Coleus, lantana, cuphea, marigold and alternanthera. (Photo courtesy of Melinda Myers, LLC)

By Melinda Myers
Gardening Expert, TV & Radio Host, Author and Columnist

Get out the shovel and trowels — it’s Memorial Day weekend, and that means gardening for many. Spend a bit more time getting your garden off to a good start and reap the benefits all season long. Proper planting and post-planting care means less maintenance, fewer pests and more produce and beautiful flowers in your landscape.

Start by selecting healthy plants free of insect and disease problems. There’s no need to spend money on problems. And keep in mind that bigger is not always better. Instead, look for compact plants with sturdy stems. The leaves should be deep green or the proper color for that variety. Avoid plants that show signs of stress, such as spots, brown leaf edges and holes. And when all things are equal, purchase the perennials with multiple stems.

Keep your purchase properly watered before and after planting. Check transplants daily and twice a day when temperatures rise, watering as needed. Increase success and reduce the stress transplants often face. Apply a plant strengthener such as JAZ Spray to protect potted plants from drying out until you are able to plant. Or, apply to transplants to get your plants off to a vigorous start. These organic products are not fertilizers but rather naturally-occurring molecules that work like an immunization to help new and established plants better tolerate heat, drought, insects, disease and other challenges plants face.

Prepare the soil before planting. Though not glamorous, building a good foundation for your garden will pay off this season and beyond. Dig 1 or 2 inches of compost, peat moss or other organic matter, and a low-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer into the top 12 inches of the soil.

Now, slide, don’t pull, the plants out of their containers to avoid damaging their roots and stems. If they resist, gently squeeze small, flexible pots, or roll larger pots on their sides over the ground. This loosens the roots, releasing the pot from the container.

Gently tease any roots that encircle (girdle) the root ball. Or, use a knife to slice through girdling roots or the tangled mass that often develops at the bottom of the pot. This encourages the roots to explore the soil beyond the planting hole. And a bigger root system means healthier plants that are more productive and beautiful.

Set your plants at the same depth they were growing in their container. Tall, leggy tomatoes are the exception. These can be planted deeper or in shallow trenches to encourage roots to form along the buried stem. Cover the roots with soil, and gently tamp to ensure good root-to-soil contact. Water new plantings thoroughly, moistening the rootball, planting hole and beyond. Spread a thin layer of shredded leaves, evergreen needles or other mulch over the soil to conserve moisture, suppress weeds and keep the roots cooler when hot weather moves in for the summer.

Check new plantings every other day, and water thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil slightly moist. Gradually reduce the frequency until your plants only need to be watered once a week in heavy clay soils and twice a week in sandy soils. Of course, you’ll need to water more often in hot weather.

And don’t forget about the rest of your landscape. Plant strengtheners can be applied to established plants to prepare them for the often stressful season ahead. Treated plants will be better able to tolerate heat and drought as well as attacks from insects and diseases.

So, get out and start planting to make this the best gardening season yet.

Nationally-known gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist Melinda Myers has 30 years of horticulture experience and has written more than 20 gardening books, including Can’t Miss Small Space Gardening and The Garden Book for Wisconsin. She hosts the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment segments, which air on 89 TV and radio stations throughout the U.S. Visit www.melindamyers.com.

From the May 23-29, 2012, issue

Staff Report

Rockford Park District’s City of Gardens will hold a “Let’s Get Growing” session from 6 to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 24, at Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. Second St., Rockford.

This session will be an introduction to vegetable gardening for the novice gardener, and will include a planting demonstration and question-and-answer period.

Those in attendance will receive a “garden to go,” complete with a tomato plant and a variety of seeds to get your garden started.

Admission is free and is limited to the first 50 people who pre-register. Pre-registration is required.

“Let’s Get Growing” is a series of events offered by the Rockford Park District’s City of Gardens program. The City of Gardens’ mission is to provide community-wide enhancement of public and private places to create a beautiful, healthy and safe environment in which to live, work and play.

To register or for more information, contact Brenda Smith at (815) 987-8863, brendasmith@rockfordparkdistrict.org, or fax form to (815) 987-8860. Pre-registration is required to receive a “garden to go.”

From the May 23-29, 2012, issue

OREGON, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension will offer a beginner’s composting class, “Composting Made Easy,” from 1 to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, May 10.

Registration is $5 per person, and the class, taught by Energy and Environmental Stewardship Educator Peggy Doty, will be at the U of I Extension Ogle County office, 421 W. Pines Road, Oregon, Ill.

Call (815) 732-2191 to register, or for questions about the class, contact Doty at psdoty@illinois.edu.

“Some people just need to hear how simple something can be, get all the information and have a source they can contact later with more questions, and that is me,” Doty said.

“Composting Made Easy” will cover creating, buying and starting a compost bin. Participants will learn where the appropriate location would be for their compost on their property and how to maintain it.

Whether you just want to throw less in the garbage or you want to make rich soil to give back to your own plants, this class will help get you started.

Posted May 9, 2012

The Rockford housing market continues its historic run of year-to-year increases, now totaling 11 straight months.

Rockford Area Realtors (RAR) sold 299 homes in April, 37.2 percent higher than 218 properties sold in April 2011. The longest previous sales streak ran for eight months ending in October 2001 (the longest since stats have been collected dating back to 1998).

For the first four months of this year, 1,012 homes and condos have been sold, which is almost 33 percent more than 762 properties sold from January to April 2011.

“There’s no doubt that these are strong numbers to open the spring selling season,” said Steve Bois, CEO of RAR. “Further, in the last month there was a more even spread of sales prices compared to previous months where homes that sold for less than $150,000 dominated the market.”

Bois said Realtors are reporting multiple offers on homes in higher price ranges, a market dynamic not seen since the housing downturn began in 2007.

April also marked the third straight month of gains in the average home sale price. The three-month rolling average price rose 7 percent from $95,920 in March to $101,999 in April, a gain of more than $6,000 per home.

Another positive housing trend signaling a recovery was the fact that the absorption rate, the time it takes to sell a home, has dropped for the 10th straight month. The average time to sell a home is now 9.3 months.

“Sales are up, time-on-the-market levels are down significantly from a year ago, and prices appear to be stabilizing,” Bois said. “These are encouraging signs in the market.”

Bois added, “Realtors are continuing to see an increase in the number of buyers looking to buy a home today, for many of the reasons we’ve been pointing out: interest rates are jaw-droppingly low, distressed houses are keeping prices competitive, and people are feeling better about the economy.”

Mortgage rates hit a record low this past week. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported May 3 the rate on 30-year loans fell to 3.84 percent, the lowest since long-term mortgages originated in the 1950s. The previous record rate of 3.87 percent was reached in February.

Bois said while Realtors are still closely monitoring the impact of distressed properties now and those that may enter the market in the coming year, continued stabilization of the market will ultimately come from buyers looking to make a long-term investment in a home.

A newly-released survey by the Illinois Association of Realtors of 600 homeowners and renters in the state found that 82 percent of Illinois residents stated home ownership was one of their most important life goals, and 34 percent believe prices will increase in the next five years.

From the May 9-15, 2012, issue

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden will hold its annual Spring Plant Sale this weekend, May 11-13, at the arboretum, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford.

Friday, May 11, is Preview Night. Hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Shop early for the best selection of annuals, perennials, herbs, wildflowers and unusual plants. Most plants are from the area’s best gardeners — Klehm members. Preview Night is limited to the indoor location only. Admission is $6.

Saturday, May 12, and Sunday, May 13, will be the main Plant Sale. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday. Visit Klehm on Mother’s Day weekend to shop for this year’s plants. The Plant Sale expands to include the outdoors location, too. Choose from thousands of colorful plants and shrubs, including unique varieties from Beaver Creek Nursery. Afterward, stroll the beautiful Klehm grounds to see what’s blooming. Klehm offers free admission during its Spring Plant Sale.

Donations of plants are always welcome. Donate 10 or more plants and receive a coupon for free entry to the Preview Night (a $6 value). Bring your potted or bagged donations to Klehm Arboretum by May 10. Arboretum hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m., daily.

For more information, call Klehm at (815) 965-8146 or e-mail info@klehm.org.

From the May 9-15, 2012, issue

Advance tickets for Klehm Arboretum’s 19th Annual Garden Fair are on sale for a discounted price of $5 ($7 at the door) through May 31 at the following locations:

• Arte Verde, 15630 Illinois Route 76, Poplar Grove, Ill.;

• Gensler Gardens, 8631 11th St., Rockford, and 102 Orth Road, Loves Park;

• Meridian Nursery, 7219 Cunningham Road, Rockford;

• Pepper Creek, 7295 Harrison Ave., Rockford;

• Village Green, 6101 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, and 2640 N. Main St., Rockford; and

• Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford.

Garden Fair runs noon-8 p.m., Friday, June 1; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, June 2; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., June 3.

Tickets are good for admission all three days and are also available online at klehm.org or by calling (815) 965-8146. Klehm members enter free when they show their membership card.

Garden Fair attendees can shop for flowers, shrubs, tools, outdoor art and other garden-related items.

From the May 9-15, 2012, issue

Pictured, from left, are Ricardo, Daniel, Vanessa and Maria Gomez. (Photo provided)

• First construction site workday for volunteers set for Saturday, May 19

Staff Report

BELVIDERE, Ill. — Art Hyland, construction manager for Habitat for Humanity of Boone County, has set the schedule for building the Gomez family home at 909 N. Main St., Belvidere, Ill.

Maria Isabel Gomez and her three children — Ricardo Gomez, 17, Daniel Gomez, 6, and Vanessa Hernandez, 3 — were selected as the partner family for the 2012 Habitat home. The home will feature three bedrooms, one bathroom, kitchen, living room and basement. A groundbreaking ceremony was May 5.

First construction site workday for volunteers is May 19. Construction work is scheduled May 26, which is Memorial Day weekend. Every Saturday will be a volunteer workday at the construction site until the home is completed, which is scheduled to be the end of September.

Work is scheduled for July 7, which is the Saturday after the Fourth of July, and Sept. 1, which is the Saturday before Labor Day.

To volunteer to work on the Habitat home, call (815) 288-6382 and leave a message with your phone number and a good time to contact you, or send an e-mail to john-cover@comcast.net.

From the May 9-15, 2012, issue

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois home sales posted the best March sales numbers in four years, and median prices snapped a 20-month streak of price declines, data released by the Illinois Association of Realtors show.

Statewide home sales (including single-family homes and condominiums) in March 2012 totaled 9,575 homes sold, up 21.1 percent from 7,904 home sales in March 2011. This was the best March performance since 2007 when 11,979 homes were sold.

The statewide median price in March was $130,000, even with March 2011. This is the first time the median price hasn’t decreased since June 2010. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more and half sold for less.

“There’s no doubt that these are strong numbers to open the spring selling season,” said Loretta Alonzo, CRB, GRI, president of the Illinois Association of Realtors and Broker/Owner of Century 21 Alonzo & Associates in La Grange Park. “To see such good sales numbers, coupled with a measure of price stability is encouraging news no matter what side of a real estate transaction you happen to be on.”

Alonzo said several factors are contributing to the March numbers. Foreclosures that were once bottlenecked in the court system are beginning to be resolved, interest rates continue to be at near-record lows, and prices are attractive.

The monthly average commitment rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for the North Central region was 3.99 percent in March 2012, down from 3.91 percent during the previous month, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Last year in March, it averaged 4.86 percent.

In the nine-county Chicago Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA), home sales (single-family and condominiums) in March 2012 totaled 6,590 homes sold, up 23.8 percent from March 2011 sales of 5,323 homes. The median price in March 2012 was $151,850 in the Chicago PMSA, down 3.9 percent compared to last year in March when it was $158,000.

“There are encouraging signs in the market,” said Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois. “Sales volumes are up, time-on-the-market levels are down significantly from a year ago, and prices appear to be stabilizing in Illinois although continuing to fall in Chicago. Further, in the last month there was a more even spread of sales prices compared to previous months where homes sold for less than $200,000 dominated the market.”

More than half of Illinois counties reporting (54 of 99) showed year-over-year home sales increases in March 2012. Sixty-seven (67) counties showed year-over-year median price increases, including Champaign, up 5.8 percent to $137,000; DeKalb, up 15.0 percent to $115,000; Grundy, up 21.6 percent to $132,500; Kankakee, up 4.2 percent to $125,000; LaSalle, up 10.7 percent to $82,250; Madison, up 30.1 percent to $115,500; McLean, up 8.5 percent to $159,250; Peoria, up 35.6 percent to $126,750; Sangamon, up 11.9 percent to $126,500; and Saint Clair, up 5.9 percent to $90,000.

In the city of Chicago, March 2012 home sales (single-family and condominiums) totaled 1,626, up 12.1 percent from 1,450 homes sold in March 2011.

“Realtors are continuing to see an increase in the number of buyers looking to buy a home today, as rents are going up and interest rates are at an all-time low,” said Realtor Bob Floss, president of the Chicago Association of Realtors and broker/owner of Bob Floss and Son Realty. “While we are still closely monitoring the impact of distressed properties now and those that may enter the market in the coming year, continued stabilization of the market will ultimately come from buyers looking to make a long-term investment in a community with the dollars they invest today.”

Sales and price information is generated by Multiple Listing Service closed sales reported by 31 participating Illinois Realtor local boards and associations including Midwest Real Estate Data LLC data as of April 7 for the period March 1-31. The Chicago PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

The Illinois Association of Realtors is a voluntary trade association whose 41,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, the Illinois Association of Realtors works to protect the rights of private property owners in the state by recommending and promoting legislation that safeguards and advances the interest of real property ownership.

Find Illinois housing stats data and the University of Illinois REAL forecast at www.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats.

From the April 25-May 1, 2012, issue

Have you ever wanted to have professional-looking faux-painted walls but just couldn’t afford to have it done? It’s not as hard to do as you think.

If you’ve ever thought of doing this yourself, set aside Saturday, April 28, on your calendar. That’s when Rock Valley College (RVC) brings Linda Coffman in to teach her very popular class, “Fabulous Faux for Boring Walls.” This one-time seminar is all you need to get started.

The class is taught in two parts. Part one covers the basic looks of classic, tuscan and metallics. This class will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Part two from 1 to 3:30 p.m. takes off from part one and combines her approach with more popular approaches such as suede, rustic and modern.

