They’re here! Yep, Christmas and Hanukkah will top the list for this weekend’s activities here in Chicago.

Saturday (11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) will be your last chance to visit the Christkindlmarket Chicago held at the Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington St.) in The Loop. This open-air, German-style market features a variety of vendors selling authentic German products, beer steins, clothing, hand-blown ornaments, jewelry and wooden handicrafts as well as German food and drink such as bratwurst, schnitzel, potato pancakes, chocolates, hot spiced wine and more! Celebrate the final day of this Holiday market with the Christkindlmarket team and Christkind himself from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.!!

Chicago also offers a variety of Holiday-themed plays presented at local theaters and other establishments some of which include –

A Beer Carol at the Haymarket Pub & Brewery (737 W. Randolph St.) in the West Town neighborhood this Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This tale of Bud Miller, the evil CEO of Milweiser brewery, the largest brewery in the world of “crap” beer who is visited by ghosts of four ingredients of beer who try to persuade him to brew good craft beer is performed as a live radio show with sound effects and music!

Barney The Elf at The Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood this Saturday & Sunday at 11:45 a.m. This musical parody of “Elf” will leave the audience wondering if this wicked son of Santa Claus with his not-so-jolly reign as the new head of Christmas can truly leave Christmas behind for a new life in the big city!

The Nutcracker at the Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division St.) in the Noble Square neighborhood this Saturday & Sunday at 7:30 p.m. This annual engagement of the all-original, ballet-free Nutcracker has been re-imagined this season with new design elements and an updated script as young Clara takes a journey to save Christmas in the face of grief with the help of a magical nutcracker!

Perhaps you would like to take in a Holiday Movie at the Logan Theatre (2646 N. Milwaukee Ave.) in the Logan Square neighborhood with the following features being shown: Home Alone (1990) (Saturday at 6:00 p.m./Sunday at 3:00 p.m.); Elf (2003) (Saturday at 3:00 p.m./Sunday at 6:00 p.m.); and Scrooged (1988) (Sunday at 11:00 p.m.)!

For those celebrating Hanukkah …

The Matzo Bash! takes place this Saturday (9:00 p.m.) at the Sound Bar (226 W. Ontario St.) in the River North neighborhood. This Christmas Eve gala offers two levels of schmoozing in the lounge or dancing the night away in their club as well as 7 bars for your convenience. Your ticket also includes a cocktail, an appetizer reception and more! I’ve heard it’s the party everyone will be at!!

Hanukkah Wonderland takes place this Sunday (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) at the Lubavitch Chabad of Skokie (4059 Dempster St.) in Skokie. Enjoy activities and crafts that include time-tested favorites and exciting new ones such as the Dreidel bounce house, make your own donut, take a picture with Judah Maccabee, wood etching, Hanukkah gelt, prizes and more!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

SUE MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

When it comes to selling your home, you want it to be in pristine condition to impress the slew of buyers who will come across it. Many home sellers will often invest in professional home staging services in order to showcase their homes in the best light and attract as many buyers as possible, which in turn will help bring more sizeable offers to the table and get the property sold in a relatively short amount of time. Oftentimes some repairs and even certain remodeling jobs may be in order to bring a home up to par and demand high offers.

However, not every renovation is necessarily a good idea prior to selling. The idea is to reap the highest return on investment upon the sale of the property. Yet certain jobs simply aren’t worth the cost, as money spent likely won’t be recouped come sale time.   

If you’re getting ready to sell, consider scratching the following renovation jobs off your list.

Luxury Kitchen Remodels

The kitchen is perhaps the most important room in a home and plays an instrumental role in how much your house is valued at according to current market conditions. Modernizing your kitchen can bring you a decent return on your investment, but you’d be better off avoiding extremely expensive, extravagant upgrades that will cost you a lot more than the perceived value added to the property. 

High-End Bathroom Renovations

Bathrooms might be small, but they are very important spaces in a home. If they are up-to-date and in newer condition, they can add tremendous value to a home and appease buyers. If your bathroom is in need of a little TLC, there’s nothing wrong with sprucing it up and updating it.

However, you will likely see very little money recouped upon the sale of the home of you dump too much money in a luxurious renovation, especially if the neighborhood doesn’t call for such opulence. Not only that, you still might not suit the buyer’s tastes once the job is complete. As such, you’ll be limiting your buyer pool. Stick to simpler, more affordable updates, such as new faucets, new light fixtures, and a new vanity.

Combining Bedrooms

Cutting back on the number of bedrooms can hurt the marketability of your home, since buyers are usually looking for more bedrooms. For instance, a 4-bedroom home is typically worth more than a 3-bedroom home, especially when looking at similar homes that have sold in the area in the recent past. Also, if the typical home in the neighborhood has 3-bedrooms – which is what buyers in the area expect – you’d be doing your home a disservice by converting it into a 2-bedroom.

