Downers Grove Recycles Electronics

Downers Grove will host the second annual Recycling Extravaganza this Fall on Saturday September 26, 2009. Bring in old TVs, Monitors, computers, cell phones, batteries and much more. Hours are 8 AM to 2 PM at the Belmont Train Station in parking lot H, south of the tracks. For a list of items that can be saved from landfills, as a result of this event visit: www.Downers.us

Downers Grove Home Sales Up!

Home Sales Show Year-to-Year Increase in West, South SuburbsDOWNERS GROVE, IL - Sales of single-family detached homes went up 1 percent in June compared with the same period a year ago, according to statistics released today by the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® (MORe), the first such increase since December 2006. MORe measured activity on single-family detached homes in about 120 southern and western suburban communities through information from Midwest Real Estate Data LLC. In addition, the number of homes under contract (but not yet closed) in the same West and South Suburban Chicago area was 40 percent higher than a year ago, the seventh consecutive month of year-to-year growth in pending sales. "Many first-time home buyers are taking advantage of the $8,000 federal tax credit. This is helping to reduce the inventory of homes on the market," said Mike Drews, president-elect of MORe, and a REALTOR® with Charles Doss, REALTORS®, in the Aurora and Oswego areas. "First-time buyers can receive the tax credit if their home purchase closes by December 1st, so to take advantage of that credit, they really need to have a home under contract by October 1st." There were notable home sales gains in many suburban communities, particularly in Addison (89 percent increase from a year ago); Bellwood (150 percent); Bloomingdale (350 percent); Calumet Park (200 percent); Flossmoor (100 percent); Geneva (59 percent); Markham (138 percent); Matteson (122 percent); Maywood (156 percent); Oak Lawn (58 percent); Richton Park (167 percent); West Chicago (59 percent); and Winfield (150 percent). The average 40 percent increase in contracts across the 120-community area was fueled by dramatic advances in some towns, where the numbers of homes under contract leaped by double- and triple-digit percentages. Standouts in the south suburbs for number of contracts were Burbank (146 percent increase from a year ago); Harvey (150 percent); Lynwood (1,000 percent); Markham (133 percent); Matteson (107 percent); and Oak Lawn (93 percent). In the DuPage County area, contract activity was highest in Addison (118 percent increase from a year ago); Bensenville (700 percent); Hinsdale (59 percent); Villa Park (100 percent); Warrenville (160 percent); and West Chicago (69 percent). Outstanding numbers for contracts were posted in the western Cook communities of Bellwood (250 percent increase from a year ago); Elmwood Park (333 percent); Franklin Park (217 percent); La Grange (75 percent); Melrose Park (200 percent); and Westchester (243 percent).

Rain doesn't dampen Downers Grove Spirit!

The rain didn't keep Downers Grove residents from showing their patriotic spirit this 4th of July!

Downers Grove Schools honored for excellence!

Seven Downers Grove schools in district 58 were named by the Illinois State Board of Education to the Illinois Honor Roll for 2008. The Honor Roll celebrates the accomplishments of excellent public schools in the state. Belle Aire, Highland, Hillcrest, Herrick, Henry Puffer, Indian Trail and Pierce Downer schools have been recognised for sustaining very high academic performance over at least three years. In the 388 elementary schools that received Academic Excellence Awards for 2008, at least 90 percent of students met or exceeded state standards in reading and mathematics for at least three consecutive years. In addition, all Academic Excellence Schools have received Adequate Yearly Progress for the past two years.

Downers Grove Dogs

July is National Hot Dog Month. Several Downers Grove Spots come to mind... Teddy's Red Hots, 6310 Main St., Downers Grove (630) 968-8444

Portillo's Hot Dogs, 1500 Butterfield Rd., Downers Grove (630) 495-9033-

Scooby's Red Hots 4319 Prince St., Downers Grove (630) 769-1678 and

Boagie's 5231 S. Main St., Downers Grove (630) 241-3890...Which is your favorite???

FHA Condo Financing Rule Change

New HUD condo guidelines lift outright ban on right of first refusal – On June 12, 2009, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued Mortgagee Letter 2009-19, which outlines changes aimed at streamlining the approval process for FHA financing for condominium projects. In this Mortgagee Letter, HUD announces a new policy and procedure whereby qualifying lenders will be able to determine condominium project eligibility. But there are other important changes in the letter that will apply to both lender-approved and HUD-approved condominium projects, including a provision stating, “Right of first refusal is permitted unless it violates discriminatory conduct under the Fair Housing Act regulation in 24 CFR 100”, essentially lifting HUD’s long-standing policy of denying all condominium projects with a right of first refusal provision.