Coffman’s approach reveals secrets of the pros. She has been in the wallpapering and faux-painting business for more than 18 years. Her work is featured in businesses, hotels, restaurants, bed and breakfasts, and fine homes throughout the Minnesota area and now in Arizona. Hundreds are now using her special techniques to create their own professional-looking faux-painted walls.

By taking this class, students will be able to have perfect ceilings and corners, to use glaze with a uniquely designed roller, and how to do numerous looks such as the leather look and old-world looks. It just takes a twist of the wrist and tricks of the trade your instructor will share with you in this very practical and money-saving class.

Call RVC Community Education at (815) 921-3900 for more details.

From the April 25-May 1, 2012, issue

BELVIDERE, Ill. — The weather in springtime can be severe. Property owners should safeguard their families, homes and businesses from the potential disaster that can occur from tornadoes, lightning, thunderstorms and flooding.

Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling of Rockford, a leading provider of water damage cleanup and fire damage restoration services for residential and commercial properties, offers the following safety tips to protect loved ones and property.

According to Paul Davis Restoration and Remodeling, have a disaster plan and emergency kit in place, establish a location in the house to meet, and know the nearest designated storm shelter if you have to evacuate.

The basic emergency kit should include the following:

• Water — 1 gallon of water per person and pets per day for at least three days.

• Food — At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food for adults, children and pets, along with a can opener.

• Battery-powered or hand crank commercial radio and a NOAA Weather Radio.

• Cell phone with charger.

• Flashlight

• First aid kit — Sterile dressings; antibiotic ointment; scissors; thermometer; non-prescription drugs such as pain relievers; prescription medications and supplies.

• Copies of insurance policies, identification and bank account records in waterproof container.

• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person.

• Fire extinguisher

Following are some valuable tips for protecting your property from severe weather.

• Clear yard of loose articles and debris. Keep yard tools, patio furniture, grills, garbage cans and toys stored when not in use.

• Trim trees and shrubs to prevent branches from breaking off during high winds.

• Inspect your roof and repair any loose shingles to prevent leakage from water and winds, and remove debris.

• Repair siding, awnings, gutters, downspouts and brackets if loose or damaged.

• Secure major appliances to the wall studs or foundation of your home using “L” brackets.

Contact a licensed professional or restoration and emergency services company if damage to your home or business is significant. Qualified technicians are certified from The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). For more information, visit the local Paul Davis office website at www.PaulDavisRockford.com.

From the April 25-May 1, 2012, issue

When painting a home with a wood exterior, it’s not unusual to find areas that are worn and weathered. In extreme cases, the entire house may be weather-beaten.

Sometimes, a home is this way because it’s been years since the last paint job. But even new construction — a recent addition, for example — can be “weathered” after only a few weeks if unpainted wood is left exposed to the elements.

“If the wood exterior you’re about to paint meets one of these descriptions, you’ll need to do some extra surface preparation,” says Debbie Zimmer, spokesman for the Paint Quality Institute. “That’s the only way to end up with a high-quality, long-lasting paint job on weathered wood.”

Assuming the wood has been painted before, start your surface preparation by scraping away all of the loose or peeling paint. (But if your home was built before 1978 and you suspect the presence of lead-based paint, first call 1-800-424-LEAD to learn how to avoid potential health hazards.) Then, carefully inspect the exterior of your home for damaged or rotted wood.

Dry rot (dry, crumbly sections of wood) and wet rot (soggy, soft spots) are both caused by microorganisms that thrive in damp conditions. Rot can destroy the wood so completely that a finger can be pushed right through it. To test for rot, poke suspicious-looking boards with a screwdriver; if it goes in easily, the wood has rotted.

Remove all of the rot you find. Use wood filler to repair small problem areas, and totally replace any wood that is damaged beyond repair. If the damaged wood is structural — roof support posts, railing posts on elevated decks and the like — consider hiring a professional to make the repairs.

Since wood can rot wherever there is excess moisture, be sure to caulk and seal inside and outside corners, seams and other gaps in the wood exterior where rain or other moisture could penetrate the surface. For the best performance, use a paintable siliconized acrylic caulk.

Thoroughly sand surfaces that have any degraded wood fiber. If you are painting cedar shakes or another type of wood that is uneven, use a wire brush rather than sandpaper for this work. Then, brush off the surface.

Next, wash off any remaining dust with a power washer, or scrub the surface with soapy water using a long-handled brush. Start at the top of the wall and work down toward the bottom. Be sure to rinse off the soap residue.

If any mildew remains, remove it by applying a solution of one part bleach to three parts water, letting it sit on the surface for 20 minutes, then scrubbing it away. Again, rinse the area clean.

Apply a coat of top-quality latex or oil-based primer to the entire exterior. Then, finish the project by applying one or two coats of top-quality, 100 percent acrylic latex exterior paint. (A second coat will provide better protection from the elements and make your new paint job last longer.)

“When painting weathered wood, you may be tempted to skip the extra work required to properly prepare the surface, but it’s a temptation you have to resist,” says Zimmer. “By going about the project in the right way, you’ll be rewarded with many years of great performance from your new paint job.”

To learn more about exterior painting, visit blog.paintquality.com or www.paintquality.com.

From the April 25-May 1, 2012,  issue

Klehm Arboretum will host its 19th Annual Garden Fair Friday-Sunday, June 1-3. Hours are noon-8 p.m., Friday, June 1; 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday, June 2; and 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sunday, June 3. Tickets are available at Klehm, 2715 S. Main St., online at klehm.org or by calling (815) 965-8146. Klehm members are admitted free when they show their membership cards, while general public admission is $5 in advance or $7 at the door.

From the April 11-17, 2012, issue

Staff Report

OREGON, Ill. — The University of Illinois Extension Ogle County Master Gardener Hotline Desk is open for business. The horticulture help desk will be staffed every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning from 9 a.m. to noon through mid-September.

Master Gardeners are volunteers who have received 60 or more hours of training by University of Illinois Extension educators. They also have access to all the resources of University of Illinois Extension, including the Digital Diagnostics Imaging system. This system allows U of I Extension to take pictures locally that can be transmitted to specialists on campus for identification and analysis. The Extension office also has access to the University Plant Clinic for a fee.

Master Gardeners can help you solve your home horticulture problems in a variety of areas, including vegetable gardening, insects and control, trees, small fruits, lawn care, plant diseases, soil fertility and more. Often, you will be asked to bring a sample in to the Extension office, which receives about 200 questions each growing season.

The University of Illinois Extension Ogle County is inside the Farm Bureau building, 421 W. Pines Road, Oregon, Ill., and can be reached by calling (815) 732-2191 or e-mailing uiemg-ogle@illinois.edu. Visit the Extension website at web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo for additional information and resources on gardening topics.

From the April 11-17, 2012, issue

For the first time ever, the Rockford housing market has scored year-to-year increases for 10 straight months.

Rockford Area Realtors sold 284 homes in March, 34.6 percent higher than 211 properties sold in 2011. The longest previous sales streak ran for eight months ending in October 2001 (since stats have been collected dating back to 1998).

“March marks a 10-month rise in Rockford-area home sales,” said Steve Bois, CEO of Rockford Area Realtors. “This remarkable string of sales gains shows that there are clearly more people in the market.”

Bois said strong market activity was supported by the 12,181 unique visitors who used the association website in March to look for homes, the largest number since the site was launched in February 2008 with 6,792 users.

The three-month rolling average price rose slightly from $94,907 in February to $95,920 in March.

Bois said housing activity and prices are significantly affected by employment.

“As goes employment,” Bois said, “so goes housing. Certainly, the economy is doing better these days. Job numbers have been up sharply three months in a row, leading to a jump in consumer confidence.”

Bois said that for 10 of 12 months in 2011, Illinois’ employment growth matched that of the United States, and exceeded that for the rest of the Midwest, stronger employment gains than Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Missouri. Typically, Illinois lags the nation in economic measures.

Increased faith in the economy may soon be reflected in housing prices. For all of 2011, prices nationally fell 4.7 percent versus the previous year. Excluding distressed sales, home prices dropped just 0.9 percent. And looking at the last two months for which national figures are available, non-distressed sales prices rose 0.2 percent month over month in December 2011 and 0.7 percent in January 2012, according to the National Association of Realtors.

In Illinois, economic uncertainty has not kept residents from the belief that owning a home is a fundamental part of the American Dream, according to a new survey by the Illinois Association of Realtors. The survey of 600 homeowners and renters in the state revealed that 82 percent believe homeownership is a key goal for Illinoisans and that 34 percent believe prices will increase in the next five years.

“We’re seeing growing consumer confidence, historically low interest rates and attractive home prices,” Bois said. “It’s encouraging to see this data that show how important homeownership is to Illinois residents.”

From the April 11-17, 2012, issue

University of Illinois Extension is starting off the gardening season by offering four programs to help you get your garden ready.

The spring gardening series offers “Sustainable Lawn Care,” “Vegetable Garden Planning,” “Bug Invaders of the Foreign Kind” and “A Gardening Calendar.”

Each program will be offered twice, and each session will be $5 per person, or $12 for the series.

Following are details about each of the four programs:

• Sustainable Lawn Care — 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, or 7 p.m., Thursday, April 12: Homeowners can manage their lawns in a more sustainable way by modifying many of the tasks we normally do throughout the year. Learn how to work with the natural cycles your lawn goes through and better understand the best times to fertilize, top-dress, sod, reseed and irrigate to give you the results you expect.

• Vegetable Garden Planning — 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 24, or 7 p.m., Thursday, April 26: Growing your own backyard vegetables is a rewarding family project. But how much should you plant, what planting layout will optimize sunlight exposure for all the crops, where should you place your garden, and how do you prepare the soil? This program will help you decide how much to plant based on average yield per plant and your family size. You will also learn the best place to plant a garden and how to prep the soil to ensure you maximize your harvest.

• Bug Invaders of the Foreign Kind — 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 8, or 7 p.m., Thursday, May 10: Emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, brown marmorated stink bug, and multicolored Asian lady beetle are just some of the alien insects that have been found in the U.S. and Illinois. The identification, biology and management of these and other invaders will be discussed. The program will also address some of the reasons for what appears to be an increase in these invaders.

• A Gardening Calendar — 1 p.m., Tuesday, May 22, or 7 p.m., Thursday, May 24: Spring is always a busy time in the garden. But what about summer, fall and winter? Each season has its own beauty, but what needs to be done year around to ensure you have the garden/landscape of your dreams? Let this program provide gentle reminders of what to do all year round.

All programs offered in this spring series will be at University of Illinois Extension in Ogle County in the Farm Bureau Building at 421 W. Pines Road, Oregon, Ill. The presentation will be via the University of Illinois telenet system and local computer PowerPoint presentations, allowing live discussion between the instructor and gardeners throughout Illinois. If interested, call Ogle County Extension at (815) 732-2191 and reserve a seat and packet of information, or register and pay using the secure website at web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo.

From the March 28-April 3, 2012, issue

A surge of activity on Leap Day drove home sales to even higher levels in the state, according to data collected by the Illinois Association of Realtors.

The association released numbers March 21 for a 28-day period, which provides a comparison with last year’s 28-day February reporting period. Those numbers showed that for the 28-day period, home sales (including single-family and condominium sales) increased 15.1 percent from 5,634 homes sold in February 2011 to 6,487 homes sold in February 2012.

The data released did not include Feb. 29 closed sales because of a reporting error that affected statistics for the nine-county Chicago PMSA. Adjusting for Leap Day, the data show more than 500 closings were recorded Feb. 29, with statewide home sales increasing 25.4 percent, from 5,634 sales in February 2011 to 7,067 sales in February 2012.

For the 28-day period in February 2012, comparable to February 2011, IAR found home sales in the Chicago PMSA increased 14.8 percent from 3,769 homes in February 2011 to 4,325 homes in 2012. Adding in Leap Day, home sales in Chicagoland increased 29.6 percent, from 3,769 in February 2011 to 4,884 in February 2012.

In the city of Chicago, home sales rose 2.2 percent for the 28-day comparable period, from 1,056 homes in February 2011 to 1,079 homes in 2012. Adding in Feb. 29 numbers, home sales increased 16.6 percent, from 1,056 homes sold in February 2011 to 1,231 homes sold in February 2012.

Median prices

Median prices for Illinois home sales for the 28-day comparable period were $117,000, down 8.2 percent from the $127,500 reported for February 2011. Factoring in Leap Day sales, the state saw a 6.8 percent decrease in median prices, from $127,500 in February 2011 to $118,800 in February 2012.

In the Chicago PMSA, the median price remained unchanged when Leap Day was factored in. The median price of a home fell 11.5 percent in the Chicago PMSA from $152,500 to $135,000 in February 2012.

In the city of Chicago, the 28-day calculation showed a 6.7 percent decrease in median prices, from $150,000 in February 2011 to $140,000 last month. Factoring in Feb. 29 data, the city saw median prices fall from $150,000 to $140,100, or down 6.6 percent.

Sales and price information is generated by Multiple Listing Service closed sales reported by 31 participating Illinois Realtor local boards and associations including Midwest Real Estate Data LLC as of March 21, 2012, for the period Feb. 1-29, 2012. The Chicago PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

From the March 28-April 3, 2012, issue

CHICAGO — Northern Illinois can expect fewer empty storefronts in 2012. Renters will have fewer vacant apartments from which to choose and should expect to pay more to rent the units that are on the market. But we should not expect many new office buildings or strip malls to rise in the area this year, according to a survey of commercial brokers affiliated with the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network.

Those RE/MAX agents say the regional commercial real estate market remains a challenging one, with little new development taking place. They are, however, seeing signs of hope in the local commercial market, especially in the red-hot multi-family sector.

And these agents expect commercial real estate activity — leases and sales — to increase at a faster rate as the national and local economies continue to improve, a view supported by the latest research on the commercial real estate market. This is good news for northern Illinois residents — a strong commercial real estate industry means more jobs.

“We are very optimistic about commercial real estate,” said Dave Shalabi, a top commercial real estate agent with RE/MAX Synergy in Orland Park, Ill. “I feel the leasing market is starting to correct itself because of the lower rental rates that commercial tenants have to pay today. Simply put, they are getting good deals, and that’s encouraging them to lease new, improved space. We are also optimistic that the improving economy is bringing people out of the woodwork to make decisions on investing in commercial real estate.”

Shalabi’s view is supported by the latest research from the National Association of Realtors. The association’s most recent quarterly commercial real estate forecast reported that all of the major commercial real estate sectors — multi-family, retail, office and industrial — are seeing improvements across the country.

Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the association, said vacancies are falling for retail space, office buildings, industrial properties and apartment buildings, thanks largely to improvements in the national unemployment rate.

“Sustained job creation is benefiting commercial real estate sectors by increasing demand for space,” Yun said in a written statement. “Vacancy rates are steadily falling. Leasing is on the rise, and rents are showing signs of strengthening.”

Positive signs are evident in Chicago and its suburbs, too, according to the latest research from Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services. The company predicts retail vacancy rates will fall 0.6 percent to 10.6 percent in 2012. At the same time, retail landlords will be able to command higher rents this year, with effective retail rents in the Chicago area rising 1.6 percent in 2012 to $16.31 a square foot.

Marcus & Millichap also predicts multi-family vacancies in the Chicago area will fall to 4.2 percent this year, while average effective rents will jump 4.8 percent to $1,055 a month.

According to Bradley Burns, a commercial broker with RE/MAX Experience in Sycamore, Ill., buyers today are looking for outstanding values when it comes to commercial real estate. And, in Burns’ experience, they are finding them.

“There are definitely buyers out there today for commercial properties,” Burns said. “They know this is a good time to buy commercial real estate, that they can find great prices on properties. There is some commercial real estate selling, but it is selling at a discounted price.”

Backing up the national and local research, Burns says multi-family remains the strongest commercial real estate type today. Rents are up and vacancies down in the multi-family properties in his region, Burns said.

“We have a good market for apartments, with Northern Illinois University here,” Burns said, referring to the DeKalb County area in north central Illinois.

Burns recently sold a 192-unit apartment complex in DeKalb, Ill. The purchasers of the building, who Burns represented in the transaction, invested additional funds to improve the property and have now reduced their vacancies to zero.

Deepika Syal, a commercial broker with RE/MAX United in Wheeling, Ill., said commercial real estate buyers and developers still face challenges. The biggest of these is in getting funding for the purchases they want to make or the projects they want to build.

“Lenders are looking very carefully before giving money to projects today,” Syal said. “That has been a major change from the past. It also takes longer to close a deal today.”

Syal is logging longer hours to help her commercial clients navigate this still-challenging commercial real estate market.

“You have to work five times harder than before,” Syal said. “That’s what you have to do to succeed. It’s just a changing market out there.”

John Rosengren, a commercial broker with RE/MAX Sauk Valley in Sterling, Ill., said the best way to succeed in today’s commercial real estate market is to provide top service to clients.

For Rosengren, this means researching the local market and getting clients the information they need to make informed leasing or buying decisions. Rosengren provides his clients with a range of data, including local demographics, traffic patterns, rental information and cost surveys, everything they need to make an informed decision before leasing or buying space in a shopping center or office building.

“It’s all about giving people the right advice,” Rosengren said. “Some clients don’t need to be located in a high-end retail center. Some can be in a secondary location and do just as well, and they’ll save money in rent. A lot of people think they need the location next to Walgreens and McDonald’s. But often they can do just as well by finding space in an area with lower rents. Those are the kinds of decisions that I help my clients make.”

Shalabi, who has seen steady business in the multi-family and medical sectors, agrees today’s commercial buyers and sellers expect top service from their real estate representatives. But this is nothing new, he said; clients always expect to receive solid information and strong representation from their commercial brokers, in both good times and challenging ones.

“Our clients have been happy over the years with us,” Shalabi said. “We can deliver on what we say. We never make a promise we can’t keep. To be good on your word is extremely important. We get tons of referrals thanks to that approach.”

Visit remax.com for more about RE/MAX.

From the March 28-April 3, 2012, issue

As the springtime weather shifts from messy to mild, every homeowner’s attention turns to the out of doors. It’s time to clean things up, tend to the garden, and make needed repairs to both the home and its surroundings. Where to start? Assuming that your exterior paint is failing, it’s best to focus on that first, according to experts.

Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute, said there are plenty of good reasons to start spring chores with exterior painting:

“First, spring is a very comfortable time to do outdoor painting,” Zimmer said. “Second, it’s smart to paint before putting down mulch, which, along with your plants, will just get trampled if you paint later on. Third, why not get your painting done before more pleasant ‘distractions’ like gardening, sports and barbecues begin?”

Zimmer said that if your house paint is near the end of its life expectancy, you’re taking a chance by postponing repainting. It doesn’t take long for exposed wood to begin to rot, and other types of exteriors also suffer when the paint wears off. Wait too long, and you may have to make repairs before starting to paint.

Another reason to get to your painting first: Exterior latex paint forms the most durable, protective finish when the weather is mild.

“It’s always best to do exterior painting when the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but not too hot,” Zimmer said. “Very hot days can cause the paint to dry too quickly and impair good paint film formation. By painting in moderate weather, you’ll likely get a longer-lasting paint job.”

If a day starts off mild, but turns very hot, try to avoid painting in direct sunshine, since sunlit surfaces can be 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the air temperature. Work your way around the house so you are always painting in the shade. As a bonus, you’ll be more comfortable!

When painting, pick a day that isn’t too windy. Like the heat of the sun, wind can cause latex paint to dry too quickly and prevent optimal paint film formation. Plus, wind can stir up dust and other contaminants that can embed in the paint to create an inviting surface for mildew, which feeds on such matter.

You should also try to steer clear of “weather events” that could affect the paint, waiting for another day if it has rained within the last 24 hours, or postponing the job if several days of rain are expected right after you finish painting.

Of course, it’s important to properly prepare the surface before doing any exterior painting. That includes applying a coat of primer to any new surface that has never been painted, or spot-priming previously painted surfaces where the paint is worn away.

To extend the life of your paint job, Zimmer recommended that you apply the very highest quality 100 percent acrylic latex paint, which is especially durable, flexible and colorfast. Top-quality paint often lasts 10 years or more, compared to about four years for ordinary paint, saving you time, work and money in the long run. For the longest-lasting paint job, always apply at least two coats — either a coat of primer and a coat of paint, or two coats of house paint.

Once you’ve finished your exterior painting, you can turn your attention to the other things on your to-do list. What’s more, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’ve done right by your biggest investment — your home.

For more information about exterior painting, visit blog.paintquality.com or www.paintquality.com.

From the March 28-April 3, 2012, issue

CHICAGO — Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D) called on the Federal Housing Finance Agency March 23 to immediately implement appropriate principal reductions to home loans held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In a letter to Edward J. DeMarco, the acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie and Freddie, Madigan demanded the agency reassess its blanket refusal to reduce any mortgage debts for Fannie and Freddie borrowers who are underwater.

Based on FHFA data, Madigan stressed that targeted principal reductions can avoid unnecessary harm to homeowners and communities and help the housing market recover.

“Principal reductions for borrowers can prevent the likelihood of defaulting and, in turn, prevent unnecessary foreclosures,” Madigan said. “This is a critical step to repair the widespread destruction caused by the housing market’s crash that has reverberated in communities across Illinois.”

In issuing her letter, Madigan noted emerging media reports early March 23 citing a new internal analysis conducted at FHFA that reportedly shows the benefits of principal mortgage reductions. The Attorney General stressed the urgent need for FHFA to address the reports and immediately begin taking steps to implement debt reductions.

Some of the country’s largest banks have begun offering debt forgiveness — so-called principal reductions — to home loans for underwater borrowers, who owe more on their homes than they are worth, in an effort to stabilize the housing market. Madigan said FHFA’s refusal to follow suit raises particular concerns because Fannie and Freddie hold a considerable share of all home mortgages nationwide.

Importantly, Madigan fought hard to include principal reductions during negotiations leading up to last month’s $25 billion settlement reached by her office, her counterparts and federal officials with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers — Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citibank and Ally Bank, formerly GMAC.

The settlement addressed allegations of widespread “robo-signing” of foreclosure documents and other fraudulent practices in the servicing of loans of struggling homeowners. It is the largest settlement ever obtained through joint action of state attorneys general and the federal government, and it is estimated to provide more than $1 billion in relief for Illinois borrowers.

From the March 28-April 3, 2012, issue

For the first time since monthly statistics have been collected dating back to 1998, the Rockford housing market has gained year-to-year increases for the ninth straight month. The longest previous sales streak ran for eight months ending in October 2001.

Rockford Area Realtors (RAR) sold 213 homes in February, the highest total for the month of February in four years and 23.1 percent higher than 173 properties sold in 2011.

“What’s truly eye-popping is the historical perspective,” said Steve Bois, CEO of RAR. “This is the first recorded string of nine months of sales increases over the previous year. Sales are definitely picking up — good news for both buyers and sellers.”

The three-month rolling average price also increased, from $94,371 in January to $100,381 in February, a 6.4 percent gain. The increase in average sales price was somewhat boosted by a higher-than-average number of sales of higher-end properties.

When bank foreclosures and property short sales (a home sold for less than the current amount owed to the lender) are discounted, the average sale price rose to an impressive $140,717, some 20 percent higher than last month’s average sales price of $117,146 without foreclosures and short sales.

The U.S economy has been improving steadily for months, Bois said. Industrial output jumped in January after surging in December by the most in five years, with auto sales booming, a significant indicator for the Rockford market.

According to the Regional Economic Applications Laboratory (REAL) at the University of Illinois, the manufacturing sector is leading economic growth in the state, with Illinois adding nearly 100,000 jobs since January 2010. Dr. Geoffrey Hewings with the REAL office said unemployment rates have edged down to 8.5 percent in Illinois, and consumer confidence has reached its highest point in a year. Interest rates are still at historic lows (3.92 percent or lower across the region) and projected to be near that level for several more months.

Bois said Realtors are reporting increased interest among new sellers for listing homes.

“There clearly are more people in the market,” Bois said. “Consumers have made decisions to put off buying for years in some cases, and there’s a sense that this is the time to buy. The combination of significantly lower prices and interest rates isn’t likely to be this attractive again anytime soon.”

From the March 14-20, 2012, issue

Energy Impact Illinois, an alliance that provides tools and resources to help homeowners take action toward reducing energy consumption, recently announced a home performance rebate of up to $2,000 for City of Rockford residents who make energy improvements to their home.

The limited-time rebate program is designed to decrease home energy upgrade costs by offering eligible homeowners reimbursements of $1,000 for work resulting in 15 to 20 percent energy savings; $1,200 for 20 to 30 percent savings; or $2,000 for 30 percent savings or more.

City of Rockford homeowners can visit TheEnergyBills.org or call 1-855-9-IMPACT to find a participating contractor.

Energy Impact Illinois participating contractors perform a home energy assessment and work with the homeowner to determine the best mix of improvements for the most savings that meet the Illinois Home Performance with ENERGY STAR requirements.

Eligible homeowners can receive a significant discount on the cost of specific energy upgrades like air sealing, insulation, furnace replacement, and other HVAC work.

Once the work is complete and a quality assurance inspection is conducted, the rebates will be directly subtracted from the contractor’s invoice.

Homeowners will also be eligible to receive, at no additional cost, a silver or gold Illinois Home Performance with ENERGY STAR certificate.

Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey (I) said: “We are proud to be a key partner with Energy Impact Illinois and to be selected as the first pilot community in Illinois to launch the Home Performance Residential Retrofit Rebate Program. This energy retrofit program will not only financially assist Rockford homeowners in making needed home improvements to save money on their energy bills, it has the added benefit of improving our environment and leading the way toward energy conservation and a more sustainable community for our future.”

Randy Blankenhorn, executive director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), the lead agency behind Energy Impact Illinois, added: “We know there are two things people want to do when it comes to energy efficiency — increase the comfort of their homes and save money on their energy bills. The rebate simplifies the process and offers an attractive option for City of Rockford residents.”

Energy Impact Illinois also offers an array of additional tools and resources at TheEnergyBills.org that educate homeowners about their current energy usage, provide information about how to make smart energy efficiency investments and connect them with additional financial resources to make those investments a reality.

These tools include a groundbreaking energy quotient calculator, known as “MyHomeEQ,” a customized web tool that gives users customized information about their home energy usage. The tool is a simple process that tells a user how they use energy, what can be done to lower utility bills while improving energy efficiency, and connects them to the right resources and contractors needed to implement those actions.

City of Rockford homeowners are also eligible for financing for the cost of their energy-efficient work exceeding the rebate through the Energy Impact Illinois Residential Loan Program. In partnership with MembersAlliance Credit Union, City of Rockford homeowners can work with certified and specially-trained contractors participating in the program to take advantage of special low rate unsecured loan products to help finance energy efficiency improvement projects. The loan program offers competitive rates and financing for energy efficiency improvement projects, in most cases below what consumers can find elsewhere.

To learn more, and to take advantage of all the resources Energy Impact Illinois offers, visit TheEnergyBills.org.

From the March 14-20, 2012, issue

Is the freefall in home prices finally over?

Citing a cyclical trend in home values that has been tracked since the American Civil War between the states, astrologer Grace K. Morris, M.A., says the worst almost certainly is behind us.

According to the 18.6-year Real Estate Values Cycle first described by the late research astrologer Alice Reichard, home values were projected to bottom in August 2009 and trend upwards toward the next high point in June 2020.

“There’s been a lot of sideways movement in America’s housing markets as the number of home foreclosures has continued to rise,” Morris said. “But things appear to be getting back on track after the subprime mortgage crisis plunged the housing industry into chaos.”

Morris writes and publishes the Astro Economics Stock Market Newsletter. She said the Real Estate Values cycle is keyed to the motion of the moon’s north and south nodes.

The mathematically calculated nodes are sensitive points in space where the moon’s orbit around the Earth intersects the Earth’s orbit around the sun — the ecliptic. The north, or ascending, node is where the moon’s orbit crosses north of the ecliptic, and the descending, or south, node is where it crosses the ecliptic to the south.

Eclipses can only happen when the moon is aligned with its nodes. This phenomena was observed and noted at least 2,600 years ago by the ancient Chaldeans, who called these two points the Dragon’s Head (north node) and Dragon’s Tail (south node).

Every astrological tradition since then has identified the nodes as powerfully influencing both the affairs of nations and the lives of ordinary people.

Like everything else in space, the nodes are continually on the move, progressing together in tandem but 180 degrees apart in opposite astrological signs. During the 18.6-year cycle, each node spends more than a year trekking through each of the 12 astrological signs.

Reichard theorized that the transiting Dragon’s Head (north node) might positively influence home values as it transited through the astrological sign of Cancer. Symbolically, Cancer deals with feelings and the emotions, but also is strongly linked to domesticity and matters related to hearth and home.

Reichard further reasoned that if home values cyclically peak with the north node in Cancer, they should bottom about 9.3 years later when the north node had moved halfway around the zodiac to the sign of Capricorn.

