New analysis of HARP 2.0 is suggesting bold improvements for bank margins and other lending measurements in the second quarter of 2011. Conducted by the firm Keefe, Bruyete & Woods (KBW) and covered by HousingWire, the analysis looked at

Buyers have been on the hunt for once-in-a-lifetime deals in recent months, but an ad hoc index from The Washington Post suggests that strategy may no longer fly. Dubbing its approach the “low-ball index,” the Post looked at the number

February prices in the Chicago real estate market fell 2.5 percent from January and 6.9 percent from February 2011, according to the latest Case-Shiller. Nationally, the two major price indices of the Case-Shiller, the 10- and 20-City Composites, showed

Numerous reality television shows spotlighting renovation nightmares have popped up in recent years, and some are questioning their impact on potential homebuyers. Displaying the ugly side of buying a beautiful home, several of the shows were highlighted in a recent article

U.S. News just released its Best Business Jobs list, and real estate agents, boosted by new BLS stats, ranked quite highly in the list. According to U.S. News, over the next few years, businesses in the U.S. are on track to

Housing inventory declined yet again in March, and real estate analysts are debating its implications for the wider housing market. Based on the latest numbers from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), inventory declined from 2.40 million in February

With active listings as of April 2, 68 percent of agents do not provide virtual video tours of their listings. The remaining 25 percent use one of the major companies for virtual tours, while 7 percent of agents use

We recently asked whether or not Facebook is a waste of time for Realtors, based on new research from the Pew Research and American Life Project regarding Facebook user behavior. It was determined that no, Facebook was not a

Where did you grow up? Palos Heights. What is your favorite free-time activity? Hanging out at the lakefront! What do you do to relax when you’re stressed?

Multifamily real estate was one of the big surprises of 2011, and analysts are expecting big things of the sector in 2012. Fannie, the largest single participant in multifamily mortgage debt, is anticipating a 30 percent jump in multifamily

With nine years of experience under her belt, Adrienne Miller has joined Keller Williams Preferred Realty in Orland Park. She was previously an associate with Century 21,

The city of Chicago has lessened certain elements of its vacant property ordinance for mortgage servicers, particularly with interior maintenance. Chicago Buildings Commissioner Michael Merchant, in a HousingWire article,  said that the city eased some of its standards for the maintenance

  Scotsman Guide’s annual Top 200 Originators List for 2011 has been released and Guaranteed Rate took 21 of the coveted spots. The guide received over 800 entrants who were competing to be listed in top originator categories, such

Award-winning real estate Agent, Vickie Liu is has joined Urban Real Estate. Liu has been recognized by the Chicago Association of Realtors as a Top Producer. She also earned Accredited Buyer’s Representative and Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource

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