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.
Why Builders May Be More Motivated To Sell Than Homeowners
Here's something most homebuyers don't think about. When the housing market slows down, homeowners and builders don't always respond the same way.Think about it. If you're selling your house and aren't getting the offers you want, you could make the choice to take it...
Why More Buyers Are Turning To Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Today
When mortgage rates climb, buying a home can start to feel like trying to hit a moving target. Every jump in rates makes monthly payments bigger, and that pushes a lot of buyers to look for another way in.More and more of them are finding it in the adjustable-rate...
To Sell or Rent? How To Choose the Best Path for Your House.
Selling your house is a big step, and you want it to go smoothly. And with houses taking a little longer to sell these days, renting it out might start to sound like a nice backup plan.But the reality is, while renting can work well for some people, it’s also a big...
Confused by Home Price Headlines? Here’s Why.
Whether you own a house already or you’re looking to buy one, you probably care about home prices. But it’s not always easy to figure out what’s really happening right now, especially if you look at the headlines.One says home prices are falling. The next says they’re...
Want a More Affordable Home? Don’t Overlook Condos.
When you picture buying your first home, chances are you’re imagining a traditional single-family house with its own yard, maybe a garage, and little extra room to grow. But with affordability still tight, getting everything on that list right away may come with a...
The Biggest Credit Hurdle for Renters Who Want To Buy
What's the biggest payment you make every month? If you’re a renter, it's probably your rent. But did you know that you can pay your rent on time, every time, for years, and it may never show up in your credit history? It's pretty frustrating, especially if you'd like...
Homes Are Still Selling – Even in a Slower Market
If you’ve seen headlines saying home sales are slowing down, you may be wondering: is this really a good time to sell?While the latest numbers show sales picked up slightly in September, they're still down compared to last year. But here’s the perspective the...
Why There are More Homes for Sale Right Now (and What It Means for You)
Mortgage rates being back above 7% isn't exactly the news most people wanted. But it’s changing the market in ways that matter whether you’re buying or selling. The number of homes for sale is growing faster than it was this time last year. And interestingly, the main...
Why Most People Are Still Glad They Bought a Home
With everything going on, it’s understandable if you’re wondering if you’d regret buying right now. Everyday expenses cost more. Mortgage rates are higher than you’d like. And when the economy feels uncertain, taking on a mortgage can feel like a much bigger leap. But...
Renovate or Relocate? What To Know Before You Decide To Age in Place
You've spent years making your house feel like home, celebrating milestones, making each room your own, and turning neighbors into friends. As you look ahead to the next chapter of your life, it's natural to wonder if this is still the place you want to spend...
Myth vs. Reality: Does the Fed Control Mortgage Rates?
You've probably heard the Federal Reserve (the Fed) is raising rates again. And if you're planning to buy or sell a house, you may be wondering what that means for you.With all the headlines, it’s easy to think the Fed sets mortgage rates. That’s actually a common...
Two Moves That Can Get You Into Your First Home Sooner
For a lot of first-time buyers, owning a home can feel perpetually a few years out of reach. Saving for a down payment takes time, and each year you spend renting can make owning feel further off.But buying your first home doesn’t have to happen to feel like a far...
What Higher Mortgage Rates Mean for Home Sellers
Higher mortgage rates don't just affect buyers. They can change what it takes to sell your house, too.That's because today's buyers are paying close attention to affordability. And when rates rise, even a relatively small change can make a noticeable difference in...
Hoping for (or Dreading) a Housing Crash? The Experts Just Weighed In.
Half the buyers out there are scared home prices are about to crash. The other half are hoping they will.A recent survey from Clever found 58% of Gen Z buyers are actually rooting for a crash, just so homeownership feels within reach.So, what do the forecasts actually...
The Mortgage Rate You See Online Isn’t Necessarily the One You’d Get.
You may have seen the headlines saying mortgage rates have climbed to the highest point since January 2025. And if that's left you reluctant to buy a home, here's what you need to remember… That's not necessarily the number you'd get. It's a common misconception that...
Why So Many Sellers Are Cutting Their Price Right Now
Price cuts are turning up everywhere right now, and they read very differently depending on which side of the deal you’re on.Sellers tend to worry a cut means walking away with less than they hoped. Sometimes that’s true, but more often it just means the market moved...
There Are 4 Types of Housing Markets Right Now. Which 1 Are You In?
Today’s housing market splits into four distinct types. You’ve got cash buyers, buyers financing a purchase, owners who feel locked into a low rate, and builders with homes to sell. Which type you’re in changes how you should buy or sell. Ryan Serhant, CEO of SERHANT...
3 Things You Can Actually Control About Your Mortgage Rate Right Now
If you're trying to buy a home, affordability is probably what keeps you up at night. And as you watch mortgage rates tick up again lately, it’s fair to wonder if you should just hit pause and wait for them to go down. For now, though, they’re headed the other way....
Selling This Fall? You Want To Get These 4 Things Right.
Selling your house this fall is absolutely doable. But there’s something you need to know about this time of year. Buyer activity typically starts to slow while the number of homes for sale climb – and you need the right strategy to get attention in this type of...
The Best Time To Buy a Home in 2026 Is Almost Here
Want to buy a house this year, but not sure if the timing’s right? Seasonally, it may actually be a better time to buy than you expect.Yes, mortgage rates have been ticking up lately – and that’s creating some real challenges with affordability. No one’s arguing that....
Selling This Fall? You Haven’t Missed Your Window
Summer's winding down, and if you've been thinking about selling, you might be wondering if you missed your chance. Better to wait until next year or even next spring, right?Not so fast. About one in three of all home sales happen in the last four months of the...
Data Centers Are Moving Closer to Homes. What Does That Mean for You?
Data centers probably weren't on your list of things to think about when buying or selling a home.School districts? Sure. How close you are to family? Absolutely. A large building full of computer servers down the road? Probably not.But that may be changing.Data...
The Housing Market Split in 2. Which Side Is Your House On?
Ask a couple people how the housing market is doing and you’ll probably get a couple different answers. That’s because right now, the market runs on 2 very different tracks, split by price point.Knowing which track your house is on changes everything about your sale,...
Remote Work Could Be Your Affordability Answer
For most first-time buyers, the hardest part of buying a home is making the numbers work. You budget, you save, and the finish line still feels far away. But your salary is only half the equation. Where you live shapes what you can afford just as much. And if you can...