New construction costs in the U.S. continue to rise. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median price for a new home is $288,900, which is a 19.63 percent increase from 2010. The rising cost of construction materials has

2015 offered some interesting trends in income and brokerage satisfaction, which often go hand in hand. For example, in 2015 the median brokerage split our respondents reported was higher than 2014’s. Agents are also incredibly optimistic about their business,

The difference between a top producer and the average agent is apparent in almost every aspect of how they do business. Perhaps the most obvious differences can be seen in sales volume: the top 20 agents in each of

New agents continue to enter the real estate industry, but with fresh faces comes inexperience. We surveyed Chicagoland’s top producers about the worst habits they see in new agents, and not surprisingly, there were some common threads in their

We asked the top-ranked agents in Chicagoland’s six counties for a few quick insights on their business: 1. Listings – 69 percent upload the maximum amount of photos allowed to the MLS (25) 2. Showings – Only 19.05 percent attend every

There are two ways for an inexperienced agent to reach top producer status: work hard alone for years, or join a team. In every city, the bar for top producer status is set at a different height – some very

The expertise of a good lender is invaluable. For agents (especially new agents), the difference between an organized, experienced lender and an inattentive or disorganized one is monumental. Knowing who to call is half the battle when it’s time

Compared to a few years ago, the lending market is doing quite well. In fact, some institutions believe the progress of recovery is such that the market will be fully recovered by the end of this year. Now if

The improving employment picture, a recent interest rate hike and less rigorous loan standards are fueling a dynamic Chicagoland real estate market. Inventory is tight, prices are up and single-family homes are in demand. A relatively warm and snow-free

Chicago is a patchwork city cuffed in suburbs. While the metropolitan market is usually reported on in its entirety, the reality is that the local market is splintered into sub-markets, which often perform contrary to the area’s larger trends.