The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 19, 2010.  The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 2.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one

A new survey from CareerBuilder discovered that the type of pet you own says a lot about you – and your job. On the whole, those in the real estate profession tend to be cat owners. The survey looked

The affordability of a classic single-family home has improved by 66 percent in the seven-county metropolitan Chicago real estate market over the last five years, according to a review by RE/MAX employing the traditional measure of home affordability developed

After decades of frequent moving because of their careers with the U.S. Navy, James and Rebecca Deshazor were finally ready to settle down so James could enjoy his retirement from the service and Rebecca could prepare for hers next

Contrary to popular belief, there’s never been a better time to purchase a new home—as evidenced by historically low interest rates and a variety of attractive financing options available. These loan programs and tax credits are specifically designed to

October continued the trend of median price growth in the majority of Illinois counties: sales were lower due to seasonal and residual tax credit factors and year-to-date sales remain positive even as the economy and foreclosures slow the recovery.

The real estate professionals at RE/MAX Elite in Hinsdale, Ill., are doing their part to spread some cheer this holiday season. The brokerage, located at 28 W. Hinsdale Ave., will hold a toy drive on Nov. 26 to benefit

Through local bake sales, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer provides the inspiration and support for individuals, communities, and businesses to help fight pediatric cancer. Last year agents at Prudential Starck, REALTORS had so much fun hosting the bake sale and

Construction has begun on America’s premier upper-upscale Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in the internationally-acclaimed Aqua tower in Chicago’s evolving Lakeshore East community. A joint venture of developer Magellan Development Group and Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company, the

Home prices in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market reached somewhat firmer ground in October even as the volume of homes changing hands continued to decline.  Both the median and average price of homes sold in the seven-county metro

“I am finding my short sales buyers are getting more and more impatient with banks and their response time. I have three buyers right now who have waited for nothing in return for 90-plus days and have begun to

According to a report from the National Association of REALTORS, the average homeowner’s net worth is approximately 41 times larger than that of the renter. Homeowners’ average net worth in 2010 ranged between $150,000 and $200,000 the report says,

At its Greenbuild Annual Conference & Expo today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the launch of the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) Pilot for Illinois. The new gateway offers Greenbuild conference attendees three new resources for use

Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved slightly in November, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. The HMI rose one notch to 16 from a downwardly

When the mortgage crisis hit American homeowners full-force, companies offering “foreclosure rescue” and “loan modification” sprouted like weeds. Most promised troubled homeowners quick fixes for high fees, and failed to deliver after collecting their money, leaving families poorer and