The HousingCoach Blog
Important and useful information about Home Buying, Home Selling and the Chicagoland Real Estate market, to help you make the most of Your Personal American Dream. Explore, Learn, and Take Action.
How Your Equity Could Help Younger Generations Buy a Home
For a lot of parents or grandparents, watching a family member struggle to buy their first home right now is hard.
The Price You Set Can Make (or Break) Your Sale
There’s one decision you're going to make when you sell that determines whether your house sells quickly, or it sits.
The Real Reason Home Sales Slowed in January. And It’s Not What You Think.
If you saw headlines that talked about how “home sales fell sharply in January,” it probably raised an eyebrow – especially if you’re thinking about selling your house. But context matters.Yes, in January, home sales declined. But that has more to do with seasonality...
Move-Up Buyers Are Choosing New Construction
At some point, a house that once felt perfect just… doesn’t anymore.Maybe you need more space.Maybe working from home turned your dining room into a permanent office.Maybe the layout just doesn’t match how you live now.If your current house is starting to feel like...
Four Ways Your Home Equity Can Work for You
You may have heard homeowners today have a lot of equity built up. But what does that really mean? Let’s break it down.Because your equity isn’t just a number, it’s a powerful asset that can help you take your next big step in life.How Much Equity Does the Typical...
Inventory Is Making a Comeback in 2026
After a long stretch where buyers were competing for too few homes, inventory has made a comeback over the past year. And depending on where you live, that’s opening up your options in a meaningful way. According to Realtor.com, the number of homes available for sale...
Why Townhomes Are Popular with Today’s First-Time Buyers
Buying your first home can feel frustrating when the numbers don’t line up the way you expected. You may know you’re ready but finding something that fits your life and your budget is the hard part.That’s where townhomes come in.Townhomes are becoming a bigger part of...
Top 3 Reasons To Buy a Home Before Spring
If you’re planning to buy a home this year, you may be focused on the spring market. And hoping that when spring does hit, you’ll see:Mortgage rates drop a little more.More homes hit the market.But here’s what most buyers don’t realize. Buying just a few weeks earlier...
It’s Getting More Affordable To Buy a Home
There’s finally a little good news for anyone who’s been priced out or sitting on the sidelines.Buying a home is getting more affordable.Monthly payments have started to come down, and the squeeze buyers have been feeling for the past few years is slowly loosening....
Home Insurance Costs Are Rising: What Buyers Should Plan For
Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make. And homeowner’s insurance is what protects that investment. Think of it as your safety net. NerdWallet explains it:Covers Repairs and Rebuilding Costs: If your home is damaged by fire, storms, or other...
Why So Many Homeowners Are Downsizing Right Now
For a growing number of homeowners, retirement isn’t some distant idea anymore. It’s starting to feel very real.According to Realtor.com and the Census, nearly 12,000 people will turn 65 every day for the next two years. And the latest data shows as many as 15% of...
Top 2026 Housing Markets for Buyers and Sellers
Who doesn’t love a top 10 list? Well, here are two top 10 lists for the housing market this year. But before you take a look, there’s something you should know.If a move is on your radar for 2026, here’s the most important thing you need to understand upfront: there...
You May Not Want To Skip Over That House That’s Been Sitting on the Market
When you see a house that’s been sitting on the market for a while, the reaction is almost automatic. You start thinking:What’s wrong with it?Why hasn’t anyone bought it yet?Am I missing something?That mindset made sense a few years ago. But in today’s market, you may...
Mortgage Rates Recently Hit a 3-Year Low. Here’s Why That’s Still a Big Deal.
If you’re one of the thousands of homebuyers waiting for rates to fall, you should know it’s already happening. And they recently crossed an important milestone. Rates officially dipped their toes into the 5s – something that hasn’t happened in about 3 years.This...
Why Rising Foreclosure Headlines Aren’t a Red Flag for Today’s Housing Market
If you’ve seen headlines saying foreclosure activity has been climbing for 10 straight months, it’s easy to assume that's a sign of trouble for the housing market. But when you look at the full picture, a few simple truths become clear:Today’s foreclosure numbers are...
Home Updates That Actually Pay You Back When You Sell
Planning to sell this spring? While you may be tempted to hold off until the first blooms or the spring showers hit, that's actually waiting too long to get started by today’s standards.Buyers have more options than they did a few years ago. So, it's worth it to...
Are Big Investors Really Buying Up All the Homes? Here’s the Truth.
It’s hard to scroll online lately without seeing some version of this claim:“Big investors are buying up all the homes.”And honestly, if you’re a homebuyer who’s lost out on a few offers, that idea probably sounds believable. When homes are expensive and competition...
The #1 Regret Sellers Have When They Don’t Use an Agent
Want to know the #1 thing homeowners regret when they sell without an agent? It’s that they didn’t price their house correctly for their current market.According to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), those sellers agree pricing their home...
The Credit Score Myth That’s Holding Would-Be Buyers Back
Would-be homebuyers aren’t sitting on the sidelines because they don’t want to buy. They’re sitting out because they think they can’t. And sometimes, it’s their credit score that’s holding them back.According to a Bankrate survey, 2 out of every 5 (42%) Americans...
Expert Forecasts Point to Affordability Improving in 2026
Wondering what to expect from the housing market in 2026? You’re not the only one. For the past few years, affordability has been the biggest barrier standing between most people and their next move. And a lot of buyers and sellers have been holding their breath...
Thinking about Selling Your House As-Is? Read This First.
If you’re thinking about selling your house this year, you may be torn between two options:Do you sell it as-is and make it easier on yourself? No repairs. No effort.Or do you fix it up a bit first – so it shows well and sells for as much as possible?In 2026, that...
Why Pre-Approval Should Be Your First Step – Not an Afterthought
Finding the right home feels exciting – but being pre-approved for your loan is what makes it possible. Whether you’re planning to buy soon or still just thinking about it, getting pre-approved is one of the best moves you can make. Here’s why.1. What Is Pre-Approval,...
More Buyers Are Planning To Move in 2026. Here’s How To Get Ready.
Momentum is quietly building in the housing market. New data from NerdWallet shows more Americans are starting to think about buying a home again. Last year, 15% of respondents said they planned to buy a home in the next 12 months. This year, that number rose to...
Not Sure If You’re Ready To Buy a Home? Ask Yourself These 5 Questions.
If you’re trying to decide if you’re ready to become a homeowner in the next twelve months, there’s probably a lot on your mind. You’re thinking about your finances, today’s mortgage rates, home prices, the current state of the economy, and more. And, you’re juggling...