How will new construction grow in 2016? Liz Brooks: As more new luxury rentals deliver in 2016, we see supply outpacing demand and expect rents to moderate. There has been very little condo development activity in the past seven

What factors will affect loans next year, and why? David Hrobon: TRID rules have created a paradigm shift for the real estate and lending community.  It is a “buyer first” mentality today.  We also see some loosening of credit,

What do you think will happen with the U.S. economy over the next 12 months, in regards to builder confidence, existing home sales, housing inventory, housing starts, pending home sales and unemployment? Liz Brooks: We have seen consistent growth

How do you see third-party aggregators like Zillow/Trulia and Realtor.com growing or changing? Janet Owen: Although there is a need for third-party aggregators, I don’t see any more room or need for more. If anything, there may be mergers.

Will Chicagoland housing demand increase or decrease over the next 12 months? Janet Owen: I think it will remain the same or decrease slightly. We have experienced a terrific 2015. I have had another record year. There may be

What challenges will the local, state and world economy see in 2016, and why? Liz Brooks:  We need continued improvement in job and wage growth in order for the housing market to continue to grow.  We will see an

Some homebuyers are married – some aren’t. There are homebuyers who are veterans, and others who are accountants – buyers who have families and student loans and car payments, who are Millennials and Baby Boomers. Not every buyer is

The average American single-family home has changed significantly over the past century. From outhouses to home automation tech, here’s how consumer demand has driven the evolution of the single-family

According to NAR’s 2015 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, single women made up 15 percent of the overall homebuying market, as opposed to single men, who only made up 9 percent of the market. In 2013, single women

Millennials’ entry into the housing market is a popular topic, but a new generation is already poised to follow in their footsteps – Generation Z. Some aren’t even old enough to vote, but these kids are already thinking about

In 2015, homebuyers are more sophisticated and savvy. They have adopted online tools, like Zillow’s home price estimator “Zestimate,” as critical additions to their home search preparations. But while the proliferation of available information on home prices and neighborhood

Downsizing is a natural progression in housing we’ve come to expect of older generations, such as the aging Baby Boomers, whose preference for high square footage is diminishing as their children leave the nest and retirement sets in. But

Many highly effective agents will find themselves at a crossroads at some point in their career. As client bases grow over time and referrals multiply, even the most talented agent will realize that there’s a limit to the number

There are roughly 1.118 million members of the National Association of Realtors, and they strike an impressive profile: Realtors’ median experience level is 12 years; their gross income is $45,800; 58 percent are female; and 42 percent have at

The real estate industry has changed tremendously over the last decade, and the way new agents learn the ropes and service their clients has also evolved. Agents and brokerages have weathered a market crash, a slow recovery and a

Some may find it surprising that the home of the Cubs has become a very attractive option for affluent foreign homebuyers, but anyone who keeps a close watch on the market will already be aware of the opportunities that