News / Features

Weichert, Realtors-McKee Remembers John C. Aiello

John C. Aiello, an agent with Weichert, Realtors-McKee, died friday March 30, at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge after a long battle with

Chicago Brokerage to Charge Hourly Fee for Buyers

Not even two weeks after Koenig & Strey made headlines with its announcement that it would be charging mandatory retention fees for its buyers, another Chicago brokerage has announced a new fee-based system with its own unique

How Will Pent-Up Demand Affect Housing?

Pent-up demand is a term that has been thrown around quite a bit in housing debates lately, and last week, the NAHB threw its analytical hat in the ring. Often, the demand argument is presented as the second coming

Private Loan Modifications Decline in February

Loan modifications from the nation’s banks were down 20 percent from January to February, according to an analysis by the Hope Now alliance. In total, 44,500 home loans were modified in February, compared to 55,700 in January, and workouts

The Emotions of the Homebuying Decision

A new survey out from Coldwell Banker is reporting that a formidable number of homebuyers put more emphasis on the emotional appeal of a home than its technical details. According to a Real Estate Economy Watch overview of the

New FHA Restrictions Change Credit Requirements

A new regulation from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is poised to further restrict access to the agency’s pool of low-cost, low-money-down loans. According to a CNN Money article on the changes, the FHA is now scrutinizing the creditworthiness

IL State Govt. Follows Chicago’s Lead With Vacant Property Ordinance

The Illinois House is taking a page out of the city of Chicago’s textbook and considering a vacant property ordinance based on new fees and regulations. Due for a House vote soon, the bill will provide local governments with

Ryne Sandberg Selling his Last Chicago Property

Former Cubs second baseman Ryne Sandberg is selling his luxury co-op home in Streeterville. The home is listed at $650,000, which make $260 per square foot for the 2,500-square-foot

Homeowners Receive Property Tax Break in Illinois

  House Bill 4242 was unanimously approved  by the Illinois House in Springfield to freeze property taxes easements on properties that has been effected by natural disasters. The bill was passed Friday March 30 and went into effect

Construction Spending Retains YOY 2012 Increases

Construction spending, one of the main economic indicators for future growth, rose 5.8 percent year-over-year in February, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. At a $808.9 billion annual rate, spending was actually down somewhat from January’s revised totals, falling slightly

Delinquency Rates at Fannie, Freddie Decline in February

The housing market received another dose of good news late last week with delinquency rate reports from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which both declined in February. The reports are the latest in a long line of positive developments

Investment Home Sales Surged in 2011

Sales of investment and vacation homes skyrocketed in 2011, with the combined market share jumping to its highest level since 2005, according to the 2012 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey from the National Association of Realtors. That survey found that,

How Do Top Producers Think the Election Will Affect Housing?

At our Top Producers event this year, we asked top producers in attendance how they felt the election would affect housing. Find out what they had to

The Problems of Escalating Contract Failures

An interesting nugget of information on contract failures, was tucked away in the National Association of Realtor’s latest press release on existing-home sales. Amidst the details on sales (which were down 0.9 percent monthly but up 8.8 percent year, in case

Dimensions of a Housing Recovery

All week, we’ve been reporting on the different dimensions of the housing recovery. From housing’s relationship with the greater economic progression of 2012, to positive projections from Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, to the continually high interest from Americans

Karina Caulfield Joins Conlon

Less than two years after winning her own Sotheby’s franchise as part of a lawsuit settlement, Karina Caulfield has shut down her Lakeview residential real estate office to join forces with Conlon: A Real Estate

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