Best Recent Oak Lawn Real Estate Posts

You've already been introduced to the new Oak Lawn real estate website.  This is the #1 local site for Oak Lawn homes and other real estate.  Because of the new website created, the site might have lost its first page Google position because of the new pages created and Google having to find and index them. Once that is accomplished I think we'll be back at the top again.

In an effort to kick-start indexing of the new site I'm listing some of the most interesting blog posts recently transferred over:

• Here's a story about Oak Lawn short sales and a recent successful transaction
• A search has already been created for Oak Lawn homes for sale priced $100,000 or less
• Another pre-made search is done for Oak Lawn homes priced $100,000-$200,000
• It's always nice to see the newest Oak Lawn real estate listings
• Not all landlords list their Oak Lawn rentals in the MLS, but here's a list of what we currently have available

Each of the above links offer even more ways to see searches already done for you or the ability to create a custom search for Oak Lawn or any of the towns our large MLS services.  The pre-made searches will constantly update themselves so you'll always have the latest listings.  

We created this new website for it's ease of use and the ability on our end to create these kinds of searches so you can quickly check the current market in types of listings, price ranges and more.  We will be adding more custom searches to the website so come back and see what's new!

The Judy Orr Team, your Oak Lawn REALTORS - we've lived and worked in Oak Lawn, IL for many years and we know this popular village.  Call us at 708-536-8200.

A New Look For Oak Lawn Real Estate Website

New Oak Lawn Homes and Real Estate Website

I've been making a lot of website changes lately, and I picked the wrong time to do it.  Oak Lawn real estate has been hot lately and I chose the busiest time of the year to make changes to multiple websites, as you can see in this blog.  I still have one more to go.

This is my first real estate website I ever created.  At the time, I was living in Oak Lawn and created a website that covered this popular village (has the most sales of the main southwest suburban area I work in) and the surrounding towns.  

Because it was such a niche site it was #1 in Google if you did a search for Oak Lawn real estate.  Things have changed with recent Google algorithm changes and the big portals that have deep pockets, and although the site is still on the first page it has lost it's number one position.  But it is still the 1st local website that shows up in a normal Google search in the regular (not local) results.  I get a lot of business from it.

Why did I make all these changes?  I believe in creating what is called hyper-local sites for my main areas.  I think with the Google changes and competing against these big portals, it is more important for us "little guys" to try to beat them in local organic searches.

I feel I'm providing the best information for Oak Lawn real estate than those big real estate websites can.  I know the village first-hand as I grew up there and lived there as an adult for many years.  Both my team-mates, my husband and daughter, also lived in the village for many years.

If you're interested in searching for Oak Lawn homes, give Judy Orr a call at 708-536-8200.  We are your Oak Lawn REALTORS.

Introducing the New Orland Park Real Estate Website

I created a website years ago for Orland Park real estate but at the time there wasn't any talk about hyper-local niche websites.  What does that term mean?  It could mean anything from a website created for Senior Lifestyle & Living, real estate for members of the Armed Forces, golf properties, beach properties, etc. It can also mean a site created for a specific area such as one town or even a subdivision.

The reason I shut down the website in the past was because I didn't understand the power of keeping things local.  Most real estate agents take business where they can get it, and I work in about 40+ different towns in the southwest Chicago suburbs.  

Over the years I've heard of some agents that work a very small area.  One real estate agent works within a mile radius.  She states that she can walk to any of her listings.  I don't know how she can make a living in such a small territory and I wonder if she turns down buyers who want to venture out of her boundaries.

I also met a gentleman who did the websites for a brokerage in Florida where agents were assigned an area (normally unheard of in real estate sales) and the websites pulled in the leads for these agents.  He said they made more money working those small areas than they ever did before, selling wherever business brought them.

As real estate agents we sometimes spread ourselves too thin in areas covered.  We don't make our mark in any one of them.  I did create one local real estate niche site for Oak Lawn that held it's #1 position for many years.  I used to live there so it was a perfect match.  But now my office and home are in Orland Park (I live in Homer Glen with an Orland Park address), and I want to make my presence in these two villages.  I was listed as a 5 Star Real Estate Agent for Orland Park in Chicago Magazine's October 2012 issue and am hoping to make it again this year.

