Home Ownership
Cook County Treasurer Launches Online Tool To Show How Property Taxes Are Allocated
Cook County Property Tax Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas launched a new online tool that calculates year-to-year changes for each property tax bill and shows where tax dollars go. The new feature, called “Where Your Money Goes,” is an online, educational display that provides a clear view of how much taxes owed on a property…
Read MoreWhy Homeowners Are Thankful They Own
Countless people have set out on the exciting journey of homeownership. Ask around and you’ll find the vast majority are thankful they took the leap and bought a home. But why? It’s because of the many emotional and lifestyle benefits that come with being a homeowner. So, if you’re trying to decide if you want to rent…
Read MoreFannie Mae Rolls Out 5% Down Payment Program for Multifamily Properties
Fannie Mae 5% Down-Payment Program Fannie Mae has lowered its down payment requirement for owner-occupied multifamily property loans, effective Nov. 18. The move has been hailed as a breakthrough for real estate investors—and prospective homeowners—as it makes it significantly easier to buy an investment property with less cash. The decision comes at just the right time, given…
Read MoreHow VA Loans Can Help Make Homeownership Dreams Come True
For more than 79 years, Veterans Affairs (VA) home loans have helped millions of veterans buy their own homes. If you or someone you care about has served in the military, it’s essential to learn about this program and its advantages. Here are some important things to know about VA loans before you buy a home. The Many…
Read MoreReasons To Sell Your House Before the New Year
Sell Your House Before the New Year As the year winds down, you may have decided it’s time to make a move and put your house on the market. But should you sell now or wait until January? While it may be tempting to hold off until after the holidays, here are three reasons to…
Read MoreLodging, Energy Costs Push Inflation Higher
Lodging, Energy Costs Push Inflation Higher September’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed that inflation rose 0.4%, with this monthly reading coming in just above estimates. On an annual basis, CPI held steady at 3.7% last month, though this is still near the lowest level in more than two years. Core CPI, which strips out volatile…
Read MoreSave Money on Title Insurance
Title Insurance We’re produce to annouce 2 new Partners to our Referal Network. Adler & Herback will save you money on title insurance. House Mortgage can be used for traditional loans & has resouces for investor loans. Adler & Herbach is a premier real estate law firm in the Chicagoland area, specializing in residential closings.…
Read MoreUS Home Price Insights – September 2023
Through July 2023 With Forecasts Through July 2024 Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased year over year by 2.5% in July 2023 compared with July 2022. On a month-over-month basis, home prices increased by 0.4% in July 2023 compared with June 2023 (revisions with public records data are standard, and to ensure accuracy, CoreLogic…
Read MoreMortgage Rates: Past, Present, and Possible Future
If you’re hoping to buy a home this year, you’re probably paying close attention to mortgage rates. Since mortgage rates impact what you can afford when you take out a home loan – and affordability is a challenge today – it’s a good time to look at the big picture of where mortgage rates have been historically compared…
Read MoreBuyer Traffic Is Still Stronger than the Norm
Are you putting off selling your house because you’re worried no one’s buying because of where mortgage rates are? If so, know this: the latest data shows plenty of buyers are still out there, and they’re purchasing homes today. Here’s the data to prove it. The ShowingTime Showing Index is a measure of buyers touring homes. The graph below uses the…
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