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My North Shore Blog

Mortgage Loan Documents Needed as North Shore Homebuyer

By Janie Bress in Buying a Home on Chicago's North Shore with 0 Comments

If you’d like to buy a North Shore home this summer or fall, now is the time to start gathering your mortgage loan documents. In today’s competitive market, it’s more important than ever for a homebuyer to have a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender before they start their home search. Which documents you need […]

North Shore Beaches & Parks

By Janie Bress in My North Shore Blog with 0 Comments

Chicago North Shore Beaches/Parks If you’ve been cooped up inside for too long this summer, allow me to fill you in on fun outdoor options on Chicago’s North Shore! Whether you live in Glencoe, Winnetka, Highland Park, Deerfield, Northbrook, Lake Forest, Wilmette, Evanston, Glenview, Riverwoods, Bannockburn, or other North Shore communities, there is a nearby North […]

Now is Time to Buy and Sell on Chicago’s North Shore!

By Janie Bress in My North Shore Blog with 0 Comments

If you haven’t been keeping up with real estate market news, as your North Shore real estate agent, let me fill you in on some key factors. This summer is the ideal time to both buy and sell, so I wouldn’t want this news to slip under your radar! If you want to buy and/or […]

Make Your North Shore Outdoor Space Usable Year-Round

Have you been spending more time outside in your backyard this year? Since the pandemic began, homeowners have reported updating their backyard space more than ever, and spending more time there, too! Now that cold and dark nights are upon us, it’s time to consider how you can make this space more usable and comfortable […]
North Shore Home Design Trends 2021

Happy New Year! With a new year comes new home design trends. As your North Shore real estate agent, I’m here to fill you in on the trends that design experts predict will get big in 2021. This is helpful if you want to renovate your home soon, or if you want to sell. As […]
Tips for North Shore Homebuyers Right Now

If you want to buy a North Shore home now or in the coming year, start preparing for the home-buying process. There are some things you should avoid doing, and other things you should do, to ensure a successful sale that you won’t regret down the road. As your North Shore real estate agent, I […]
Enjoy the Holidays on Chicago’s North Shore

It’s holiday season on Chicago’s North Shore, and though this year is different than past years, there are still many ways you can enjoy festive, fun holiday happenings in the area. As your North Shore real estate agent, I am here to offer you some suggestions on North Shore holiday events, and also ways for […]

Make Your North Shore Outdoor Space Usable Year-Round

Have you been spending more time outside in your backyard this year? Since the pandemic began, homeowners have reported updating their backyard space more than ever, and spending more time there, too! Now that cold and dark nights are upon us, it’s time to consider how you can make this space more usable and comfortable […]
North Shore Home Design Trends 2021

Happy New Year! With a new year comes new home design trends. As your North Shore real estate agent, I’m here to fill you in on the trends that design experts predict will get big in 2021. This is helpful if you want to renovate your home soon, or if you want to sell. As […]
Tips for North Shore Homebuyers Right Now

If you want to buy a North Shore home now or in the coming year, start preparing for the home-buying process. There are some things you should avoid doing, and other things you should do, to ensure a successful sale that you won’t regret down the road. As your North Shore real estate agent, I […]

“Janie Bress was my realtor during a recent purchase. She was wonderful and went out of her way to show me all of the different options of places to purchase. She was kind, patient, knowledgeable and helpful. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a realtor! “

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Alison Weiman

“Janie is, by far, the best realtor I have worked with. She is very knowledgeable about the real estate market and how to set up a home to sell. She is also very honest and willing to tell you the good and the bad too. This is important! Our house sold in one day at Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Peter Anderson

“Janie is a joy to work with. She focuses in on your requirements and finds homes that fill them. Her patience is unending. We looked forever and even changed our mind about some things but she was with us every step of the way. And now we are in the new home we always wanted.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Elayne and Bob Schempp

“We have worked with Janie Bress on two home sales and two home purchases and each time we could not have been more thrilled with her expertise, responsiveness, professionalism, and attention to detail. Janie works tirelessly on behalf of her clients and consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the highest level of service. In Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Amy and Glenn Simon

“I simply can’t recommend Janie Bress highly enough! I recently inherited a townhome in Highland Park that I needed to rent. I thought it was going to be a challenge for me as I live in California. But Janie was an extraordinary resource, hooking me up with various skilled trades people who assisted in making Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Michael Caplan

