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

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

There are 381 languages spoken in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, not every one is spoken by a significant portion of the population, but some language groups number so many that real estate agents

Local clients can be challenging enough for real estate agents to work with, but international clients pose their own set of challenges, including cultural and communication differences. Coldwell Banker’s Suzanne Gignilliat’s international clients are often sophisticated businessmen and -women,

London, United Kingdom Bedroom: 4 Bathroom: 4 Square Feet: 5,426 Price: $16,386,991 Located at one of London’s most exclusive addresses, this Charles Street townhouse characterizes period style mixed with modern accommodations. Comprised of six floors, this rare property features

Last year represented the steadiest 12 months of recovery for the U.S. housing market since the economic meltdown in 2007, and foreign buyers and investors were major drivers behind the surge in home prices and sales. In 2014, foreign

Citing weak economic activity in China and other global markets, the Federal Reserve announced at its September Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting that it would not be raising interest rates, a decision that surprised many economists and analysts.

According to a recent Trulia survey examining consumer concerns, 42 percent of Americans think mortgage interest rates will increase over the next six months, but Matthew Koch, senior vice president and Chicago region head of mortgage at Fifth Third

In an effort to regain the share of loans that the FHA has lost the last couple years, the agency has put a new policy into effect that would allow for aspiring homebuyers with lower credit ratings to get

Here is a list of fresh apps in 2015, all of which benefit agents’ business in intriguing ways. MileIQ: Car and truck expenses are the most claimed tax deduction for small businesses, and few professionals spend more time behind

With technology ever evolving, best utilizing both new and old technology to keep in contact with clients and to market to prospective clients is a key to success. We talked to five tech-centric agents around Chicagoland to figure out

In 2013, Tom Bretz and Adam Freeman, operators of Century 21 Affiliated’s Chicago office, began receiving opportunities to invest in disruptive technology targeted for the real estate industry. They used those offers as the impetus to create the first

In 15 years with Baird & Warner, VP of Technology Mark Steward recalls only a handful of agents whose email accounts were hacked. He is quick to point out, however, that the number of attempts is high, with wiring

On March 4, 2014, Kickstarter, the now-popular crowdfunding website, surpassed $1 billion in pledges just shy of its five-year anniversary. Adoption of that model into more specific industries became all but inevitable in its successful wake. It’s already happening