NewsTribune_Illinois Valley Homes_071923

Illinois Valley Homes

MLS# 11810972 - 19235 1900 N Ave., Princeton - $445,000

FEATURED PROPERTY

Country elegance at its best! Situated on almost four acres, this parcel o ers seclusion without sacri cing convenient access to Princeton and I-80. A sprawling 4-bedroom, 2-bath home nestled in the heart of a beautifullylandscaped natural haven that has a black walnut grove as its eastern border! An expansive three-season room, lined with windows, o ers plenty of space for entertainment or leisure purposes. The huge family room has a full bank of windows and an entire wall featuring a stone, wood-burning replace. In the kitchen, top-quality SS appliances, an abundance of beautiful cabinetry, and Silestone countertops make this a place to gather and cook. The spacious, uid oor plan leads you through to the dining room, living room, and an o ce that boasts french doors, bay window, and built-in bookcases. Natural light oods into every room, high-lighting the gleaming engineered-hardwood oors. The large screened porch o ers a great space to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Four spacious bedrooms are upstairs. The primary bedroom is an inviting retreat, with 3 closets, a full bath with a walk-in shower, and skylights. There is also a “bonus” room, with a cathedral ceiling. Outside, nd two patio areas - one that can double as parking space, and one stone area sporting a re pit! Discover the enchanting gazebo, tranquil sh pond, and grassy pasture. The outbuildings include a 2-car insulated garage with woodburner, a huge barn, a shed with lean-to, and dog kennel. This is truly a dream property!

See listing on page 2

5 sustainable home upgrades that make a big di erence

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Steps to take before applying for a mortgage

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3 great reasons to replace aging windows

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(BPT) - Sustainable home upgrades are becoming more and more popular as people look to renovate their homes and protect the planet. These eco-friendly improvements can make your home more comfortable and help you save money over time.

And while you might have to invest some initial money and effort in these upgrades now, it’s well worth it. They not only benefit the planet - they’ll save you money in the long run and increase the value of your home.

Here are five sustainable upgrades to add to your project list that will offer the best return on your investment.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT WINDOWS

Energy-saving windows are an important consideration for new

1.

and old homes alike. Designed to prevent your warm or cooled air from es-

caping your home, they provide increased insulation to lower your energy use and costs. If you’re installing new windows, look for the Energy Star rating and review the energy performance label to find the most efficient windows for your home.

2. SOLAR ROOF

Solar technology is an essential feature for a truly sustainable home, and now it’s more accessible than ever before. GAF Energy launched Timberline Solar, a first-of-itskind solar roof that features nailable, ultra-thin solar energy shingles. These shingles are durable, weatherproof, and easy to install, with a sleek design compared to traditional solar panels. A solar roof requires an initial investment, but in the long term, you could produce enough electricity to power everything in your home - saving you hundreds of dollars per year while potentially increasing your home’s value, too! For more information, visit gafenergy.com.

3.

TANKLESS WATER HEATER

Tankless water heaters are an energy-efficient way to provide hot water in your home - and a big trend in real estate this year. These water heaters can be powered by gas or electric and can save you up to 70 percent on your heating bills. And because they’re so compact, you can install it anywhere without sacrificing storage space. Plus, they can last up to 20 years, which is much longer than traditional water heaters.

4.

SMART HOME APPLIANCES

When it’s time to shop for new appliances, remember to look for the Energy Star label, just like with energy-efficient windows. Energy Star certified appliances are marked with a special sticker that details their efficiency statistics and estimated yearly operating costs and energy consumption. It’s also important to be mindful about choosing the right sized appliances for your needs. Bigger appliances can often mean more energy use and higher bills.

5. SKYLIGHTS

Artificial lighting is one of the biggest energy-users in your home. For rooms that get limited natural light, consider installing a skylight. This will draw in sunlight so you can use less electricity. When

choosing your skylight, make sure to look for the Energy Star certification.

Consider these eco-friendly upgrades to boost your energy savings in a big way and help the planet at the same time.

Skylights help reduce energy costs by taking advantage of natural light.

3370 SF 2-Story Brick Home situated in

High end finishes, 2-fireplaces, 4 suite w/ walk-in closet, Beautiful flooring throughout, French Doors, Wolf Range, Sub-Zero Refrigerator, so much more.

Renovated, &

situated on half acre beautiful areas!

OTTAWA, IL

4 bedrooms, Master en Beautiful white oak hardwood Doors, Custom Cabinetry, Refrigerator, 2nd Floor Laundry & more.

District Utilities

Beverly Malooley Designated Managing Broker 815.488.5159

Dawn Farneti, Broker 815.343.1900

Kathryn Erjavsek, Broker 815.307.0711

Christine Dahm, Broker 815.303.4622

Features 5-Bedrooms, 4-Baths, Main Floor Laundry,& Den/Office Open Concept Kitchen/Great Room with Cathedral Ceiling & Fireplace 3-Car Garage, Private Patio & Deck Situated on Half-Acre

11 SPRING CREEK DRIVE | SPRING VALLEY, IL

BEAUTIFUL 4000 SF BRICK HOME

Remodeled

Steps to take before applying for a mortgage

A home is the single biggest purchase most people will ever make. That’s perhaps become even more true in recent years, when the cost of homes has increased dramatically.

