Real estate is one of the country’s largest industries in terms of spending power, having spent nearly $27 billion on advertising in 2016, according to research firm Borrell Associates. Social media has taken a while to capitalize, perhaps intimidated

Fannie Mae has followed Freddie Mac’s lead in providing an appraisal-free mortgage program, which is available immediately. The program is only available to a specific group of approved mortgages. This will allow lenders to offer better efficiency and cost

With the VA guaranteed home loan program currently providing borrowers the potential for 100 percent financing of up to $424,100, the condominium market can offer a veritable smorgasbord of opportunity, versus the less expansive selection of offerings in the

Jerome Wade, president of Wade Enterprises and Associates, Inc. and founder/president of the Southside Builders Association, has been a central force in Chicagoland real estate for over four decades, especially in his work developing the residential market in emerging

Ken Fixler, President | Barnett Homes How often do agents participate in your transactions? We rely on a network of agents to not only list and market our homes, but also help us identify lots and homes for redevelopment.

Number of years in real estate: 2 Describe your look: Classy and fun. What do you consider a “fashion don’t”? Overaccessorizing. What is your favorite piece of clothing and why? My little black dress because it is a timeless

Below are the current stock prices for publicly traded Chicagoland builders that were ranked among the top 20 on the Builder 100 list by Builder magazine. D.R. Horton | Total closings: 41,652 | Gross revenue (in millions): $12,645 Since

In order to make sure you’re using lead generation tools that are actually working for your business, you need to assess them to see if they are worth your time and money. The first step is to come up

In the world of real estate, it’s all about leads. However, leads mean nothing if you fail to generate them correctly. Here are five common lead generation mistakes to avoid if you want potential clients to become real clients.

(With contributions from Claire Fountas) What does today’s homebuyer want? Given the choice between more space and a greater variety of neighborhood amenities, many homebuyers are deciding not to choose at all. A pair of Chicagoland neighborhoods are attracting

Becoming a franchise owner comes with a lot of benefits that can help a smaller, independent brokerage, such as marketing and operational support and brand recognition. However, there are also a number of fees and costs that go along

The rise of franchise homebuilding is still relatively new, but one company has made powerful strides through strong recruiting and a sound business model. Epcon Communities, based in Dublin, Ohio, has carved itself a niche in franchise homebuilding for

Owning a franchise is a great opportunity for those who wish to have more of an entrepreneurial role in the industry. Below are a few of the major costs to research if you plan on opening your own franchise.

In our survey of Chicagoland agents, we unveiled some of their opinions on franchise