How is this working out?

The cyclical pattern is highly susceptible to economic nuance and may sometimes appear to be flat or uneven. However, over time, the trend line has consistently moved in the expected direction, Morris said.

In the current era, home values peaked in 1962 with the north node in Cancer and the average U.S. home price climbing to $20,000. Values remained virtually unchanged as the cycle trended downward to the next cyclical low point in 1973, but average prices rebounded robustly to $80,000 by the time the cyclical high point was reached again in 1981.

Home values dipped to another low point in 1991 when, on cue, a recession arrived to moderate earlier gains. Only this time, when the trend line pointed north, there was no stopping the rapidly ramping home prices that arrived with the new century.

“Home values were projected to peak in 2000, but subprime mortgages fueled and extended an incredible surge in home values for another six years before the housing market began to implode,” Morris said.

The good news is the Real Estate Values trend line appeared to be back on track in August 2009. The north node was back in Capricorn, and home values had abruptly returned to their cyclical lows in many U.S. housing markets.

“The timing could hardly be more auspicious for those who can consider buying a house at this time,” Morris said. “Interest rates are near historic lows, and home values are at a low point as well.

“A home purchased now should prove to be an excellent long-term investment,” she said.

From the March 14-20, 2012, issue

Let’s face it: few of us are spending money the way we used to. But our homes are still our castles, and we want them to be as attractive as possible. In fact, the lackluster economy is all the more reason to create a comfortable, welcoming cocoon where we can ride out the economic storm.

How to reconcile the desire to beautify a home with the need to economize? One possibility is to add fresh color to the indoor environment with a new interior paint scheme.

“Repainting is a low-cost way to greatly enhance the appearance of a home,” says Debbie Zimmer, spokesman for the Paint Quality Institute. “And new paint colors can actually have a positive psychological effect.”

The simple fact that you’re surrounded by fresh color, in and of itself, can be uplifting. But Zimmer says certain colors have been shown to invoke specific desirable feelings and emotions. Knowing this ahead of time allows you to make the best color choices.

If your life is very stressful, you might want to repaint the rooms where you rest and relax — the family room and bedroom, for example — in a pale blue or soft green. Studies show these colors can be very calming.

Another approach is to introduce a color like taupe or brown. These also tend to create a tranquil environment, but they impart more warmth and coziness than blue or green.

If, on the other hand, you want to inject some energy and optimism into your surroundings, consider using yellow paint. Like splashes of brilliant sunshine, yellow walls can lift your spirits and brighten your outlook.

Apricot, cinnamon and tangerine are also energizing colors. But be careful with reds and burgundies: These colors can literally increase heartbeat and arouse passion. Not good for the room where you pay your bills!

The tone, or brightness, of a color should always be factored into color choice. Brighter tones invigorate, while those that are muted (“toned down”) tend to be more relaxing.

Whatever your response to your new color scheme, your reaction to the cost of repainting is likely to be positive. A do-it-yourselfer can repaint almost any room for well under $100. And that’s using the best-quality paint, something Zimmer strongly advocates.

“Top-quality, 100-percent acrylic latex paints cost more than ordinary paint, but they offer the best value,” Zimmer says. “Not only do they last longer and continue to look fresh over time, but they often save you money right away.”

How can they cost more, yet save you money? Because 100-percent acrylic latex paints have better “hiding,” so you may need fewer coats than you would with a lower-quality product.

So, if you’re feeling blue over the state of the economy, think about painting your walls blue … or green … or yellow. It will cost very little, but doing so will likely give a big lift to your outlook!

For more information about color psychology and interior painting, visit blog.paintquality.com or paintquality.com.

From the March 14-20, 2012, issue

“Introduction to Interior Decorating,” an eight-week course, will be offered by Rock Valley College (RVC) Community and Continuing Education beginning March 21.

The course will discuss selecting colors, flooring, lighting, furniture and more.

The course will meet from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m., Wednesdays, March 21-May 9, in Classroom Building II (CLII) on RVC’s main campus, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford. Cost is $99.

An outline and handouts are provided in related subject matter. Those in the class will choose a room of their choice to decorate. At the end of the course, the area chosen will reflect something practical, useful and budget sensitive for all members of the household.

Guest speakers and a field trip to a local store will offer professional help in creating the room. Participants will also learn how to organize and present a personal/client presentation board.

Mark Iverson II will serve as instructor for the course. Iverson works for a local painting company that has been in business for more than 23 years. His work was featured on HGTV in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and he has won several awards for Best Paint Design from the Home Builders Association in Rockford.

For more details or to register, call RVC Community and Continuing Education at (815) 921-3900.

From the Feb. 29-March 6, 2012, issue

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois home sales in January were the strongest for the month since 2007, according to data released Feb. 22 by the Illinois Association of Realtors.

Statewide home sales (including single-family homes and condominiums) in January 2012 totaled 6,435 homes sold, up 16.1 percent from 5,543 home sales in January 2011. The statewide median price in January was $122,500, down 9.3 percent from $135,000 in January 2011. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more and half sold for less.

Historically low interest rates and prices, along with consumer and employment gains in the month contributed to the strong showing in home sales.

“Whether you’re a seller or a buyer, there are positives to this data,” said Loretta Alonzo, CRB, GRI, president of the Illinois Association of Realtors and broker-owner of Century 21 Alonzo & Associates in La Grange Park. “After years of standing on the sidelines, buyers are finding this is the right time to get into affordable housing. While sellers may not be getting all of the money they want for a house, they are getting traffic and interest at levels that haven’t been seen in several years.”

In January 2007, 8,584 homes were sold statewide. As the recession began to take hold in 2008, the number of home sales statewide dropped to 6,045. The weakest January in the past decade was 2009, when 4,809 homes were sold, according to the association’s data.

The monthly average commitment rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for the North Central region was 3.92 percent in January 2012, down from 3.94 percent during the previous month, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Last year in January, it averaged 4.80 percent.

In the nine-county Chicago Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA), home sales (single family and condominiums) in January 2012 totaled 4,447 homes sold, up 15.7 percent from January 2011 sales of 3,844 homes. The median price in January 2012 was $140,000 in the Chicago PMSA, down 11.4 percent compared to last year in January when it was $158,000.

Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois, said the Feb. 7 settlement between states and five large banks relating to foreclosure abuses could speed pending cases through the court system.

Hewings said: “Now that the major legal bottlenecks for processing foreclosed properties appear to have been resolved, it is likely that these properties will assume a significant share of sales in 2012. This provides mixed news for the housing market; it is positive in the sense that the large backlog can now begin to be removed from the inventory. However, it is likely to continue to dampen any prospect of near-term housing price recovery.”

More than half of Illinois counties reporting (53 of 95) showed year-over-year home sales increases in January 2012. Thirty-nine counties showed year-over-year median price increases, including Effingham, up 2.7 percent to $131,000; Jefferson, up 2.1 percent to $85,000; McLean, up 3.2 percent to $152,000; Peoria, up 45.3 percent to $138,000; and Sangamon, up 0.7 percent to $120,750.

In the city of Chicago, January 2012 home sales (single family and condominiums) totaled 1,093, up 5.7 percent from 1,034 homes sold in January 2011. The city of Chicago median home sale price for January 2012 was $149,000, down 0.7 percent compared to January 2011, when it was $150,000.

Realtor Bob Floss, president of the Chicago Association of Realtors and broker-owner of Bob Floss and Son Realty, said: “January gave 2012 a solid start in sales of homes in the city of Chicago. Motivated buyers and sellers moving in what has been a mild Chicago winter have helped move both distressed and traditional properties. We will be closely watching the impact of pricing on the market and how homebuyers and investors react to what could be a new norm.”

Sales and price information is generated by Multiple Listing Service closed sales reported by 31 participating Illinois Realtor local boards and associations, including Midwest Real Estate Data LLC data as of Feb. 7, 2012, for the period Jan. 1-31, 2012. The Chicago PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

The Illinois Association of Realtors is a voluntary trade association whose 41,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, the Illinois Association of Realtors works to protect the rights of private property owners in the state by recommending and promoting legislation that safeguards and advances the interest of real property ownership.

Find Illinois housing stats data and the University of Illinois REAL forecast at www.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats.

From the Feb. 29-March 6, 2012, issue

University of Illinois Extension and the Ogle County Master Gardeners will host a spring morning workshop, “Dig In To Spring,” from 8:30 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 10.

A series of four presentations will be offered during the morning. Ellen Phillips, Extension educator, will present “Soil Basics,” offering key management strategies for keeping your soil healthy. She’ll also do a presentation about “Sustainable Backyard Gardening” that will address ecosystem-friendly techniques to minimize your labor and increase the beauty of your landscape.

Ogle County Master Gardeners will present two sessions. “What’s Blooming in Spring” will highlight some of the plants, shrubs and trees that bloom in spring and offer plant care tips. “Coleus and Other ‘C’s” will provide a brief history of coleus design, propagation and cultural practices, along with other “C” plants including canna lilies, caladium and calla lilies.

The workshop will be at the Ogle County Extension office, 421 W. Pines Road, Oregon, Ill., in the Farm Bureau Building. Cost is $10 per person.

Preregistration is encouraged to ensure adequate space and materials. Register by phone at (815) 732-2191 or online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo/. Indicate when registering if a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate.

From the Feb. 29-March 6, 2012, issue

Following a national and local surge in employment in January, the Rockford housing market also experienced a significant gain.

Rockford Area Realtors (RAR) sold 216 homes in January, the highest total for the month of January since the housing recession began five years ago, when 351 properties were sold in 2007. Sales this January jumped an astonishing 35 percent from 160 home sales in January 2010.

January also marked the eighth straight month of year-to-year increases. The last such sales streak occurred more than a decade ago, ending in October 2001.

“A combination of unseasonably mild weather, historically low mortgage rate and attractive market pricing led to an eighth straight month of increases in home sales,” said Steve Bois, CEO of RAR.

RAR’s latest report shows market-wide home sale prices fell 3.8 percent from a three-month rolling average price of $98,076 in December to $94,371 in January, the lowest monthly average price since the housing recession started in 2007.

However, when bank foreclosures and property short sales (a home sold for less than the current amount owed to the lender) were discounted, the average sale price rose to $117,146.

“While home prices continue to be a concern, largely due to the continuing effect foreclosures and short sales are having on the market,” Bois said, “the continued trend of month-over-month increases in the number of home sales is really encouraging news. Buyers are finding deals that are simply too good to pass up, and coupled with stronger consumer optimism, this is making an excellent way to start 2012.”

The monthly average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage Feb. 2 fell to 3.87 percent, down from 3.98 percent the week of Jan. 26, according to Freddie Mac. These are the lowest mortgage rates in Freddie Mac records dating to 1971.

“For consumers looking at the big picture, especially first-time homebuyers, now is the time to get a new mortgage,” Bois said. “If you are able to qualify for a mortgage and have job security, it means now is a great time to buy a home.”

Housing market forecasts for first quarter 2012 for Illinois by the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois and other January housing statistics suggest sales in the first quarter of this year will be significantly higher than the same period last year, although prices will still be lower than a year ago.

Upward trending January statistics including strong sales pending for February, a drop in housing inventory to 2007 levels, an increase of up to 15 percent in showings reported by Realtors and a significantly higher number of unique users on the association’s website (levels usually seen in the higher-selling spring market).

In a long-awaited wave of hiring, companies added 243,000 jobs nationally in January.

Locally, Chrysler announced the creation of 1,800 upcoming jobs being added to a third shift, some 200 more than expected, as the Belvidere plant begins production of the new Dodge Dart.

From the Feb. 15-21, 2012, issue

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — According to the Illinois Association of Realtors’ (IAR) fourth-quarter 2011 report, Illinois home sales (single family and condominiums) totaled 25,394, up 14.8 percent from 22,114 home sales in the fourth quarter of 2010. The 4Q11 statewide median home sales price was $128,000, down 10.8 percent from $143,500 in 4Q10. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

“For homebuyers who are feeling confident enough to re-enter the housing market, this data shows there is great opportunity for them,” said Loretta Alonzo, CRB, GRI, president of the IAR and broker-owner of Century 21 Alonzo & Associates in La Grange Park. “Growing optimism about the economy and low interest rates generated a lot of interest in real estate in the final part of the year.”

The 4Q11 interest rate for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4 percent in the North Central Region, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. It was down from 4.31 percent in the third quarter and also down from 4.44 percent a year ago in 4Q10.

“Looking forward, there is the likelihood that there will be year-over-year sales gains in the state through the first quarter of 2012,” said Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois. “While we are seeing the time on market for homes decline to less than 10 months, the large foreclosure inventory could create some challenges in the housing market this year.”

In the Chicagoland Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA) total home sales (single-family and condominiums) were up 20.4 percent in 4Q11 to 17,321 homes sold compared to 14,392 home sales in 4Q10. The region’s 4Q11 median price was $148,300, down 14 percent from $172,500 in 4Q10.

In the city of Chicago, total home sales (single-family and condominiums) in 4Q11 were up 11.1 percent to 4,225 sales compared to 3,804 sales in 4Q10. The city of Chicago median price was $159,999, down 8.6 percent from $175,000 in 4Q10.

“Chicago continues to show an absorption of properties in the market by aggressive buyers seeking great opportunities to purchase now,” said Realtor Bob Floss, president of the Chicago Association of Realtors and broker-owner of Bob Floss and Son Realty. “The decrease in median price and increase in units sold continues to show the downward pressure distressed sales still have on property values across the city. With interest rates at historic lows, and sellers and buyers looking to make real deals close, 2012 remains an excellent time for first-time, right-size buyers, or investors to get off the fence and make long-term investments in real estate.”

Sixty-one of 98 Illinois counties reporting showed year-over-year home sales increases in 4Q11. Forty-five of 98 counties reported median price increases during the period, including Coles, up 32.6 percent to $90,200; Kankakee, up 8.6 percent to $115,000; Madison, up 1.4 percent to $106,500; Menard, up 39.3 percent to $139,300; Monroe, up 2.1 percent to $165,000; and Whiteside, up 12.5 percent to $85,500.

Sales and price information is generated from a survey of Multiple Listing Service sales reported by 31 participating Illinois Realtor local boards and associations, including Midwest Real Estate Data LLC data as of Jan. 7, 2012, reported for the period Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2011. The Chicagoland PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

Find Illinois market stats data at www.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats.