The sticker price of a home may come as a shock to firsttime buyers, but few homeowners purchase their homes in cash. Mortgages are a vital component of home ownership for the vast majority of buyers. Mortgages are loans obtained through the conveyance of property as security. When homeowners pay off their mortgages, the title of the property officially transfers to them from their lenders.

Though most homeowners utilize mortgages to buy their homes, that does not mean the process is the same for everyone. A host of factors affect mortgage terms, and there’s much prospective homeowners can do to secure the best agreement possible.

• Recognize why a low interest rate is important.

Mortgage interest rates have drawn considerable attention in recent years, as rising inflation has led to rates that have

reached their highest point in more than a decade. Even a seemingly small difference in interest rates can save or

cost homeowners thousands of dollars, if not tens of thousands, over the course of a loan. For example, the finan-

cial experts at Bankrate.com note that the difference between a 5.5 percent interest rate and a 6 percent interest rate on a $200,000 mortgage is roughly $64 per month. That might not seem like a lot, but over the course of a 30-mortgage the borrower who gets the 6 percent loan will pay in excess of $23,000 more in interest than the borrower who secures the 5.5 percent loan. Recognition of the benefits of securing the lowest interest rate possible can motivate prospective buyers to do everything in their power to get a low rate.

• Work on your credit score. So how can borrowers get the best possible rate? One way to go about it is to improve credit scores. Average mortgage interest rates vary significantly by credit score, with higher scores earning borrowers significantly lower rates. According to data from FICO, as of mid-February 2023 borrowers with a FICO score of 760+ earned an average interest rate of 6.06 percent, while those with scores between 620-639 secured an average rate of 7.65 percent. By bol-

stering their credit scores before applying for a mortgage, prospective homeowners can improve their standing in the eyes of mortgage lenders, which can potentially save them tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

• Identify how much you want to spend . Prospective home buyers may be approved to borrow much more money than they think they will qualify for. That’s because lenders do not consider factors like utilities, insurance, day care, or other expenses everyone has. That means it’s up to borrowers to determine how much those expenses will be, and how much they should be spending on a home. Though it might be tempting to borrow up to the amount lenders approve you for, in general it’s best to stay below that amount so you can capably meet all of your additional obligations.

Mortgages enable millions of people to buy homes each year. Some simple steps before applying for a mortgage can help prospective homeowners secure the best terms.

TF237111

Putnam- Lake life in this adorable 2 bedroom, 1 bath home on secluded woodsy lot, Amish shed. #11817973 $135,000

Mark-2 bedroom, 1 bath ranch home, 2 car attached garage, 2 sheds, lovely back yard. #11817424 $117,500

LaSalle-Priced to sell 2 bedroom, 1 bath vinyl sided home on corner lot, 1 car garage. #11817016 $46,500

Peru- One of a kind 4 bedroom, 2 bath home, wood burning fireplace in family room, 2 car garage. #11813453 $279,900

Walnut-Victorian style 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath home, wrap around porch, oversized 2 car garage. #11806280 $224,900

Seatonville-Spacious 4 bedroom, 4 bath, 2 story home, full partially finished basement, 2 car garage. #11800658 $299,900

Peru-Solid updated 2 bedroom, 3 bath ranch home on large secluded lot, heated garage with bath. #11798515 $229,500

clean

Putnam-Private 3 bedroom, 2 bath home full basement, 3 car garage, wood burning fireplace. #11789005 $299,000

Streator-Welcome to Sandy Ford Farm, 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home on 15 acres, kennel, garage. #11786574 $550,000

LaSalle-Brand new 3 bedroom, 1 bath mobile home, open concept living, new deck, parking pad. #11785714 $146,500

Utica-Vacation villa or full time residence features 2 bedroom, 2 bath, main level laundry. #11784186 $167,900

Peru- Corner lot with huge yard features 3 bedroom, 1 bath home, stone wood burning fireplace. #11759232 $134,900

Streator- Affordable 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom, home on completely fenced double lot, covered porch.

Arlington- Quality 4 bedroom, 4 bath custom built home on 4.12 acres, 2 car attached heated garage. #11739038 $599,900

DePue- Charming 5 bedroom, 1.5 bath 4 square home on 31.86 acres, land is very scenic. #11700807 $344,900

Jaimie Bazydlo Janet Benvenutti Nathan Byers Wendy Fulmer Robin Guerrero Pietro Alfano Chris Hopps Kelli Geinosky

LaSalle-Neat and

2 bedroom, 1 bath mobile home, covered deck, storage shed, parking pad. #11792778 $30,000

#11751073 $65,000

Peru-Spacious, 2,000 sq ft, 4 bedroom, 1.5 bath home, original woodwork, appliances included. #11679341 $129,900

