Chicago Real Estate Blog

Kermit, Gumby, Oscar the Grouch, The Incredible Hulk, and The Grinch

These guys know what Green is all about. Do YOU?

Posted at 08:21PM May 08, 2008 by Terri Boyce in General  |  Comments[0]

What Can You Do to Make Your Life a Little Greener? (Part II)

April was Earth Month – a time when everyone is encouraged to work together, do our part to protect our earth and conserve our natural resources… But now, with all the publicity behind us, maybe it’s a good time to reevaluate our daily routines and think about what we can do differently to be kinder to the environment and reduce the amount of energy we consume on a regular basis. Many Chicago residents are already choosing a greener lifestyle by participating in citywide eco programs such as “car sharing.” It’s convenient, inexpensive and makes good old Mother Earth that much happier!

Posted at 09:21AM May 08, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

What Can You Do to Make Your Life a Little Greener?

Earth Day has passed, but that doesn’t mean we can’t keep the eco-friendly activities going! There are plenty of things we can do in our everyday lives to help reduce our carbon footprints and make our environment safer and healthier. 

Posted at 10:25AM May 05, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

What Does $300,000 Get You in Chicago?

There’s a big difference in what kind of home $300K will buy you in Chicago, depending on where you look. Below is a cross-section of active Chicago real estate listings for $300,000 that gives you an idea of just how much home you can get (and where).

Posted at 09:55AM May 01, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

It's All About the Micro-Market

The media tends to speak in terms of national numbers and regional trends when it comes to real estate news. Unfortunately, such broad interpretations of the housing market can grossly underestimate how well specific areas are doing -- such as our hometown of Chicago, which has seen home price increases in 70% of its neighborhoods in the past two years. That's why it is important to look at the "micro-market" to get a true gauge of current home values and sales in a particular spot.

Posted at 09:05AM Apr 29, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

Home Loan Applications Are On the Rise

The first week of April reveals a positive sign for the U.S. housing market as mortgage requests increased over five percent from the previous week. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), the home loan application volume has improved since the end of March, jumping a seasonally adjusted 5.4% (unadjusted was 5.7%).

Posted at 01:42PM Apr 18, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

NAR Predicts a Housing Market Rebound in Late 2008

The chief economist for the National Association of Realtors says the U.S. is moving towards an improvement in home sales this year however we shouldn’t expect to see any changes for another few months. The NAR forecasts a stabilization of existing home sales during the first two quarters of 2008, followed by an upturn in the latter half of the year.

Posted at 05:00PM Apr 14, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

"Premiere of Homes" Features New Homes on South Side

Spring is traditionally the hottest selling season for real estate, but with the preceding housing slump builders are not so sure a simple change in temperature will bring out the home buyers in droves this year. That’s why some Chicago developers are going the extra step to ensure house hunters know about the good deals and great values available right now. 

Posted at 10:18AM Apr 09, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

Which Chicago Neighborhoods Are Weathering the Real Estate Downturn the Best?

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. The patchwork of communities not only offers residents a diverse and unique cultural scope, but also presents a varying housing market that differs from block to block. So which Chicago neighborhoods have seen positive changes during this nationwide residential real estate slump? New statistics supplied by the Chicago Association of Realtors break down the sales numbers of the official 77 communities within the city limits to reveal how each area did in 2007.

Posted at 03:16PM Apr 08, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

Part II: Get Your Home Resale Ready (Even If You’re Not Selling Now)

Certain homes are going to sell, no matter what the housing market situation or how the economy is fairing. How do these properties maintain their salability? Location is always important and, depending on your individual area, the size and type of house you have can make a big difference, too. Do some investigating on your own, or speak with a real estate agent to find out how your home compares.

Posted at 09:24AM Apr 04, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

Getting Your Home Resale Ready

In a market where buyers are picky and sellers want to stand out, many homeowners are questioning what they can do to set their home up for resale—whether the hope is to sell this year or somewhere down the line.

Posted at 04:21PM Apr 02, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

New Mortgage Requirements Resort to Old-School Terms

Home buyers in 2008 stand to get some really great deals on properties due to a surplus of inventory, developer incentives, low interest rates, and reduced prices. But could stricter mortgage requirements prevent some potential purchasers from owning the home of their dreams?

Posted at 09:21AM Apr 01, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

Increase in Existing Home Sales Surprises Economists

The latest report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that February home sales for existing properties rose from the previous month by 2.9% countrywide. The slight jump was a surprise to economists who believed February’s national home sales volume would decrease from January’s numbers. In Chicago, median condo sale prices were up 10% from February of 2007.

Posted at 09:13AM Mar 27, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

Rent-to-Own Homes – No Nest Egg Needed

A new construction condominium development in United Center Park is offering Chicago home buyers a rare rent-to-own option that gives purchasers time to save up for a down payment while living in their new home. The rent-to-own deal is offered through Dream Town Realty (details are available by contacting Ken Monarrez at 312-543-8256 or kmonarrez@dreamtown.com). This type of financing opportunity is still fairly uncommon in the Chicago housing market, but it comes at a time when the home buyers are in need of a new alternative to achieve their home ownership dreams.

Posted at 09:15AM Mar 25, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]

Baby Boomers Inspiring New Type of Home Design

Much of the Chicago housing market focuses on young couples, first-time buyers and families… However, there’s a huge demographic group out there that outnumbers other consumer groups, and their age is inspiring residential builders to design specialized homes.

Posted at 09:15AM Mar 24, 2008 by Kate Hoffman in General  |  Comments[0]