“Janie was a pleasure to work with! She made our first home buying experience a great one. She made sure we were aware of everything we may not have thought of when buying our first home, and was patient in answering all of our questions. She really understood what we were looking for and was Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Sara and Andrew Rolsma

“Janie listened intently to our needs, which were varied and difficult to meet. She was always very responsive in arranging showings, remaining patient and professional throughout the process. She accommodated our schedule consistently. When we moved to make an offer on one property, then a second, Janie drew on her expertise to formulate competitive but Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Amy Cathlina

“Janie was terrific from the start of our search through the closing, and even beyond. She helped us define the type of property we were looking for and then helped us refine that definition as we proceeded through our search. She was familiar with all the communities we had targeted and knowledgable of others that Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Bob Landsman

“Janie Bress is a sheer pleasure to work with from a buyer standpoint. She came recommended by my friends and how right they were. I have bought homes in multiple states and the UK and she outshines everyone I have worked with hands down. Janie took the time to understand my needs, educate me on Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Paul Cox Highland Park

“Janie is a home buyer’s dream come true. She worked tirelessly for us in our home search, providing her truly endless knowledge, expertise and honesty every step of the way. She is the pinnacle of a professional. Janie was always a step ahead of things and made every phase of our home search go smoothly Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Carrie Chaikin & Patrick Kang, Buffalo Grove Buffalo Grove

“Janie was referred to us by friends who assured us that she was the best. We had no idea how right they would be! We both work over 60 hours a week and have a 1 year old which made our time very limited. Janie was always available with short notice and she responded to Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Megan and David Soth Deerfield

“Janie is one of the most knowledgeable, efficient and effective realtors that I have ever dealt with. Janie is the “perfect” selection for your realtor. From the time I first met Janie throught the closing of the sale, her demonstrated knowledge and professional experience were outstanding. She has exceptional knowledge of the market place and Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Dick Weiss Skokie

“It truly was a pleasure to work with Janie. She really knows the market, is tireless in her work, provides outstanding advice, has keen business sense and has all the patience you could ever want. She worked with us for about a year as we worked through an estate and all the issues that accompany Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- The Hammonds Northfield

“Janie is our “family realtor.” Over the past seven years she has sold a combination of three houses and two condos and purchased one condo for our four families. Her professional knowledge, persistence and attention to detail made all the transactions go smoothly. She is a delight to work with and the only realtor we Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Charles Ex and Pamela Berland Ex Highland Park

“I would recommend Janie Bress to anyone planning to buy a home. Janie was unfailingly pleasant and patient while showing me numerous homes. Once we chose our home I was amazed at how helpful and informative Janie remained, even beyond the closing. A great experience!”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Barbara and Joe Zweig Glencoe

“Janie, Rick and I are most appreciative of your hard work and responsiveness in helping us select and purchase our new home. You provided us the guidance we needed and you were always willing to work around our busy schedules. Thanks again.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Susan and Rick Levy Chicago

“It was a pleasure working with Janie. Her professionalism and industry knowledge made the buying process stress free. Thank you!”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Ellen & Mike Razzoog Deerfield

“Janie is a true professional and was a pleasure to work with. She listened to our needs and made every house hunting trip we made a productive experience until we eventually found our “dream home”. I would recommend her to any of my friends and family. Thank you Janie!”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Mona & Aaron Erter Glen Ellyn

“From the moment Janie Bress was our agent, we experienced outstanding customer service. We knew we picked an agent that was not only qualified, but highly knowledgeable and motivated. Having experienced other agents, Janie is truly a cut above the rest and is highly recommended.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Louise & Pat Casey Deerfield

“Janie is amazing! Not only does she understand the business, is efficient and has ethics beyond reproach, Janie goes an extra 10 miles. My two sisters and I engaged Janie to sell our mom’s condo. The process was as easy, stress-free and productive as any real estate transaction can be. Thanks to Janie’s advice, the Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Sandy Schneider Northbrook

“Janie helped us find our first home in the suburbs. She is an excellent real estate agent. She is very responsive, always able to answer questions, patient and was excellent at negotiating the purchase of our new home. She has many years of experience in the business and is extremely knowledgeable about the real estate Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Nicole and Bill Sugarman Glencoe

