A stonemason’s dream home in Riverwoods
The tiny (population 4,000) Village of Riverwoods, bordered by Lincolnshire, Deerfield, Northbrook and Buffalo Grove, is an easily overlooked enclav [...]
Breaking the glass ceiling of construction
Not only is Helen Weiss a principal with one of the state's oldest condo development companies, but she's one of the few successful women in the wor [...]
A Northbrook fixer-upper: "Bring flashlight"
A new-construction home with four bedrooms, 4.5 baths, and a three-car garage in Northbrook? $475,000.
The sense of pride and accomplishment you'll f [...]
The Northbrook market: "Back to 2003"
Any appreciation a homeowner in Northbrook hoped to see over the past six or seven years "has totally been wiped out," leaving the prices of $2 mill [...]
Four North Shore and north suburbs homes join ShoreShark's 40-percent club
Not satisfied with feeding only on price reductions within the Chicago city limits, CondoShark.com's Matt Garrison has unleashed the ShoreShark to t [...]
Conventional financing options at Optima Old Orchard Woods in Skokie
Optima's Old Orchard Woods development in Skokie is unusual among today's condo projects in that it's approved for VA, FHA, and Fannie Mae financing [...]
Debunking common mortgage myths
Changes in the market, shifts toward and away different types of mortgages, and a lack of experience with brokers can all create misconceptions in t [...]
What's happening with jumbo loans?
Jumbo loans are loans larger than those that qualify for conforming, FHA, and VA programs -- typically more than $417,000 in today's market. During [...]
The shift to FHA-backed financing
"Three years ago nobody would touch it. Now everybody is clamoring to get it." That's how Joe Zekas opens this segment on FHA-backed loans with Amer [...]
A broker's primer on VA-backed loans
VA-guaranteed loans may be the most misunderstood type of mortgage loan in the market today. Last week Joe Zekas met with American Street Mortgage V [...]
Finding fun and food near Optima
Optima recently posted new aerial photos of its new Skokie development, Optima Old Orchard Woods. In one direction you'll see the Chicago skyline of [...]
Suburban showcase: The Glen Town Center
We occasionally branch out beyond Chicago's borders to bring you news and footage from the area's new suburban developments. Late last month, Joe we [...]
The last large penthouse at Old Orchard Woods
About a week ago I stopped at Optima Old Orchard Woods on my way home and asked Andy Zajac what was new. Optima had just opened a model in the last [...]
Skyscraper junkie shoots Optima Old Orchard Woods
Watch the construction of Optima Old Orchard Woods from bare dirt to near-finished product in the video from a talented photographer who goes by the [...]
Walk to shops from Optima Old Orchard Woods
Tara Hovey, a sales associate at Optima Old Orchard Woods, talks about the shops at Old Orchard and some of the other recreational amenities within [...]
The view east from Optima Old Orchard Woods
This shot was taken by Michael Kardas from the 19th floor of Optima Old Orchard Woods in Skokie. The Edens Expressway, Niles North High School and W [...]
An introduction to Optima Old Orchard Woods
Joe Zekas visited Optima Old Orchard Woods in Skokie on a near-perfect sunny afternoon last week and met his tour guide for the day, Tara Hovey. Tar [...]
Chicago's skyline, as seen from Optima Old Orchard Woods in Skokie
It's about 14 miles by road from Optima Old Orchard Woods in Skokie to the Chicago skyline. The skies were clear during Joe Zekas' visit yesterday, [...]
"A skyline all to itself"
Ride with Joe Zekas up the Edens Expressway toward Optima Old Orchard Woods, Optima's tri-tower condo complex at 9645 Woods Dr in Skokie.
As of las [...]
Another look at 9 North Townhomes
This nine-unit townhouse development at 7201 - 7217 N Oakley Ave in West Rogers Park was first introduced to YoChicago in December, and at that time j [...]