Disqus - Latest Comments for LiveandPlayinChicago

Re: Understanding Coop Apartments in Chicago

Jennifer Ames — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 11:17:33 -0000

Hi Dee,

Thanks for checking in! I believe the only portion of your assessment that is deductible is the real estate taxes and interest on the building's mortgage. My advice would be to find the home that you like best.

Re: Understanding Coop Apartments in Chicago

Jennifer Ames — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:03:22 -0000

Each building sets their own rules on rentals, but it's generally not easy to lease out a co-op apartment. Some buildings only allow rentals in case of hardship. Some require a waiting period before rentals are allowed. Some don't allow rentals at all. For those that do allow rentals, the tenants are often required to undergo the same rigorous application process as the owners, including letters of recommendation and board approval.

Re: Understanding Coop Apartments in Chicago

Jennifer Ames — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:07:52 -0000

Unfortunately not. When the market quiets down a bit later this year, I'm hoping to put pen back to paper and get those and other posts up. If you have a specific co-op question you'd like to ask, feel free to do so here in the comments or at liveandplay@jenniferames.com. Thanks!

Re: Understanding Coop Apartments in Chicago

Jennifer Ames — Mon, 16 May 2011 19:07:52 -0000

Glad you found the column helpful, Mary. Yes, you are certainly welcome to print it for your own personal use. Best of luck!

Re: 2010 Summer Day Camps in Chicago are Just Around the Corner

Jennifer Ames — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:17:24 -0000

That's a fair point, Ann Marie. I had wanted to include the Old Town School of Folk Music camp (which offers need-based assistance) but their registration had already closed. I've now added a link to this list of summer camps (http://chicago.about.com/od... to the post. It's from 2009, but many of the programs are ongoing. The Chicago Parks District, YMCA, and Boys and Girls Club ones in particular seem to tout their affordability.

Thanks for taking the time to comment, and best of luck with your camp search!

Re: How I Grew My Business – and How Other Agents Can Do the Same

Jennifer Ames — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:15:29 -0000

Dear Linda and Bruce,

Thanks for your positive feedback. I will be sending our my power point shortly to those agents and brokers who audience. Stay in touch and best of luck in 2010. See you in New Orleans next year!

Jenny

Re: Volunteer Opportunity: Help Refugees Become Chicagoans

Jennifer Ames — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:43:46 -0000

I heard from a friend who volunteers for IRIM that a family just arrived from Somalia with nothing but literally the clothes on their backs. I have located a car seat and am now going through my kid’s closets pulling clothing to help outfit the family’s six month old son. They will need cookware, bedding, etc. Do you have anything you can contribute?

Re: A Garden in the City

Jennifer Ames — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 01:48:56 -0000

Okay, now I am wondering if I am seeing spring with a new pair of glasses or if there really is new interest in vegetable gardening. The front page of the Sunday Chicago Tribune’s House and Homes section (aka the real estate section) features an interesting piece by Barbara Mahany and Beth Botts entitled, “And the plots thicken… for all you virgin veggie growers, we’re taking the mystery (and fear) out of getting started.” http://www.chicagotribune.c... The article states that, “According to the National Gardening Association, some 9 million Americans are set, for the very first time, to press sole to shovel and carve out a swath of what might be called the New American Kitchen Garden…” Make that 9 million plus 4, as my boys and I have our seeds and are ready to go!

Re: Blog Brawl Round #1 – Vote Now!

Jennifer Ames — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:17:50 -0000

Yahhh! Allison is correct. This blog is now in round two and the field has narrowed to just 16 contestants. But I need your help more than ever!

Please vote early and often (but in each case it needs to be from a different IP address). It is really easy. Just click on this link: http://varbuzz.com/ and vote for one blog from each of the eight pairs. We are the first option in Zone 1-B….live and play in chicago. Then hit "submit."

Voting ends early in the morning on Tuesday, March 24th. With your help, we will advance to round three and ultimately the finishline.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Jenny

Re: A Garden in the City

Jennifer Ames — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 09:41:51 -0000

Wow. Did you see the news? Michelle Obama dug up a patch of the South Lawn at the White House yesterday with a group of 5th graders to plant a vegetable garden. I found out about it in this story from the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009...,
Her message is much like mine. She wants kids to understand the value of eating healthy, locally grown fruits and vegetables. I guess I will not be the only one with a little dirt under my fingernails this summer!

Re: Blog Brawl Round #1 – Vote Now!

Jennifer Ames — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:11:39 -0000

Thank you everyone for all your support. Hopefully with your help, my blog made it to round #2. We'll find out later this afternoon so be sure to check back in with the contest website.

If we are in the next round, I will need you to vote again as the field of competition will be reduced from 16 to just 8. This is really exciting :)

Have a great day!

Re: A Garden in the City

Jennifer Ames — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:05:00 -0000

Here's a link I found on the Shedd Aquarium website with three tips for starting a spring garden: http://interactive.sheddaqu...

Re: When Did You Buy Your House?

Jennifer Ames — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 13:34:22 -0000

Thank you for taking the time to write such a spot on post about the market. I've added your link to the post. Keep up the good work, and I’ll keep reading!

Re: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2009 Chicago-Style

Jennifer Ames — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:06:03 -0000

Thanks for the heads up about Fados, Jenny!

Re: Is the Chicago Housing Market Seeing the Effects of the Stimulus Bill?

Jennifer Ames — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:03:35 -0000

I negotiated another contract since I wrote this post. So far so good. Let's see how this weekend fares, but the calendar is already filling up with appointments.

Re: The North Side’s Best Coffee

Jennifer Ames — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:32:37 -0000

Thanks Sarah. We'll be sure to check it out!

Re: Inauguration Journal: Day 3

Jennifer Ames — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:28:17 -0000

Several of our friends attended the Homestate Ball, and we would have tried to get tickets had we known we were going to the inauguration sooner. However, I had a chance to catch up with a few people who were there, and thought you might find their comments of interest!

The closest Metra station closed "for security reasons," a fact they did not find out until the train was on its way past their destination. Many people had to walk back 12 blocks in their formalwear to arrive at the convention center where the ball was held.

The ball itself offered great people watching, but a friend commented that for $2,500 a ticket, they would have appreciated more than a plate of cold spaghetti and a cash bar. While it would have been a unique experience, I don't mind that we sat that one out!

Re: What You Need to Know About Trump’s Chicago Tower

Jennifer Ames — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 09:25:41 -0000

Thanks! It was prompted by all the calls I am getting from buyers under contract to purchase units in the building. Many are really in a quandry as they cannot get financing to close, or if they close, their value is already below their contract price. Unless they plan to close and live there for a while, their options are not good in many instances.

Re: The North Side’s Best Coffee

Jennifer Ames — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:34:39 -0000

Oops! And they were one of the two brands recognized by Saveur. Metropolis is now on the list. Thanks, Tom.