Room Addition

Working with what you’ve already got is one thing, but adding additional square footage comes at a high price tag. You might want to increase the living space of your home, but the cost to add another room to a home is more often than not a bad investment if you’re just planning to sell the home soon after.

There may be certain circumstances where an addition makes sense, but these circumstances are typically reserved for complete fixer-uppers that need to be brought up to comparable square footage as dictated by other homes on the block. Otherwise, you’ll barely recoup even half of your initial costs when you sell.

Large projects like room additions are not worth doing because these jobs usually take a long time to complete, from the planning stages, to obtaining permits, to completion. Not only that, an addition might actually increase the value of the other homes on the street, but they likely won’t do much for your home except make it harder to sell at the price point you want.

Adding Unconventional Features

Unique features, such as a wine cellar, indoor hot tub, or off-the-wall kitchen tile might sound like amazing features to include in your home, but you might not necessarily find many buyers who will appreciate the money spent to make such changes. You probably won’t get too much of a price increase for such unconventional features if prospective buyers are looking at them as things they probably wouldn’t use or may even tear out.

If you are thinking about adding a unique touch to your home, it should be to satisfy your tastes and wants if you plan on staying put for a while longer. But if you’re going to be selling shortly, those personal touches could make it even harder to sell your home because some buyers may not be too keen on them.

The Bottom Line

The lower the price and simpler the project, the better when it comes to how much you can recoup compared to how much you spend. Even though they will probably boost your home’s appeal and resale value, you probably won’t get 100% back on major renovation investments.

Some markets may allow a 100% recoup of your costs regardless of the project, but these markets are typically extremely hot ones. In San Francisco, for instance, the addition of a whole new deck can bring as much as an astounding 147% ROI.

Make sure you understand exactly what your market is like and what types of returns you can get for specific renovations in your area before taking on major renovations.

Located in the heart of Old Town is Topo Gigio Ristorante at 1516 N. Wells Street. Topo Gigio has been around for 25 years and serves Tuscan-Style Italian Cooking. They’ve earned top honors from locals and visitors throughout their tenure. They also boast an outdoor garden and patio that are great in the summer months. The dining room is always kept toasty warm in the cold winter months which makes the enjoyment of their food that much more comfortable. Speaking of which, let’s get to the food.

There are some favorites on the menu that you must try at any given time if you are an Italian food fan. First, I have to mention the Conchiglie all Sarda. It’s seashell pasta in tomato-cream sauce with sausage, peas and pecorino cheese. I’m not quite sure what they do to make this so amazing but it’s a must for anyone who has not been here. The sauce is flavorful and perfect for dipping your bread. And, of course, all the pasta made here is a piece of heaven not to mention the bread which comes out heated.

One of my favorite surprises is the Risotto Milanese. It’s al dente cooked risotto with slices of filet mignon, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and rosemary. Some folks have said it’s not their favorite, but when eating made from scratch traditional Italian, I have to admit, mine was quite yummy. Even though I didn’t get the substitution, I was curious of both the chicken and vegetable options.

The wine list is pretty good, but if you have a favorite you want to bring from home, there is a corkage fee you can pay instead. We did both and were thankful for the recommendations from our server. From what I’ve experienced, my service has been good to exceptional on many occasions. They are not open late night- closing every night by 10:30pm or earlier on Sunday. It’s recommended that you make reservations especially on the weekends so you don’t have to wait a long time.  The food is reasonably priced from $11-30 per person without drinks.

CATHY MALLERS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

It’s the weekend before the Holidays and here in Chicago we’re still spreading good cheer with all the holiday season has to offer!

The Arthritis Foundation’s Chicago Jingle Bell Run is this Saturday (9:00 a.m.) at Soldier Field (1410 S. Museum Campus Dr.) in the South Loop. This annual event brings together people from all walks of life as they raise funds and awareness to cure arthritis once and for all, which is America’s #1 cause of disability! Participants receive a long sleeve t-shirt, a finisher medal and a goodie bag, and are encouraged to wear holiday-themed costumes, or show off that ugly Christmas sweater of yours, and tie jingle bells to your shoelaces or wherever you can find a spot as you run or walk the 5K spreading smiles, good cheer and a winning spirit! Be part of the largest holiday-themed 5K race and be a Champion of Yes!! Please note that the weather may cause this event to be cancelled so checkout their Facebook page on Saturday before heading to Solider Field.

