Have a great 4th of July!

From all of us here at Saffron Realty Group, we wish you a fun and safe 4th of July weekend!

Saffron Realty Group
2538 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago Il 60622

way, way beyond...

Chicago Lofts

If you're looking for lofts in Chicago, you've found the right place! So please shoot me an email or give me a call. I just need a few things: area, price, bed/bath, parking, pets, and time frame. Then I'll email you some loft listings and set up showings if any of them look good.

Also, please indicate if your currently working with a real estate agent, thanks!

http://GreatChicagoRealEstate.com/Chicago_Lofts_page_two.htm

Ron Knoll @ 773 330-2353 cell
Saffron Realty Group
Owner/Realtor
Ron@SaffronRealtyGroup.com

happy house hunting...

Ukrainian Village Condos or Single-Families

If you're looking for real estate in Ukrainian Village or Smith Park, call the expert.

Ron Knoll @ 773 330-2353 cell
Saffron Realty Group
way, way beyond...

ron@saffronrealtygroup.com

Taking chances...

Every day, you'll have opportunities to take chances and to work outside your safety net. Sure, it's a lot easier to stay in your comfort zone.. in my case, business suits and real estate.. but sometimes you have to take risks. When the risks pay off, that's when you reap the biggest rewards.

quote from Donald Trump

Happy that Chicago ranks 38th in the World!

World's priciest city? Try Moscow
Russian capital has surpassed Tokyo as No. 1, survey says, while NYC is most costly in U.S.

By Madlen Read
Associated Press
Published June 26, 2006

Moscow has eclipsed Tokyo as the world's most expensive city, a new survey says.

The Russian capital moved up three spots from a year ago because of a recent property boom, according to a survey released Monday, while the Japanese capital slipped to third place because of the weaker yen.

Seoul ranked second on the list, up from fifth last year.

The survey by Mercer Human Resource Consulting ranked 144 cities around the world, measuring the comparative cost of more than 200 items such as housing, transportation and food. The survey is aimed at helping multinational employers determine compensation for their expatriate workers.

With cities around the world increasingly expensive for expatriates--notably cities in developing countries--employers may need to re-examine compensation and benefits for their workers, said Rebecca Powers, a senior consultant at Mercer.

"As we see more and more movement into these emerging markets, a lot of those programs need to be looked at," Powers said.

Overall, foreign exchange rate fluctuations were behind the majority of the changes in ranking. But in Moscow's case, costs were buoyed by the surging price for large living accommodations. Prices for big houses rose about 50 percent over the past year, driven in large part by soaring demand from expatriates, Powers said.

"It reflects a much bigger demand for palatable housing for someone coming into Russia trying to replicate the housing they had at home," she said.

After Moscow, Europe's priciest cities were London, ranked No. 5 overall, and Geneva, ranked No. 7. European cities tended to fall in the rankings this year because of a weakening euro.

New York, ranked No. 10, up three spots from last year, remains North America's costliest city, followed by Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Chinese cities, including Hong Kong at No. 4, Beijing at No. 14 and Shanghai at No. 20, climbed the list mostly because of the yuan's strength after being depegged from the U.S. dollar.

With the Brazilian real rising about 20 percent versus the U.S. dollar over the past year, Brazilian cities Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro surged to No. 34 and No. 40 from No. 119 and No. 124, respectively.

"What's so interesting now is that we do see, year to year, more fluctuation in these rankings than we used to," Powers said. "The investment and flow of capital and businesses into developing countries has made them a bit more expensive."

Companies likely will have to pay expatriate employees more to retain them and may want to consider working harder to hire staff locally in the long term to help alleviate relocation costs, Powers said.

The least-expensive city surveyed was Asuncion in Paraguay.

