If you're a buyer right now, then you know that you're in the drivers seat. You're in a position to negotiate a great price and possibly even some fancy-schmancy perks to go along with your new home purchase. But when you're out there looking for that dream house, don't forget to make sure that it's in a dream neighborhood. Because no matter how great a deal you're getting now, you'll want to be sure that when it comes time for you to move on, someone else will find it to be a great deal too. Choosing the right neighborhood is a big part of making sure you're making the most of your investment.

Tips on finding the right neighborhood after the jump...

Just like date night, open houses and showings call for putting your best face forward. But instead of the little black dress or that killer suit, we're talking cleaned out closets and spiffed up kitchens. If you want your potential buyer to ask for a second date...ahem...showing, then you'll want to take a look at these top ten tips for getting your home ready for the big date!

If you're still off your game after a week of it getting dark before 5 o'clock, then join the club. It will take some time to get used to the change, but you can make the transition easier on your home's energy bills by putting timers on the lights you use most. Timers are easy to use, only cost a few bucks and add convenience to your life - and money to your bank account!

With so many homes occupying so many days on the market, something's got to give. Many people who can wait are taking their houses off the market for the holidays, but some people aren't so lucky. An idea that's been gaining popularity for these people is renting out that home you can't sell as a vacation home - making you some extra cash while you wait for a buyer. Seen most often in vacation hotspots like Florida and California, the rentals appeal to vacationers because of the ammenities that you can't get in a hotel. And here in Chicago, though we may not have warm sunny skies all year long, we do have a certain tourist appeal that you can't get anywhere else - for one thing, a hometown President-elect.

Business Week recently released its list of "Best Places to Raise Your Kids" and a Chicago suburb beat out thousands of other cities for the top honor. Mount Prospect, a northwestern 'burb was chosen because of the impressive school system, cost of living, diversity, employment opportunities and its reputation as a tight knit community. And it didn't hurt that Mount Prospect is just a stone's throw from Chicago and the airport.

It would appear that more and more people these days are recognizing the importance of upgrading their home's appliances and features to be more energy efficient and sustainable. The Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Living Green Consumer Survey found that of 2,300 consumers, about half have paid more money for an energy efficient product in the past 12 months and one in three homeowners claim they would be willing to spend $5,000 or more on green improvements to increase a home’s appeal to potential buyers.

Okay, so the credit crisis has forced many of us to rethink buying a new home. But, the good news is that you CAN still get a mortgage in today's market. You just have to understand the new rules. We recently spoke with a mortgage banker about how YOU can secure that mortgage and buy that home you fell in love with.

As the weather turns more and more winter-like, keeping track of where you might be losing heat in your home is important if you plan to cut down on those energy bills. Cracks and poor sealing around windows is a very common place to lose heat.

As far as the home is concerned - the kitchen is the center of the universe. It's where you gather, talk, help the kids with homework and eat standing up while you're looking for something to eat. Not to mention the fact that in most newer homes, the kitchen opens up to the main living area. So, it would logically follow that buyers are paying special attention to the kitchen these days.

Stupid question? Not really. A lot has changed in the market over last couple of years - and that includes the mortgage market. Okay, so maybe the definition of mortgage hasn't changed, but plenty of other things have. And that's why if you're in the market for a home - even if it's not your first time - it's not a bad idea to familiarize yourself with the basics all over again.

Ahhh, the beauty of direct bill pay. You never have to see a utility bill; the money just magically disappears from your account and voila! Bill paid. It's a wonderful convenience (not to mention the paper it saves) but it also allows us to ignore what we're spending each month on our utilities. One cost that we commonly overlook is our water bill. Sure, we tend to spend more on gas and electric, but that's no reason to keep spending more than you need to. The amount you shell out on H2o every month can be reduced with just a few minutes worth of effort.

We're all looking for ways to cut back a little and save a few bucks - and believe me, I'm always on the lookout for an opportunity to do something myself instead of hiring it out. But there are places you skimp a little (no one's going to know if that bag is designer or a knock off) and there are places you just don't. And one place it's never okay to cut corners is with your new home.

I recently spent a weekend with my in-laws and got to enjoy their gorgeous new home. Being a city girl, the spacious kitchen and formal dining room drew my envy of course (though I've gotten creative with my 1,400 square feet, there's only so much you can fit in a 2-flat) but the thing that really turned me green was - of all things - the mudroom.

Just imagine having so much space you can dedicate an entire room to dirt! It was perfectly organized to house boots, coats, mittens and all of the other outdoor-wear you could imagine in its perfectly designed cabinets and cubes. There was even a beautiful granite countertop and sink for rinsing those messy pieces before stowing them. The happy owners of this mudroom, my husband's brother and his lovely wife, instantly became genius in my space-deprived eyes. So, imagine my surprise when I sit down to check out the real estate section of the Tribune and find an entire article dedicated to - what else - designing a mudroom! Apparently everyone is catching on!

From everyone here at HomesPlus, we wish you a very happy turkey-day!
And if you're too full to leave the house, then take some time to check out our videos!

The holidays are here! But if your home is on the market right now, you might be feeling a little less merry and little more grinchy. Understandable. But don't let the less-than-jolly market conditions get you down this holiday season. It's all about properly packaging your home for your buyers; and this time of year staging takes on a whole new meaning.

Here's another tip to save some energy and cash at home:

Adding a low-emittance coating to your windows will help keep the heat inside during the cold winter! Low-E film coatings are available at most hardware stores and you can even apply them yourself.