When you are getting ready to move, here are some resources and their contact information that will help you with your move into or out of a property in the Chicago Area.  In general, you can contact them before your move by setting a date ahead of time.

• As a seller, you would want to contact them to set a termination date for your utilities and services on a particular date (usually your closing date, but sometimes earlier or later).
• As a buyer, you would want to contact them to start services or maintain your utilities on a certain date (usually your closing date, but sometimes earlier or later).

Telephone / DSL AT&T (Formerly SBC) TELEPHONE COMPANYSome services may require the telephone company to schedule a technician to hook up the line in order for service to be active within you new home or to terminate if you are leaving your home.  It’s best to give yourself a bit of lead time and schedule things ahead of time.

Website:  www.sbc.comNew service can be requested online by going to http://www.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=1080&cdvn=localize&prod-snip=res_order_new_phone_service

Local Cable TV / Cable Modem

COMCAST CABLETel:  1-800-COMCAST Website:  www.comcast.com 

RCN CABLETel:  1-800-RING-RCNWebsite:  www.rcn.com

Gas Service (heat, cooking, electricity)

Utilities may require at least one week’s notice to start or stop your services.  If someone was already living in the property before, then you may have everything running, but they are not contacted you have service interruptions or incorrect billing that you are responsible for.

NICOR GASTelephone:  1 888 Nicor4uWebsite:  www.nicor.comNew service requests:  http://www.nicor.com/en_us/nicor_inc/contact_us/moving_in_or_out.htm 

PEOPLE’S ENERGYEmergency Tel:  1-866-556-6002 (Chicago)   1-866-556-6005 (Suburbs)Tel:  1-866-556-6001 (Chicago)  1-866-556-6004 (Suburbs) New service request online:  http://www.pecorp.com/residential/res_sectiondetail.asp?PAGE=residential_start_new_service

U.S. POSTAL SERVICEThe United States Postal Service can be contacted to have mail forwarded to your new address from your old address.  This can be processed online at https://moversguide.usps.com/?referral=USPS

You would want to do this shortly after the completion of your initial load processing, attorney review and property inspection.  There are times where it can take 3-6 weeks for a mail forwarding order to begin processing.Tel: 1- (800) 275-8777

LOCAL BANKS

If you don’t already have an account from one of these three major banking institutions, their websites allow you to open many account types online.  If you are moving for a different state or out of the area, many retailers including grocery stores may not accept your out of state checks and the ATM may not be conveniently located in the new place of residence.

Harris Bank  1-800-546-6101  www.harrisbank.com

Chase Bank  1-800-935-9935  www.Chase.com

Bank of America 1.800.432.1000  www.BankofAmerica.com

CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY

They can help you obtain and order commuter passes for rides on the CTA Buses or Elevated Trains (EL).  The pass programs often saves move over the long run and the system is convenient to use and readily available in most downtown neighborhoods.

Tel:  1-312-836-7000www.transitchicago.com  

Please feel free to contact your closing team at C&C Realty Group, Inc. www.LoftsNHomes.com should you have any questions or require additional assistance/ referrals not listed here. Telephone number:  1-888-802-5888E-mail:  Info@LoftsNHomes.com 

Tax season will be approaching now that most of us have recovered from the holidays and focused on the New Year ahead.  The following article suggests that some of the things that you can do now to prepare for filling your taxes include:

1. Check out Schedule M

2. Get ready for the arrival of records

3. Track down Social Security numbers

4. Find your forms

5. Decide how you want to do your taxes

6. Consider electronic filing

7. Use Direct Deposit

8. Don’t Panic

http://www.bankrate.com/finance/money-guides/8-tax-filing-moves-you-can-make-now-1.aspx

From the real estate side, if you have bought of sold a piece of real estate during the 2009 tax years, there are tax implications that you should be aware of and we will feature those in a future blog.  However, you can start to gather your records pertaining to the real estate transaction now and ask the realtor that you worked with for a copy of the closing statement if you can not locate yours from closing.  For tax advice, please consult with a qualified tax professional.

Photos RedCross

On the evening of January 12, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti resulting in one of the worst natural disasters in history. Like you, I have been watching the coverage of the aftermath and asking what I can do to help.

