Renovating your home can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be expensive. However, did you know that home renovations can actually help you save money in the long run? In this article, we’ll explore different ways that renovating your home can lower your tax bill, provide financing options for low-cost loans, […]
Category: News
Critics Warn Home Sale Tax Would Hurt Buyers and Sellers in the Suburbs
Lawmakers in Illinois have been debating a new idea to raise money for struggling public transit systems in the Chicago area. The proposal calls for adding a new tax on home sales in the suburbs. The plan would charge $3 for every $1,000 of a home’s value when a property is sold. For example, if […]
Top 10 Peoria Area Communities with Rapidly Rising Home Prices
Last month, the average home value across the United States was $359,402, according to Zillow. This represents an increase of almost $4,000 from March, where the average was $355,696. Compared to April of last year, this is a 4.4% rise. Local Home Prices in Peoria and Surrounding Counties In Peoria County, the median home listing […]
Real Estate in Illinois: How Chicago, Aurora, and Naperville Compare
Illinois is home to many different housing markets, but the three largest cities, like Chicago, Aurora, and Naperville, stand out the most. Each has its own lifestyle, housing prices, and challenges. Let’s look at how real estate differs in these cities. Chicago: Big City, Big Variety Chicago is the largest city in Illinois and has […]
Chicagoland Home Supply Struggles to Keep Up With Buyers
When people in Chicago real estate talk about the market right now, most of them focus on one issue: inventory. Over half of agents say that the number of homes available to buy is the most important factor this year. Interest rates and prices matter too, but they don’t compare. The lack of enough homes […]
Chicago’s Housing Market Faces the Challenge of High Rent
Why is rent so high? As the curtain fell on 2023, the cost of renting mid- to high-end apartments in the Chicago metro area saw an uptick, according to news outlets. This real estate firm evaluates properties based on their design, features, location, and various certifications, providing a comprehensive snapshot of the current market conditions. […]
How Chicago Renters Were Punished for Using Their Legal Rights
In May 2023, three tenants living in a six-unit building in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood were dealing with serious problems in their apartment. Cristina Miranda, Tulsi McDaniels, and Alex Wirt reported broken and unsafe conditions: leaking water from the ceiling even when it wasn’t raining, floors that were rotting and could collapse, windows that let in […]
Where Homes Are Getting More Expensive in Illinois
Across many parts of Illinois, especially around the Chicago area, home prices are going up fast. This is based on data from Zillow, which looked at how much home values changed from May 2023 to May 2024. The rankings focused on cities with at least 10,000 residents and tracked the biggest dollar increases in home […]
Lead Found in Elgin, IL Drinking Water: What Homeowners Need to Know
Some homes and small buildings in Elgin, Illinois, were found to have too much lead in their tap water, according to recent testing done between January and June 2025. The city tested 100 homes and discovered that 48 of them had lead levels higher than what is considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). […]
Why Prices Are Rising Faster in Chicago Than Anywhere Else
Right now, people living in the Chicago area are paying more for everyday items like food, rent, and gas compared to most other cities in the U.S. Inflation in Chicago is at 4.3%, which is much higher than the national average of around 3%. This means that the cost of living is rising faster here […]
Chicago Rent Prices Are Climbing While Wages Stay Flat
Many people who work full-time jobs in Chicago are finding it almost impossible to rent a decent apartment. Even with a steady income, once taxes, bills, and basic expenses are paid, there’s not much left to cover high rent prices. People are being forced to choose between unsafe living conditions and paying more than they […]
Unpacking the Affordable Housing Crisis in Illinois
In recent years, Illinois has grappled with a growing affordable housing crisis. This challenge has prompted lawmakers to take action, aiming to build a long-term, sustainable solution to the state’s housing troubles. Their focus lies in creating an environment conducive to affordable housing development, supported by tax incentives and increased homelessness services. The “Build Illinois […]