I've only once protested a development, but it went no where (I think I was the lone dissenter). BUT, my job requires me to review plans that impact wetlands & streams, and I'm currently reviewing a plan that will put in a road and sewer line thru a wetland. I've already put their feet to the fire and demanded a redo of the layout that would have filled the wetlands for building lots and they changed it, but still can't get thru my review. They need to justify WHY they're going to impact that wetland, and so far, can't do it. Another project my coworker is reviewing is a fast-food joint that wants to culvert a small (but signficant) stream, so they can add a drive thru. Again, it's not met with our standards, so they're having to come up with alternatives. My point is, get a hold of the local planning department and find out what other regulatory agencies have input and get on their mailing lists. We are required to notify adjacent land owners, but not those in the area. However, our notice is available on the internet, if people know where to look. I'm required to review every comment received and pass them on to the applicant to answer. In some cases, those comments cause the regulators to look at additional impacts and make changes, or even make the developers make changes...at least holds them more accountable. In my area, there is a big box store that is headquartered in Arkansas trying to build in a community. There are few regulatory issues, but the community has fought tooth and nail to stop the development. They've won! So it's not impossible to win. Suggestions include not getting emotional, but posing succinct questions. Cite possible traffic studies, impacts to public safety, NEED for this particular project. See what data they can provide for justifying adding another colorful box (I've seen that same clown outit have 3 stores within a mile!). Could the site be better served by a business that has fewer customers yet can provide the same tax base (# of employees, fewer concessions such as tax credits from the local jurisdiction). Ask about light and noise (hours of operation), especially since there will be an assisted living facility next door. So, really get specific in your challenges and be a bug in the ear. Regulators can only do so much in their acceptance of an application, but can go a lot further in the technical review...and this is where the public questions come in handy.

sylviatexas: "Representation & procuring cause aren't the same thing. Procuring cause is getting a buyer for a property or a property for a buyer. Representation is representing the client's best interests. HaHaHaHaHa. OF COURSE it isn't the same thing! That's the point that I was making, lol! It was you who was implying that the builder wouldn't let the buyer have representation when all along the issue was the builder wasn't going to pay the agent because the agent wasn't the procuring cause for the transaction. Nice spin. And speaking of spin..... sylviatexas: "If I started negotiating with a builder on my own & felt that I was in over my head & the builder told me I couldn't bring my Realtor, I'd look for another property." Let's change your example ever so slightly without altering the basic concept. Let's say instead of looking at a new house you're looking at a resale. Same circumstance except instead of dealing with a builder's sales office, you're dealing with the seller's listing agent. Okay, now let's get back to your example. You're negotiating with the listing agent on your own and feel that you're in over your head and want to bring in your own real estate agent to negotiate for you. Are you seriously suggesting that the listing agent should now allow the buyer to use his own agent and pay that agent half the commission? Hmmmmmm?? I didn't think so. And the reason why? Let's all say it again: Because the buyer's agent would not have been the procuring cause for the transaction. It is really not that difficult a concept.

Thanks all - we are excited! We are buying a DW in a 55+ park just 4 miles from here and close to all shopping :-) It has a sunny eat-in kitchen, large living room, dining room, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths - one is a reasonable size and the master bath is huge. Master bedroom is roomy and the second bedroom is so large we will probably divide it so we can each have our own space - he dabbles in painting and I have an obscene amount of yarn (I packed a lot of it yesterday) for crochet, laundry room and a shed with electricity. The kitchen has black appliances w/a bottom freezer refrigerator. I have almond appliances now and will be glad to have black again, and an installed dishwasher after 7 years using a portable. We have the name of a MH inspector and someone who does MH repairs, not that that is anticipated right away, but you never know. Just a comfort to have that info at hand from the getgo. I'm so relieved to not have to do the routine to show, never knowing when, what, etc. Huge relief. (I'm using "huge" a lot here LOL) A fantasy I have had for many, many years is to have a bathroom large enough that I can keep the scale in it! Sure doesn't take much to make me happy...... Guess I'll have to open a photo hosting account so I can post some pics. TTYL, everyone - time for coffee.

Timely subject. Our neighborhood just received our property tax assessments for 2016, payable in 2017. Our property taxes have gone up 45%. Our home values have not. We had a refi appraisal within the last year & our home value was less than the current property taxes, prior to this increase. A 45% increase & our taxes are already high. Illinois is number 50, of 50 states, in public pension debt. In the recent past, the federal government has given Illinois stimulus money for education. The majority of that money has NOT gone to schools & students - it has paid for pension debt. We're going to need another bailout from the states that have been fiscally responsible. Edit: We will be appealing - we do every year. The first time we used an attorney, whose fee was 50% of of the tax savings. Then we started doing it ourselves. We have the choice to appeal based on "uniformity" or "overvaluation." "Uniformity" involves collecting & submitting comps of other comparable homes. "Overvaluation" is submitting a home appraisal with a date of Jan 1, 2016 so we get tax credit for the entire year. We've had better results with the home appraisal, overvaluation method. Everyone in our neighborhood's home value has jumped up by between $200,000 - $400,000, according to the taxing authority. I'd have no problem with it if our home value had truly increased, but it hasn't.