Start Your Home Buying and Selling Research at www.YourIllinoisHome.com

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR) announces the launch of a new Web site, www.YourIllinoisHome.com, designed specifically for consumers who are looking to buy or sell a home in Illinois, learn more about the Illinois real estate market and find an Illinois REALTOR®.

“Buying or selling a home is one of the most important decisions a person will ever make,” said Kay Wirth, president of the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. “Research from the National Association of REALTORS® shows that 80 percent of homebuyers use the Internet to learn about the home-buying process and begin their search. When exploring those options in Illinois, we want to provide as much information as possible to future homebuyers and sellers to aid them in the process. Today’s consumer is interested in taking a more active role and YourIllinoisHome.com gives you the resources to do just that and to find a professional Illinois REALTOR® who can guide you through the complex process so you don’t have to go it alone.”

YourIllinoisHome.com features frequently asked questions about buying and selling a home in Illinois, financing options and Illinois market conditions including monthly and quarterly home sales and price information. In addition, consumers can find an Illinois REALTOR® by name, city or company or locate a property in Illinois with ease using a simple search function.

“When you buy or sell a home there’s so much to think about it’s hard to know where to begin,” said Wirth. “YourIllinoisHome.com is a great place to start. This, in addition to talking to a REALTOR® about what is happening in the local housing market, will simplify the process. Now is as good a time as ever to invest in a new home with mortgage rates still at historic lows and many homes to choose from.”

Consumers who are interested in today’s market can view the latest housing statistics, access interest rates and learn about financing in the Market Facts section. Visitors can also find information on demographics, housing characteristics and the experience of buyers and sellers in the housing market this year by browsing the Illinois Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers. 

Among the many free resources available on the site are tips for pricing a home for sale, how to prepare the home for sale and a real estate glossary. Potential buyers will benefit from the “10 Steps to Prepare for Homeownership” and learning the many advantages to owning a home such as tax savings and wealth accumulation over the long term that you cannot earn from renting.

YourIllinoisHome.com was developed by the Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR), a voluntary trade association whose 60,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, IAR works to protect the rights of property owners in the state by recommending and promoting legislation that safeguards and advances the interest of real property ownership.

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