Now could be your best time to buy a home or refinance the one you have as mortgage rates continuing to push lower, Freddie Mac reported today. The 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.35 percent this week while the 15-year, fixed … Continue reading →

Chicago ranks No. 8 when it comes to some of the most mom-friendly cities in the U.S., according to a survey from the online real estate brokerage Redfin. To create the mom-friendly ranking, Redfin compared 25 metro areas and looked … Continue reading →

If you want to get more out of your remodeling dollars, think curb appeal. Spending money on lower-cost projects that boost your home’s exterior appearance and, in turn curb appeal, can mean more money in your pocket at resale time, … Continue reading →

REALTORS® seeking to do business in the future need to embrace relationships with people of different cultures. “The model has changed,” said Julius L. Cartwright, president and CEO of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers. “Global is the new … Continue reading →

More than 100 REALTORS® gathered in Oak Brook, Ill., to hear about strategies for doing business with clients from South Africa and the Caribbean. Jim Kinney, treasurer of the Illinois Association of REALTORS®, opened the session, which was April 26, … Continue reading →

If you are looking for ways to improve the short sale process for yourself and your clients, then you will want to attend a U.S. Treasury workshop and webinar, “All About Short Sales,” from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., May … Continue reading →

Good news for homebuyers and owners seeking to refinance, fixed mortgage rates moved lower for the fourth consecutive week and continued to support the ongoing housing recovery, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.40 percent, down slightly from … Continue reading →

Register by midnight tonight, April 24, and pay just $119 (includes six hours CE) for the IAR Spring Conference & Expo, May 8-9 in Collinsville.

The Christian Science Monitor reports this morning in, “New home sales climb 1.5 percent, bolstering housing recovery“ that new home sales rose 1.5 percent in March compared to February and were up even more, 18.5 percent, from a year ago, based … Continue reading →

“Illinois housing market continues to rebound” was the headline from HousingWire after the Illinois Association of REALTORS® released the March Illinois home sales report on Monday. Illinois home sales rose 13.6 percent compared to a year ago and the statewide median price increased … Continue reading →

Illinois home sales increased 13.6 percent over previous-year levels in March and median prices increased 3.6 percent, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. Statewide home sales (including single-family homes and condominiums) in March 2013 totaled 10,992 homes sold, up … Continue reading →

Hundreds of REALTORS® gathered at the Illinois State Capitol this week as part of the Illinois Association of REALTORS® annual lobby day. They talked with state legislators about issues important to private property owners and the real estate industry. Watch video highlights … Continue reading →

More than 225 Illinois REALTORS® attended the Illinois Housing Leaders Conference in Springfield that included special guests Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Watch this video for highlights and scenes from the day.

Congratulations to the 2013 REALTORS® of the Year who will be honored at tonight’s awards banquet, sponsored by the Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation. The banquet is held in conjunction with the business meetings of the 41,000-member Illinois Association of … Continue reading →

Hundreds of Illinois REALTORS® were out in force on Tuesday at the state capitol as they lobbied for private property rights and the real estate industry at the 37th annual Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR) Capitol Conference. “You make a … Continue reading →

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan made news Monday when both addressed Illinois REALTORS® at the Illinois Housing Leaders Conference in Springfield. Both talked about their records on housing issues. The State Journal-Register article, “Quinn, Madigan … Continue reading →

More than 225 Illinois REALTORS® attended the Illinois Association of REALTORS® Housing Leaders Conference in Springfield Monday that included special guests Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan. See photo highlights from the event:

For the second year, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn spoke to REALTORS® at the Illinois Housing Leaders Conference in Springfield on Monday and urged them to continue their work building and preserving neighborhoods. “We all know the key to economic recovery … Continue reading →

At the Illinois Housing Leaders Conference in Springfield on Monday, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan spoke to Illinois REALTORS® about the work her office has done in regards to foreclosures, predatory lending and other issues that have affected the housing … Continue reading →

At Monday’s Illinois Association of REALTORS® Housing Leaders Conference in Springfield, a panel of housing regulators and officials discussed some of the issues facing the real estate market, but also pointed to state financing and consumer programs aimed at getting … Continue reading →