Buyers will find an incredible deal if they choose to purchase this week's featured home. Located in the beautiful historical Lords Park Manor neighborhood, this home on Hiawatha Drive offers an unbelievable amount of living space inside. Another bonus is that the property abuts 11 acres of open space, giving homeowners a park-like setting right in their own backyard.

Finding the right home for the right buyer is the task of every Realtor. The good ones listen to what their clients need and try to provide it. The great ones go beyond expectations and, with a little luck, help the buyer find the place their hearts can call home.

This sprawling brick ranch is set on a beautifully landscaped, 1.8 acre-lot, with mature trees in Winthrop Harbor.

Lake County real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

This exquisite home features a fantastic, open floor plan with high vaulted ceilings in the living room, dining room and kitchen that make it perfect for entertaining family members and friends.

Driving around looking at properties, it's not uncommon for house hunters to stumble across a listing they know nothing about, except that the yard sign announces it's for sale.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

If you love historic homes but would like to live on the west side of Elgin, this week's feature is a great choice. Located on the corner of Chicago and Alfred streets, this circa 1919 beauty has a lot to offer.

If you are looking for an established subdivision to call home, then Catatoga is a great choice. The community -- near Elgin's far-southwest side -- was built in three phases, according to South Elgin's No. 1 Realtor, Judy LoBianco Nelson of RE/MAX Horizon.

Q: We have found that one of our trees has lots of holes in the leaves. Is there something we can spray on the tree to stop the damage?

Built in 2003, this home is loaded with desirable features. The front door opens to a dramatic two-story entry with oak banister and 6-foot wide center hallway with glistening wood floors. The center hallway runs the length of the home. Freshly painted, the home is neutral in decor inside and out with maintenance-free siding. The main floor consists of five rooms: an immaculate and sunny living room, two bedrooms with full bath, sunny eat-in kitchen and family room.

This extraordinary home, located in the Saybrook subdivision in Naperville, offers many amenities and special features.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

A wealth of living is in store for you in this spectacular 16-room home with a panoramic view of the river, private boat ramp and dock for your watercraft!

Q: In a recent article you mentioned mowing the lawn grass as high as possible. I think my husband mows it too low. It has a close-cropped appearance that he likes. It is lower than all the lawns in the neighborhood. When I walk on it, it is not comfortable like a longer grass would be. What reasons can I give him to mow the grass higher?

Will County real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

This tri-level home offers a serene and relaxing setting. It sits on a sprawling, almost one acre lot that includes a charming gazebo and a large cedar deck overlooking a pond.

This impressive and majestic home in the East Highlands subdivision of Naperville includes many additional items and is just waiting for new homeowners to move in. The home offers more than 6,600 square feet of living space on four levels with access to each level via an elevator.

Terry Wilkowski, regional manager and senior vice president of Koenig & Strey GMAC Real Estate's Naperville office, announced Kathy Melone as sales leader and Minesh Shah as listing leader for the month of May.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

One of the best-kept secrets in the Elgin area is an unincorporated section southwest of town that offers very desirable custom and semi-custom-built homes.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Will County real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Q: We love the '40s kitchen in our home, except for a lack of storage and sitting space. An earlier owner took out the butler's pantry to gain room for a downstairs office. We put in a narrow eat-on island, but it's not really comfortable for guests -- and we love being in the kitchen together! This is no time for expensive reconstruction. Any other advice?

If you are looking for a great deal on attached housing, look no further than Cambridge Lakes in Pingree Grove.

Dear Bruce: I recently came into some money, and I am thinking of paying off my second mortgage. I have two 30-year fixed mortgages at 5.375 percent. The first is conventional in terms of monthly payments. However, with the second mortgage, I have about nine years before I start paying on principal. Would it be wise to pay off the second mortgage now? Thanks in advance. -- M.M., e-mail

I love to help friends and customers solve their decorating dilemmas, and high up on their lists are questions about how to style highly visible spots like fireplace mantels, coffee tables and bookcases. I've found that the secret to making these all-important focal points fabulous is to create cleaner, more dramatic displays that use just a few well-chosen accents. Here are a few tips you can use to design simple displays that make big statements.

Dear Jim: I plan to do some landscaping myself to save money. I want to make it as efficient as possible for energy and water. What do you think about using gravel or ground cover plants and where should they go? -- Willis N. Dear Willis: Most people think of landscaping for just its aesthetic value, but proper landscaping can also impact the energy efficiency of your home. Wise landscaping design can also minimize the need for mowing a lawn. You might even be able to get by with a push mower or a battery-operated one and save the expense for fuel and maintenance.

This lovely Glen Flora home has been totally rebuilt offering modern conveniences and beauty.

Remember the old nursery rhyme or jingle we used to hear as kids: "Rain, rain, go away, come again another day?"

Remember the futon? It was popular back in the day ... to be specific, back in the '70s and '80s. Many a college student opted for the inexpensive, yet useful, sofa-by-day, bed-by-night futon. They were quite useful in a pinch, but some were not so comfortable when used on a regular basis. But that has changed.

Lake County real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

This splendid home in the Tall Grass subdivision of Naperville offers remarkable features and plenty of open space inside and out.

Long before the majestic Wyndham Apartments, 5240 N. Sheridan in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, was renovated and converted to rental residences, the historic building was a haven for Hollywood movie stars in the Roaring 1920s, historians say.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, real estate agents and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Q: I am tired of paying for the removal of my grass clippings. My husband thinks that the lawn is better off without the clippings. Is he right?

If you enjoy the peacefulness of the country and the calm, quiet of a woodsy neighborhood, you'll love this week's featured home.

This two-story home in Moose Lakes Estates in North Aurora has what every family wants: room for now, room for the future, and all wrapped in upgraded style and amenities.

This flawless custom French Provincial home is on one acre that backs to a pond. It is rich in detail and has about 3,600 square feet on the first and second floors plus an additional 2,400 square feet in the finished basement all efficiently and comfortably heated and cooled by dual furnaces and air conditioners.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Will County real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Laura couldn't have been more pleased and more frustrated at the same time. She had endured a year of renovation hell, living in her tiny basement while her 1940s bungalow was being transformed into a beautiful two-story charmer.

Real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.

Dear Bruce: My former in-laws both passed away within the past four years, leaving their estate, primarily their debt-free house to their only child, my former husband. He passed away in February, having never put the house in his name or made a will. We have two adult daughters, 43 and 30 years old. Both of them have small incomes, and neither of them is interested in keeping the house

An emerging trend in the mortgage business today places new emphasis on an existing institution: the credit union.

This sprawling, California ranch is loaded with character and great style and it sits on a three-fourths-acre, wooded lot that backs to a ravine and stream. Enjoy resort-style living with a large in-ground pool and sauna.

Lake County real estate transfer information is public record and is examined regularly by financial institutions, Realtors and companies that sell products to homeowners.