“Janie was a real pleasure to work with. She was very professional in all of our meetings, only wanted to be sure that I found exactly what I was looking for, It took longer than we would of liked to close on my house, but even then Janie was right by my side making sure Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Roberta Levy Northbrook

“Janie’s in-depth knowledge of homes and builders on the North Shore was extremely helpful in evaluating and comparing properties. She was always available for communication and was proactive with status updates. She is professional and pleasant to work with.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Laura & Mitchell Schwartzwald Northbrook

“Janie’s talent and expertise was such a huge help to us when we were moving from the city. Throughout the process Janie was so unbelievably understanding, patient, and caring. She spent countless hours for several months with us and our infant as we searched for our first home. Janie was also extremely resourceful and reliable Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Amy & Jonathan Cohen Deerfield

“Janie, you are the best. Your knowlege of the market place and your hard work on behalf of your clients was always quite evident in every phase of the buy or sell of real estate, which we did both. You are a true professional!”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Judy & Ed Ex Glencoe / Highland Park

“Janie is terrific to work with. She’s incredibly thorough and responsive, and her knowledge of the North Shore is near encyclopedic — she can provide the buying/selling history of almost every house we looked at. We’ve worked with her for more than 10 years, and she’s supported us through the offer and negotiation process. Once Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Jon & Diane Powell Wilmette

“Janie was extremely helpful in finding us a beautiful home with what we needed and in our budget. Although the neighborhood she was helping us look in was not an area she was accustomed to; her professionalism and efficiency made her a breeze to work with. She helped us find a beautiful home and was Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Michael & Yocheved Boyer Chicago

“Janie Bress was introduced to us by our son and daughter-in-law when they were purchasing their first home. She was so in sync with our children and their needs, that when we sold our home, she was the first one we thought of to call. We were never sorry. Finding our condo was a laborious Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Norma & Eddie Cohen Northbrook

“Janie is a dedicated and knowledgeable professional. She has an in-depth understanding of all of the neighborhoods on the North Shore, which helped us in our decision making process. She was a strong advocate for us as we searched for a new home. She was always prompt in returning our calls and did a great Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Dara & Rick Weil Highland Park

“Janie is a great agent. She listened to our needs, provided realistic feedback which managed our expectations and led us through the sale of our home in a difficult market. Her commitment to us and understanding of our needs was critical when we were buying our house. She was always available as we looked at Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Stephanie & Mike Stormoen Deerfield

“Janie knew exactly what we were looking for and was patient with us for over a year of house hunting. She listened to our specific criteria and was quick to contact us with new listings before they were even posted online (which is how we found our house). She was not only knowledgable and resourceful Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Bobbi Xayarath & Nathan Styles Deerfield

“We had a great experience working with Janie. She gave us a lot of practical advice on preparing the house for sale and staging it appropriately. She also helped us make a pricing adjustment at the right time in a neighborhood with a lot of homes for sale. We would definitely work with her again.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- David & Nicole Glenn Highland Park

“Janie Bress is a consummate professional. Janie was always there, advocating for us and representing our interests. Her advice to us was positively bulletproof, and her guidance helped us sell our house in only a week (in a terrible market!). She also helped us figure out what we were really looking for in a new Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Perrin & Jake Davis Deerfield

“Janie was truly a delight to work with. She was very professional and hard working with excellent follow through skills. She was easy to communicate with. She responded very quickly and was always available for concerns and questions. She also helped us relocate to a temporary residence on the North Shore. Janie has become a Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Bill Chunowitz Highland Park

“We have worked with Janie over the past 10 years and have sold two homes and purchased two homes with her. Janie is extremely professional and knowledgeable about the market. She is hardworking and willing to drop everything to show a house that “might be the one” and provides sound advice in negotiating real estate Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Seth & Trudy Jacobson Winnetka

“Working with Janie was invaluable when I needed to find a new home in Highland Park! I truly enjoyed working with her as she is an experienced, knowledgeable professional who is always readily available.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Ellen Scherr Highland Park

“It was a pleasure working with Janie in our relocation from Washington DC to the Chicago area. Janie was incredibly helpful in familiarizing us with various townships and neighborhoods in the Chicago North Shore area. Her professionalism, patience and kindness helped make our relocation a breeze.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Nelson & Sylvia Gomez Deerfield

