Will the FHA need a bailout, too?
The Federal Housing Administrations home loan programs have helped thousands of buyers since the Great Depression, but now the program is in jeopardy.
View ArticleYoung adults find renting a safer choice than buying
A new survey by Appraisal Research Counselors Ltd. noted that young adults prefer the flexibility of renting, which gives them more options than home ownership if they need to relocate for a job.
View ArticleHave a merry, berry mantle this season
Whether you're going for a splashy holiday display this year or just want to quietly sneak in a touch of Christmas, one of the easiest -- and most important -- spots to trick up is your fireplace...
View ArticleTreasures: Prices on Roseville's wares have dropped
The Roseville Pottery Co. was founded in 1892 by George Young in Roseville, Ohio. The first plant was in the old J.B. Owens factory, and the company primarily focused on making flower pots and...
View ArticleHome sales way up, prices still low
November was a big month for Chicago home sales, both condo and single family, but prices were down substantially over a year ago. In November, total sales were up 20.4 percent over a year ago, while...
View ArticleMortgage rates drop to new record low
Another record low mortgage rate - but even at 3.91 percent, there are likely to be few takers in an economy where many don't qualify at any rate.
View ArticleLooking to buy? Builder Showcase can help
It's time for our Spring Builder Showcase - a weekly parade of home buying news and photos offered in print and online by Sun-Times Media.Be sure to check out our Builder Showcase Directory of the...
View ArticleNew home sales take a dip in January
In January, sales of previously occupied homes reached their highest level in nearly two years, but new home sales dipped .9 percent that month after four straight months of gains.
View ArticleCity could reap milliions from vacant lots, urban visionary says
Many of the city's neighborhood streets look like "a mouth with missing teeth," says William Lavicka, a master preservationist who heads Historic Boulevard Services. Lavicka, a long time urban...
View Article10 award winners offer hope, strong futures to Chicago neighborhoods
Better housing for seniors, a new, green warehouse for the Back of the Yards, anti-violence programming for Little Village and a new school designed to inspire city youths are just some of the winners...
View Article5 Chicago neighborhoods where prices are leaping
Not every Chicago neighborhood is pulling out of the recession at the same rate. The top five neighborhoods - where prices are up as much as 14 percent - all share the same positive traits.
View ArticleRate on 30-year mortgage slides to 3.98 percent
The average U.S. rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage dipped again this week, as the cost of home-buying and refinancing stayed near record lows.
View ArticleIs this old Howe treadle sewing machine rare?
In the early years of the 19th century, a number of Europeans patented devices for sewing. In 1830 a French tailor created a machine used to make army uniforms. But Elias Howe Jr., got the first...
View ArticleYou don't have to keep cleaning with toxic chemicals
It's a disturbing thought: The very things you are using to make your house sparkle and shine are actually making it toxic. It is time we all made the shift and eliminated cleaning toxins from our...
View ArticleIncentives spark new house, condo sales
Developers are offering attractive incentives to help market inventory units that are ready for immediate move-in, along with affordable prices and the lowest mortgage rates since 1949.
View ArticleNo more empty nest? Boomers' kids are coming back
You think your house is crowded? You're not alone - Baby Boomers are finding that their adult kids are coming back home in huge numbers. Called "boomerangs," the adult kids usually are forced home by...
View ArticleYear of the landlord: Multi-family properties are a good investment
It's good news for landlords and investors; for renters, not so much. The increased demand for rental homes means that apartment buildings are excellent investments, and that rents will continue to...
View ArticleNew home starts fall short of expectations
Sales dropped 7.1 percent in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 328,000 units following a 7.3 percent increase in sales in February.
View ArticleTurning the corner: Home prices rise as resale market rebounds
In March, existing home sales in Illinois posted the best March numbers in four years. The state gained 9,575 home sales, up a solid 21.1 percent over a year ago. The last March to top that was in...
View ArticleCrystal ball: Experts say low rates will inch upwards
The mortgage honeymoon may be coming to an end. Rate experts predict that the 30-year fixed rate mortgage will rise more than half a point by the end of the year, to 4.25 or 4.5 percent. Prices may...
View Article