Please visit the site if you're interested in Orland Park.  It offers more than just real estate.

New Homer Glen Real Estate Website

There is a new website created for Homer Glen homes, real estate and lifestyle.  It features a search of Homer Glen homes for sale, a mortgage calculator and current interest rates, a blog with Homer Glen news and reviews plus more.

We created this site so it is fun and easy-to-use.  You can access the Home Search from almost every page. You can see current blog posts with thumbnail photos to help you choose.  There are pre-made searches already created in the Search Homes menu section.

As a buyer, you can use the pre-done Homer Glen homes for sale searches or create your own custom search.  You can make things even easier by filling out an easy form and get all active listings sent directly to your e-mail.

Homer Glen home sellers can get an online market valuation of their home.  They can also search for area homes to keep updated with the current market.

There is a ton of useful information for both buyers and sellers and you could spend hours on this website.  We live and work in Homer Glen and wanted to create a blog/site for the village we love living in.  We hope Homer Glen residents or anyone interested in this growing village enjoys, reads and participates in this site created just for them.

Bait and Switch Weather

The sky was the bluest I've seen it in a long time with nary a cloud.  The sun was shining so brightly I made sure I had my sunglasses.  I got into my car from my attached garage and made my way to show Orland Park homes for sale.

My buyer was late so I did some work on my iPad.  The door stood open on the first house we were viewing, so someone was home even though I was given a lockbox combination (but was told to knock first).  I realized it was windy as I was fearing the for sale sign was going to blow off and hit my car.  I almost moved my car to avoid any potential damage.

My buyers pulled up and I waited for them to get out of the car before I proceeded to greet them.  It was then that I felt the sharp sting of the extremely cold wind hit my face and blow my hair all over.  Even though I could see it was windy, I didn't realize how cold it was as the sunny sky belied the true temperature and I was nice and warm in my car.

I had to stop at my favorite Orland Park health food store on the way home.  I wanted to make a quick trip to Trader Joe's but didn't want to fight that cold wind any more and drove home.

I'm not a good representative of a Chicagoan who is supposed to be used to this kind of weather.  In fact, depending on when we visit our 2nd home in Scottsdale AZ, I get cold there too!  I've said it before and I'll say it again - I really hate winter.  I wish I could be a snowbird right now and sell Scottsdale real estate during the winter months and come back home to the Chicago suburbs during the spring warm-up through the beginning of winter.

One of these days...

Snow Day in the Suburbs

We're having our first major snowfall today in the Chicago suburbs.  We had one snow day where it hung around, but today is the first day the grand kids are off school.

I was wondering if real estate offices would be open so I can set-up appointments to show Orland Park real estate tomorrow.  I got an answer from each office I contacted so that was good.  Hopefully, the streets will be OK to drive on tomorrow.

Today will be a hibernation day for me where I do some needed filing and catch up on a few things as it's been really busy.  The snow might halt some showings but I got an appointment on one of my listings so buyers are out there.

It is a seller's market in the lower price ranges - homes are getting offers the day they hit the market!  Of course, it's always the homes that are priced correctly to begin with.  That means they are priced right for their condition and location.  Even a low priced home will sit if it doesn't compare with other homes in it's price range.

Catching Up With Orland Park Real Estate Statistics for 2012

Instead of writing duplicate content, I am providing links to posts that show 2012 market data for Orland Park, IL.

The stats are in for Orland Park real estate for 2012.  See the ups and downs and get the link to see all Orland Park sales stats starting form 2005 to 2012.

This is a great chart to see 2012 market activity for single family Orland Park homes.  See the month-to-month differences in active listings, listings that went under contract and homes that sold and closed.


If you're interested in buying or selling an Orland Park call Judy Orr, an Orland Park real estate specialist, at 708-536-8200.