“Janie was an absolute pleasure to work with. She is the epitome of professionalism and was extremely patient with us. Janie was extremely diligent in her research of properties that she felt would suit our needs, and never failed to not only meet, but exceed our expectations. We valued her experience, knowledge and opinions. We Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Scott & Tara Subeck Northfield

“We found Janie to be the perfect agent for our family. She was incredibly responsive to our needs and requests as both a buyer’s agent and a seller’s agent. She helped find us the perfect home for our needs and guided us through the negotiation process to get the best price. Several years later when Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Jennifer & Alex Brown Glencoe

“Janie is a wonderful agent. She is very experienced, professional and extremely thorough. She was readily available, always communicated with us and answered all of our questions throughout the process. We have used Janie for three real estate transactions on the buying and selling sides. Without doubt, we would use her again and we will Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Julie & Greg Miller Glencoe

“Thank you for all you did for us. You were patient, knowledgeable and a huge help in finding our home. You listened carefully to our requests and always made time to show us homes which met our needs. You treated us like we were your only clients!”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Anika & Michael Hubbard Lake Forest

“Thank you so much for working with me again to purchase my second new home in Northbrook. I have always enjoyed our long standing business relationship and when it comes to residential real estate on the North Shore, I hold your knowledge in the highest regards. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Jim Koretz Northbrook

“If it wasn’t for Janie, we never would have found our home in Highland Park. Janie understood our search criteria, and kept a close eye on the market to identify properties that met our needs. Because of her resourcefulness, we were able to see our home within hours after it hit the market, and before Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Sandy & Dan Leib Highland Park

“When we needed an experienced real estate agent in a new town, we were lucky that you were available. Little did we realize at the time what a “find” you were! You made us feel so comfortable with our million questions. We were never surprised with our purchase, as you were very thorough throughout the Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Carole & Larry White Glencoe / Libertyville

“Janie is a fantastic agent; she was able to sell my property in an exceptionally short amount of time. I always felt very secure and well represented. She was an expert guide, thorough and professional and was there for me every step of the way, no matter what time of day or night. I will Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Nancy Hopma Vernon Hills

“I want to thank you for the professionalism, sensitivity to all parties and effort you put into the sale of my mother’s house. For me your style and class made an extraordinarily complex set of transactions relatively easy. You are very good at what you do and we are grateful for your friendship and your Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Kenneth S. Robson, M.D. Glencoe

“Janie did a superb job for us. She is a fantastic representative for your firm.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Bonnie & Steve Shlensky Deerfield

“Janie was a professional throughout the entire sales cycle. She brought knowledge and experience to our transaction. We will recommend Janie and Coldwell Banker to others.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Stuart & Barbara Cornew Winnetka

“We enjoyed working with Janie. She was very comforting and patient during an important time in our lives. We have and will continue to recommend her to others.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Robyn & Adam Berman Highland Park

“Janie persevered. Her patience and commitment overcame an arguably difficult challenge. You want more business? Hire more Janies!”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Richard & Joanna Harig Northbrook

“Janie, thank you for you kindness and patience all these years. You never gave up on us! We are deeply appreciative of all your hard work.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Allen & Renee Wishner Riverwoods

“Janie was great to work with, she really understood our needs and was able to deliver. She helped us through the entire process and was a pleasure to work with.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Brian & Crissy Crane Deerfield

“Janie is the consummate professional and is certainly the person I will look to ongoing for real estate services. Her knowledge of the market and in particular the North Shore area is a strength that she leverages to provide good value to her clients.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Jeff Singleton, PMP Highland Park

“Janie was a great resource for my wife and I as we bought our first house. Her knowledge of the area and the pluses and minuses of each home was truly remarkable. We felt very confident that we ultimately made the right decision based on Janie’s help throughout the process.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Brad & Lisa Buchanan Glenview

“Janie, we just wanted to say thanks for being so patient with our isms and cherish having you as our friend-realtor. You were crucial in our decision making process.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Caralee & Rob Levinson Lincolnshire

“Janie made buying a home easy! From looking at homes, to negotiating our contract, to getting our inspection and closing. She walked us through the process, explaining each step and making sure we were comfortable before moving forward. The service she provided was exceptional beyond what we expected.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Hillary & Jeff Cohen Northbrook

