The Chicago 77

One of the most common questions I get from people (or at least I get a quizzical look) is what?s the difference between an agent, a broker, and a REALTOR®. This usually happens when they realize I?m using the words differently. For example, ?The agent?s broker told her she had to be a Realtor® in [...]

30 March 2009 ? Mortgage rates have continued to hold steady, or are slightly down today. The Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P are all down first thing this week. GM CEO Wagoner has resigned amid White House pressure. Neither GM nor Chrysler has completed the steps required by Washington to get more government aid, but they [...]

What is Green, exactly? It?s one of those terms that has a connotation, but eludes strict definition because it means something different depending on its context and depending on the goals and motivations of the person using the word. It is not unlike other terms that have a strong connotation but inexact definitions.  Words like, [...]

Carl Case of S&P/Case-Shiller Price Index warns buyers that in good neighborhoods, you aren?t going to find bargains. People are not willing to sell and take a huge hit on the value of their home unless they absolutely must. He went on to explain that their research is showing that bargains are generally only found in lower-income areas.

26 March 2009 – Mortgage rates are still holding pretty steady while the Dow rallies back. The Dow is up over a thousand points from its recent low. Geithner is seeking to have tighter regulation on financial markets to help avoid the problems as of late. In non-financial news, the NCAA Tournament is down to [...]

My tenet is to focus on an integrated approach to American recovery. If we focus on Economy, Energy Efficiency, and Environmental Responsibility (E³) and work on all three simultaneously we can achieve the recovery we all hope for.

Mar. 24, 2009 – This week, mortgage rates have held pretty steady while the stock markets have been rebounding just a bit. However, today’s mortgage rates are still up slightly from the lows in late November and mid January. FHA mortgage rates are still slightly lower than conventional mortgage rates, but FHA has cut the [...]

It?s no secret to anyone that the current sales market is less than ideal. Under most normal circumstances, average homeowners are holding on to their property and hoping for the housing storm to pass. But what if you have to sell? You could be someone who is being transferred to another city or state by [...]

Mar. 23, 2009 ? The Fed announced its intent to buy $300 billion of long term mortgage bonds, sending the bonds upward, and mortgage rates downward. You can still get a 30-year fixed rate at a lower rate than currently offered on 3, 5, or 7 year arms, and FHA rates are slightly better than [...]

Being someone who deals with dozens of banks and lenders daily, I can emphatically state that the banks have not been loosening up the purse strings. They take the money, and extend credit to only the most-well qualified, who likely aren?t feeling the brunt of the recession anyhow.

Buying a home in Chicago (or anywhere) requires some homework. Whether you are planning on buying now or months down the road, there?s no time to prepare like the present. Buying a home is much more than just purchasing a new place to live, it?s one of the best investments you will ever make. Let?s [...]

Split face blocks are manufactured by combining two or more blocks together as one larger unit. After a curing period, the units are put through a machine that cuts the stone in half to expose it’s interior aggregates. The amount of  aggregate varies from block to block. There are many different sizes and colors available. Advantages of Split Faced [...]

Housing starts went up in February. By now you have read in many, many, many places about how the Commerce Department announced this amazing fact yesterday (click here for the PDF). First of all, what is a “housing start?” The Commerce Department defines them as, “the number of single or multi-family dwellings that have begun [...]