- - -

50 most expensive cities
The 50 priciest cities in the world, according to the cost of items including housing, transportation, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment:

1. Moscow

2. Seoul

3. Tokyo

4. Hong Kong

5. London

6. Osaka, Japan

7. Geneva

8. Copenhagen

9. Zurich

10. Oslo

10. New York

12. St. Petersburg, Russia

13. Milan, Italy

14. Beijing

15. Istanbul

15. Paris

17. Singapore

18. Dublin

19. Sydney

20. Shanghai

21. Rome

21. Kiev, Ukraine

21. Vienna

24. Tel Aviv

25. Helsinki, Finland

25. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

27. Douala, Cameroon

28. Taipei, Taiwan

29. Los Angeles

30. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

31. Lagos, Nigeria

32. Beirut

32. Hanoi

34. Sao Paolo, Brazil

34. San Francisco

36. Stockholm

37. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

38. Chicago

39. Miami

40. Rio de Janeiro

41. Lusaka, Zambia

41. Amsterdam

43. White Plains, N.Y.

44. Shenzen, China

45. Abidjan, Ivory Coast

45. Dakar, Senegal

47. Toronto

48. Jakarta, Indonesia

48. Bratislava, Slovak Republic

50. Prague, Czech Republic

Source: Mercer Human Resource Consulting

Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune

Wicker Park Summer Fest

Wicker Park Summer Fest 2006 – July 22nd and 23rd
The Wicker Park Summer Fest is a reflection of our neighborhoods’ rich musical heritage, eclectic art, vibrant nightlife and acclaimed restaurants. Spectacular independent music is the highlight of this annual weekend festival, which also features great food and arts & crafts exhibitors.

The festival is held on Damen Avenue between North Avenue and Schiller Street. Event hours are 11:30 am -10:00 pm each day and the gate donation is $5. Proceeds benefit the Wicker Park & Bucktown Chamber of Commerce.

Band Lineup:

NORTH STAGE

Saturday, July 22nd
Very Special Guest - 9:00 pm
The Coup - 7:55 pm
The Hidden Cameras – 6:50 pm
Slumber Party – 5:45 pm
Walter Meego – 4:40 pm
The Record Low – 3:50 pm
Moxie Motive – 3:00 pm

Sunday, July 23rd
The Gris Gris – 9:00 pm
Very Special Guest – 7:55 pm
Make/ Believe – 6:50 pm
Starlight Mints – 5:45 pm
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yetsin – 4:40 pm
The Living Blue – 2:50 pm
The Saps – 2:00 pm

SOUTH STAGE

Saturday, July 22nd
Robert Walter’s Super Heavy Organ featuring Karl Denson & Johnny Vidacovich – 8:30 pm
Youngblood Brass Band – 6:45 pm
Brother Past – 4:45 pm
Future Rock – 3:15 pm
Telefo Tel Aviv (tag-team DJ set) – 1:45 pm
Andrea Kapsalis Trio – 12:30 pm

Sunday, July 23rd
Mofro – 8:30 pm
Kirk Joseph’s Background Groove – 6:30 pm
Oh My God – 5:00 pm
Apollo Sunshine – 3:30 pm
Dearborn – 2:00 pm
Chris Berry & Panjea – 12:30 pm
Revered Peyton’s Big Damen Band – 11:30 am

article from Wicker Park & Bucktown Chamber of Commerce

Ron Knoll @ 773 330-2353 cell
Saffron Realty Group

Bucktown Realtor

If you're looking for a condo, single family home, or investment property in Bucktown, call me!

Ron Knoll @ 773 330-2353 cell
Saffron Realty Group
Bucktown Specialist

way, way beyond...

Ukrainian Village New Construction Condo for Rent!

$1800 A MONTH, 1 YEAR LEASE REQUIRED!

PLEASE, NO SMOKERS OR PETS
SECURITY DEPOSIT AND CREDIT CHECK REQUIRED!

800 BLOCK OF California/Chicago Ave.
AVAILABLE AUGUST 1ST

TOP FLOOR 3 BEDROOM/2BATH UNIT W/AMAZING CITY VIEWS! NEW CONSTRUCTION CONDO W/ALL OF THE FINEST FINISHES.GOURMET KITCHEN W/ GRANITE COUNTERTOPS,42' MAPLE CABINETRY,STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES,WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACE IN LIVING ROOM,ELEGANT MASTER SUITE WITH JACUZZI, 2 BALCONIES WITH GORGEOUS SKYLINE VIEWS,SECURED PARKING ALL INCLUDED. GREAT LOCATION ON FAST DEVELOPING CALIFORNIA. CLOSE TO BLACK BEETLE, HUMBOLDT PIE, AND HUMBOLDT PARK!