“Janie Bress made the selling of my beloved house as easy, as stress free as it could possibly be. She knows everything about real estate, is incredibly available,responsive, totally hard working, optimistic,patient, always gently, always correctly advising. She is a total professional who knows everyone, has vast resources and is a complete pleasure to work Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Judy Kamin Glencoe

“Too often people complain about someone or something. This letter, however, portrays the merits of my real estate broker, Janie Bress. Janie has been my agent for over 25 years and has always made me feel confident and stress free. As a professional she gives more than 100%. Recently, she gave above and beyond the Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

- Lana Pol

“I cannot recommend Janie highly enough. We found Janie a pleasure to work with and her knowledge of the real estate market was outstanding. She was incredibly patient as a home that matched our needs (and desires) and price range was not easy to find. She continued to search, and even though it took a Continue Reading

– Paula and Carl Highland Park

“I have known and done business with Janie for over 20 years…I highly recommend her! She has always been so kind and helpful. She goes out of her way to help her clients meet their goals. She presents herself as very professional, forward thinking and highly motivated to help her clients sell their particular property Continue Reading

5 Stars/5 Stars.

Barb Teeple – Glenview

“Janie was outstanding. She was knowledgeable, personable, and very organized. It was a pleasure working with her, and we enthusiastically and with pleasure recommend her to anyone looking for the services of a Real Estate Broker.”

5 Stars/5 Stars.

Ira and Robbe

“We loved working with Janie-she was always very responsive and she has a tremendous knowledge of the north shore real estate market. She followed through and followed up on every question/concern we had. Would not hesitate to recommend her or to use her again!!”

5/5 Stars.

Amy & Matt Cohen Deerfield, IL

Janie, you’re our go-to agent. You’ve helped my wife and I buy and sell 2 homes, and (now) rent in the city. You’re tenacious, patient and realistic. Your clients are the lucky ones!

5/5 Stars.

Larry & Susan Organ Winnetka, IL

“We have worked with Janie over the past 15 years for all of our real estate needs, and she has always been no less than extraordinary. We recently purchased a home with Janie and she was truly amazing through the entire process. She was very knowledgeable about the North Shore market, patient with our unique Continue Reading

5/5 Stars.

Taj & Adriana Lake Forest

“Janie did a great job helping me find a condo that would meet my requirements as I downsize my life. Every time I’d start questioning what I was thinking of, she put me back on track to find the right condo for me. I appreciated the knowledge and expertise she brought to this search. She Continue Reading

5/5 Stars.

Debbie

“Janie worked with me for over a year on my move from NJ to the Chicago area. She found an ideal place for me and then actually convinced me that the offer I intended to make could be lower! She was right and it saved me money. She was with me every step of the Continue Reading

5/5 Stars.

Jeff Landsman

“I have known JANIE for many years now. When I first moved back to Chicago, she helped me find the perfect home. I recently just sold that home and JANIE came through again and helped me to sell and get exactly what I was asking for. She then found another place for me to call Continue Reading

5/5 Stars.

Bobbe Levy

“Now that I have become somewhat settled in my new apartment, I am taking a few moments to thank you for your terrific performance in getting my home sold. Your directions for the staging of my home were excellent. You made suggestions that increased the attractiveness to potential purchasers and avoided unproductive expenditures. The procedure you Continue Reading

5/5 Stars.

Ronald Boorstein

“Our experience with Janie Bress, both as a seller’s and buyer’s agent, over 18 years has always been a pleasure. Selling our present home in a market that is soft, takes experience and good instincts as to how the market is doing. Janie was able to navigate for us through all the obstacles by providing Continue Reading

5/5 Stars.

Carole and Larry White

“Janie came recommended to us by a close friend. Even though she doesn’t regularly work in our area, she took our listing and did an amazing job. She traveled to our home regularly to support the selling process and to hold open houses. Janie communicated her schedule and offered to do the open houses several Continue Reading

5/5 Stars.

Holly & Dan Kleinschrodt

“We first met Janie at an open house when we were moving to the area. She understood what we were looking for in a house, had a deep understanding of the area, and was willing to show us many homes. After buying our house, three years later we needed to relocate to another state and Continue Reading

5/5 Stars.

Jerry and Becky