Uncategorized • February 8, 2023

Mchenry the town, not the county!

by Steven Johnson

Mchenry, Illinois is a vibrant town with a big sense of community

Mchenry, Illinois has grown a lot in the past decade. Located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, McHenry is a rural suburb town that offers a variety of entertainment options for its residents and visitors. The town has a vibrant downtown area that features a variety of shops, restaurants, and bars. Mchenry is also well know for having among the only drive-in movie theatres still in operation. Furthermore, the Mchenry riverwalk is also a popular attraction for both residents and visitors. For those who enjoy the outdoors, the town is located near several lakes and rivers, including the Fox River, which offers opportunities for boating, fishing, and kayaking. The town also has several parks and nature preserves, including Veterans Memorial Park, which provides picnic areas, walking trails, and playgrounds. Plus, McHenry also has a thriving arts community, with several galleries and theaters offering exhibits and performances throughout the year.

The Stats

As of the 2020 census, the population of McHenry was estimated to be 26,992. The town has a total area of 7.62 square miles, with a population density of 3,547 people per square mile. The median household income in McHenry is estimated to be $80,741, and the per capita income is $32,593. The town has a diverse economy, with the largest industries being manufacturing, healthcare, and retail trade. The town’s top employers include McHenry School District, Centegra Health System, and Precision Screw Products Inc.

Real Estate

Mchenry has a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments, which provides a range of housing options for people at different stages of their lives and with different budgets. The town has a healthy mix of older and new homes. lately, we’ve seen much more residential construction is ongoing throughout the town. The median home value in McHenry is estimated to be around $278,000, which is slightly higher than the national average.

Thinking about buying or selling a home in Mchenry?

Your local real estate agent is ready to help! Steven Johnson, a local real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty, is knowledgeable in Mchenry and the nearby area. Steven would love the opportunity to work with you on your next home transaction. Call, text, or email Steven Johnson today to get started on your home search in Mchenry or any of the nearby Northwest suburbs of Chicago, or southeast Wisconsin. (847) 525-6121. Steven.Johnson@cbexchange.com. To get a free estimate of how much your home is worth click HERE.

Uncategorized • January 26, 2023

Tired of throwing money away on rent? Try renting with the option to buy

by Steven Johnson

Home Partners of America offers you an opportunity to rent until you are ready to buy the home

Renting with the option to buy?

Want to turn your dream of homeownership into a reality, but you’re not quite ready? There’s a great program out there right now getting all the buzz. Home Partners of America: a company focusing on renting with the option to buy.

About the Program

Essentially, the program allows potential homeowners and renters the opportunity to “rent with the option to buy” as opposed to “rent to own.” “Rent to own” can be very risky. It locks you into purchasing a home in the future, even though your plans could change. Renting with the option to buy comes with limited risk as you will have more flexibility and transparency. Through Home Partners of America, renters have the ability to purchase the home at any point during the lease for an amount that is pre-agreed upon from the beginning. Not only that, but there is no obligation to purchase the home at all. This is especially valuable in case negative aspects of the home are discovered or if living situations change. Furthermore, this program can be utilized multiple times. If the home doesn’t meet the tenants’ expectations they can find another home at the end of the lease. Lastly, tenants are able to renew their lease without worrying that Home Partners of America would kick them out or sell to someone else for up to 5 years. Essentially, tenants sign a 1 year lease which can be renewed up to 4 times. This gives tenants peace of mind knowing they have a home they won’t be booted from when their lease ends.

“So, how do I get started in this program?”

So, how do you get started with this program? First, check out the Home Partners of America website to learn more. Once you’ve decided to move forward with the program, contact a local real estate agent to start looking at homes and finding one you’d like to live in (contact me if you’re looking in the Chicagoland area!). With a wide range of homes to choose from in numerous towns around the Chicagoland area, you will have additional options that make your home search even easier. Don’t wait, take this unique first step towards homeownership with Home Partners of America and a local Realtor you trust.

The right Realtor is just a call, text, or email away…

Steven Johnson is a Chicago area Realtor focused on helping home buyers, home sellers, and renters find the right home for them. If you or anyone you know could benefit from Steven’s client first, responsive approach to real estate, then please reach out any time at (847) 525-6121 or Steven.Donald.Johnson@gmail.com and please visit Steven’s website at this link.