From the Feb. 15-21, 2012, issue

The end of 2011 brought good news on the nation’s economic front, with unemployment in December falling to its lowest level in three years and the economy adding 200,000 jobs during the same month.

Dave Liniger, chairman and co-founder of RE/MAX, said the country’s improving economic fortunes bode well for the residential real estate market in 2012. Based on the recovering economy, the leader of RE/MAX recently predicted a continued rebound in the nation’s housing market this year.

“Interest rates will remain at or near historic lows, and home prices will stabilize and start to rise by the end of the year,” said Liniger. “There is no question the housing recovery will be slow and steady, but for many cities, the turn-around is already happening.”

The numbers in Illinois seem to bear this out. As the year ended, housing sales in the state began to rise. According to the latest numbers from the Illinois Association of Realtors (IAR), 8,828 homes sold statewide in December of last year. That’s up 14 percent from the same month one year earlier.

In the City of Chicago, December 2011 home sales hit 1,536, according to IAR. That is up 6.4 percent from December of 2010.

Moody’s Analytics brought even more good news for the coming year. The economic analysis company predicted that existing home sales across the nation will rise 12 percent in 2012 after rising 2 percent last year. The company also predicted the number of new home sales will rise 74 percent in 2012.

At the same time, historically low interest rates on 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages make borrowing money to finance a house or condominium a more affordable prospect.

“Informed and savvy consumers and investors recognize there is great opportunity in this market, and they are leading the way to recovery,” Liniger said.

Liniger, during his 2012 forecast, offered several predictions regarding the 2012 housing market, including the following:

1. Continued low interest rates;

2. Home prices stabilizing and starting to rise;

3. Increasing numbers of home sales;

4. Rising inventories, mostly the result of increased foreclosures;

5. Distressed properties will make up about half of all sales;

6. An improved short-sale process to help avoid foreclosure;

7. Homeownership rates will continue to fall;

8. Foreign and domestic investors will buy 25 percent of homes;

9. Increasing reliance on real estate agents; and

10. Increased use of mobile and social technologies.

From the Feb. 15-21, 2012, issue

If you think you’re stuck with the color of stucco on your home, think again. Like wood and other materials, stucco can be successfully painted. And if you’re the handy type, you might even be able to do the job yourself. However, there are certain procedures that should be followed to get the best results.

According to Debbie Zimmer, spokesman for the Paint Quality Institute, every exterior painting project should begin with good surface preparation, and that’s especially true when painting stucco.

“Start by making sure that the surface of your stucco is sound,” says Zimmer. “It should be free of dirt and powdery dust, and rough enough so that your primer and paint will adhere well.”

You can accomplish both objectives by cleaning and roughening the surface with a stiff bristle brush, wire brush or — if your stucco has been long-neglected — a sandblaster. Follow up with a thorough rinsing.

The next step depends upon the age and condition of your stucco.

Unpainted stucco that is very new or aged less than a year presents some special challenges. For one thing, it may still contain moisture from the original mixing; for another, it may have a high degree of alkalinity. These possibilities have implications for the coatings you use. If you plan to apply an oil-based or vinyl water-based paint, you must first apply an alkaline-resistant sealer or risk having the paint fail prematurely.

But you might be able to skip this step, according to Zimmer: “If you are going to use top-quality, 100 percent acrylic latex paint, you can often apply it directly to the stucco, since these paints resist the alkaline nature of fresh masonry.” The only exception: When painting stucco that is less than a month old, you should still apply an alkaline-resistant primer or sealer. (Tip: You can eliminate this step by simply postponing your painting for a few weeks.)

Weathered stucco that is unpainted or previously painted involves other considerations. If you see efflorescence — white, crusty salt deposits — on your stucco, you must remove it during surface preparation by scraping, wire-brushing or sandblasting. Even if your stucco shows a slight tendency to produce efflorescence — or if it is very porous or “chalky” — you should apply a sealer or latex block filler before painting.

When applying any type of latex coating to your stucco — sealer, block filler, or paint — you should dampen the surface immediately beforehand. This will allow the coating to dry more slowly, which, in turn, will enable it to form a more durable protective film.

Following these procedures will beautifully restore most stucco surfaces. But what if the stucco is badly cracked? In that case, the best option is to call in a painting contractor with experience applying “elastomeric wall coatings” — very thick, highly flexible paints that are designed to bridge and seal cracks to keep moisture out of the home. Like other paints, elastomeric coatings come in a range of colors, but it takes special training to apply them properly.

Whether you do the work yourself or call in a contractor, the knowledge that you can use paint to change the color and condition of your stucco should be liberating. So, if your stucco is tired-looking, drab or damaged, exercise your newfound freedom and paint!

For more about exterior painting, visit blog.paintquality.com or paintquality.com.

From the Feb. 15-21, 2012, issue

Following a national and local surge in employment in January, the Rockford housing market also experienced a significant gain.

Rockford Area Realtors (RAR) sold 216 homes in January, the highest total for the month of January since the housing recession began five years ago, when 351 properties were sold in 2007. Sales this January jumped an astonishing 35 percent from 160 home sales in January 2010.

January also marked the eighth straight month of year-to-year increases. The last such sales streak occurred more than a decade ago, ending in October 2001.

“A combination of unseasonably mild weather, historically low mortgage rate and attractive market pricing lead to an eighth straight month of increases in home sales,” said Steve Bois, CEO of RAR.

RAR’s latest report shows market-wide home sale prices fell 3.8 percent from a three-month rolling average price of $98,076 in December to $94,371 in January, the lowest monthly average price since the housing recession started in 2007.

However, when bank foreclosures and property short sales (a home sold for less than the current amount owed to the lender) were discounted, the average sale price rose to $117,146.

“While home prices continue to be a concern, largely due to the continuing effect foreclosures and short sales are having on the market,” Bois said, “the continued trend of month-over-month increases in the number of home sales is really encouraging news. Buyers are finding deals that are simply too good to pass up, and coupled with stronger consumer optimism, this is making an excellent way to start 2012.”

The monthly average rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage Feb. 2 fell to 3.87 percent, down from 3.98 percent the week of Jan. 26, according to Freddie Mac. These are the lowest mortgage rates in Freddie Mac records dating to 1971.

“For consumers looking at the big picture, especially first-time homebuyers, now is the time to get a new mortgage,” Bois said. “If you are able to qualify for a mortgage and have job security, it means now is a great time to buy a home.”

Housing market forecasts for first quarter 2012 for Illinois by the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois and other January housing statistics suggest sales in the first quarter of this year will be significantly higher than the same period last year, although prices will still be lower than a year ago.

Upward trending January statistics including strong sales pending for February, a drop in housing inventory to 2007 levels, an increase of up to 15 percent in showings reported by Realtors and a significantly higher number of unique users on the association’s website (levels usually seen in the higher-selling spring market).

In a long-awaited wave of hiring, companies added 243,000 jobs nationally in January.

Locally, Chrysler announced the creation of 1,800 upcoming jobs being added to a third shift, some 200 more than expected, as the Belvidere plant begins production of the new Dodge Dart.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A combination of unseasonably mild weather, historically low mortgage rates and attractive market pricing led to a sixth straight month of increases in home sales, according to data released by the Illinois Association of Realtors (IAR).

IAR’s latest report shows statewide home sales (including single family and condominiums) in December 2011 totaled 8,828 homes sold, up 14 percent from 7,746 home sales in December 2010. The statewide median price in December was $125,500, down 10.4 percent from $140,000 in December 2010. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

For the year, Illinois home sales were nearly even with the previous year, down 0.1 percent with 103,785 homes sold in 2011 compared to 103,899 homes sold in 2010. The year-end statewide median price for 2011 was $137,500, down 9.2 percent from $151,500 in 2010.

“While median home prices continue to be a concern in much of the state, the continued trend of month-over-month increases in the number of home sales is encouraging news,” said Loretta Alonzo, CRB, GRI, president of the IAR and broker-owner of Century 21 Alonzo & Associates in La Grange Park. “Buyers are finding deals that are simply too good to pass up, and that, coupled with stronger consumer optimism, is making this an excellent way to start 2012.”

The monthly average commitment rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for the North Central region was 3.94 percent in December 2011, down from 4 percent during the previous month, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Last year in December, it averaged 4.8 percent.

In the nine-county Chicago Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA), home sales (single family and condominiums) in December 2011 totaled 6,090 homes sold, up 17 percent from December 2010 sales of 5,204 homes. The median price in December 2011 was $145,000 in the Chicago PMSA, down 13.6 percent compared to last year in December when it was $167,850.

For the year, home sales made gains in the Chicago PMSA, up 1.3 percent to 69,900 homes sold compared to 69,009 homes sold in 2010. The year-end 2011 median price for the Chicago PMSA was $163,000, down 11.9 percent from $185,000 in 2010.

Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois, said there are signs the economy is improving, although the number of unresolved foreclosures continues to be a drag on the housing market.

“Housing market forecasts for January, February and March 2012 for Illinois and the Chicago PMSA suggest that sales volume will be significantly higher than the same period last year, although prices will still be lower than a year ago,” Hewings said. “Until these foreclosed properties and additions expected in 2012 clear the market, sustained upward movement in prices will be unlikely.”

More than half of Illinois counties reporting (52 of 100) showed year-over-year home sales increases in December 2011. Forty-three counties showed year-over-year median price increases including Champaign, up 12.2 percent to $131,000; Grundy, up 3.7 percent to $140,000; Kankakee, up 10.5 percent to $114,900; Peoria, up 0.9 percent to $118,000; Saint Clair, up 5.5 percent to $115,000; Sangamon, up 1.2 percent to $119,375; and Woodford, up 8.5 percent to $147,575.

In the city of Chicago, December 2011 home sales (single family and condominiums) totaled 1,536, up 6.4 percent from 1,444 homes sold in December 2010. The city of Chicago median home sale price for December 2011 was $156,000, down 6.2 percent compared to December 2010 when it was $166,250.

For the year, home sales totaled 17,715 in the city of Chicago, down 7.2 percent from 19,089 sales in 2010. The year-end statewide median price for 2011 was $175,000, down 13.8 percent from $203,000 in 2010.

Realtor Bob Floss, president of the Chicago Association of Realtors and broker-owner of Bob Floss and Son Realty, said: “December ended the year with an optimistic showing of buyers coming out and making decisions about investing in a home. While the year-end numbers for 2011 were down over 2010, a positive uptick in sales toward the end of the year is a great indicator of a strong winter and spring season for buyers and sellers, alike, looking to get off the fence. Still problematic is the downward pressure distressed properties are putting on the market and a trend we will continue to monitor this year as we observe changes in median pricing throughout the city.”

Sales and price information is generated by Multiple Listing Service closed sales reported by 31 participating Illinois Realtor local boards and associations including Midwest Real Estate Data LLC data as of Jan. 7, 2012, for the period Dec. 1-31, 2011. The Chicago PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

The IAR is a voluntary trade association whose 41,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, the IAR works to protect the rights of private property owners in the state by recommending and promoting legislation that safeguards and advances the interest of real property ownership.

Find Illinois housing stats data and the University of Illinois REAL forecast at www.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats.

From the Feb. 1-7, 2012, issue

If your home’s exterior has been beset by paint problems, it pays to do a little detective work and determine the cause. That can help you avoid the same outcome when you paint again.

According to Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute, the clues can be found in the way your paint is failing. “The evidence is right there, you just need to know how to interpret it,” she says.

Peeling

If your exterior paint is peeling, the culprit is probably moisture. Peeling occurs when wet wood swells underneath the paint, causing the paint film to loosen, crack and ultimately, peel.

Water can reach the wood through un-caulked joints or a leaky roof. Another possibility: water being forced underneath the roofing shingles because of clogged rain gutters.

Moisture coming from inside the home can also create problems, whether from a leaky pipe or shower, or even excessive humidity caused by an improperly vented clothes dryer.

Blistering

Bubbles or blisters in your paint can eventually lead to peeling, so they can’t be ignored. This problem can usually be traced to either heat or moisture.

If your house was originally painted on a very hot day in direct sunshine, for example, blistering can result, especially if a dark-color paint was applied.

Sometimes, moisture is to blame. Excess moisture from within the home can build up behind the paint and cause blisters (this is less likely with latex paint, which is vapor permeable); rain or heavy dew can also produce blisters if the surface preparation wasn’t done properly or if a low-quality latex paint was used.

Checking

Horizontal and vertical cracks that create a checkerboard pattern in your paint is evidence that the paint has lost its elasticity.

Checking typically occurs on surfaces with several layers of oil-based paint. With age, oil-based paint gets brittle. When temperatures rise or fall dramatically, siding can expand or contract, but the inflexible paint simply cracks and checks.

Chalking

This condition occurs when a fine powder forms on the painted surface. Although light chalking is a desirable way for paint to wear over time, excessive chalking can cause the color of the paint to fade very quickly — evidence that the protective paint film is rapidly eroding.

Cases of extreme chalking can usually be traced to the use of a lower-quality, highly-pigmented paint, or use of an interior paint on an outdoor surface.

Discoloration

Often, discoloration is the result of mildew, a fungus resembling dirt that thrives in warm, moist conditions. Thick shrubbery near the home can make the problem worse by shading the siding and restricting the flow of air.

A second type of discoloration is “bleed-through,” which can occur with staining woods like cedar and redwood. Failure to apply a primer before painting can allow tannins within the wood to seep through the paint and mar its appearance.

What to do if your home experiences one of these problems? If you can determine the cause, Zimmer advises you correct any condition that may have led to the paint failure. If you’re stumped, call in a professional painter to do some sleuthing.

Then, when you repaint, do proper surface preparation (including the application of a primer when necessary), and use only top-quality coatings.

“Top-quality, 100-percent acrylic latex paints have excellent adhesion and tremendous flexibility, so they help prevent blistering, peeling and other failures,” she said. “They even offer an extra measure of protection against mildew.”

As you can see, with a little detective work, you can get to the bottom of any paint problem. And by following Zimmer’s suggestions, you can help prevent mysterious paint failures from ever haunting you again!

To learn more, visit blog.paintquality.com or www.paintquality.com.

From the Feb. 1-7, 2012, issue

Dickerson & Nieman Realtors, the largest residential real estate firm in the Rockford market, and Doyle Woodhouse & Moore Realtors, the area’s leading commercial real estate broker, merged Jan. 12.

The newly-expanded real estate business will be marketed under the Dickerson & Nieman Realtors brand. Frank Wehrstein is president of the Residential Division and Steve Clark is the new president of the Commercial Division.

