the wasserblawg

by Michael H. Wasserman I am happy to announce my affiliation with Heroes Home Advantage, a real estate program designed to reward military veterans and those serving our country on active duty, with fire or police departments, teachers and as medical professionals - the everyday heroes who make our lives better and safer. The Heroes Home Advantage "Caring Community" offers local heroes a chance for real savings on the cost of buying or selling a home and on key services homeowners need. There are participating Realtors, lenders, appraisers, inspectors, and insurance agents. All offer discounts that can add up to substantial savings for qualifying consumers. Sharon Tuckman of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Chicago Property Hunters is the Real Estate Broker partner for the program. A big thank you to Sharon for inviting me to participate in this venture. If you know someone in law enforcement, firefighting, healthcare, a first responder, a teacher or the militar...

by Michael H. Wasserman Home buyers on the hunt for information about a prospective new home have a new arrow in their quiver - DiedinHouse.com . This web site provides a service just exactly as its name suggests. Customers willing to pay a nominal fee ($11.99) receive a report on whether or not anyone has ever died at a given United States address.  Does this matter? I suppose that depends on how curious any given buyer (or homeowner) is about such macabre things. This could certainly effect one's comfort level living at the scene of a past crime or other tragedy. And certainly, there is the money thing - according to Trulia (as reported in Forbes ) a prior death or violent crime in a home can reduce its value by up to 30%! Illinois home sellers have no duty to tell prospective buyers about a home's violent past or about deaths that have taken place there.  In fact there are only three states of our 50 that impose any duty to disclose such events within 1-3 years ...