I have been writing blog posts for some time and often the topic of participation is discussed. I for one don’t think that word can be over-reinforced, even as a gentle reminder. To participate is to belong; it is

In today’s ever-changing real estate and mortgage market, one always needs to make sure that they are looking out for their client’s best purchasing options. Whether a buyer is financing, or paying cash, is always a factor in what

Although everybody’s situation is unique, there are some instances where homebuyers are able to keep their current primary residence and purchase another home to live in. There are a variety of reasons as to why homeowners would do this.

By Timothy Dwyer Thanks to depreciated home values and historically low interest rates, potential homebuyers have a bargain-hunting mindset. As you prepare for the busy spring real estate season, you will need to differentiate yourself to these value-driven buyers

I know that the northwest suburbs of Chicago are a great place to live, work and play, but do your clients? One of the challenges that real estate agents can have is to showcase the great area that we

In our market, remodeling a home has become part of our housing conversation, whether it is to make a necessary repair in order to sell or a total gut rehab. Hiring a reputable contractor is the beginning, though –

Gone are the days when buyers drive around a neighborhood to search out real estate or page through the Sunday paper for local listings. Today’s buyers begin their search on the Internet. Most of my buyers have looked at

By Bob Corcoran The great American poet John Greenleaf Whittier wrote, “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’” And it’s the saddest part of my job: seeing potential left

By Melissa Zavala The short sale listing appointment can be an intimidating and scary meeting for any borrower that is considering listing and/or selling his or her home as a short sale. Some borrowers will tell you all about

How do you sell a home in 30 days or less in today’s market?  The answer is simple and all agents know it – price it right! I know what you are saying – that it is not that

Most lenders would consider a conventional mortgage as a loan that conforms to the guidelines set forth by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the two government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) that provide liquidity in the mortgage market. Technically speaking, a

In today’s competitive real estate market, a great looking and staged home can give a seller a leg up on their competition. With the over-saturation of home inventory on the market and the influx of new properties coming to

It can be a lonely world out there. Human beings are not meant to be “lone wolves;” we need to be surrounded by others to get the most and the best out each other. There is comfort in companionship

Mortgage rates are at an all-time historic low, but one of the biggest problems facing Chicagoans is that very few people have the ability to refinance due to poor credit and negative equity in their properties. This will only

By Rebecca Denison It’s not a secret that social media users generate a great deal of data. Big data. Take a tweet, for example. Each time one 140-character message is sent out, dozens of pieces of metadata are connected

By Matthew Collis Although email marketing may be a vital component of your communication strategy, you may not be aware that email marketing campaign reports can help you to pin-point the best leads in your database and increase the