“At a time when the real estate industry is slowly recovering from a five-year-old housing recession, we decided to get aggressive and expand our real estate product,” said Wehrstein. “This makes it that much more convenient for sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants to go to one location for all these resources.”

Combined, the two firms now hold the largest overall market share of real estate listings in Winnebago, Boone and Ogle counties. Dickerson & Nieman lists 483 of 2,621 residential properties on the market, 18.4 percent of Rockford market residential listings. On the business side, Dickerson & Nieman lists 122 of 378 commercial property listings, 32 percent of the market, and 87 of 217 land offerings listed for sale, 40 percent of that segment.

Dickerson & Nieman and Doyle Woodhouse & Moore have a history of holding joint commercial real estate investment. The new Dickerson & Nieman Commercial Division will have 12 commercial broker agents, led by Clark, the only commercial agent in the Rockford market certified with both the prestigious Certified Commercial Investment Member of the Realtors National Marketing Institute and a Society of Industrial and Office Realtors designation.

“If you want someone who gets right to the meat of a customer’s commercial need, Steve Clark is the guy,” said Wehrstein. “Steve is recognized as the area’s expert in commercial and industrial space, a reputation he built in Rockford during the last 35 years. Customers have faith in his integrity and his wide breadth and depth of knowledge of the commercial side of the business.”

Wehrstein said the expanded Dickerson & Nieman is positioning itself for upcoming growth in the Rockford market. He said: “As we get our schools in balance, and the business community continues its aggressive pursuit of new business to Rockford, the move we’re making today will position us for the growth that lies ahead.”

From the Jan. 18-24, 2012, issue

PATTERSON, N.Y. — The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), the longest-tenured fire sprinkler advocacy organization in the U.S., reminds families to take time during the winter months to review the dangers of fire with their loved ones. Incidents of fire occur frequently during the winter months, largely because of heating sources in homes.

“With the increased use of fireplaces and home heating systems during the winter months, families need to take the proper precautions to prevent potentially dangerous fire situations,” said John Viniello, president of the NFSA. “We believe that if everyone takes a few moments to review fire safety techniques and protocols with their loved ones, lives will be saved and potential tragedies avoided.”

With winter just beginning, the NFSA provides the following fire safety tips to keep families and loved ones safe all season long:

• Keep a watchful eye on space heaters, and make sure there is at least 3 feet of clear space around them when in operation. Do not leave a space heater on unattended.

• Keep flammable liquids free from heating sources, and store them in a cool location. Also, keep them separate from other stored items such as paper products and cloth materials.

• Check smoke detectors to ensure they are working properly and have full battery power. It’s recommended that you check the batteries in your smoke alarms when it’s time to turn the clocks forward or backward.

• Keep an up-to-date list of emergency fire, police and medical phone numbers near your telephone. Show every member of your family where this information is kept, and teach all children how to call for help in case of an emergency.

• Develop an escape plan with your family from multiple rooms within your home, both upstairs and downstairs. Take time to review the escape plan with your family, including a practice fire drill.

• Consider installing residential fire sprinklers to protect your family and property. To date, there has never been a multiple loss of life in a structure that had a competently installed and properly-maintained fire sprinkler system.

• Make sure windows of children’s rooms are well marked to indicate them to firefighters.

For more about how to protect yourself and loved ones this winter from the dangers of fire and to learn more about the life-saving benefits of residential fire sprinklers, visit www.NFSA.org.

From the Jan. 18-24, 2012, issue

LINCOLN, Neb. — Spring-Green Lawn Care, a three-year Arbor Day Foundation partner, has committed to donating $10,000 to plant 10,000 trees in 2012. With every new customer, Spring-Green will make a donation toward tree planting in a forest damaged by wildfire, insects or disease.

Last year, Spring-Green Lawn Care and the Arbor Day Foundation jointly planted 4,000 trees at Pere Marquette State Forest in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, contributing to the habitat needed to save the Kirkland’s warbler songbird from extinction. Spring-Green also helped plant 8,000 trees in Wisconsin’s Florence County Forest and 3,000 trees near Alabama’s Lake Tuscaloosa.

To date, Spring-Green has planted nearly 20,000 trees. The company will announce the locations of its 2012 tree planting efforts in the coming weeks.

“Thanks to Spring-Green Lawn Care’s continued support, we will be able to plant much-needed trees in critical areas around the country,” said Ben Nelson, director of Corporate Partnerships with the Arbor Day Foundation. “These trees will provide cleaner air and water, habitat for wildlife and beauty for everyone to enjoy for years to come. By planting trees, Spring-Green is demonstrating their commitment to helping the environment for this and future generations.”

James Young, president of Spring-Green Lawn Care, added: “Sustainable tree care is our day job, so working with the Arbor Day Foundation on replanting trees in America’s forests was a logical step for us. We are very happy to have been a part of some great successes with the Arbor Day Foundation in the past two years and look forward to many more.”

Jason Jordan is the owner of Spring-Green Lawn Care in the Rockford, Freeport and Belvidere area servicing Ogle, Stephenson, Winnebago and Boone counties. He can be reached at (815) 282-0580.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of more than 1 million members, with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information can be found at arborday.org.

Founded in 1977, Plainfield, Ill.-based Spring-Green Lawn Care has been delivering both traditional and organic lawn and tree care services nationwide for more than 35 years. Its service is centered on the beautification of local neighborhoods and communities with both residential and commercial customers. Spring-Green has approximately 75 franchisees operating more than 120 territories in 27 states.

From the Jan. 18-24, 2012, issue

URBANA, Ill. — Today’s tightly sealed homes are less drafty and more energy efficient, but that tightness can also mean that more pollutants are trapped indoors. University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator Greg Stack said houseplants can help make the air inside healthier by absorbing pollutants.

“Fewer drafts and energy efficiency are good, but today’s new homes and upgraded older homes have become so tight that natural air exchange is greatly reduced or virtually eliminated, trapping more indoor air pollutants such as formaldehydes, benzenes and other gases from carpeting, paints, laminates, furniture and other manmade materials,” said Stack.

Stack quoted a recent study conducted by NASA that suggests houseplants can help improve indoor air quality.

“NASA has been researching ways to clean up the air in space stations and make the environment suitable for humans to live and work,” Stack said. “While dong this research, NASA found that many common houseplants can do some interesting things when it comes to cleaning up indoor air pollution.

“Plants absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen during the normal process of photosynthesis,” Stack explained “They are also very efficient at absorbing things like benzene, formaldehyde and lots of other air pollutants associated with today’s energy-efficient, ‘tight’ homes. They not only clean the air, but also help interior humidity.”

Stack said many of the houseplants NASA has found to be particularly good at cleaning the air are also houseplants that are commonly suggested for low-light interior spaces because they can adapt and grow very well inside the home.

NASA’s recommendations start with a plant almost everyone seems to have, Stack said, the spider plant. “We see it in baskets, on top of tables, and especially in dorm rooms.”

The peace lily or Spathiphyllum is a durable houseplant and can grow to an impressive size indoors and provide flowers as well, Stack said. The Pothos, with its variegated leaves, makes a nice basket plant, and Philodendron selloem, or split-leaf philodendron, has large impressive leaves. Dracaena, or corn plant, with its narrow corn-like leaves, provides a nice vertical accent. The cultivars that work very well are Massangeana and Janet Craig. And two very common, widely-used house plants, snake plant and weeping fig, round out the list.

“Weeping fig can very easily become an indoor tree,” he said.

Stack said that this list of plants is great because they are all readily available and commonly found at garden centers, home improvement stores and florists. They aren’t exotic.

NASA’s studies also suggest a 6- to 8-inch-size house plant (pot size) is capable of cleaning the air in about 100 square feet of living space.

“To keep your clean air machine working efficiently, it is a good idea to keep the leaves clean,” he said. “Occasionally wiping the leaves with a damp cloth to remove dust and debris will make sure the plant is in top operating form.”

From the Jan. 4-10, 2012, issue

If you’re a person with a penchant for seasonal decorating, why not fashion the interior of your home with change in mind? By planning ahead, you can make it easy to modify your surroundings to be seasonally- or even holiday-appropriate.

To accommodate changing décor, you should paint your walls a light neutral color, such as off-white, pale taupe or a subtle gray, advises Debbie Zimmer, color expert at the Paint Quality Institute. “To help guide your color selection, think of your wall color as a blank canvas against which to feature your seasonal items,” she says.

Once your wall color is in place, you can focus on other elements in the room that can be rotated in or out as the seasons dictate. Inexpensive area rugs are great in this regard, even when placed on top of wall-to-wall carpeting, as are easy window treatments that can simply be thrown over decorative curtain rods.

Even a small area rug with red or gold in the pattern will warm up a room in the dead of winter; when spring arrives, replace it with a light green rug. You’ll be surprised how big a difference this one change will make.

“When it comes to interior décor, it’s always best to repeat key colors to create a cohesive color scheme,” says Zimmer. So, take your area rug to a fabric store and find a bolt of material that matches color-wise. Pay attention to the weight: Heavier fabrics work well in fall and winter, while sheers are best for spring and summer. You’ll quickly find an appropriate curtain material.

If you want to go further, consider purchasing inexpensive slipcovers in “warm” (deep red, orange or gold) and “cool” (light blue or green) colors to use in colder and warmer months, respectively. A more economical way to achieve a similar result is to rotate warm- and cool-colored pillows or cushions at different times of the year.

Another easy way to render a room more seasonal is with accent pieces placed on the mantel, on shelving or on other furnishings. One way to do this is to display items with seasonally-appropriate accent colors; or go all-in and display collections of seashells in the summer and pine cones in the winter. Of course, you can always set out fresh flowers or cuttings that bespeak the season.

In the interest of seasonal decorating, don’t forget that art can imitate life. To that end, you can hang representational paintings or illustrations to reprise the seasonal items you have on display. As an example, think about repeating the fresh flower cuttings in a room with botanical prints of the same plant.

“If you’re especially ambitious, you might even dare to do more with your paint color,” says Zimmer. “Not that you’d want to repaint an entire room with each new season, but you actually might be willing to repaint a small accent wall once or twice a year. Assuming that the wall is easy to access, you could complete the job in just a few hours — a small price to pay if you’re really seasonally-driven.”

Use these ideas as thought-starters, and invest a little time contemplating your own décor. You’re bound to come up with many more great ways to visually usher in any new season!

To learn more, visit blog.paintquality.com or www.paintquality.com.

From the Jan. 4-10, 2012, issue

ELGIN, Ill. — The chances of turning a home sales contract into a completed sale increase substantially when the real estate agents successfully overcome obstacles that can block the path to the closing table, according to a RE/MAX analysis of trends in the northern Illinois real estate market.

RE/MAX agents say there is no question that more contracts fall through these days than in the past because of challenges in today’s real estate marketplace.

“Traditionally, it was the rare contract that didn’t close, usually not more than one or two out of 100,” said Tim McCaslin, broker/owner of RE/MAX Sauk Valley in Sterling, Ill.

McCaslin estimated that in 2011, the failure rate was closer to 5 percent in his market area, while at the same time many more contracts ended up requiring extensions, but did close eventually.

“We see the same trend in our area,” said Pam Jacobs, an agent with RE/MAX of Barrington in Barrington, Ill. She said no single issue is primarily responsible for making it more challenging to close contracts. Rather, she cited a combination of factors that include regulatory changes, increased scrutiny by lenders, greater anxiety on the part of many buyers, and added complications that can come with buying a foreclosure or short sale.

According to Paul Fasold of RE/MAX Signature in Chicago, the keys to closing a contract are for both the buyer and the building to be qualified. A real estate agent’s job, he said, is to make sure both are true.

“First, it needs to be established that the buyer is financially qualified to undertake the purchase being contemplated,” Fasold said. “That means making sure buyers are working with a lender and have been pre-approved for a loan that will allow them to purchase the property on which they are making an offer. Lenders today are extremely cautious, and each has its own set of loan criteria. That’s why I like to be sure buyers are working with a good mortgage broker who has access to a range of financing sources and can match each buyer with a suitable lender.”

Cindy Banks, broker/owner of RE/MAX Cornerstone in West Chicago, Ill., works extensively with banks, helping them sell foreclosed homes. She said the financing of real estate transactions has become more complicated in recent years.

“Lenders have more detailed requirements, higher standards and less tolerance for any deviation,” Banks said. “Even though we typically represent the seller in these transactions, I view it as part of our job to be proactive in making sure each buyer’s lender has the information it needs. Otherwise, the transaction is at risk.”

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is one major lender with specific contractual requirements that are clearly spelled out on its website, according to Kathy Dames, broker/owner of RE/MAX Ultimate Professionals in Shorewood, Ill.

“Homes that HUD resells and finances after foreclosure often are great values, but to get that value, HUD insists buyers adhere to its rules,” Dames said. “So, when buying a HUD home, the buyer and the buyers’ agent need to go over every line of the contract and abide by the letter of the requirements, or the transaction may not close.”

As for being sure each building also is properly qualified, Fasold said the most common issue these days is when the appraisal required by the lender comes back with a value below the agreed sales price. That usually happens either because the price is too high relative to recent sales in the area, or the appraiser lacks the information needed to develop an accurate value estimate.

Fasold said: “It has always been part of my job as an agent to make sure a property goes under contract at a price supported by other recent nearby sales, but today that is more important than ever. And it’s equally vital to give the appraiser the information needed to understand the full value of the property.”

It’s also a good idea, contends Cindy Banks, for the listing agent to meet the appraiser at the property so they can walk through it together.

“An agent isn’t supposed to talk to the appraiser, but you can be present, and you can provide data on comparable properties,” she said. “My goal, in those situations, is to make it as easy for the appraiser as we can.”

A related issue involves home inspections because “even the most perfect home will have minor flaws,” said Pam Jacobs. For that reason, “both buyers and sellers need to have realistic expectations when it comes to home inspections,” she said. “Buyers shouldn’t treat every cosmetic imperfection as an opportunity to renegotiate the price. At the same time, finding a serious problem, such as one that would cost $1,000 to address, certainly is an appropriate subject for discussion. Agents must educate their clients about the entire purchase process, including the inspection.”

Perhaps the most common stumbling blocks in today’s real estate market are short sales, where the seller’s outstanding mortgage debt exceeds the market value of the home. In some cases, there may be several lenders involved, and all lenders must sign off on the purchase price if the seller is to be released from further financial obligations.