Wenona-Nice 3 bedroom, 1 bath Farmhouse style home on nice lot with mature trees, 2 car garage. #11664195 $80,000

SUBDIVISIONS

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

CEDAR LANE PREMIUM HOME SITES

Ready to build, city sewer/water, curbs, sidewalks, underground utilities. Plat & restrictive covenants available, Peru school district. Starting at $95,000. Call Wendy Fulmer 815-252-8280 or Chris Hopps 815-252-5273. MLS#10785416

Peru-Move right in this 4 bedroom, 1 bath home on large corner lot, 2 car attached garage. #11645611 $129,000

RESIDENTIAL LOT LISTINGS

Utica-Residential building lot, city sewer and water available. ...............................................#11808009 ............... $30,000

Oglesby-Great corner building lot located in established development. .................................#11803476 ................ $24,000

Leonore-Tree lined building lot has city utilities to property. ...................................................#11796756................. $10,000

Henry-Scenic lot in lovely neighborhood to build your dream home, city utiliies.................... #11767996................. $10,500

LaSalle-Duplex lot on Senica’s Oak Ridge Golf Course, city water/underground utilities. ......#11488050 ............... $65,000

Utica-Affordable single family lot, underground utilities, city sewer and water. .................... #11393541 ................ $30,000

Oglesby-Large wooded building lot overlooking scenic Vermillion River Valley......................#08273675 ............... $44,000

Barb Kuzma

Bonnie Lester

David Postula

Garry Schroeder

Vincent Jessen

Jessica Jeffrey

Gunnar Jauch

COMMERCIAL LEASES

LaSalle-Space consists of 12 offices, kitchen, bathroom, and conference, 3900 sq ft.. ......................... #11760954 ...... $3,900/month

COMMERCIAL LOT LISTINGS

LaSalle-Commercial/industrial lot in great location, lot is leveled, graded and graveled. .. #11760855 $69,000

Peru-Commercial building lot located in high traffic area with great visibility. ......... #11671042 $150,000

Princeton-Cleared, level building site features 2.88 acres in business plaza .......... #10878168 ..... $300,000

AGRICULTURE LISTINGS

Tonica-73.2 acres of Class A Farmland, 139.5 productivity index, 2 adjacent tracts. .. #11754039 .. $1,275,000

Bob Huber

Carol Wlodarchak

TJ Templeton Amber Witek

Karen Yade Karen Zermeno Heidi Huber

Tom Guttilla

Utica- Currently home to Cajun Connection, large dining area, patio, porch and parking lot. #11609162 $599,000

Utica- Unlimited possibilities, 4400 sq ft, commercial kitchen, great room, parking, storage. #11338122 $209,000

Princeton- Building with 3 commercial storefront, 3 apartments and full basement. #11225337 $215,500

Mark-High traffic exposure, spacious building, restaurant equipment included, plenty of parking. #11090721 $60,000

LaSalle-Well established restaurant/tavern with great clientele, extensive list of equipment included. #11710340 $340,000

LaSalle-Property consists of 2 buildings, each 60’x150’, 1 building houses several rentals. #11761218 $720,000

3 great reasons to replace aging windows

Much of the savings that can be attributed to new windows is related to energy efficiency. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy estimates that as much as 30 percent of heating and cooling energy can be lost through heat gain or heat loss, and aging, inefficient windows contribute to such losses. Replacing those windows can save homeowners substantial amounts of money, with one expert at Angi estimating that installation of energy efficient windows can help trim energy bills by as much as 12 percent.

Cost savings are often noted when firms promote replacement windows, but homeowners should know that replacement windows also provide numerous additional benefits. In fact, the following are three great reasons for homeowners to consider upgrading their windows today.

1.New windows help reduce carbon footprint The

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that replacing single-pane windows with ENERGY STAR® certified windows can help to reduce CO2 emissions by a significant margin. The EPA reports that such windows can save the equivalent of as much as 6,200 pounds of CO2 emissions thanks to reduced energy consumption associated with the new windows.

2.New windows can brighten a home. Natural light brightens a room and can make it appear larger. Homeowners who have grown accustomed to old windows may not realize how little light such windows let into their homes. Aging windows can become foggy over time and prevent natural light from getting into a home. That can create a gloomy feel and force homeowners to turn up the thermostat on cold days. New windows brighten the home and the natural light

Great Yards Start Here

that pours in on a cold day can help heat the home at the same time.

3.New windows cut down on noise. Window manufacturers are always on the lookout for ways to produce windows that make homes more comfortable. Noise reduction is one way to accomplish that goal, and Consumer Reports notes that triple-glazed windows can help to dramatically reduce outside noise. Homeowners who currently have single-pane windows may be

astonished by the difference in outside noise levels when upgrading to triple-glazed windows, which contain a third layer of glass. That third layer of glass significantly reduces noise levels, making triple-glaze windows ideal for homes on busy streets or those in urban areas with lots of foot traffic.

Replacement windows pay numerous dividends. Homeowners can reap these rewards and others by replacing aging windows.

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