d'aprile properties - Blog • 6th December 2019

Something Wicked This Way Comes…

It has been an October unlike any other for Northside Chicago baseball fans – at least, those under the age of 108. In 2016, our beloved Cubbies have flipped a century-old switch, and brought this city wildly to their feet time and again since Opening Day. Gone are the Lovable Losers of decades past. Here to (hopefully) stay are Madden’s Marauders, restoring the faith of an entire fan base, and striking a blow for cursed sports teams everywhere.

d'aprile properties - Blog • 6th December 2019

What to Expect When You’re Inspected

Congratulations! You’re through the marketing phase of selling your home and you’ve found the perfect buyer. The contract has been signed, and the closing table is within sight!

The Contract Phase is the final step before home closing. Typically, during this period the buyer will order a home inspection to be performed. Home inspections are a vital part of the real estate process, and oftentimes the contract will be contingent on the final results. The more you know about the inspection process, and how it affects you as the seller, the more confident you can be moving forward with your transaction.

Midwest Lending - Blog • 2nd December 2019

Fed Rate Cut — What it means for YOU

Last Wednesday, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time in over a decade, as concerns about a slowing economy continued to rise. While it is important to understand how this historic change affects our nation, most people will only have one question on their minds: “What effect does this cut have on my personal financial future?”

d'aprile properties - Blog • 2nd December 2019

Looking at the Bright Side

2016 is coming to an end, and unfortunately, for many it can’t come soon enough. Social media has been flooded with the voices of angst-ridden Americans, shouting to anyone who’ll listen that this has been the WORST YEAR EVER. And it’s easy to see their point; this past year likely will be remembered for for its negatives more than its positives.

We solemnly said goodbye to some of the greatest artists and activists of our time — individuals whose gifts and social efforts inspired generations. We saw a sharp rise in violence both at home and abroad, causing many to wonder if respect for human life is a thing of the past. And a bitter and negative presidential election cleaved our nation in two, leaving many to feel that 2017 could be even darker.

As we approach the end of 2016, and people gather together to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, it is more important than ever that we focus on all the good that took place this year, and show our gratitude to those who’ve touched our lives, and bettered our hearts.

d'aprile properties - Our Blog • 2nd December 2019

The Freedom of Home Ownership

When was the last time you gave thought to the concept of the American Dream?

For generations, the idea was built around one simple concept: opportunity. Every man and woman born in this country — or who managed to find their way to it — was given a promise. Work hard, never quit, and you can secure wealth and build a life of your own, regardless of your station. Owning land and/or property represented freedom at its most pure, and the pursuit of happiness would often end at a white picket fence, surrounding the perfect home in the middle of a quaint, suburban paradise.

We all hoped, with absolute sincerity, to someday be kings and queens of our own little castle.

d'aprile properties - Blog • 2nd December 2019

#daprilecares — Meet Kaylee, Our 2019 Bear Necessities Ambassador

Spend just five minutes with her, and try not to be impressed by 10-year-old Kaylee Marth. Despite her youth, Kaylee is whip-smart — as quick with a joke as she is with her genuine smile. She balances that precocious intelligence with a quiet innocence, and though she may speak softly, there is a sense of conviction behind her every word.

The daughter of Rose and Dan Marth, Kaylee is a kind and compassionate free spirit, who loves to be outdoors and experience the world around her. She is an avid cook, and devours new books and movies every chance she gets. She already serves as a reading tutor to children her own age, as part of a school program. And to top it all off, she is an accomplished jazz and lyrical dancer — her team recently finished first overall at a national competition in Las Vegas. Put it all together, and it is hard not to be in awe of all she has accomplished in just her first decade.

And that is before you come to realize that she is also a cancer survivor.

Midwest Lending - Blog • 9th October 2019

2nd City? Try Again.

Chicagoans are a proud people. They take pride in their city, and in the 77 distinct and diverse neighborhoods that form this beautiful tapestry of history, art, and culture. They celebrate tradition while simultaneously looking toward the future, happy to serve as the center of entertainment, hospitality, and industrial innovation for the entire Midwest.

It seems as if the rest of the country is taking note.

Midwest Lending - Blog • 11th September 2019

Language of the Loan - Interest Rates

Have you ever said to yourself, "I'm not really sure how interest rates even work?"

No need to worry — that's what we're here for! You are definitely not alone. This is complicated stuff. So in today’s ‘Language of the Loan’ series, we’re going to break down exactly what an interest rate is, and how it affects you as a home buyer.

