News / Features

A radiant home

Some farm! The home of “Charlotte’s Web” author E.B. White was recently put on the market for $3.7 million. Located in Brooklin, Maine, and similar to the farm described in his Newbery Award-winning book, this property offers 44 acres,

Guaranteed Rate introduces new jumbo loan program

On Dec. 27, Guaranteed Rate announced a new jumbo loan program that does not require mortgage insurance and accepts as little as a 10 percent down payment option for loans up to $3 million. The program, GR Flex Power, includes

Pending home sales inch up slightly in November

Pending home sales saw small gains in November while existing home sales and price growth are expected to slow heading into 2018, according to the National Association of Realtors. The Pending Home Sales Index rose from 109.3 in October

Floral is in, bar carts are out in Zillow’s home trends predictions for 2018

The new year is just around the corner, and if you’ve resolved to make your living space come alive with color and unique accents alike, a new forecast can help you choose your new decor. Zillow recently released its Home

Realtor Association of the Fox Valley to provide agent training for all members with AgentEDU

The Realtor Association of the Fox Valley (RAFV) has signed an agreement with AgentEDU, a division of Agent Publishing, to provide online training and education for its members. With the new partnership, AgentEDU will provide online video courses for

What salary do you need to afford a home in the Chicagoland area?

Housing affordability remains a growing problem across the country, according to a new study by mortgage resource HSH.com, which examined the 50 largest metro areas in the United States to determine the salary residents must earn to afford an

Redfin: The average American home costs 18 bitcoins

Bitcoin, the first ever cryptocurrency to function independent of a bank or middleman, soared last month from $5,870.37 per coin on Nov. 12 to $16,650.01 on Dec. 12, a 183.6 percent jump. As of Dec. 21, its value was

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Congressional Republicans pass sweeping tax bill

After being approved by the House of Representatives and Senate on Dec. 20 after months of deliberations and negotiations, the Republicans’ so-called Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is set to land on President Donald J. Trump’s desk for final

Existing-home sales reach strongest pace in more than a decade

The end of the year usually means a slowdown in home sales, but this year is showing to be an exception, with existing-home sales growing in November for the third straight month to reach their strongest pace in nearly

Fannie Mae: Gig economy workers hope to buy houses, but not in near future

We see evidence of it everywhere — big pink mustaches on car dashboards, round black “U” stickers slapped on the back of car windows and friends allowing out-of-towners to rent rooms in their homes for a modest price. The

Single-family housing starts surge along with builder confidence

After a slow construction season in October, housing starts across the nation saw a 3.3 percent jump in November, according to data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department.  Single-family construction, in particular,

Freddie, Fannie announce increased affordable housing initiative

The United States has been grappling with a dearth of affordable housing, spurring a number of municipalities and officials around the country to address the problem head on. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae recently unveiled a plan to fix what

Boom in single-family rentals contributing to inventory crunch

Due to a boom in single-family rentals, 270,000 fewer homes have sold each year since 2006. According to a new Zillow analysis, between 2006 and early 2017, the number of single-family homes that are rented increased by 5 million,

Report: Buyers in Chicagoland save more money than renters

An age-old question for many adults is whether they should invest in property or continue to rent. Proponents of buying say it’s a good investment in the future, but sometimes, certain factors — like limited inventory — make ownership

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Homebuyers plunking down more money for down payments

The average U.S. homebuyer in the third quarter made a down payment that was higher than any other quarter since the first quarter of 2000, according to a new report. In Boston, the average homebuyer made a down payment

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HOME survey reveals diminished housing and economic optimism

Optimism regarding homebuying and home-selling is down in the final quarter of 2017, according to the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) fourth-quarter Housing Opportunities and Market Experience (HOME) survey. The percentage of homeowners who believe now is a good time

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