“Ten years ago, I doubt I did one short sale a year,” said McCaslin. “Now, banks have entire departments that do nothing but work on this type of transaction, and our office handles dozens of them annually.”

With such a large volume of transactions and with multiple lenders frequently involved, short sales can take months to complete. As a result, some buyers lose patience and walk away. In other instances, the lenders will decide not to grant the short sale.

To minimize that risk, noted McCaslin, it’s crucial to know upfront what documentation the lender requires, what the lender’s criteria are for approval, and how the documentation should be delivered. Most of all, he noted, agents have to follow up to make sure lenders come to a decision as promptly as possible.

When pursuing a short sale, Dames advises buyers to put together an experienced team, including a real estate agent and an attorney who are both familiar with the short sale process.

“If you do that and are dealing with just one lender and can get the seller to immediately provide a complete package of documentation, it actually is possible to close a short sale in as little as 30 days,” she said.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network consists of 2,200 sales associates and 105 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of brokerage services throughout the northern one-third of Illinois.

The www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands.

From the Jan. 4-10, 2012, issue

Rockford Area Realtors (RAR) sold 3,213 homes and condos in 2011, 3.8 percent lower than the 3,341 properties sold in 2010 in Winnebago, Boone and Ogle counties. This marks the smallest year-over-year decrease since the housing recession began in 2007, signaling what many housing economists expect is the beginning of a gradual housing recovery in 2012.

RAR reported December 2011 sales of 255 properties, an 11.4 percent increase above 229 sales in 2010. This was the seventh-straight month of year-over-year increases. The last significant run of year-over-year increases dates back to January 2006, a similar string of seven monthly year-over-year increases.

“The headwinds are strong heading into 2012,” said Steve Bois, CEO of RAR. “There are indications the economy and the housing market are slowly gaining ground.”

While home sales have been robust over the last seven months, a mix of positive and negative December sales statistics point to a still struggling housing recovery, mirroring the national economy.

The three-month average rolling price hit $98,076, the lowest monthly average dating back to April 1998, with a large number of foreclosures still taking their toll on the current average sales price.

Positive markers show a decreasing absorption rate, the average time it takes to sell a home, the seventh-straight monthly drop. And the monthly inventory of homes for sale dropped 6.4 percent from 2,800 properties in November to 2,621 properties for sale in December of this year. This is the lowest monthly inventory level since June 2006, when 2,609 properties were available on the market.

What does 2012 hold for the Rockford area housing market?

“Mortgage rates are expected to hold at near record lows through the middle of the year,” Bois said. “Housing affordability conditions, based on the relationship between mortgage interest rate, average home prices and family income, has been at a record high this year. And we’ll most likely record the second-best housing affordability year since 1970.”

He added, “We anticipate that home sales will steadily increase, but will not be robust. And with falling inventory, the average home price should rise in 2012 — there likely will be moderate appreciation in the coming year.”

Bois said consumer confidence has been shaky recently and the uneven economic recovery has been holding back a significant number of homebuyers all year.

“Nonetheless, there is a sizeable pent-up demand based on population growth, employment levels, local economic gains in the manufacturing industry and a doubling-up phenomenon that can’t continue indefinitely,” he said. “This demand could quickly stimulate the market when conditions improve.”

Following are RAR’s full-year housing statistics for 2005-2011:

2011 — 3,213 total sales, a 3.8 percent decrease

2010 — 3,341 total sales, an 8.3 percent decrease

2009 — 3,642 total sales, an 8.4 percent decrease

2008 — 3,978 total sales, a 31.9 percent decrease

2007 — 5,844 total sales, an 18.7 percent decrease

2006 — 7,192 total sales, a 0.5 percent increase

2005 — 7,151 total sales

In times of economic stress, we all look for ways to cut back on expenses. But if you’re thinking about having a contractor apply a cheap paint to the exterior of your home, you may want to reconsider. A careful analysis shows that in the long run, it’s actually less expensive to apply the very best quality paint, despite its higher initial cost.

Debbie Zimmer, spokesman for the Paint Quality Institute, explains: “Most of the cost of exterior painting goes for labor, not for paint. Paying somewhat more for top-quality paint won’t greatly increase the overall cost of the job, but the better performance you get will greatly extend its life.”

In fact, field tests at the Paint Quality Institute show that while ordinary exterior paint lasts about four years, top-quality 100 percent acrylic latex paint can last 10 years or more when applied to a properly prepared surface, resulting in a lower cost per year of service. That explains how you can save money by spending more for better paint.

To make the point clearer, Zimmer offers an example for an average-size, single-story home: Labor cost for painting would typically be about $2,500, regardless of the type of paint that is applied. About 20 gallons of paint would be needed for a two-coat paint job.

If an ordinary paint were used, costing $25 a gallon, the cost for the 20 gallons of paint would be $500. Add in $2,500 for labor, and the total cost of the job would be $3,000. Assuming, as the field tests show, that the job will last four years, the cost per year of service would be $750.

Now, assume that top-quality 100 percent acrylic latex paint was used instead of ordinary exterior paint. At a cost of perhaps $50 a gallon, the cost for 20 gallons of paint would be $1,000. The labor would again be $2,500, and the total cost of the job would be $3,500, just a little higher than before. But, since this paint job is likely to last 10 years or more, the cost per year of service would be only $350, less than half the yearly cost of the “economy” paint job.

Zimmer says that even this example may not tell the whole story. If your house needs repair work or extensive surface preparation prior to painting, the labor component could be much higher, producing an even greater return on an investment in top-quality paint.

“Plus, professional painters might charge higher rates in your area, further skewing the math in favor of the highest quality, longest-lasting paint,” she says.

Bottom line: By spending more up front for top-quality paint, you can stretch the life of your paint job and end up saving a lot of money. As a bonus, you’ll avoid the hassle and inconvenience of repainting again after only a few years.

To learn more about exterior painting, visit the Paint Quality Institute website at www.paintquality.com, or its blog at blog.paintquality.com.

From the Dec. 28, 2011-Jan. 3, 2012, issue

URBANA, Ill. — Poinsettias represent 80 percent of all potted plant sales in the United States during the holiday season, said University of Illinois Extension educator Ron Wolford.

“There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available today,” Wolford said. “And they come in a myriad of colors like red, white, pink and burgundy. Keeping your poinsettias healthy during the holiday season can be a challenge, considering the dry indoor environments in many homes.”

Following are a few tips from Wolford to help you keep your poinsettia healthy.

• Purchase a poinsettia with fully-colored bracts (modified leaves) and tightly-closed flower buds. The plant will start to decline after the flower buds have completely opened.

• After you have purchased your poinsettia, make sure it is wrapped completely, because exposure to cold temps below 50 degrees in just the short walk to your car can damage the bracts and leaves.

• Place the poinsettia near a south-, west- or east-facing window. Six hours of indirect light is ideal. Placing the plant in direct light may cause the colorful bracts to fade.

• Indoor temperatures between 65 to 70 degrees are ideal for long plant life. Placing the plant in a room a few degrees cooler at night will extend the color show of the poinsettia. Temperatures above 80 degrees will shorten the life of the colorful bracts.

• Keep your poinsettia away from warm or cold drafts. Drafts can cause premature leaf drop.

• Overwatering is the No. 1 poinsettia killer. Water the plant when the soil is dry to the touch. After watering, thoroughly empty any water in the pot’s saucer. Be sure to punch holes in the decorative foil to allow water to drain through.

• Do not fertilize when the poinsettia is in bloom. Apply a houseplant fertilizer once a month after it blooms.

“Research at The Ohio State University has shown that poinsettias are not poisonous,” Wolford noted. “Some people are sensitive to the plant’s sap, causing skin irritation.

“For pets, the poinsettia sap may cause mild irritation or nausea,” Wolford added. “It’s probably best to keep pets, especially puppies and kittens, away from the plant.”

For more about poinsettias, Wolford recommended the University of Illinois Extension website, “The Poinsettia Pages,” at www.urbanext.illinois.edu/poinsettia.

From the Dec. 21-27, 2011, issue

Habitat for Humanity of Boone County is seeking a partner family for 2012.

A Habitat partner family must meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrates a need for adequate shelter;

• Is willing to form a partnership with Habitat, and performs at least 300 hours of sweat equity work on the home;

• Is a Boone County resident for a minimum of one year; and

• Is able to pay affordable monthly mortgage payments.

Habitat representatives will answer questions and assist everyone in filling out applications.

Attend a Habitat presentation at the Salvation Army Building at 422 S. Main St., Belvidere, Ill. Presentations run 8:30-10 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 7, and 5:30-7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 11. Call John Cover at (815) 288-6382 for details.

From the Dec. 21-27, 2011, issue

ELGIN, Ill. — If your home will be for sale this winter, it is important to master certain seasonal issues that are less significant or even non-existent at other times of the year. Here are 10 bits of sage advice from RE/MAX agents that can help put a “Sold” sticker on that yard sign.

Let those lights shine

The best way to combat winter’s short and frequently cloudy days is to turn on your house lights. For a showing, every single light in the house must be on, even in the closets and utility/mechanical rooms, according to Marlene Granacki of RE/MAX Exclusive Properties, Chicago.

“Make sure all the bulbs are working, and stock up on all the right bulbs for lamps and fixtures so burned-out bulbs can be replaced immediately,” she advised. “Also, it’s a great idea to keep the lights on in the front of the house, even if no showings are scheduled. People are always driving past the house, and keeping it lighted makes it look happy and welcoming.”

She also advises opening the drapes and blinds during the day to let in light and let visitors enjoy the view.

Provide convenient parking

It’s vital buyers have a convenient place to park. They won’t want to walk very far in cold weather or be forced to climb over a snow bank to exit their vehicle. Because parking is often more restricted around condominiums, sellers should make sure their agent can pass along parking details to buyers.

Make it easy to enter

Winter showings can get off to an awkward start if prospective buyers arrive with snow or salt on their shoes.

“Make it easy for buyers to deal with their shoes when they arrive,” said Barbara Hibnick of RE/MAX Showcase, Long Grove, Ill. “Put a festive area rug at the front door for a great first impression and so visitors can wipe their feet. Have slippers or disposable booties available, along with a bench or chair, if there is room for one, where a visitor can sit and easily remove or put on their boots.”

Keep odors under control

Any home tends to be stuffy in winter when windows are opened rarely. That can allow odors to build up, which can be a turn-off to buyers.

“Pet odors can be especially worrisome in winter,” said Mike Mondello of RE/MAX Synergy in Orland Park, Ill. “Use a room fragrance if needed, but nothing too strong, and I recommend that in winter sellers clean more often.” For example, change the cat litter daily, rather than every third or fourth day, or even consider using an air purifier.

If pets are in the house, consider setting the thermostat control so that the furnace fan runs constantly during the day to keep air moving through the house and dissipate odors. Also, try to avoid strong cooking odors, especially if a showing is scheduled that day.

Cultivate a festive look

Appropriate decorations for Thanksgiving, Christmas and even St. Valentine’s Day help give a home a cheerful look during the winter months.

“I really believe that holiday decorations can help homes sell, but don’t go to excess,” said Starr Zook of RE/MAX On Track in Aledo, Ill. “Keeping small, decorative white lights on trees and bushes pretty much through the winter season is fine, but other decorations should be taken down quickly once the holiday passes.”

Don’t ignore the outdoors

Make a good first impression on buyers with a neatly maintained yard. Walks and steps should be kept clear, especially of snow and ice.

Look after condo common areas

If the home you are selling is a condominium, your job as a seller may be relatively easy in winter, with no snow to shovel or yard work to worry about. However, that is only the case if your condominium association does its job well.

If the association isn’t doing it, the homeowner may have to take responsibility for keeping the entrance area and hallways clean. If the association isn’t getting snow shoveled promptly, consider buying some de-icing salt and sprinkling it judiciously around the building entry.

Don’t roast buyers

We all tend to prefer a specific temperature for our homes during the winter, but don’t blast buyers with hot air. Keep the temperature at a comfortable 65 degrees for all showings. Remember, buyers are likely to be wearing their coats even as they walk through the house.

Keep seasonal clothing under control

“One major challenge of selling a home during the winter months is the overabundance of cold-weather gear that must be stored,” said Mondello. “A buyer doesn’t want to find the mudroom filled with boots or the hall closet overflowing with heavy coats. Shift some winter coats to another closet and put anything not needed in the closet into storage.”

To keep gloves and scarves from piling up in the front hall or mudroom, put a special container for them, such as a decorative chest, where the family typically enters the home.

Encourage daytime showings

A home shows to its best advantage during daylight hours, which are relatively scarce in winter.

“Encourage your agent to show your home before 3 p.m. and have it ready to show by 9 a.m. if you want the best results,” Granacki said.

Despite the special challenges of marketing a home during winter, there also are benefits, notes Laura Ortoleva, a spokesman for the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network.

“Buyers out looking at homes in December or January are, as a group, quite serious about buying,” Ortoleva said. “Therefore, sellers tend to benefit because each showing is more productive, and fewer showings are needed to sell the property.”

Visit www.remax.com for more details.

From the Dec. 21-27, 2011, issue

Staff Report

Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity learned recently it has been awarded $34,815 to build a home in Rockford.

This grant, providing 55 percent of the cost of construction, comes from Minneapolis-based Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ unique partnership with Habitat for Humanity International: Thrivent Builds with Habitat for Humanity.

Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity is celebrating their award in conjunction with an international announcement made Dec. 5 in Minneapolis when the partnership’s $160 million mark was surpassed with a $9.2 million commitment for 2012, the seventh year of a strong alliance between the two organizations.

Habitat for Humanity’s relationship with Thrivent Financial brings the financial, volunteer and advocacy resources of Thrivent Financial together with the affordable housing construction leadership of hundreds of local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. To date, more than 480,000 volunteers have donated more than 3 million hours to construct 1,600 homes in the U.S.

The 2012 commitment will fund the construction and rehabilitation of 142 Habitat for Humanity homes in 32 U.S. states, including the home built by Rockford Area Habitat in Rockford.

“The Thrivent Builds alliance is helping Rockford Area Habitat increase the number of families served in our community,” said Tonya Thayer, executive director of Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity. “We are so grateful for Thrivent’s support of our efforts to provide decent, affordable homes in partnership with families in need.”

Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical, Christian housing organization that builds simple, decent and affordable homes with low-income families through partnerships with the community.

Homes are sold to first-time homebuyers with a zero percent interest, 20- to 30-year mortgage. The organization has been serving Winnebago County since 1988 and has built 94 homes in partnership with families in need.

