As of today, we have only 17 days left on the Home Buyers Tax Credit.

This can be the result of taking advantage of the tax credits available

In order to qualify you must have a completed purchase contract on a condo, townhouse or single family home dated by April 30th and close on that purchase by June 30, 2010.

If you are just now thinking of purchasing to qualify for this credit, you need to find a home that is NOT a short sale. Short sales are very attractively priced, but the chances of you closing on the deal before the end of the Home Buyers Tax Credit are just not in your favor. In January, I helped a young couple to close on a short sale purchase within two weeks, but had already waited almost two month before the initial contract was accepted.

Right now in Lombard we have 326 homes available for purchase. The inventory is high and there are many homes that might fit your individual need. But you will have to act quickly to qualify for the Home Buyers Tax Credit. We are not expecting this to be extended.

However, don’t lose hope. On May 1st, 2010, Coldwell Banker is coming out with a new program that is actually better than the government tax credit. It’s better because there are NO restrictions as to who can qualify. Keep checking my blog so you can be the first to hear the details.

Now, I know I have told you all about the beautiful tulips and the fragrant lilacs at Lilacia Park located in my very own town, Lombard, Illinois. But sometimes, I forget the pure joy of just being a kid. This Easter, my son came home with a lovely young lady he goes to college with.

With only a few days to give her a taste of what our area has to offer, they took off for a day in downtown Chicago. They went to Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Oak Street Beach and strolled down Michigan Avenue.

[View with PicLens]

They decided to rediscover Lombard on the second day. It began at the Yorktown Mall for lunch, a movie at the AMC 18 Theater and on to Lilacia Park! In early April, the tulips and lilacs were not yet in bloom, but that didn’t stop them. They enjoyed the early spring weather and played with “Rastus” the mascot of Lilacia Park!

Dinner was at Greek Islands in Lombard where you are guaranteed a wonderful meal, entertaining servers and always an OPA as your flaming Saganaki is served! As you can see from these pictures, they had a great day!

Lombard is a great place to live and to play. What are you waiting for?

Lilac Days in Lombard from May 1 to May 16

The Lombard Park District’s Lilacia Park is an 8.5 acre horticultural showcase featuring 1200 lilacs and 25,000 tulips. If you have never strolled through the park when the lilacs are in bloom, you are missing a joyful experience. Bringing people for the first time is one of my favorite things to do. Whenever I am showing homes in the general Lombard area, I always pass by and show my clients the amazing beauty of the park.

The park was a memorial to Helen Plum by her husband Col. William Plum. They became enamored with lilacs while in Europe and brought two plants back home and there search around the world for new lilacs began.  In 1927 the land was gifted to the people of Lombard as a public park and Lilacia Park began.

From May 1st to the 16th, Lombard celebrates “Lilac Days”. There are special tours, dances, tournaments concerts in the park, special story times, auctions, of course walks through Lilacia Park and the highlight of the week is the Lilac Queen Coronation.

For the past ten years, Lombard has given its residents a chance to receive a free Lilac Bush. The aim of the program is an ongoing effort to have a lilac bush planted in every yard. The Village of Lombard is providing 400 lilac bushes to residents who bring their coupon to Lilacia Park on Saturday, May 8th on a first come, first served basis beginning at 8am.

Visit Lilacia Park in Lombard

Don’t yet live in Lombard? You can still have a lilac bush from the Lilac Bush Sale May 6-8th.

For the full schedule and a live Lilac Meter (it shows when they are in full bloom) please check out Lombard Park District – Lilac Time

Hope to see you there!

The Lombard Park District has great Children's Programs

The Lombard Park District invites everyone to its “Take Time for Tots Day” on Saturday, March 27, from 9-11:30 am at Sunset Knoll Recreation Center at 820 S. Finley Road in Lombard Illinois. Activities at the FREE event is for tots, preschoolers to age 8 and their families and will include Culvers build your own sundae bar, pony rides, arts and crafts, music, Operation Railroad and more.

Golf at Western Acres In Lombard

Lombard is a great place for kids and adults alike. It has a variety of activities for all ages. If your family likes to golf, our golf course, Western Acres can help you get involved by joining or forming your own golf league.

Trying to get into shape? The Lombard Park District offers personal training sessions so you can go at your own speed and find out the right way to improve your workout. Four sessions cost $138.00.

Perhaps you have always wanted to learn how to play the piano or even the drums? All you have to do is call the Lombard Park District and get started! Whatever your interest is, it’s only a phone call away. (630) 620-7322

Oh and if you are interested in real estate in the Lombard area, give Caryn Kuhlman a call.

After living in Lombard for the past 18 years, I cannot imagine living anywhere else. There is so much to love about Lombard. We are located in a western suburb of Chicago with both O’Hare and Midway airports a quick thirty minute drive away. We are located near all major expressways and have a train station in town that will get you to the loop in an easy forty minutes.

In Lombard we have 3 grocery stores, a butcher shop, two bakeries, a downtown area, the Helen Plum Library, a new water park, the Yorktown Mall, the AMC 18 Theater, a roller rink, a bowling alley, a golf course, fitness centers, 5 hotels, 67 restaurants and 450 acres of parks that just received the coveted National Gold Medal for Parks and recreation.

We also have a vast array of affordable housing. From old and charming, up and coming to new construction, Lombard is a wonderful mix of styles and choices. With the median residential home running in the low $300’s and condo’s and townhomes running in the low $200’s, there is something for everyone.

If you are thinking about purchasing a home, give me a call and I will have you loving Lombard with the very first visit.

Wii Bowlers in Lombard- Great Family Fun

I thought I would let you in on a clever way to entertain, that is going on in Lombard, Illinois. One of my clients has two small children. They wanted to get together with other families to provide some adult entertainment that was relatively cheap and included the kids.

After much consideration, they came up with a Wii Bowling League! They invited three families to participate that had children the same age, so the kids would play together while they bowled.

They ordered bowling shirts to make it fun. I had no idea how many bowling shirt companies there are online! To keep the cost down, they have dinner at home and the house that is hosting provides modest snacks.

El Famous Burrito in Lombard

El Famous Burrito in Lombard- Delicious in any language

If you wanted to take it up a notch, I would check out El Famous Burrito in Lombard. (256 W. Roosevelt Rd. 630.889.0889) They have a Taco Bar that includes a complete buffet with your choice of 2 meats (we get the steak and chicken), Tortillas, Rice, Beans and Cheese, Lettuce and Tomato for just under $5.00 a person. They even throw in the plates, silverware, napkins and hot sauce!

I thought this was a great way to have some good times with friends. Keep checking my blog, I hope to have some great tips along with a few awesome recipes in the coming weeks.