Uncategorized • January 19, 2023

Lake Geneva isn’t just a great place to visit- it’s a great place to live, too!

by Steven Johnson

Lake Geneva isn’t just a town you can visit- it’s a great place to live too! Located in the southeastern part of the state, Lake Geneva is known for its picturesque views, recreational activities, and vacation opportunities. The town is situated on the shores of Geneva Lake, which is the area’s main attraction. The lake offers a variety of recreational activities such as boating, swimming, fishing, and water sports. It even has a beach called Riviera Beach. Additionally, the town is surrounded by rolling hills, lush forests, and is home to several parks and nature preserves. Needless to say, there are countless reasons to choose to live in Lake Geneva.

The Town

The town also has a rich history, with many historical buildings, museums, and landmarks. Some of the notable landmarks include the Wrigley Drive Estate and the Geneva Lake shore path. The town also has a vibrant cultural scene, with several art galleries, music venues, and festivals throughout the year such as the Lake Geneva Ice castles. Furthermore, the economy of Lake Geneva is based primarily on tourism, with an estimated 2.5 million visitors each year. The town offers a wide range of activities, such as boating, swimming, and hiking, as well as numerous shops, restaurants, and spas. Additionally, Lake Geneva is home to several resorts and bed-and-breakfasts, making it a popular spot for weekend getaways and family vacations. The town also has a strong retail trade, accommodation, and food services industry. Therefore, Lake Geneva’s busiest season tends to run from May through October and thus seasonal employment is common.

Demographics and statistics

In terms of demographics, the population of Lake Geneva is 7,735 as of 2020. The median household income is around $67,000 and the median home value is roughly $490,000 as of November 2022. The residents of Lake Geneva are well educated. With that said, 91.9% of adults over the age of 25 having completed high school and 42.6% having a bachelor’s degree or higher. A mix of retirees, families and tourists visit the area annually.

Aerial downtown view of the lake

Shoreline view of Lake Geneva

Lake front

This post has been brought to you by Steven Johnson, a local Realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. Should you have any questions or need assistance in buying or selling a home, you can reach Steven Johnson at (847) 525-6121 or Steven.Donald.Johnson@gmail.com or learn more at StevenJohnsonRealEstate.com

Uncategorized • September 8, 2022

The most important tip for selling your home

by Steven Johnson

So you’ve decided to sell your home. You’ve Google searched “home selling tips” and “fastest way to sell a home” and you’ve looked up MLS real estate listings on Zillow and Realtor.com to gain inspiration, but you still feel lost or overwhelmed. What do you do next?

Easily the fastest way to sell a home in any real estate market is to hire a Realtor. While you’ve considered for sale by owner (fsbo) to reduce the cost of selling your home, you realize that you need someone with expertise in marketing your home and insight on the best improvements to increase your home’s valuation. You also need advise on house staging tips as you don’t know how to stage your home, and you need to know if staging your home would even be necessary. Realtors will market your home better than you can on your own and will be able to advise you on pricing strategies and explaining real estate purchase contracts. They’re also well connected and can network with fellow real estate agents to get everyone in the area to know about your home. Most importantly though, Realtors will tell you what’s needed to get your home ready to be listed ASAP. Oftentimes, a Realtor can get your home listed and ready for showings in just a few days! Leave the marketing, contract items, pricing strategies, and networking in the hands of your Realtor. That way, you can focus on getting your home ready to sell and figuring out where to move to next!

If you ran a Google search for “best Realtors in Chicago” or “Top rated Realtor in Lake County, Illinois” you’ll get a list of Realtors with self promotion like “5 star agent this” and “best Realtor in the area that.” You can search for reviews of Realtors all day long, but to truly get someone you know you can trust you should be asking friends, family, and co-workers which real estate agent they use and if they recommend him or her. Oftentimes, it is a warmer introduction and the sales process goes smoother as there is already a foundation of trust that has been built. Realtors are frequently listed as one of the least trusted professions in America, so make it easy on yourself and find someone that your friends, family, and co-workers already trust. Your experience will likely be smoother!