Without the surging apartment sector, where would new construction be in 2015? Housing starts in September were up 6.5 percent from August and 17.5 percent from Sept. 2014 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.026 million, which is the

According to the new Better Money Habits Millennial Report from Bank of America, while 84 percent of Millennials are self-reliant when it comes to managing their own finances, 41 percent are constantly stressed about money. Moreover, the report found that money stress

Ninety percent of all U.S. homes are under insulated, according to a new report released by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA). The report pulled data from the 2009 Residential Energy Consumption Survey and used insulation estimation techniques

Builders are now more confident than at anytime since the housing boom Builder confidence in the market for newly constructed single-family homes rose three points in October to a level of 64 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells

According to Zillow, Chicago is No. 6 on the list of best cities for trick-or-treating. San Francisco has topped the list for the fifth year in a row. Other repeats include Minneapolis, Denver and Seattle, along with new appearances by Nashville,

The new median size for single family homes is 2,450 square feet. According to the 2014 Survey of Construction (SOC) data from the Census Bureau and NAHB analysis, this is the second highest average since 2009. The new size in

On Oct. 3, lenders finally reached the much-delayed compliance deadline imposed by TRID. However, in an effort to assist smaller lending, title and escrow companies reach a level of sustainable compliance with the new documentation, a bipartisan bill was introduced, and

Amanda McMillan Real Estate Agent, @Properties Led by CEO Amanda McMillan, Chicago Home Partner is a group of real estate advisors providing intimate, premium service to homebuyers and sellers in the city of Chicago. Consistently ranked among the top

Yet another study finds that a majority of Americans are on financially insecure footing Sixty-two percent of Americans have inadequate savings. That alarming statistic was the main finding of a Google Consumer Survey that GoBankingRates, a national website that

Wire Fraud Scammers Target Real Estate Agents, Clients Resurgence of wire fraud scams alarms NAR Wire fraud, or fraud using telecommunications technology, is on the rise in real estate transactions, according to a new report in the Washington Post. The scam

The National Association of Home Builders Young Professionals Committee was recently formed to inspire young homebuilding professionals under the age of 45 to become association leaders. New members will be involved in national networking, education and advocacy initiatives. And when filling out an application, the association is recommending

Housing has made considerable progress the last few years, but elements of the downturn still linger. Recently, there have been many promising developments in housing. New construction, for instance, is becoming more affordable, and new home sales are up

Average fixed mortgage rates have lowered following September’s jobs report, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. With the 30-year FRM falling from 3.85 to 3.76 percent, average rates have now been below 4 percent for 11 consecutive weeks, while including the

LendingTree’s survey reveals that though Americans bargain shop for many things, they do not adequately research financial loans. Out of the 1,024 people surveyed (ages 25 and up), 79 percent of Americans claimed to be bargains shoppers. An overwhelming  83

Mortgages were slightly easier to attain in September, according to a new analysis by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The MBA’s Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), which tracks access to credit, rose 0.3 percent in September to 126.5; any increase in

Chicago holds a majority of zombie foreclosures, vacant homes Despite a 43 percent national drop of “zombie” foreclosures, they still remain a problem in several parts of the country, according to a RealtyTrac study. The study, which was looking at “zombie” foreclosures