Visit rockfordhabitat.org for more details.

From the Dec. 21-27, 2011, issue

Rockford Area Realtors sold 281 homes in November, 19 percent more than 236 properties sold in November 2010, moving from 232 homes sold in 2010 to 281 homes in November 2011. This is the sixth straight month of significant year-over-year increases.

The three-month rolling average price fell slightly from last month, down 1.7 percent from $103,281 in October to $101,553 in November. Prices are still behind 2010 levels; the November 2010 average price was $116,767.

Steve Bois, CEO of Rockford Area Realtors, said: “Foreclosure and short sale inventories are working through the market, with buyers in the market favoring lower-priced homes. The continued gain in housing sales with six months of increases shows that buyers are seeing real value in the market.”

Through the first 11 months of the year, a total of 2,958 properties have been sold, compared to 3,112 sold from January to November 2011, a difference of 154 properties, or just 5 percent off last year’s total. If that pace holds, it will be the lowest annual drop in sales since the housing downturn began in 2007.

From 2009 to 2010, sales dropped 8.3 percent from 3,642 sold in 2009 to 3,341 sold last year. From 2008 to 2009, sales dropped 8.4 percent from 3,978 in 2008 to 3,642 in 2009. From 2007 to 2008, sales dropped 31.9 percent from 5,844 sold in 2007 to 3,978 sold in 2008. From 2006 to 2007, sales dropped 18.7 percent from 7,192 sold in 2006 to 5,844 sold in 2007.

Have sales bottomed out in fourth quarter 2011, or can they still go down?

“I’d say it’s too close to call this one,” Bois said. “Based on these trends, it doesn’t appear that we will have major price swings in either direction in the near future. We need to continue to move the inventory of distressed properties, which will help stabilize prices.”

Another positive statistic is that the monthly housing inventory hit a four-and-a-half-year low. In November, 2,800 properties were for sale, the lowest monthly inventory since February 2007, when 2,771 properties were available. Bois said the drop in inventory levels historically shows a positive upcoming trend on seller prices.

Economists from the National Association of Realtors say gradual improvement in the economy is expected next year. Bois said: “Tighter mortgage credit conditions have been holding back homebuyers all year, and consumer confidence has been shaky recently. However, we know there is a sizeable pent-up demand based on population growth, employment levels and a doubling-up phenomenon (kids leaving home and coming back), that can’t continue indefinitely.”

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported in October that economic indicators of house buying are turning in buyers’ favor. First, the nation’s ratio of house prices to yearly rents is nearly restored to its pre-bubble average. Second, when mortgage rates are taken into consideration, houses are the most affordable they have been in decades.

Friday, Dec. 2, U.S. rates for 30-year mortgages increased from 3.98 to 4 percent, based on an optimism that Europe’s debt crisis will be contained, pushing up yields for the treasuries that guide home loans. The 30-year rate has been at or below 4 percent for five straight weeks, extremely low rates by historic standards, the lowest in Freddie Mac records dating to 1971.

From the Dec. 7-13, 2011, issue

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — According to the Illinois Association of Realtors’ (IAR) latest report, statewide home sales (including single-family and condominiums) in October 2011 totaled 8,536 homes sold, up 15.3 percent from 7,402 home sales in October 2010.

The statewide median price in October was $130,000, down 10.3 percent from $145,000 in October 2010. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

“Foreclosure and short sale inventories are working through the market, and buyers in the market are favoring lower-priced homes with close to 70 percent of homes sold in October priced below $200,000 statewide,” said Realtor Loretta Alonzo, CRB, GRI, president of the Illinois Association of Realtors and broker-owner of Century 21 Alonzo & Associates in La Grange Park. “The best prescription for the housing market is a robust economy that creates jobs and improves consumer confidence combined with removing over-reaching barriers to home financing that turn away some qualified buyers who want to make a move at this opportune time.”

The monthly average commitment rate for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage for the North Central region was 4.07 percent in October 2011, down from 4.09 percent during the previous month, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. Last year in October, it averaged 4.21 percent.

In the nine-county Chicago Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA), home sales (single-family and condominiums) in October 2011 totaled 5,778 homes sold, up 23.7 percent from October 2010 sales of 4,670 homes. The median price in October 2011 was $149,900 in the Chicago PMSA, down 15.3 percent compared to last year in October, when it was $177,000.

Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois, said: “The continued expectation of some gains in housing sales after several months of positive activity suggest that some buyers are seeing value in the market, especially in properties priced below $200,000. The economy continues to be a drag on the housing market recovery with U.S. recovery affected by the turmoil in Europe.

“As we look to the Illinois economy, there is some good news,” Hewings added. “For example, the last 12 months we have matched U.S. job growth, and we haven’t done that for some time. In fact, since 1980, Illinois has only outperformed the nation three times, and all that was before 1990. Also, our Midwest neighbors are recovering faster than the U.S., and 40 percent of Illinois exports go there, so if they are creating jobs, it will create more demand for Illinois products.”

Forty-seven percent of Illinois counties reporting (47 of 100) showed year-over-year home sales increases in October 2011. Forty-six percent (46 of 100) showed year-over-year median price increases including Boone, up 18.2 percent to $130,000; Coles, up 40.3 percent to $91,200; Iroquois, up 7.1 percent to $75,000; Macon, up 9 percent to $84,500; Ogle, up 9.8 percent to $101,000; Whiteside, up 8.9 percent to $86,500; and Woodford, up 18.8 percent to $164,000.

In the city of Chicago, October 2011 home sales (single-family and condominiums) totaled 1,312, up 7.9 percent from 1,216 homes sold in October 2010. The city of Chicago median home sale price for October 2011 was $162,000, down 11.5 percent compared to October 2010, when it was $183,000.

Realtor Bob Floss, president of the Chicago Association of Realtors and broker-owner of Bob Floss and Son Realty, said: “The increase in units sold in the city of Chicago continues to show the absorption of distressed properties in the market. Prospective buyers in the market are making investments that make sense long-term. Those who haven’t considered buying are encouraged to work with a Realtor to assess their individual buying power in today’s market and plan how they may make a purchase given historically low interest rates and their own financial ability.”

Sales and price information is generated from a survey of Multiple Listing Service sales reported by 31 participating Illinois Realtor local boards and associations including Midwest Real Estate Data LLC data as of Nov. 7, 2011, reported for the period Oct. 1-31. The Chicago PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

The Illinois Association of Realtors is a voluntary trade association whose 44,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry.

Find Illinois housing stats data and the University of Illinois REAL forecast at www.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats.

From the Nov. 23-29, 2011, issue

Unless you’ve been living on a desert island, you know how tough it is to sell a home these days. In some neighborhoods, “For Sale” signs are as common as mailboxes. And the challenge is the same whether you live in a small row house or a McMansion.

Still, there are ways to get a competitive edge: Realtors know that well-maintained homes tend to sell faster, sometimes for a much higher price … and there are some inexpensive ways to spiff up a house.

“One of the best ways to get your home to stand out from the crowd is to apply a fresh coat of paint in psychologically important areas,” said Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute. “At the top of the list are the front door and key parts of the home interior.”

You’ve no doubt heard the phrase “falling in love with a home.” That feeling starts at the entranceway, so your front door should create a favorable first impression. Fresh-looking paint on your front door tells potential buyers you care about your home, giving them a comfort level even before entering.

“Next, take a hard look at the space just inside the door,” said Zimmer. Is it warm and welcoming? Is it well maintained? If you can’t honestly answer “yes” to both questions, it’s important to do something about it. Zimmer advises home sellers to repair any imperfections in the walls and paint the space in a “quiet” color, such as white or off-white. “Studies show that these colors appeal to most people, and they’ll enable potential buyers to more easily picture their own furnishings in your home,” she said.

As for the rest of your interior, Zimmer advises repainting any room with loud or overly bright walls in a neutral paint color. You should also critically evaluate the condition of rooms where your children or pets spend time — as adorable as they may be, they can take a toll on your home interior. Fresh paint can quickly and easily restore these areas.

Should you find it necessary to take on several of these painting projects, don’t be put off. You can probably handle most of the work yourself; and even if you need to hire a professional painter, the jobs shouldn’t be too costly.

Things get more complicated when it comes to your home’s exterior. As with the front door, the overall condition of your outside walls and trim are part of a home’s “curb appeal” … or lack thereof. Touch-ups can be helpful here. However, if your entire exterior is in need of a new paint job, you’ll have to decide how much you’re willing to invest to improve its appearance prior to sale.

If you’re the handy type and your home isn’t too large, doing your own exterior painting can be relatively economical, potentially returning much more than the cost involved. But the calculus of hiring a professional painter is different, so weigh your options carefully. In doing so, you may want to consult with a knowledgeable Realtor who can offer valuable advice about the wisdom of painting the exterior.

Whether you do your own exterior painting or hire a contractor, it’s best to complete the work before putting your home on the market. Then, when you do, be sure to promote your brand-new paint job. Not needing to paint for a while will be a big plus in the eyes of prospective buyers, and could help you seal the deal!

To learn more, visit blog.paintquality.com or www.paintquality.com.

From the Nov. 23-29, 2011, issue

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS (IAR) third quarter 2011 report, Illinois home sales (which include single-family homes and condominiums) totaled 29,644 in the third quarter, up 19.9 percent from 24,719 home sales in the same period a year ago.

The third quarter statewide median home sale price was $145,500, down 4.9 percent from $153,000 in the third quarter of 2010. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less.

Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois, said: “While median prices continue to trend downwards, there is some indication of increased demand as inventory levels in certain price ranges have been shrinking. In the third quarter, 64.1 percent of homes were sold in the price range under $200,000.

“On the jobs front, the three-month moving average of jobs was up by 5,400 jobs per month for the state of Illinois through September,” Hewings added. “Uncertainty remains about the economy, and if we had six or nine months of robust growth, something in the order of 150,000 to 250,000 jobs nationally, then we would see some real uptick in the housing market.”

In the Chicagoland Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area (PMSA), total home sales (single-family and condominiums) were up 20.2 percent in the third quarter of 2011 to 19,847 homes sold, compared to 16,518 home sales in the same period a year ago. The nine-county region’s third-quarter 2011 median price was $174,500, down 7.5 percent from $188,666 in the third quarter of 2010.

The third quarter 2011 interest rate for 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.31 percent in the North Central Region, according to the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. It was down from 4.69 percent in the second quarter of 2011 and down from 4.45 percent a year ago in the third quarter of 2010.

REALTOR Loretta Alonzo, CRB, GRI, president of the Illinois Association of REALTORS and broker-owner of Century 21 Alonzo & Associates in La Grange Park, said: “Sales growth in the third quarter is due in part to significant pent-up demand from homebuyers waiting on the sidelines of this economy’s slow recovery. Given the historically low mortgage interest rates, it’s a good time to do a comparable analysis for those looking to get away from rising rents with these affordability conditions.

“We are still looking for stronger economic signals and more jobs to restore consumer confidence, all key factors for the housing market,” Alonzo added.

Seventy of 98 Illinois counties reporting showed year-over-year home sales increases in the third quarter of 2011. Forty-five of 98 counties reported median price increases, including Adams, up 7.4 percent to $112,750; Macon, up 8.2 percent to $94,900; McLean, up 3.2 percent to $160,000; Peoria, up 8.3 percent to $124,500; Tazewell, up 8.9 percent to $135,000; Vermilion, up 12.1 percent to $60,000; and Whiteside, up 3.3 percent to $82,500.

In the city of Chicago, total home sales (single-family and condominiums) in the third quarter were up 10.3 percent to 4,940 sales, compared to 4,477 sales in the third quarter of 2010. The city of Chicago median price in the third quarter was $198,000, up 2.6 percent from $193,000 in the same period for 2010.

REALTOR Bob Floss, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS and broker-owner of Bob Floss and Son Realty, said: “First-time homebuyers are finding great homes to make their first purchase, while other buyers are finding tremendous opportunities to become investors. Chicago real estate remains stable considering national economic conditions, and still a marketplace where residents or investors can make their dreams of homeownership a reality.”

Sales and price information is generated from a survey of Multiple Listing Service sales reported by 31 participating Illinois REALTOR local boards and associations, including Midwest Real Estate Data LLC data as of Oct. 7, reported for the period July 1-Sept. 30. The Chicagoland PMSA, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, includes the counties of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS is a voluntary trade association whose 44,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, the Illinois Association of REALTORS works to protect the rights of private property owners in the state by recommending and promoting legislation that safeguards and advances the interest of real property ownership.

Detailed third-quarter 2011 Illinois home sales data can be accessed at the IAR website, www.illinoisrealtor.org/marketstats.

URBANA, Ill. — It is time for the annual pesky ladybug invasion. Every fall, it happens: as the weather turns cooler, there is another outbreak of critters that want to come inside where it’s warm. Rhonda Ferree, horticulture educator with University of Illinois Extension, said to take time now while the weather is still amenable to prepare your home.

“Spiders, box elder bugs, Asian lady beetles, and mice would all like to share your home with you this winter,” Ferree said. “Fall cleaning activities such as sweeping spider webs away from windows and corners and raking accumulated leaves and grass away from the foundations help eliminate hiding places, eggs and easy access to your house by the pests.”

Ferree said the best way to keep critters out of your home is to prevent their entrance by caulking around windows and doors and at the top of the foundation.

“This will help keep out drafts, too,” Ferree said. “Be sure weather seals at the bottoms of doors are tight. To keep mice from entering the house, cover all holes that are at least as big as the diameter of a lead pencil. Place one-quarter-inch wire mesh, smaller screening, or sheet metal around pipes and over ventilators or other holes.”

Most pests that come indoors die in a few days, she said. However, box elder bugs, ladybugs, and spiders may live indoors all winter.

“After they’ve come inside, the simplest way to eliminate them is to vacuum them up, rather than spraying,” Ferree said. “Try not to crush box elder bugs and ladybugs, as they leave a stain and odor. These insects do not feed or reproduce indoors, and are only seeking shelter. Spiders, on the other hand, will continue their normal habits, but only if they have insects on which they can live.”

When dealing with mice, Ferree recommended trapping as the most effective method of eliminating small numbers of mice, but sanitation is equally important.

“Store food in tightly closing containers,” she said. “Do the dishes daily, and always wipe up crumbs from tables and counter tops. Remove nesting sites in garages and around the home or other buildings.”

For more about this or other horticultural issues, visit www.extension.illinois.edu. Ferree also welcomes questions on her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ferree.horticulture.

From the Nov. 9-15, 2011, issue