Sears Home Tour in Downers Grove

The Downers Grove History Museum is offering two Trolley Tours one Historic Downers Grove Tour and one featuring the historic Sears homes in Downers Grove on September 12, 2009. Tours begin and end at the museum. Enjoy the museum's exibits and light refreshments after the tour. Additional parking is available at Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Ave. Trolley Space is limited. Call the Museum for more information (630) 963-1309.

More Money for First Time Homebuyers!

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has a propgram available for First Time Homebuyers called Mortgage Credit Certificates or MCCs. Some of this money is earmarked specifically for people buying homes in Downers Grove. This tax credit certificate will lower the amount of Federal Income tax due each year for the homeowners for up to 30 years. This is in addition to the $8000.00 First Time Buyer Tax Credit. You must use a participating lender and there are income and maximum purchase price limits. The cost for this program is $500.00.
Contact me for more information mary@marybraatz.com

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???