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The Curious Career of Keith Hoffman
1st Advantage Mortgage, LLC
Keith Hoffman is a nationally licensed career residential mortgage originator with 1st Advantage Mortgage. He has delivered 21 years of professional customer service to his customers while being committed to making each and every customer’s home buying process as easy and affordable as possible. By focusing on strong core values; Integrity, Trust and Credibility, Keith will be sure to do what is right for his borrowers.
Keith is connected to the community as a member and Board Director for both the Chamber 630 and the Rotary Club of Downers Grove. A past Citizen of the Year (2011) in Downers Grove, Keith prides himself as not only a community minded person but one who will get involved. He is a member and past board director of the Illinois Association of Mortgage Professionals, past Board Member of H.S. Dist. 99 Education Foundation, finance member of the Dupage Habitat for Humanities and a 2 time volunteer with International efforts with Alliance for Smiles.
If you are looking for someone who is accessible and cares about his customers, Keith is his the person you need to know. His reputation is highly regarded in the community along with the mortgage industry. The company, 1st Advantage Mortgage, a Draper and Kramer Company, is well regarded as a trust worthy mortgage banker with a philosophy to provide exceptional customer service offering all types of loans including Conventional, FHA, VA, IHDA for both owner occupied, investment or second homes.
Keith has a few other interests in life. He owns 5 thoroughbred race horses and has written two horse racing books: Smarter Bets the Exacta Way and Inside the Sport of Kings, both sold on Amazon. As an avoid horse racing fan, Keith has attended 40 Kentucky Derby’s and many tracks across the country.
We will feature a different individual's hobby or career each month. If you know of someone that would like to be featured, email me at lisa@wenzelselectproperties.com.
Looking for a report that provides you with today's Housing Trends from Realtors across the nation! Check out the monthly Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance Housing Trends Update for July 2014. Click below for report.
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National Pending Home Sales Climb
The Pending Home Sales Index increased to 103.9 in May, a climb of 6.1 percent from April. While May's index is 5.2 percent below last year, it is still the largest month-over-month increase since April 2010. In the Northeast, the PHSI rose an impressive 8.8 percent, which is 0.2 percent higher than last year. In the Midwest, the index climbed 6.3 percent but was 6.6 percent down year-over-year. The index rose 4.4 percent in the South, 2.9 percent lower than May... Read More
5 Good Reasons to Buy a Home
Instead of Rent
Many people are hesitant to lock themselves into a mortgage or to put all of their savings into a down payment. Committing to living in one place for a long time might also seem unwise. However, there are several reasons why buying a home rather than renting remains the wiser financial choice. Here are five good reasons why buying a home is a better investment for your future.
1. Buying a home is a long-term investment.
Mortgage payments may be expensive... Read More
Keep Cool and Save on
Energy Costs
How do you plan on staying cool during the summer heat? In many modern homes, the easiest solution is to turn down the thermostat and crank up the air conditioning. But you could be wasting hundreds of dollars, not to mention needlessly burning fossil fuels. Try these energy-saving tips for the summer months to help stay cool and save money.
Turn Up the Thermostat
When using central air conditioning, you may not need to keep your home as cool as you think you do, particularly if you're using ceiling fans to circulate the air. Aim for 78 degrees when you're home and 85 degrees when you're away. A programmable thermostat is an easy way to help you regulate... Read More
We moved to Illinois last year and rented a small house in Downers Grove. The house was suitable, but small, and did not have a garage, which turned out to be a major disadvantage in the snowy winter that we had. We hated having to dig the car out of the snow and spend 15 minutes de-icing every time we needed to go somewhere. After five months of this, it became a priority for us to get a house with a garage (and ideally a wood-burning fireplace), and the thought of actually buying a house became more and more appealing. We started looking around and realtor.com introduced us to Lisa. It was magic from the outset. Lisa came prepared, she listened to us, and created a web search with the criteria that we wanted. She respected our choices and never tried to push on us houses above our price range or outside our expectations. On the very first day (Sunday evening) Lisa brought us into contact with a mortgage agent and had us preapproved, and then we received details of 39 suitable properties through the Wenzel Properties online search engine. After that we received more new properties that came on the market every day. This made the search easy. When we created a short list Lisa made it fun to drive through the snow to see properties, and her insightful remarks helped us make the right decision. As the time came to make an offer the staff at Wenzel Properties was amazing. Melissa in particular was always there to answer the phone and ready to explain in simple and comprehensible terms every step of this complicated process. Lisa brought us in touch with an excellent team of attorneys, finance officers and inspectors, which made this long process relatively easy and painless. In May we moved into our new home, with an 800 sq ft garage and a beautiful stone fireplace, in a quiet cul de sac of Bolingbrook. We love the neighborhood, with its open green spaces and parks, the colorful mix of peoples and cultures, and the easy access to all kinds of shops. It is no exaggeration to say that everything we could possibly need can be found in a distance of less than 2 miles. We spent some time and money making the house our own, and as it is taking shape, we are thrilled to have a place as cute and warm as this to call home, for exactly half the amount of money we paid every month for rent. We love our home, and we are very grateful to Lisa and the staff and collaborators of Wenzel properties who made it possible for us with such speed and efficiency. House hunting was fun.
