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.
The Pricing Mistake That Could Cost You Your Sale
Most sellers come into the market with one number in mind. And it’s often the one that costs them the most. That's their asking price. A survey from Realtor.com shows about 8 in 10 (80%) of sellers expect to sell at or above their asking price today. But here’s where...
What the Foreclosure Headlines Aren’t Telling You
You've probably seen the headlines saying, "foreclosures are on the rise,” and maybe your mind jumped straight to 2008. That’s understandable. A lot of people remember that crash and all the foreclosures that happened during that window, and they’re hoping something...
Why Staging Your House Could Pay Off This Spring
Selling your house this season? You’ve probably heard you should stage it before it hits the market. But what does that really mean – and is it worth the effort?The short answer is “yes,” especially right now.With more houses for sale this year, you’re likely...
Could Co-Buying Be the Answer for Some First-Time Buyers?
For a lot of would-be first-time buyers, affordability is the thing that’s standing in the way. But some buyers are getting creative and finding a way to still make the numbers work – and that’s through co-buying.The Dream Is Still Alive. The Math Just Isn’t Working...
The Secret To Selling Fast, No Matter the Market
When you put your house on the market, you don’t just want it to sell. You want it to sell fast. But the thing is, nationally, it’s taking a little longer to sell lately. And that slowdown can feel frustrating if you want a fast process. Here’s what you need to...
4 Ways To Give Your Offer an Edge This Spring
Looking to buy a home this season? Here's what you should know. Buyers have more leverage today than they’ve had in years. There are more homes to choose from and, in many areas, sellers are more open to negotiation. But that doesn’t mean competition is gone...
Is Late May the Best Time To List Your House?
You may have heard April 12-18 was the “best week” to list your house. That’s based on a report from Realtor.com. But now that it’s passed, you may be wondering if you missed your moment.Here's the good news – you didn’t. Because the reality is, there isn’t just one...
Stay or Sell? How To Make the Right Call as You Age
At some point, as you start thinking about the years ahead, this question tends to come up:“Could I stay here long-term… or would it make more sense to move?”It’s not always urgent. It often shows up in small moments, like going up and down the stairs, keeping up with...
Think You Have To Put 20% Down? Most First-Time Homebuyers Don’t.
According to Google Trends, online searches for down payment information recently hit an all-time high. And that’s a clear sign more buyers are trying to figure out what they really need to save before making a move (see graph below):If you’re wondering the same...
3 Things That Are Not Going To Happen in Today’s Housing Market
There’s a lot of uncertainty right now and that’s leading to some dramatic headlines. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, that can make you feel a little less sure about your decision.A recent study by CNBC asked homebuyers what they’re most worried about, and...
More Options Are Popping Up This Spring
Did you try to buy a home last year, but you ended up pressing pause?Maybe you couldn’t find a home that really fit your needs. Or maybe the ones you liked just weren’t affordable. According to a recent survey from NerdWallet, those were the top two reasons buyers...
The 10 Best Markets for First-Time Buyers This Spring
For a while, buying your first home hasn’t just felt hard. It may have felt out of reach.Not because you weren’t ready.Not because you weren’t trying.But because every time you ran the numbers, they didn’t work.That’s why so many first-time buyers stepped back.But...
Rent or Buy? The Real Tradeoff Most People Don’t Talk About
You’ve probably asked yourself lately: Is it even worth trying to buy a home right now? It’s a question a lot of people are asking.With today’s home prices and mortgage rates, renting can feel like the easier path. In some cases, it might even seem like the only...
Getting a Tax Refund? Here’s How It Can Help You Buy a Home
If you’re getting a tax refund this year, here’s something worth thinking about. That money could actually help you get closer to buying a home.It may not be something you’ve factored into your plan yet, but it can give your savings a nice boost right when you need it...
Wondering If You Should Still Buy a Home Right Now? Here’s What To Keep in Mind.
With economic headlines, global events, and near constant talk about affordability, you may be wondering if this is the right time to move. But here’s what you need to remember.While recent events do have some impact on the housing market, they don’t take buying off...
When Buying a Home Feels Out of Reach, Some Families Do This Instead
For a lot of people, the math on buying a home just doesn’t really work right now. Maybe that’s how it feels for you too. You look at the cost of buying. Then you look at the cost of childcare. And it starts to feel like you have to choose one or the other.But some...
Thinking About an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage? Here’s What You Need To Know.
If you’ve been looking for a home lately, you’ve probably felt how tough affordability still is. And that's exactly why more buyers are opting for adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs.Here's what you need to understand about how they work, and whether they make sense...
Your House Hasn’t Sold Yet. Should You Rent It Out Instead?
When your house sits on the market longer than expected, it can get frustrating fast.You start asking: what now? And for a growing number of homeowners, that turns into: should I just rent it instead?While it sounds like a simple backup plan, becoming “accidental...
Before You Fall in Love with a House, Do This First.
Be honest. Have you started looking at homes online yet? If you have, it’s already time to get pre-approved. Because here’s what not enough people know.If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – you don’t want to...
Don’t Let Home Prices Headlines Fool You
Spend about 5 minutes online searching for news about the housing market, and odds are you’ll see something pop up about home prices. You may even stumble onto social media influencers saying we’re headed for a crash. Let’s get you the context you need.The truth is...
This’ll Change What You Think About Investors in Today’s Housing Market
There’s a lot of noise out there right now about investors in the housing market.Some headlines make it sound like big Wall Street firms are buying up everything in sight. And if you’re trying to purchase a home yourself, that can make it feel like the odds are...
You Can’t Control What’s Happening with Mortgage Rates. But You Can Control This.
Mortgage rates have been volatile lately. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, that can make it harder to plan. But there are still things you can do to get the best rate possible in today’s market. It starts with having the right information.So, what’s causing...
The Remodel You’ve Been Dreaming About May Be Closer Than You Think
That kitchen you’ve been mentally redesigning...The bathroom that really needs a refresh...Or the outdoor space you keep saying you’ll get to someday...What if you already have what you need to finally make it happen? Because a growing number of homeowners are...
Affordability Has Improved in All 50 States
For the past few years, affordability has been what’s stopped a lot of buyers in their tracks. Maybe it stopped you, too.At some point you probably did the math, looked at the monthly payment, and decided to pause your search and wait for things to get better. But...