Eric Rojas in Chicago Tribune on selling your house

Read the article here

Photo www.YoChicago.com

I was interviewed by the Chicago Tribune's Mary Ellen Podmolik last week on "Do's and don'ts" when selling your house in the current improved market.  We talked about some differences in the City of Chicago and the suburbs and how to handle multiple offers.

 

Eric Rojas in Chicago Tribune on Chicago sales numbers

The Chicago Tribune interviewed me this week on Chicago sales numbers and prices.

I also mentioned that on the North Side we see new construction house prices up over last year. Similar homes built on standard lots on the same blocks have seen an increase in selling price.

Keep an eye out for another column that discusses what sellers are doing in this market.

Eric Rojas, Lincoln Square featured in this month's Chicago Magazine

Chicago Magazine interviewed me on Lincoln Square and featured one of my photos in their April edition featuring Chicago's Best Places to Live.

Budlong Woods of Lincoln Square beautiful Georgian style house. Photo Eric Rojas, Broker with Kale Realty

Lincoln Square is in the Top 12 Chicago neighborhoods!

Eric Rojas Real Estate Broker in the news on Lincoln Square housing

Did you hear about this?

We've been featured in many local and national publications over the years.  We are happy when local news outlets share our local statistics and anecdotal experiences concerning the housing market.

This week DNAinfo Lincoln Square featured our condo sale analysis.   If you have not already, follow or like DNAinfo local news!

Local Chicago news resources we read

From time-to-time I like to point out hyper-local news sources that help me keep up with the North Side neighborhoods we work in.  Here are a few in no particular order:

 Downtown Chicago looking north from South Loop.  Photo Bob DePalma

www.YoChicago.com

Yo Chicago offers unique and intelligent insight on the business of real estate.   Their news feed can't be beat. The site also offers arguably the best collection of property and neighborhood video PLUS "helicopter flyover" photos available for view in Chicago!

Lincoln Square Patch

The "Patch family", including Lincoln Park and Roscoe Village/ North Center, has good local news on business openings, closings, services, entertainment, city construction and some real estate picks.

DNAinfo.com Chicago

Good, professional coverage of both hyper-local and bigger downtown stories.

Curbed Chicago

Good scoops and aggregated news on major new construction proposals, interesting properties, and some fun mixed in too.


 

We're featured in DNAinfo.com Chicago

Our real estate analysis and opinions are often quoted online news journals and in print publications in Chicago and beyond.  DNAinfo.com features our statistics on North Center single family home sales. 
 


I've enjoyed the local news coverage by DNAinfo.com Chicago  since it hit the scene late last year.

DNAinfo.com offers North Side Chicago news

We like to point out local online and print publications that write hyper-local news covering Chicago's North Side.

Photo Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker

www.DNAinfo.com/Chicago   has great local reporting on our key neighborhoods of North Center, Lincoln Square, Lincoln Park, Lakeview and Near North.

Tribune quotes Eric Rojas on improving home sales in Chicago

The Chicago Tribune and other media outlets call us from time to time on trends in the Chicago real estate market.  We work with buyers and sellers in several segments of the market and Bob and I are happy to share what we are seeing on the ground.

Read my comments in Mary Ellen Podmolik's column on recent home sales here at the Chicago Tribune business section.

Chevy captures home buying experience

Very funny depiction of home buyers and their real estate broker looking for homes.  Check out the broker at about the :23 second of the commercial. We've been there!

Real estate broker Eric Rojas quoted on Blagojevich house sale

Long time real estate columnist Mary Umberger interviewed me last week for Inman News regarding the former Governor Blagojevich Ravenswood Manor house sale.  I thought all the brokers interviewed were spot on with sensible advice. 
Read the story HERE

North Branch of Chicago River borders Ravenswood Manor

A few of my points were missed or need clarification:
1. Mrs Blagojevich did something smart.  She states in the agent remarks on the MLS, "pre-approved buyers only".  This is something ALL sellers should require.Only the agents can see this request on the listing, so unrepresented buyers may be calling all day for showings.  This is a risk and liability for an agent.


2.  In their high profile and emotional situation (on so many levels), there should be someone else co-listed or hired, marketing, and handling all negotiations. I'm sure someone they have a relationship with would do it for free or at a deep discount.


There should be a buffer. Yes, I have bought and sold my own homes too, but on the sale side I've had partners handle showings and negotiation. There even legitimate legal reasons to do this.  She could also have the agent screen pre-approved buyers more appropriately than risking that liability herself.


3. The price is not that bad.  Although it's listed about 10% too high and should be under $1 million in my opinion, the price may keep some yahoos away.  If a buyer is serious and wants to live there, they should come and make a market offer.  Pricing more aggressively, however, would yield a higher market price for the home ultimately and secure a solid deal faster to avoid the trials of showing the home often.

Eric Rojas in ChicagoTribune: Chicago condo prices

I was quoted today in the business section of the Chicago Tribune on a controversial story concerning published condo sales numbers.