Have you ever wondered if the jolly ‘ole fella could bowl? Well, this Sunday (11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) King’s Bowl (1500 N. Clybourn Ave.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood will be hosting Bowling with Santa! Your ticket includes two games of bowling with Santa and shoe rental, a photo with Santa and complimentary hot chocolate, coffee and cookies! And, 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Ferrer Foundation which is an organization that supports children in underserved Chicago communities by providing a wide range of programming!!

Join other jolly folks celebrating the holiday season and spreading good cheer as they crawl from bar to bar in the River North neighborhood this Saturday (10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.) for the Chicago Santa Crawl! Your ticket includes a T-shirt, a Santa hat, a breakfast buffet from 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at Moe’s Cantina and Old Crow Smokehouse as well as three $4 gift cards to use on the crawl and more! Word has it that you may end-up on Santa’s naughty list if you don’t go!! Just saying!!!

Be a participant at Chicago’s largest private toy drive at this year’s Kandy Kane Ball held at Joe’s Bar (940 W. Weed St.) in the Goose Island neighborhood this Saturday (9:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m.). Everyone must bring a toy or pay a $20 donation at the door in lieu of a toy benefitting the Chicago Children’s Charities. Your ticket includes passed appetizers, a premium open bar, live music and DJ entertainment all for a good cause! Help the Kandy Kane Ball reach its goal to get toys in the hands of as many children as possible who otherwise would not receive one this holiday season!!

Need a last-minute gift? The Oriole Park Holiday Bazaar takes place this Saturday (10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.) at the Oriole Park Fieldhouse (5340 N. Olcott Ave.) in the Oriole Park neighborhood. This event features over 35 vendors for your holiday shopping pleasure as well as raffles, kids’ crafts, pictures with Santa and more! Get in the spirit by donning your holiday finest and sipping on some hot chocolate as you shop – all are welcome!!

You may need to bundle up for this one but it’ll be worth it! Now in its 35^th year, Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo wraps up this Saturday and Sunday (10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. with festivities beginning at 4:00 p.m.) at Brookfield Zoo (8400 W. 31^st St.) in Brookfield. This is definitely Chicagoland’s largest and longest running lights festival with over one million twinkling LED lights, a new Polar Lights show, a 41-foot talking tree, a model train display, carolers, nightly ice carving demonstrations, an amazing magic show, costumed characters and so much more!

Hope to See You Spreading Some Good Cheer!

SUE MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

When it comes to mortgages, there’s no one-size-fits-all scenario. Every home buyer is different and has a unique set of financial circumstances that will dictate what type of home loan makes the right choice. Luckily, there are plenty of options as far as mortgages are concerned. Which option is right for you?

Conventional Mortgages

This is the most common type of mortgage and isn’t guaranteed by the federal government. Instead, it conforms to the guidelines set by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and may either have a fixed or adjustable rate.

• Down payment: 5% minimum (20% needed to avoid private mortgage insurance).
• Qualifications: Minimum credit score of 620, and maximum 43% debt-to-income ratio.
• Best suited for: Those with excellent credit to get most competitive interest rate.

FHA Mortgages

Unlike conventional mortgages, government-insured mortgages are backed by specific federal agencies. FHA mortgages (guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration) make it easier for buyers to secure a mortgage with a lower down payment. 

• Down payment: 3.5% minimum (borrower needs a credit score of at least 580).
• Qualifications: Those who cannot come up with a 5% minimum down payment or have less-than-perfect credit.
• Best suited for: First-time buyers or those who are don’t meet the qualifications for a conventional mortgage.

VA Mortgages

VA home loans are also guaranteed by the federal government and are backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Down payment: No minimum required.
• Qualifications: No minimum credit score required.
• Bets suited for: Military veterans or family of military veterans.

USDA/RHS Mortgages

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) extends a mortgage program for suburban and rural borrowers who meet specific income requirements, and is managed by the Rural Housing Service (RHS).

• Down payment: No minimum required
• Qualifications: Income cannot be more than 115% of the adjusted area median income (AMI) which varies by county. 
• Best suited for: Rural borrowers who have a steady yet modest income who are unable to secure a conventional mortgage.

Fixed-Rate Mortgages

These loans have the same interest rate over the whole repayment term, which means the amount of each monthly payment stays the same and will never change over the term of your mortgage.

• Down payment: 5% minimum (for conventional mortgages).
• Qualifications: Minimum credit score of 620, and maximum 43% debt-to-income ratio (for conventional mortgages).
• Best suited for: First-time homebuyers; those who plan to stay in the home for the long-term; those who appreciate steady payments to make managing budgets easier.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

• Down payment: 5% minimum (for conventional mortgages).
• Qualifications: Minimum credit score of 620, and maximum 43% debt-to-income ratio (for conventional mortgages).
• Best suited for: Those who plan to move or refinance in the short-term and want to take advantage of current low interest rates.