Below are a few ways that you can make a difference, even if you can just support $5 each.  This is not a complete list of worthy organizations pledging to help, but I think it is a good place to start. I want to hear from you.

ON YOUR CELL PHONE

* Text the word HAITI to 90999 to automatically donate $10 to the American Red Cross
* Text the word “YELE” to 501501 to automatically donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts

ON THE WEB

* UNICEF: https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6680&6680.donation=form1
* YELE HAITI: http://www.yele.org/
* PARTNERS IN HEALTH: https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/haiti_earthquake?source=earthquake&subsource=homepage
* AMERICAN RED CROSS: http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.1a019a978f421296e81ec89e43181aa0/?vgnextoid=a8712721ea326210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD
* WORLD FOOD PROGRAM: https://www.wfp.org/donate/haiti
* MERCY CORPS: https://donate.mercycorps.org/donation.htm?DonorIntent=Haiti+Earthquake
* SAVE THE CHILDREN: https://secure.savethechildren.org/01/web_e_haiti_earthquake_10
* DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197&hbc=1&source=ADR1001E1D01
* THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE: https://www.theirc.org/donate/donate-now-haiti
* CARE: https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?5000.donation=form1&df_id=5000

AIRLINES / FREQUENT FLYER

*American Airlines - http://aa.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2824 is dedicating three American Express planes toward relief efforts and encouraging AAdvantage members to donate $$ with bonus miles as additional rewards.

*Spirit Airlines http://www.spiritair.com/haiti is encouraging the pubic and frequent flyer members to support $$ towards relief efforts by giving away bonus miles after $$ support is validated.

*Delta Airlines http://www.delta.com/skymiles/use_miles/donate_miles/skywish_charities/index.jsp where you can donate SkyMiles to charitable organizations supporting relief efforts.

*Coca-Cola is providing water and beverages to the area through bottlers in Dominican Republic nearby.

*UPS is providing case and in-kind support towards relieve efforts and ready to help ship supplies to the region.

*Citigroup is working to support relief efforts locallys and also providing financial support.

*Bank of America, General Motors, Wells Fargo, Publix Groceries and many other companies are pledging and providing support to the relief efforts.   http://www.fox11az.com/news/national/81376877.html

Please give what you can, if you can. The people of Haiti need our help!  You can also support by sharing these links to friends, family via your tweets, facebook, blogs or other social networking mediums.

While traditional lenders now require borrower to jump through some additional hurdles to obtain financing including higher down payments and full documentation on income, high credit scores, FHA program are gaining popularity by providing an option to those with less than perfect credit scores and those who can only afford a lower down payment starting at 3-5%.  FHA loans also originated and serviced by brick and mortar financial institutions but have a financial guarantee to the bank providing the load if they process the file correctly and the borrower meets the qualification guidelines. View Guidelines

Please talk to a real estate professional who can help you locate or sell your property and navigate the changes in the market.  A realtor can also refer you to lenders that offer products that fit your particular situation.

Prior to the end of 2009, Congress and the Obama Administration passed an extension to the 2009 Home Buyer’s Tax Credit Program.  The tax program has been extended into 2010 for first time homebuyers ($8,000 tax credit).  The program have also been expanded to include homeowners who wish to tax advantages of current market conditions property but were afraid to sell due to the decline in sales prices in most market by offering a $6,500 tax credit to existing home owners. To take advantage of the expanded tax credit program, the following conditions must be observed:

• Property must be contracted by April 30, 2010
• Property must close by June 30, 2010
• First time homebuyers are considered those who have not owned a principal residence in previous three years prior to purchase.  For married taxpayers, this includes the home ownership history of both spouses.  (The 8,000 tax credit applies).
• The income limit for claiming the full tax credit for single taxpayers is $125,000 and $225,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return.
• The tax credit is not a loan, it’s a credit that can be claimed on your 2009 or 2010 taxes and does not have to be repaid.

Additional FAQ’s regarding the tax credit program can be found at http://www.realtor.org/home_buyers_and_sellers/2009_first_time_home_buyer_tax_creditPlease talk to a real estate professional who can help you locate or sell your property and navigate the changes in the market.