RON KNOLL @ 773 330-2353 CELL
SAFFRON REALTY GROUP

South Loop comes full circle

BY MAKIKO KITAMURA
Medill News Service

CHICAGO | Michael and Angelique Parker of west suburban St. Charles are proud parents of seven children, six of whom are grown and out of the house. Their seventh is still 13 years old, but they are wasting no time in preparing for their empty-nest years.

"We've been thinking about this for three years," Michael Parker said.

About a month ago, they scouted out Chicago's Printers Row neighborhood in the South Loop and immediately decided to purchase a condominium unit in Printers Corner, a 17-floor building to be constructed at Polk and Wells Streets. They will use it as a secondary residence for weekends until their youngest goes off to college.

"The neighborhood has a lot of appeal for us, with the old Dearborn Station, and we also wanted a building with a limited number of units" for a feeling of intimacy, Parker said.

Printers Corner will have only 88 units, and all will have corner views because of its creative design. Affordability and proximity to downtown were also draws for the Parkers. One-bedroom units start at $275,000, two-bedroom units at $350,000.

The South Loop may be known as a magnet for hip young things and single professionals, but the area has been increasingly attracting a more diverse group of buyers, including suburban empty nesters and young families.

The changing demographics of the area, along with the tapping out of loft buildings available for residential conversions, is contributing to the South Loop's new construction boom that's producing both loft-like and traditional condominium styles.

"Fifty percent of our (South Loop) buyers are suburban buyers," said Jim Colella, general manager of Garrison Partners Inc., a Chicago residential real estate marketing company. "They are probably the largest growth market right now; it's not just the young kids any more."

Garrison Partners represents several new-construction condominium developments, including Aristocrat Tower and Chess Lofts, at Cullerton and Prairie Streets, and Printers Corner.

In this year's first quarter the South Loop was the most active downtown neighborhood in new project developments, according to a report by Appraisal Research Counselors, of Chicago.

The report states that about 44 percent of first-quarter downtown sales occurred in the South Loop. Approximately 1,300 condominium units are planned for completion in the South Loop during 2006, according to Gail Lissner, vice president of Appraisal Research.

Total downtown sales of 1,850 new units were 20 percent higher than during the record-breaking first quarter of 2005.

Meanwhile new-home sales for the entire country were shrinking 5.7 percent in April, to 1.2 million from 1.27 million a year ago.

Lissner also reported that South Loop properties currently on the market range between $270 and $600 per square foot, with 80 percent falling between $300 and $400 per square foot.

Colella said the new South Loop developments are playing off the success of Central Station, a large-scale redevelopment project at the southern end of Grant Park that began in 1990. Central Station has served as the anchor for the revitalization of historic Prairie Street and the greater South Loop.

Unlike Central Station, whose most famous resident is Mayor Richard Daley, Chess Lofts and Aristocrat Tower are considered affordable, with one-bedroom units starting in the high $100,000s.

"With changes being made to the schools in the area and new charter schools coming in, we see more young families with young children," said Bonnie Sanchez-Carlson, president and executive director of the Near South Planning Board.

"And older couples who left the city to raise their kids and now want to be back in the city are also coming back to enjoy what downtown has to offer," Sanchez-Carlson said.

"Our patrons range from their early 30s to their late 50s," said Christi Cooke, general manager of Kroll's South Loop, a popular restaurant at 1736 S. Michigan Ave.

At the same time, developers and real estate agents have no intention of turning their backs on young professionals who continue to flock to the neighborhood for loft living.

"I'm still selling more loft-style units than traditional-style condo units," said Joanie Edelberg, a real estate agent with @properties.

She said many families have been moving to the Museum Park area, which is full of loft-style properties, though it also includes the Central Station development. She also cited a new development named Lexington Park at Michigan Avenue and Cermak Road, which will include a seven-story midrise of loft-style units and a 35-story traditional condo highrise.

And on May 19 the Chicago Plan Commission approved plans for the Roosevelt Collection, a vast mixed use development to be generally located at Roosevelt and Clark Streets. The retail component of the project will sprawl over 450,000 square feet.

Two of the residential buildings will be designed as five-story loft-style residences, while the third will be a traditional luxury condominium.

"We see the loft buildings attracting younger buyers, while the tower would be more of a luxury building with more amenities," said Howard Hirsch, president of Hirsch Associates, the architecture firm that is designing the residential portion of Roosevelt Collection.

"But our intention is that both buildings will be good for any kind of buyer," Hirsch added.