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 Latest Expert Forecasts for the 2025 Housing Market
After several years of rising home prices and volatile mortgage rates, it looks like the housing market will start to head in a more normal direction in 2025 – at least according to the latest forecasts. And if you’ve been thinking about making a move, that means the...
Headed Back Into the Office? You May Decide To Move
It’s no secret that remote work has surged over the last few years. And that flexibility gave a lot of people the freedom to move — and work — from wherever they wanted.But now, a growing number of companies are requiring employees to return to the office. And that’s...
Why a Pre-Listing Inspection May Be Worth It in Today’s Market
Selling a house comes with a lot of moving pieces, and the last thing you want is a deal falling apart over unexpected repairs uncovered during the buyer’s inspection. That’s why it pays to anticipate potential issues before buyers ever step through the door. And one...
More Buyers Are Making Moves — Is It Time To Sell?
More people are taking steps to buy a home. And, if you’ve been waiting for the right time to move, this may be the sign you’ve been looking for.For the past few years, a lot of would-be homebuyers hit pause on their plans. With rising mortgage rates and affordability...
Is a Newly Built Home Right for You? The Pros and Cons
When searching for a home, you don’t want to skip over new builds as an option. Right now, there are more newly built homes to choose from than there would normally be in the market. And those added choices come with some pretty incredible benefits. Talking to your...
Is It Better To Rent or Buy a Home Today?
Some HighlightsA study shows that 70% of prospective buyers fear the long-term consequences of renting. And here’s why.Rent usually rises over time and that can make it harder to save up to buy a home. But when you buy, you can stabilize your housing expenses and...
Do You Know How Much Your Home Is Worth?
Over the past few years, you’ve probably seen a whole lot of headlines about how home prices keep going up. But have you ever stopped to think about what that actually means for your home?Home prices have risen dramatically over the past five years — far more than...
Is an Accessory Dwelling Unit Right for You? Here’s What To Know
Are you having a hard time finding the right home in your budget? Or maybe you already own a home but could use some extra income or a designated space for aging loved ones. Either way, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) could be the smart solution you’ve been looking...
Are Investors Actually Buying Up All the Homes?
Are you trying to buy a home but you feel like you’re up against deep-pocketed Wall Street investors snatching up everything in sight? Many people believe mega investors are driving up prices and buying up all the homes for sale, and that’s making it hard for regular...
How To Buy a Home Without Waiting for Lower Rates
Many people are hoping mortgage rates will come down before they buy a home. But will that actually happen? According to the latest forecasts, experts say rates will decline, but not by as much as a lot of people want.The good news? Even if they don’t drop...
Should I Update My House Before I Sell It?
Some HighlightsWith more homes for sale and buyers being more selective, it’s smart to make strategic updates. But how do you decide what’s worth doing? You lean on an agent.An agent will be able to tell you what buyers want, quick wins that’ll have a big impact,...
Seller Concessions: A Smart Strategy To Get Your House Sold
For the past few years, it’s been mostly a seller’s market. But dynamics are shifting as the number of homes for sale grows. And that means that the market is balancing out a bit. As a result, some sellers are finding they need to be more flexible to close a deal. One...
The Return to Urban Living — Why More People Are Moving Back to Cities
After years of suburban and rural migration during the pandemic, cities have been making a comeback in the past couple of years. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the percentage of people moving to cities has risen to 16%. While that may not...
Buying a Home May Help Shield You from Inflation
It feels like everything is getting more expensive these days. That’s because inflation has remained higher than normal for longer than expected – and that’s impacting the costs of goods, services, and more. And with rising costs all around you, you’re probably...
Are You Asking Yourself These Questions About Selling Your House?
Some homeowners hesitate to sell because they’ve got unanswered questions that hold them back. But a lot of times their concerns are based on misconceptions, not facts. And if they’d just talk to an agent about it, they’d see these doubts aren’t necessarily a hurdle...
Why You’ll Love Owning a Home
Some HighlightsOwning a home comes with many benefits, both non-financial and financial.From the sense of accomplishment and freedom of expression, to growing your net worth, it’s easy to fall in love with homeownership.What’s the top reason you’d love to own a home?...
The Secret To Selling This Spring: Start the Prep Work Now
Spring is the busiest season in the housing market. It’s the time of year when buyers are most active – that means it’s when homes sell faster and for top dollar. If you’ve already got a move on your mind, why not list this spring and take advantage of the added buyer...
Breaking Into the Market: Smart Moves for First-Time Buyers
If you’re like a lot of aspiring homebuyers, there’s a major hurdle standing in your way — the cost of living. From groceries to gas, eggs, and just about everything else, prices have gone up. And that rings true for home prices, too.But even when everything feels...
A Record Percent of Buyers Are Planning To Move in 2025 – Are You?
This could be the year to sell your house – and here’s why. According to a recent NerdWallet survey, 15% of people are planning to buy a home this year. That’s actually a record high for this survey (see graph below):Here's why this is such a big deal. The percentage...
Home Price Growth Is Moderating – Here’s Why That’s Good for You
Over the past few years, home prices skyrocketed. That’s been frustrating for buyers, leaving many wondering if they’d ever get a shot at owning a home. But here’s some welcome news: that whirlwind pace of home price growth is slowing down.Home Prices Are Rising at a...
Why Buying a Home Now Is Your Winning Play
Some HighlightsYou may be sitting on the sidelines wondering if it’s better to buy now or wait. But buying before the spring rush may be a game-changing decision.Moving this winter can give you significant advantages, like less competition, more negotiating power,...
The Perks of Buying a Fixer-Upper
There’s no denying affordability is tough right now. But that doesn’t mean you have to put your plans to buy a home on the back burner.If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves (or hire someone who will), buying a house that needs some work could open the door to...
The 3 Biggest Mistakes Sellers Are Making Right Now
If you want to sell your house, having the right strategies and expectations is key. But some sellers haven’t adjusted to where the market is today. They’re not factoring in that there are more homes for sale or that buyers are being more selective with their budgets....
Buyer Bright Spot: There Are More Homes on the Market
The past few years have been challenging for homebuyers, especially with higher home prices and mortgage rates. And if you’re trying to buy a home, it’s easy to worry you won’t be able to find something in your budget.But here’s what you need to know. The number of...