We often look at our local micro markets for clients and provide unique analysis here on the blog. Take a look at the last few weeks where we've been looking at school district home prices in Bell and Coonley, local neighborhood condo prices, single family home and multi-unit sales.



Realty trade group over-reported Chicago home prices by Mary Ellen Podmolik

Realtor Eric Rojas appears on HGTV House Hunters; Monday February 22nd at 9PM

In case you missed it the first time, I'll be on HGTV's House Hunters this Monday February 22nd at 9PM Central time. Check your local listings for your HGTV station.

It was hard work coordinating the sites with the production crew, lining up properties for filming, getting releases and making sure there were no delays to affect filming. However, it was also really fun and a terrific experience working with the director and crew.

Thanks again Kurt and Kelley for being such great clients! You looked awesome on the show. And thanks to my family and clients for helping me to the TOP 5% of all Chicago Realtors in 2009!

Chicago Tribune interviews me on House Hunter's appearance

Staged or the real deal?
I appeared in the Chicago Tribune today in an article about HGTV's House Hunters. I came off a little negative in the story... however, the point was accurate: This particular show is fun for looking at real estate and not a documentary on home buying.

My House Hunter's show is set to air this Thursday, December 10th at 8PM Central Time on cable's HGTV.I had a good time filming and my clients Kurt and Kelly were really good sports. It's a lot of work... I acted as producer on the ground... coordinating showings, paperwork, and filming dates. Not to mention while all this was going on, we were looking for, and negotiating, a condo purchase. The buyers had to dedicate time to filming on 5 different days.

I love watching House Hunters and House Hunters International. Sometimes with family members in town we all crash on the couch and watch a couple hours of episodes. It's been fun being on the "inside". Hope people enjoy our episode!

You can't handle the truth..or short sales!

Mary Ellen Podmolik called me earlier this week to talk about real estate 'short-sales for' today's Chicago Tribune Business section. Are they getting done? In my world, mostly no. I did have one successful short sale purchase this year. But the other few I wrote on, my buyers walked away during the process in favor of non-distressed properties. Most of my clients that view short-sales with me, just don't offer on them after seeing the properties and learning about the process.

Here's my quote from today's column:

"Most people really aren't in a situation where they can deal with the uncertainty," said Zhao's real estate agent, Eric Rojas at Prudential Rubloff. "Even when you explain that it's not accepted until the bank accepts it and you build these safeguards into the contract, people are dropping out, left and right. These sales would get done, but people just can't wait."

Read the entire column HERE

Media Coverage: Eric Rojas Quoted on Social Media

I was interviewed and included in last Friday's Chicago Tribune Real Estate section on social networking in real estate. As you know, I've been blogging and using creative Internet marketing for four years. This year, there has been an explosion of stories concerning "social networking" as an agent.
Unfortunately, the critics and advisers like to tell us the "Dos and Dont's" and are way too conservative. They like to tell us what's appropriate and professional. What the advisers fail to tell us is their personal experience and monetary success when blogging and using sites like facebook.com.

I'm proud to say that I can directly attribute at least $3 million in sales last year alone to clients that contacted me off my blog. I wonder what the critics and advisers think about that?

Watch the Mortgage Refinance Interview

Medill News Service interviewed me and my associate Brian Cumpton of RWF Wells Fargo Mortgage concerning recent low mortgage rates and refinancing.

Watch me make a sandwich!

The Local Featured in Realtors on a Bike Story, Chicago Tribune and Associated Press

I was interviewed earlier last week by Whitney Malkin of the Associated Press concerning Realtors working on their bicycles. The story appeared in the Chicago Tribune's Chicago Homes section and MSNBC.com business section... among other publications and web sites.

Of course, the quotes are a little out of context... but the basic point for me riding my bike is it's an alternative for certain personalities. It is also a fun and efficient way to get to showing appointments. The writer missed a main reason of my quote; My clients "don't care that I ride my bike", because my marketing is very good and I do last minute showings for them when Realtors and buyers call with little notice.

They "don't care" how I do it, just as long as I sell their place!

Realtors on Bikes: A New Movement in Chicago?

My friend Yokota over at Cyclelicious sent me a Wall Street Journal story by Nancy Keates describing how Realtors around the country are taking clients on homes tours... by bike. I wish I had the peaceful environment of Colorado and Oregon! They did talk to an agent in New York City... that guy has it all over on me.

I was also interviewed this week by the Associated Press concerning riding as a Realtor. One point I brought up is that it's hard to be different and some clients may not want me to show up to their listings on my bike. One tends to dress more casual for example. For the most part, client's are supportive and like that I will ride over to show their homes on very short notice.

Look forward to a separate section in my side bar for Chicago cycling information and related links.

Thanks Cyclicious for the support and watch for the AP story soon!

Photo I took from the 1st Chicago Criterium race held in down town... not a house tour on bikes.