By IAR Education Manager Carrie Elliott and IAR Legal Hotline Attorney Betsy Urbance 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 … Continue reading →

On Tuesday, the Illinois Association of REALTORS® issued a Call to Action against SB1155. The bill, which was sponsored by Sens. Thomas Cullerton, D-Chicago, and Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, could give counties and municipalities statewide the authority to force landlords to obtain licenses to … Continue reading →

The Illinois Building Blocks program aimed at revitalizing communities through the sale of vacant homes is being expanded to include 10 additional Illinois communities: Belleville Blue Island Champaign Cicero Crest Hill Joliet Lockport Lynwood Melrose Park Peoria They join the … Continue reading →

Do you have the right tools to sell short sales in today’s market? Do you want to better understand how to work with homeowners pursuing a short sale? If so, there is still time to register for today’s Fannie Mae … Continue reading →

Illinois home sales increased 16.2 percent over previous-year levels in February and median prices increased 5.1 percent, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. Statewide home sales (including single-family homes and condominiums) in February 2013 totaled 8,213 homes sold, up … Continue reading →

By IAR Education Manager Carrie Elliott and IAR Legal Hotline Attorney Betsy Urbance 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 … Continue reading →

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR) is asking its members to call Illinois lawmakers today in opposition of two bills that could layer additional fees and drive up the cost of doing business in real estate. Senate Bill 1155, sponsored … Continue reading →

A slight increase in median list prices and listing inventories along with a drop in the median age of that housing inventory signals that U.S. homebuyers are getting an early start to the spring selling season, according to Realtor.com. In … Continue reading →

The spring homebuying season is upon us and there are a number of Illinois homebuyer assistance and mortgage financing programs available that could help get your buyers into a new home. From programs geared toward first-time buyers or veterans to … Continue reading →

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® was honored Monday for its work to provide members better access to advocacy information and political data. The association was given a Game Changer Award for a soon-to-be-debuted database called Skylights. The database will allow … Continue reading →

Beginning April 1, Illinois homeowners who are unemployed or underemployed and struggling to keep their homes could be eligible for $10,000 more — for up to a maximum of $35,000 per household — in mortgage assistance through the Illinois Hardest … Continue reading →

This week members of the Illinois Association of REALTORS® will receive their April issue of Illinois REALTOR® magazine. What you’ll find in our Open House Issue: Opening Doors & Business Opportunities – Open House Tips From Five Illinois REALTORS® Holding … Continue reading →

The latest market forecast from JPMorgan Chase is a fairly optimistic one with expectations of U.S. home prices rising as much as 7 percent in 2013, HousingWire reports today, “JPMorgan raises home price forecast, sees long road to recovery.” “As … Continue reading →

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that February foreclosure filings in the Chicago metropolitan area dropped 11.5 percent to 11,444 compared to January and were 9 percent lower than February 2012, based on the latest foreclosure statistics from  RealtyTrac. Read the Sun-Times article. … Continue reading →

A new survey from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) finds that region, demographics and household composition are all factors in determining which features and amenities buyers value in a home. NAR’s 2013 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences surveyed … Continue reading →

Does this sound familiar? You’ve gotten snowed in, you can’t make an appointment in time or you regularly work with international clients? IAR members, use your lunch hour today to learn tips to help you sell more real estate and make … Continue reading →

The Windy City is a popular location when it comes to global buyers who are looking for a home. In fact, Chicago topped Realtor.com’s list of most searched U.S. cities by non-U.S. consumers throughout the month of January 2013. A National … Continue reading →

Good news for home values in some Chicago neighborhoods that had struggled following the housing downturn. Homes in the Pullman/Riverdale/Roseland and Englewood/Auburn Gresham neighborhoods are seeing home value gains, according the article, “Home values in some hard-hit Chicago neighborhoods turning … Continue reading →

First-time homebuyers are an important part of the housing market, but as inventory shrinks and the market recovers, those who are thinking about buying need to move now as prices and demand rise, say Rockford Area REALTORS®. In a segment … Continue reading →

Illinois REALTORS®, learn how to sell and serve your real estate clients even when you can’t physically be there with the latest IAR members-only monthly educational webinar with Doug Devitre this Thursday. In the FREE, one-hour Lunch and Learn webinar,”Screen … Continue reading →