Market Trends, Murals, Warriors, and Herbs

View this email in your browser

Dear <<First Name>>,

We've had a quick start to spring this year. Chicago is experiencing a hot seller's market in nearly every property type. If you are thinking of selling, now might be the best time as many home prices are on the rise. We want to teach our clients the importance of understanding your unique market, so we have created a blog series that explores a different neighborhood each day. Learn more in the Market Watch section of this newsletter.

The South Loop has some once-in-a-lifetime activities going on right now. Read on to learn about the murals that are going up around the neighborhood and the Field Museum's special exhibition about the Terracotta Warriors.

Instead of a recipe, in this issue we talk a little about gardening in the city and some easy edibles you can grow on your balcony or in your backyard! We hope you have a wonderful summer full of outdoor fun!

As always, please let me know if you or your friends have any questions about real estate.

TerriBuseman.com

RE/MAX Premier Properties

What's Your House Worth?

Market Watch

Below is market data for the Loop and South Loop showing units sold in the past month and current activity. Visit our blog for more detailed reports. We are now posting a report once per day about a different neighborhood in the city. We report on a total of 20 neighborhoods, so each neighborhood is reported on once every four weeks.

Pricing is the biggest component that affects every kind of market. Click here to sign up for regular market reports about your home or neighborhood of interest so you can keep on top of the market trends that matter the most to you.

If you are ready to find your next home click here to let us start your search.

South Loop

(Area 8033: Includes Dearborn Park, Museum Park, and the South Loop)
Search for homes in the Near South Side.

Attached


182	104	82

Detached


0	0	0

Loop

(Area 8032: Including Printer's Row)
Search for h omes in the Loop


267	95	60

The South Loop is Getting Colorful!

From May 1-13 artists from near and far will paint huge murals on buildings along the Wabash Arts Corridor.

The Wabash Arts Corridor was created by Columbia College as a living urban canvas, full of murals, galleries, performance spaces, schools, hotels, and restaurants.

Learn more about the Big Walls project, including tour information on the Wabash Arts Corridor website.

*Image courtesy of Howard Hirsch

Terracotta Warriors at the Field Museum

Imagine being 13 years old and crowned king. It is the Warring States period in what will become China. In conquering rivals and building defensive walls you unite the land and become the first emperor. Perhaps already knowing you will become a great historical figure you commission an enormous and extremely ornate tomb.

Guarded by thousands of soldiers, cavalry, and officials. Your afterlife will also have entertainment from acrobats, strong men, and musicians. A galley of birds add beauty and a river of mercury adds extra protection.The great site wasn’t even discovered in modern times until 1974, when a farmer who was digging a well found some terracotta men in a cavern beneath his land. Perhaps you have visited China and have seen the site yourself. Whether you have or haven’t the Field Museum brings it to life in their fascinating exhibit, now on display until January 8.

Learn how the men were made, see replicas in full color, and explore a timeline of what parts of the tomb have been excavated, and just how large it really is!

*Image By No machine-readable author provided. Mr. Tickle assumed (based on copyright claims). via Wikimedia Commons

Container Gardening

Do you plant a garden in the spring? We have found that waiting until after Mother's Day is the best time to plant in Chicago with the confidence that we won't have another freeze until fall. Gardening doesn't just add some beauty to your home in the summer, you can also plant edibles to enjoy throughout the season. Here are a few of our favorites to plant.

Peppermint: Keep this in a container, it will spread like wildfire! Great for drinks, enjoy in iced tea, lemonade, mint juleps, or mojitos.

Rosemary: Fresh rosemary is fantastic for cooking, add it to your favorite Italian dishes and use the sturdy sprigs as skewers.

Wild Strawberries: Like mint, keep these in a container. They don't bear fruit until the second year, but if you have some patience these little berries pack a huge punch in flavor! Enjoy them fresh off the vine for a sweet treat.

Tomatoes: Anyone who lives multiple stories up will know how windy it can get on a balcony. This makes growing tomatoes and other tall plants difficult. We have found the toughest varieties to be Better Boy and Champion. Be sure to get cages and carefully keep them contained to help protect against wind.

Chives: These are sturdy and grow fast. Sprinkle them on most savory dishes. They are especially good mixed into scrambled eggs.

Basil: Perhaps one of my favorite herbs to grow in the summer. Bruise some leaves in your martini or take a few leaves, roll them up the long way and slice to create little strips that you can enjoy on your tomatoes, with chicken, in your pasta, or with your favorite grilling cheese.