Though some headlines on rising mortgage rates have bared apocalyptic overtones, the housing market has some room to spare on rate increases. Mortgage have ticked up in recent weeks, and already, the doomsday headlines (many of them broadcasting the

Housing is putting up its best numbers in some time, but we can’t ignore some of its potential hurdles as the market changes. Nearly every media outlet imaginable has jumped on the housing-recovery bandwagon, reporting on the numerous signs

The 2014 Obama budget has been garnering plenty of attention from the press, but how could it affect your residential real estate business? Well, it’s that time of the year! Oh yes, the nation’s capitol has begun the early

By April 30, 2013 Illinois managing broker licensees must have completed the continuing education (CE) requirements and applied to renew their license through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). What’s required? That depends on how you

In the wake of the housing crisis, some nasty myths regarding homeownership have been making the rounds, but they’re just that – myths. During the economic downturn, the concept of homeownership endured quite a bit of mudslinging from numerous

Ok, so I have a passion for flying, but this analogy I believe will resonate with many of you. We have all been schooled on the old adage that a windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a

Social media has shifted how most businesses keep track of their employees and how schools keep tabs on their students. You’ve probably read about employees being fired for things they’ve put on their social media accounts, or universities kicking

If you are in real estate, you probably know that the Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 is due to expire at the end of this year. Regardless of whether you do a lot of short sales or just

Did you know that the guy behind the deli counter at your grocery store voted for the other guy? Want to know why it matters? It doesn’t. There are a lot of places where politics don’t matter. The deli

By Stephen Hnatow Entering the industry in 2007, I thought a declining market and number of sales would give everyone the opportunity to become a better resource and broker for their clientele, that it would push stronger agents to

By Sean O’Connor Real estate offices have so many things to worry about, from managing staff, to keeping pace with new listings, to marketing to attract new customers, and finally, to making a profit in today’s challenging economies. And

FHA-approved or not FHA-approved? That is the question. You’ve been there – looking up condo listings for a client who is FHA-approved, only to find out the overzealous list agent just marked every available sales option on the MLS.

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 –

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

With today’s housing environment and the volume of distressed properties on the market, buyers are seeing a surplus of affordable homes available for purchase. And while homes may be available, many are not “move-in ready,” or immediately suitable for

By Bob Corcoran The real estate business is full of acronyms. You’re familiar with many of them: CRS, GRE, NAR and globs of others. But there’s one that seems to be flying under the radar of a lot of