-STAR certified doors and windows

◆ Insulation enhancements

◆ Electric panel and wiring upgrades

◆ Clean energy equipment installation

High-E ciency Electric Home Rebate Program: The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act, or HEEHRA, is a 10-year program that provides

homeowners with rebates up to 100% of the cost of eligible projects up to $14,000. HEEHRA rebates are based on income and can help to fund home improvements such as switching to electric appliances, installing a heat pump or updating your home’s circuit panel. The value of each rebate varies by project and includes up to $8,000 for eligible households to install heat pumps.

State and local rebate programs: In addition to federally funded programs, many state, local and utility rebates are available to incentivize energy-efficient home improvements. These offers can vary so it’s best to speak to a local expert such as your HVAC contractor, or use this zip code-based HVAC savings database at York.com/

residential-equipment/rebates-and-savings as a point of reference.

Manufacturer rebates and financing options: When it comes to your home’s efficiency, heating and cooling often account for the most energy consumption - and the highest utility bills. Because of this, upgrading the HVAC system can often provide the greatest payback.

Regardless of your home comfort needs, manufacturers such as YORK have an extensive offering of energy-efficient systems, including electric heat pumps, that may be eligible for certain rebates. Plus, your contractor can discuss available financing options to help with the upfront equipment costs to maximize savings.

Joe Salz Outside Sales