We want Uptowners to have the best connections to housing resources in the MidWest. So were going to build a page for people who want to explore Chicago and bring it home or who want to improve their housing choices. We know some of the finest housing opportunities exist right here in Uptown, but perhaps the space needs a new look, dressing up, teching up, spicing up! Let's build a better place for you! We want you to use the Chicago Reader, look at Media and get started on finding the right apartment or home. To list your home for sale find a broker at http://www.car-realtor.com where over 7000 brokers are listed for Chicago and the suburbs. Maybe you want something new? Try http://www.homebuilders.com or the Chicagoland Builders Association at http://www.hbagc.com . There has been some controversy at the MLS in Chicago with members withdrawing their listings. Here is an advertised website for ReMax, one of the largest area brokers. Find property which may not be listed elsewhere at http://www.illinoisproperty.com
Perhaps you need money for a mortgage or refinancing? Before you seek out a lender check out the new pages at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the largest providers of mortgages in the United States. Some publications I have read say they hold 75% of all current mortgages and are taking aim at the last 25%! You may wish to view, http://www.knowledgeplex.org or http://www.dontborrowtrouble.com. Just another idea to make your life a little more informed. The Wall Street Journal has a package of tools to help you relocate to ?? http://www.realestatejournal.com/toolkit_res/relocationtools.html
Some people don't use real estate brokers. Why? Its personal, but here are some websites where you can look at what they are selling. A few are in the city. http://www.FSBOnetwork.com , http://www.FSBO.net and http://www.homesbyowner1.com
There is some distress in the housing market. By that I mean the nasty word "Foreclosure" . Check out this site for a multi-state list posted by the lenders working in consortium at http://www.foreclosureworld.net/index2.htm Perhaps you can find your dream home on the cheap.
Thinking suburbs, then the listing for homes in Chicago's suburbs is http://www.mlsni.com, here 27,000 brokers show their wares. For a look around the city, try http://www.greaterchicago.com For interesting additions to your condo building or tip your apartment owner to http://www.frontgate.com For home furnishings try a local furniture store which can be reached on the web at http://www.roomandboard.com
Here's my favorite for techno gadgets and home or apartment upgrades. http://www.electronichouse.com 
I want you to have access to one of the neatest businesses in the United States providing gift and household accessories. http://www.longaberger.com The dotcom world is shrinking and as we seek out home improvements, here's a quality site http://www.homestore.com/ which replaces http://www.housenet.com Click either and your at the same spot. You can also access through www.realtor.com. See what I mean!
Want a resort home? Want a time-share? Want to sell a home for a relative who is out-of-state? Thinking of moving to a new city? Then try this site http://www.realtor.com
Perhaps you need decorating help and don't have cable TV. Well Home and Gardens Cable Station has a website at http://www.hgtv.com Get some great decorating ideas to improve your home. Got a mess in the closets? Here are some ideas from Closetmaid at their website http://www.closetmaid.com/home.cfm Give them a try before you set off to build your new closets.
Need information about building codes here and elsewhere in the USA? Check out the National Association of Home Builders site http://www.buildingteam.com
Need a directory of building products suppliers? NAHB has a new directory, check it out. http//www.directory.nahb.com Need a contractor? Check out the WSJ list of qualified contractors in your area at http://realestatejournal.com/partners/contractordirectory/
Our own Chicago Sun-Times listed the following information on the most popular real estate sites, two of which were previously listed. In order of hits as of April 3, 2001
http://www.realtor.com , http://www.homeadvisor.com , http://www.homestore.com , http://www.move.com , http://www.rent.net , http://www.homefair.com , http://www.homegain.com , http://www.springstreet.com , http://www.apartmentguide.com , http://www.apartments.com
If your looking for income property see Lee Kaiser, EUBA president's page on "Recommendations "Links".
Here are some other Uptown Development websites, including the developer of the Goldblatt's site at Lawrence and Broadway. http://www.josephfreed.com The developer of the Wooden Nickel, Jay Bomberg invites you to see his site at http://www.bachelorproperties.com Also, Victor Cypher has taken an interest in Uptown Chicago and is looking at Sheridan Road and the Helig-Meyer sites. Find Victor at http://www.vicordevelopment.com
Let's look at safety in the home. The elderly and children have high, high death rates as a result of falls and slips in the home. Check out http://www.loweshomesafety.org What about some building tips? The Chicago Tribune has a column in the New Homes section called "Ask the Builder" try Tim's site at http://www.askthebuilder.com or call on Saturday from 9 a.m to 11 a.m. at 1-888-737-1450.
Legal Forms, yes there is a search engine to help! http://www.findforms.com/
Looking for appliances, well one of the very best stores in Chicagoland has a website to match the chains- see http://www.internet-business-galaxy.com/abt_electronics/ or you can try the chains at http://www.circuitcity.com or http://www.bestbuy.com and do a little window shopping from your desk.
Well, if you want to know more than your neighbor check out this site from the Ohio Agricultural Extension Service! Its overboard on advice from driving around Amish country, to bugs to kids! http://ohioline.osu.edu/lines/fs-list.html A lifetime of learning at one little site!
Brighten up your home or garden with plants- Obviously Gesemene Gardens should come to mind. UptownChicago recommends neighborhood purchases when available. However, as far as we can tell the store is just sticks and bricks on Ashland Avenue near Andersonville, no website known. Too pricey? Want something they don't carry?
An English gardner has some great ideas at http://www.anniesloan.com/ Check this out. Saw this decorator on the Christopher Lowell Show, Discovery Channel at http://www.christopherlowell.com/ . Check him out.
Look at this gardensite first- http://www.4gardenlinks.com/
Seeking quality bulbs as shown on Martha Stewart? http://www.brentandbeckysbulbs.com/ Becky has some great ideas on handling plants if you need some help with flowers.
Also Compare at these internet "Plants by mail" sites from Businessweek Lifestyle, May 21, 2001- where specialty shops specializing in cactus, herbs, orchids, perrenials etc. http://www.cactusking.com or http://www.clanorchids.com or perhaps http://www.etera.com or http://www.logees.com or http://www.nicholsgardenursery.com and finally http://www.greenstranger.com
I found a great article in Chicago Free Press dated May 2, 2001. When a landlord gets a tough question or wonders if he will be in trouble on taking certain couses of action with a tenant it is suggested in the article for landlords to contact a hotline at the Chicagoland Apartment Association at tele- # 773-277-7766. Now, if you are a tenant and have problems and want to know what your rights are then the Landlord Tenant Ordinance is enforced by the city housing officials. They have their own hotline at tele- (312)-742-7368.
