It caught my eye on my Starbucks run – an article in the Trib about the increase in debit card fraud, and how you can avoid it. I thought it was actually very informational, and wanted to share a few of the tips here. If you are an avid card swiper (Coffee shop, McDonald’s, gas station, Target, etc.), remember…

1. Take a good look at the card reader prior to swiping your debit/credit card. Jiggle it and casually pry at the keypad. If it’s loose, don’t use it. Keypad overlays used by thieves can record your PIN and false magnetic readers can also take the account information off your card.

2. Always try to shield your hand typing in a PIN with your other hand.

3. Try to use card readers that are in plain sight, such as the gas pumps that are closest to or in line of sight of the cashier inside.

4. If you can choose between credit and debit, credit cards are usually easier to protest charges.

5. Why not just pay cash?

Technorati Tags: North Shore Chicago shopping, credit cards, debit cards, credit card fraud, debit card fraud

After falling more than 60 percent during the second quarter, sales of new and resale condominiums in Skokie showed signs of reaching their floor during the third quarter, great news for developers and condo owners in the area.

According to data from the Chicago Association of Realtors, a total of 37 condos and lofts were sold in Skokie during the third quarter, down from 48 units sold during the same period a year ago. The drop in sales last year was much more notable. Sales fell by more than 50 percent during the third quarter of 2007.

The dramatic drop in demand for Skokie condos in the past two years has led to a rapid increase in the average turnover time. If you’re planning on selling a condominium in the area, it will now take you an average of 197 days to find a buyer, up from 139 days a year ago. It took an average of just 62 days to find a buyer in 2006 in the neighborhood.

Buyers were starting to find some great deals on condominiums in the area. The average sales price fell by an impressive 9 percent during the third quarter, and could continue to fall even more in the next few months if demand for North Shore Chicago Condos doesn’t increase in the short term.

Technorati Tags: North Shore Chicago Condos, Skokie Condos For Sale, North Shore Chicago Real Estate

After reaching a 17-year low, sales of new construction single-family homes rose in September nationwide. The rise in sales was a rare piece of good news for developers around the country. Demand had dropped to record lows after banks and lenders tightened requirements for new mortgages, leaving many buyers out of the market.

According to data from the Commerce Department, sales increased to an annual rate of 464,000 in September, up from an annual rate of 452,000 seen in August. However, overall sales were off by a third from a year ago. The increase in sales from August comes as prices for new construction homes fall in many markets around the country, including in some areas of the North Shore Real Estate market.

Prices nationwide fell to a four-year low in September. According to the Commerce Department report, the median sales price of a new construction home fell by just over 9 percent from the same month a year ago. The median price of $218,400 was the lowest seen since 2004 in September.

Buyers could continue to see some great deals on new construction homes around the North Shore in the next few months, particularly if demand doesn’t increase in the short term.

Technorati Tags: North Shore Chicago Real Estate, New Construction Chicago Homes, Chicago Homes For Sale