Midwest Lending - Blog • 25th June 2019

Hey Gen Y — Why So Serious?

Hey Gen Y — Why So Serious?

Did you know that the Millennial generation represents the largest group of homebuyers in America? It's true: Gen Y makes for 37 percent of recent home buyers in this country. Gen X is next, albeit significantly behind at 24 percent. In fact, according to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors, 2019 will be the sixth consecutive year that millennials led the U.S. home buying charge.

So why are millennials (born between 1980 and 1994) often criticize

d'aprile properties - Blog • 28th May 2019

Whaddya Got to Do to Get a Drink Around Here?

Ok, we’re gonna be honest with you right off the bat. Compiling a list of ‘Chicago’s Best Bar Patios’ for the upcoming sunny season isn’t exactly an original concept. In fact, if you open up the Google and type those four little words in, you will be treated to no less than, oh, 67,100,000 results. In 0.82 seconds. Hey, Chicago residents are thirsty folk in warm weather.

d'aprile properties - Blog • 7th February 2019

And the Oscar Goes to…

…Green Book, probably. Or Roma.

Personally, we’re pulling for Black Panther, because WAKANDA FOREVER!

But this post really isn’t about this year’s movies. No, in honor of Oscar Week – cause, you know, we dig homes – we thought we might put together a list of our favorite homes in recent film history. No garish mansions or sweeping castles on this list – simple residential real estate only.

d'aprile properties - Blog • 4th January 2019

Never a Dull Moment: Chi-Town Events We Look Forward To in 2019

Chicago. This city is unique, one of the greatest in the world for reasons too many to count. But off the top of our heads?

Best pizza on planet earth. The lakefront. Bill Murray. Wrigley Field. Blues, jazz, soul, and gospel. Second City. Buddy Guy. Navy Pier. Seventy-seven unique and eclectic neighborhoods, bursting at the seams with doctors, artists, soldiers, nurses, and teachers.

To live here is to wake up every day in the cultural epicenter of this country, and we couldn’t be more proud to represent it. The Windy City is afire no matter what month of the year, as the color and character of this amazing town shines through no matter the season. Turn down any street corner, and you’ll happily stumble onto an art festival, food tasting, or concert.

d'aprile properties - Blog • 27th December 2018

Auld Lang…What Now?

“Should old acquaintance be forgot, / And never brought to mind? / Should old acquaintance be forgot, / And auld lang syne.”

Come again?

Every year, we sing the lyrics to this timeless tune at midnight on December 31st, often with a flute of champagne in our hand and a hopeful feeling in our heart. But raise your hand if your voice tends to trail off a bit after the opening lines above?

d'aprile properties - Blog • 15th November 2018

State of the Housing Market

“How is the market looking these days?”

As real estate professionals, we’re asked this question daily. We hear it from clients, we hear it from friends. We hear it from strangers at parties, and from family at the holiday dinner table. As industry experts, it is an important question for us to approach, but not an easy one to definitively answer.

d'aprile properties - Blog • 1st November 2018

What It Means to Serve – Military Family Appreciation Month

Today, more than two million courageous men and women proudly serve their country, representing the United States military and its reserve components. These individuals, serving both domestically and abroad, wake up each and every morning with one purpose: to defend the principles on which this nation was founded, so that its citizens can live free.

They are Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers. They selflessly sacrifice their lives for a cause greater than themselves, and they deserve all the support and respect that we as their fellow countrymen can offer. But we must never forget those who stand beside our servicemen and women every day, even as they are forced to stay behind.

d'aprile properties - Blog • 28th August 2018

d’aprile Locales – Passero – Arlington Heights

At d’aprile properties, we feel that the word ‘community’ means more than a subdivision or zip code. A community is defined by the character of its people – a combination of work ethic, pride, and spirit that brings everyone together, in a place they happily call home. That’s why we’ve created ‘Locales’, a series that highlights vendors, businesses, and organizations who stand out in their respective communities through their passion and purpose.

May we introduce you to:

A dynamic blend of con

d'aprile properties - Blog • 7th July 2016

Brexit…Stage Left

Two weeks ago, we’re betting that 8 out of 10 people in the U.S. had no idea what the term ‘Brexit’ meant. It sounded like one of those pills advertised on daytime television that lowers your cholesterol, while simultaneously causing 18 horrible-sounding side effects. But as of this past weekend, it’s caused a global frenzy, and become the hot topic for almost every online media outlet.