Thank you Lisa.
Konstantine Kapparis
July Happenings
Congratulations!!
Rose E. on the sale of her property!
Luke S. on the sale of his property!
Willie & Nina R. on the purchase of their new home!
Jason & Darcy D. on the purchase of their new home!
Eric B. & Brian S. on the rental of their new home!
Thank you for allowing WSP to assist you
with your most valuable investment.
Lisa M. Wenzel
Managing Broker/Owner
Summertime Pest Prevention
Whether the culprit is mosquitos or no-see-ums, gnat-like creatures that are actually biting flies, we find that we cannot tolerate the beautiful summertime without dousing ourselves in smelly mosquito repellant or adding an expensive screened porch to our home. Here are some common-sense ways to keep bugs at bay.
1. Trim Shrubbery.
Shrubbery is a great place for flying insects to hide. Often the leaves hold moisture from the latest rain or sprinkler cycle, making them perfect little nests for mosquitos to lay their eggs.
2. Eliminate Standing Water.
Any standing water around your outdoor recreation area should be eliminated. Standing water... Read More
Repurpose. Reuse. Recycle. Home Decor that Helps Your Pocketbook
Green living not only helps the environment, it helps your pocketbook. When making upgrades to your home - whether it's replacing a light bulb or a total living room makeover - incorporate energy-efficient and repurposed materials to make your living space more environmentally friendly.
Emily J. Reynolds, an interior design faculty member at The Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham, a campus of South University, encourages green living... Read More
Lisa & Freddy Wenzel, 924 Warren Avenue,
Downers Grove IL 60515
The material in this publication is provided for your informational purpose only and is not intended to substitute professional advice.
If your property is currently listed with a Real Estate Broker, this publication is not intended as a solicitation.
The Pending Home Sales Index increased to 103.9 in May, a climb of 6.1 percent from April. While May's index is 5.2 percent below last year, it is still the largest month-over-month increase since April 2010. In the Northeast, the PHSI rose an impressive 8.8 percent, which is 0.2 percent higher than last year. In the Midwest, the index climbed 6.3 percent but was 6.6 percent down year-over-year. The index rose 4.4 percent in the South, 2.9 percent lower than May... 
Many people are hesitant to lock themselves into a mortgage or to put all of their savings into a down payment. Committing to living in one place for a long time might also seem unwise. However, there are several reasons why buying a home rather than renting remains the wiser financial choice. Here are five good reasons why buying a home is a better investment for your future.
How do you plan on staying cool during the summer heat? In many modern homes, the easiest solution is to turn down the thermostat and crank up the air conditioning. But you could be wasting hundreds of dollars, not to mention needlessly burning fossil fuels. Try these energy-saving tips for the summer months to help stay cool and save money.
Whether the culprit is mosquitos or no-see-ums, gnat-like creatures that are actually biting flies, we find that we cannot tolerate the beautiful summertime without dousing ourselves in smelly mosquito repellant or adding an expensive screened porch to our home. Here are some common-sense ways to keep bugs at bay.
Green living not only helps the environment, it helps your pocketbook. When making upgrades to your home - whether it's replacing a light bulb or a total living room makeover - incorporate energy-efficient and repurposed materials to make your living space more environmentally friendly.
