The challenges of self-management
Self-management can be a satisfying and cost-effective endeavor for a community association. It also can be frustrating, time-consuming and expensive. Whether or not to hire a management company is a...
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Alternate ZIPs
Some residential communities are so trendy their ZIP codes are well known and real estate agents are battle-scarred from bidding wars. Others, not so much. In the Chicago area, there...
Alternate ZIPs
Some residential communities are so trendy their ZIP codes are well known and real estate agents are battle-scarred from bidding wars. Others, not so much. In the Chicago area, there...
Branching out
When Judy and Larry Plegge were ready to downsize from their single-family home of 32 years, they were clear on what they didn't want. No stairs. No yard work. No...
What goes up may come down
This story contains corrected material, published Oct. 19, 2007. If your condominium dues went up last year, it's par for the course. Nationwide, they increased more than 5 percent, and...
A heavenly home
For more people, buying a home is becoming an act of faith. Not because of the turmoil in the mortgage market. But rather the increasing diversity of the population and...
Condo rules may stump buyers
When engaged couple Martha Mezyk and Pawel Fraczek bought a home to share, they chose a two-bedroom condominium at the Everleigh in Des Plaines. One of the attractions was the...
Association presidents say they serve to improve
A community association is run by an elected board, with a president at the helm. The job isn't an easy one. Often, the hours are long, and the complaints are...
Nature museum is fertile ground for butterflies
For the first time in 70 years, swamp metalmark butterflies were spotted this summer near Elgin. It was a small but sweet victory for biologists at the Peggy Notebaert Nature...
Sight unseen
Some people buy collectibles from eBay and others order groceries from Peapod. Kristine and Chuck Wotipka bought their house online. The first time they stepped foot inside was the day...