CodeRED is Now Up and Running - Residents Urged to Sign Up Now

The Village of La Grange Park now offers residents "CodeRED" high-speed telephone emergency notification services. The system gives the Village the ability to deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification/information messages to targeted areas or the entire city at a rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour. The Village cautions residents that such systems are only as good as the telephone database supporting them. If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called. The CodeRED system not only offers faster calling rates and improved message delivery, it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly to the system's telephone database. The Village urges all individuals and businesses to log onto the Village’s website at www.lagrangepark.org and follow the link to the "CodeRED Residential and Business Data Collection" page.

Community Market Statistics for Single Family and Condo/townhomes

The following is info you should know!! Look up what is happening in your neighborhood!! The information is for most of Chicago and surrounding areas.

* Community Market Statistics December 2008 Attached
* Community Market Statistics December 2008 Detached
* 2008 4th Q Community Market Statistics Attached
* 2008 4th Q Community Market Statistics Detached
* 2008 Community Market Statistics Attached - Final
* 2008 Community Market Statistics Detached - Final
* December Trends Attached
* December Trends Detached
* 2008 Trends Attached
* 2008 Trends Detached

15,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit - Senator Isakson

$7,500 or $15,000 Tax Break - Buying a Home, 2009 Economic Stimulus

© Lena Gott Feb 4, 2009

Will a $15,000 tax credit for buying a home replace the $7,500 interest-free loan for first-time homebuyers? Economic stimulus must still pass for Isakson's tax breaks.

As Republicans and Democrats dissect and renegotiate Obama’s proposed economic stimulus details, senators on both sides are proposing amendments to the version of the plan that passed through the U.S. House of Representatives. Yahoo! News (via the Associated Press) reported this exciting development through an article titled “Senate OKs $15,000 tax break for homebuyers.” What does this mean for those in the U.S. and how does it relate to the previously authorized $7,500 tax credit?

$15,000 Homebuyer Tax Credit for Buying a Home: Not Just First-Time Homebuyers

Republican Senator Johnny Isakson from Georgia succeeded in proposing a measure that obtained unanimous approval on Wednesday, February 4, 2009. According to a press release on his website, Isakson's amendment to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 would “provide a direct tax credit to any homebuyer who purchases any home…the tax credit would be $15,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less. Purchases must be made within one year of the legislation’s enactment, and the tax credit would not have to be repaid.”

According to the press release, taxpayers could claim the credit on a 2008 federal income tax return. The limitations appear to be that the purchase must be of a principle residence, and the credit would have to be recaptured (read: reversed) if the home is sold within two years of purchase. In other words, the home cannot be a second home like a vacation house or an investment property that isn’t the taxpayer’s primary residence.

How is the New Tax Break Related to the $7,500 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit?

Senator Isakson actually spearheaded the original $7,500 first-time homebuyer tax credit that is available to taxpayers who have bought homes since April 8, 2008. This tax break can be claimed on either a 2008 or 2009 tax return, depending on when the home was purchased, but the credit must eventually be repaid over a 15-year period.

The $15,000 tax credit provision in the proposed 2009 economic stimulus package would replace the $7,500 first-time homebuyer tax credit, with the key differences being the increased amount plus the fact that it would not have to be repaid.

Countrysides NEW Property Inspection Program begins 2009

In order to protect public health, safety and welfare, Countryside is establishing a property maintenance program for all buildings in the City which will be implemented in the first quarter of 2009.The purpose is to ensure that all buildings are maintained to a minimal standard.

This fee-supported program has three parts:
Rental Licensing and Inspection Licensing and periodic inspections for all rental commercial and residential properties as well as condominium common areas is required. All property, other than owner occupied housing, will be subject to inspections. All commercial properties and residential common areas will be inspected once per year and rented residential units will be inspected once every three years.

Pre-Sale Real Estate Transfer Inspections Pre-sale City inspections for all residential and commercial properties will be required before the City will issue a real estate transfer stamp.

Vacant Property Licensing A license is required for all vacant commercial and residential properties. A commercial property is considered “vacant” when it is boarded or unoccupied for 120 consecutive days. A residential building with 20% or more unoccupied units for 120 consecutive days also is considered “vacant.” The license can be renewed but another inspection is required.

The City is developing a list of rental and vacant property and will soon be contacting each property owner to schedule an inspection. Copies of the applicable ordinances and fee schedules are available at the City’s Web site. �� For more information, please call Steve Tisinai at TPI Building Code Consultants (630) 443-1567.

Click here to view Countryside Illinois City Codes

LaGrange Park District Wide Kindergarten Registration Set

Calling all kindergartner wannabes! A district wide kindergarten registration is set for 7-8 p.m., Thursday, February, 12th in the Park Jr. High auditorium, 325 North Park, La Grange Park. This district wide registration replaces the home school registration format used in previous years. To be eligible for either full day or half day kindergarten, children must be 5 years old before September 2009. A certified copy of your child’s birth certificate is required, along with proof of residency. The registration fee for full day kindergarten will be $80 and the half day kindergarten fee will remain at $40. More information is available by calling the District Administration Center at 708-482-2400.

Tax credits expand for "green" upgrades.

Starting Jan. 1, 2009, per the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, homeowners can benefit from tax credits for energy efficient home improvements (windows, doors, roofs, insulation, HVAC, and non-solar water heaters). Learn more from Energy Star.gov.

LaGrange Park Garbage Rates Increase

Effective February 1, 2009, the Village of La Grange Park Garbage Sticker fee will increase from $2.30 to $2.45. The monthly minimum Service Charge will increase from $3.75 to $4.20. The prices for the 96 Gallon Roll-Out Cart Service will also increase from $19.75 to $21.20 per month. Residents can expect to see this increase on their water bill beginning in March. Service fee increases are consistent with rates established in the contract with Allied Waste, previously approved by the Village Board in May 2007. These are the first garbage fee increases La Grange Park residents have seen in 18 months. For additional information, please contact Village Hall at 708-354-0225, or Allied Waste directly at 708-345-7050.

End of Year 2008 Real Estate Market Statistics!!

The links below will give you market statistics for Single Family and Condo/townhouse Homes for most of Chicagolands cities/towns.

Statistics provided by:

MAINSTREET ORGANIZATION OF REALTORS

Year to date Trends through December 2008 Single Family Homes

Year to date Trends through December 2008 Attached Condo/Townhomes

2008 Market Statistics Detached single Family

2008 Market Statistics Attached Condo/Townhomes

December 2008 Trends Detached Single Family

December 2008 Trends Attached Condo/Townhomes

Disclaimer:
Statistics provided using data from Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois.
The Association makes no claim as to the accuracy of this data and has provided this data as a service to our members.

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Dr. Gordon Firmreite

at: Cafe 36

22 Calendar Ave

LaGrange, IL 60525

When: Tues January 13th @ 7:00pm

Reserve by calling 708.352.3352

LaGrange Park Christmas Tree Collection

Once again this year, Allied Waste will collect live Christmas trees through Thursday, January 29 at no charge to residents. Trees should be set at the curb on your regular garbage collection day, and since the trees are composted, they should be free of all ornaments, tinsel, wire, and other inorganic material. “Flocked” Christmas trees are not accepted during this collection.

Starved Rock – Discover the Eagles Tour

Take this fantastic trip, sponsored in part by the Community Park District of La Grange Park. The event takes place on February 7th, where the bus departs from Plymouth Place at 8:00 a.m. and returns at 5:00 p.m. The cost is $42 per person and includes a trolley ride to the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center and lunch. Call 708-354-4580 to register by Friday, January 23rd.