Despite slower economic activity, Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research Group still forecasted positive developments in its latest projections. The economy grew at an annualized rate of 3.0 percent in 2011’s fourth quarter, and Fannie anticipates it will grow by

The La Grange office of  Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage recently hosted its Annual Chili Cook-Off to benefit the Coldwell Banker Charitable Foundation. Founded in 2007, the charity  supports 22 local housing-related causes that directly benefit the needs of the

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage announced The Shake Agency will be joining its Oak Lawn office. All associates from The Shake Agency will continue to serve their residential and commercial clientele as Coldwell Banker associates. Bruce Shake, owner and principal

Realtors are an increasingly confident bunch, according to new results from NAR’s expansive Realtors Confidence Index Report. Co-authored by Jed Smith, the association’s managing director of quantitative research, and George Ratiu, the manager of quantitative and commercial research the report looked at

Home sales in the nine-county Chicago area posted big increases in March, signaling a bright start to the spring selling season. Counting single family and condos, sales for March were up 23.8 percent from a year ago to totaled

The Architecture Billings Index (ABI), one of the leading economic indicators of future construction activity, reported positive numbers yet again in March. The fifth straight month that the index has been in positive territory, the ABI finished the month at 50.4,

In private comments overheard by reporters, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney floated the idea of eliminating the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). According to the Washington Post, Romney made his comments at a private fundraiser amidst a

The tear-down, a controversial, boom-era construction strategy, may be making a return to the North Shore – and it’s not returning quietly. According to an extensive article by Trib Local, the tear-down is often associated with a controversial, transformative process

A recent surge in short sales, caused by more agreeable selling terms by banks, has increased short sales above foreclosure sales for the first time. According to research by Lending Processing Services (LPS), short sales accounted for 23.9 percent

Prices for homes in the nation’s 53 largest metropolitan areas were up 5.8 percent year-over-year in March, according to research by RE/MAX. The increase marks the second straight month of yearly increases for home values; before February, prices had

Building permits continued their strong performance in March in the latest construction data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Released in conjunction with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the report found that building permits in March were at

A new rule making its way through Washington could restrict access to home loans when the market needs them the most, agents and lenders fear. The rule, which would stipulate what characteristics a mortgage must have to be labeled

Nearly half of lenders expect strategic defaults to increase from 2011 to 2012, according to a quarterly survey by FICO. The survey, which sought opinions from 262 risk managers across the U.S., found that 46 percent of respondents expected

The pilot bidding program for the FHFA’s REO conversion program has been extended by a month, possibly because of high demand. According to a HousingWire article on the program, investors will now have until May to bid on the

Clare at Watertower was bought at a bankruptcy auction by Harrison, New York-based company, Senior Care Development LLC. Senior Care bid $53.5 million in cash and agreed to take liability for the over $57 million in resident deposits that

@properties and 10 North Shore real estate brokers are joining forces in a merger with well-established Chambers Cross & Associates, a Winnetka-based boutique real estate firm with deep roots in Winnetka. @properties will be able to help Chambers Cross