By Peter Ricci Negative equity mortgages declined in the second quarter, falling from 11.4 million properties to 10.8 million, according to the latest data from CoreLogic. Additionally, 1.8 million borrowers are only 5 percent underwater on their mortgages, and

With the U.S. Census Bureau reporting an increase of more than 25 percent in new housing permits in the first half of 2012 (as compared to 2011), Prospect Mortgage has announced a new platform to finance new single-family homes

By Peter Ricci Two Democrats in the Senate have reintroduced an ambitious bill that would extend refinancing to more than 13 million borrowers through an expansion of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). The bill, which is being proposed

Midwest Real Estate Data, the Chicagoland multiple listing service, has announced a new partnership that offers its real estate professionals a solution to connect with potential clients through

By Peter Ricci More than a month ago, we asked why housing, despite its overwhelming importance to the U.S. economy, was not coming up on the presidential campaign trail, and now that the conventions have come and gone –

Though home closings dropped in August, stats still show the market may be strengthening. Redfin conducted its Real-Time Demand Pulse, its monthly analysis of customers touring homes and offers being made in 18 markets across the U.S., and found

By Peter Ricci Baby boomer housing needs are a common topic here on Chicago Agent, and for good reason – a recent national survey by Coldwell Banker found that 87 percent of its agents reported having at least one baby

By Stephanie Sims The Ritz-Carlton Residences are almost finished, but a legal battle could prevent residents from moving in. Chicago-based Prism Development Co., the developer of the 89-unit condominium tower, and Terra Foundation for American Art, which owns the

By Peter Ricci The Fannie Mae National Housing Survey for August showed a persistent level of optimism in American consumers for the housing market, despite contrary attitudes for the job market and the greater U.S. economy. Overall, respondents to

The National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) Multifamily Production Index increased yet again in the second quarter of 2012, rising to 54 from 51 in the first quarter. A leading measure of builder and developer sentiment on the apartment

By Peter Ricci It was just a couple weeks ago that we looked at the multifamily housing boom and how dense urban environments were not going anywhere, and now, an academic has struck upon a catchy term to better

By Peter Ricci Showing a home is a delicate balancing act, one where dozens of itty bitty components must all be in perfect working order. Of course, it can be easy to overlook a detail or two while planning

Q. My client found a perfect neighborhood where she’d love to live, but not the perfect home. She did find a home she could potentially make perfect, however, with renovations. What can she

For properties built and sold within the same year, 2012 has seen the first decrease in the average days on market since 2008, with an average of 108 days. Though 2012 isn’t quite over yet, the year has proven

By Justin T. Hilley Across the nation, new owner household formation increased 125,000 in Q2 2012 to 74.8 million from the same period a year earlier, according to the Census Bureau. Within that figure, white and black owner households

By Peter Ricci The Chicago Association of Realtors (CAR) is suing Andrea Geller, a CAR member and agent for Coldwell Banker, for defamation for public statements she made in relation to Chicago Agent magazine’s story on the impeachment of former