Thinking about a career in real estate? With more and more construction in Illinois, especially in Chicago, there’s serious money to be made for real estate agents who are willing to put in the hard work that’s necessary for success. If you’re ready to take the plunge, here are the steps you’ll have to take. […]

The mortgage industry is still recovering from the housing crisis that occurred in 2008. Mortgage default rates in Illinois have a huge impact on the economy, and they can be used as in indicator of current and future growth. In cities like Chicago, homeowners continue to face the possibility of defaulting on their home mortgages […]

It is no surprise that NBA players make insane salaries. According to Bulls Nation, the minimum salary for a brand new NBA star will be $525,093. Seasoned players will make incredible amounts of money as well. Dwyane Wade is signed to make $23,200,000 for the 2016-2017 season. That is certainly enough to splurge on luxury […]

In Illinois, Can an Executor Sell Property Without the Beneficiaries Approving? As the executor of an estate, you may be called on to sell a house to pay off debts or expenses, or simply to distribute the estate among the beneficiaries. But things can get complicated when the beneficiaries can’t agree whether or not to […]

When a formerly depressed neighborhood suddenly becomes hot, the rapid growth can transform an area almost overnight. But it can also bring expensive growing pains. Is gentrification making Chicago unaffordable? Gentrification can happen quickly. As higher-income buyers move into a growing neighborhood, the cost of living goes up. Rents typically escalate, forcing poor and working-class […]

Chicago has roots back to the late 17th century when French explorers and missionaries first made contact with the Potawatomi natives. The Battle at Fort Dearborn caused the early settlers to leave the area. From there, real estate was built very quickly because of the desire for easy access to transportation. After that, Chicago quickly […]

Are Chicago Homes Worth Less Than Before the Housing Market Crash? A decade after the housing market crash, two out of three homes in America still aren’t worth as much as they were in 2007. How does the Chicago real estate market compare to the rest of the nation? The answer may surprise you. The […]

Even a “free” house often comes along with costly baggage and debts. When you inherit real estate you need to know what to expect, so you can stay out of legal trouble and avoid making tax mistakes that could cost you thousands of dollars. Here’s your stress-free guide to inheriting a house – and how […]

Chicago is one of the world’s great cities. We’ve got it all: world-class dining, amazing culture, and of course, the 2017 baseball world champion Cubbies (no, we still can’t believe it finally happened). We’re home to some of the most distinctive and celebrated neighborhoods in the country. But unfortunately, we’ve also got some of the […]

A house in Chicago is condemned when the city determines that it is no longer fit to inhabit. Usually, this happens because of an ongoing pattern of unsafe housing code violations. No one may live in a condemned building or use it until the owner has proven that the cited problems have been fixed. As […]