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 Some Homes Sell Quickly – and Others Don’t Sell at All
A few years ago, inventory hit a record low. Just about anything sold – and fast. But now, there are far more homes on the market. Listings are up almost 20% from this time last year. And in some areas, supply is even back to levels we last saw in 2017–2019. For...
The Reason Homes Feel Like They Cost So Much (It’s Not What You Think)
Scroll through your feed and you’ll see plenty of finger-pointing about why homes cost so much. And according to a national survey, a lot of people believe big investors are to blame.Even though data shows that’s not true, nearly half of Americans surveyed (48%) think...
Planning To Sell in 2026? Start the Prep Now
You’ve got big plans for 2026. But what you do this year could be the difference between a smooth sale and a stressful one. If you’re thinking of selling next spring (the busiest season in real estate), the smartest move you can make is to start prepping now. As...
Is the Housing Market Going To Crash? Here’s What Experts Say
If you’ve seen headlines or social posts calling for a housing crash, it’s easy to wonder if home values are about to take a hit. But here’s the simple truth.The data doesn’t point to a crash. It points to slow, continued growth.And sure, it’s going to vary by local...
The $280 Shift in Affordability Every Homebuyer Should Know
If you paused your plans to move because of high rates or prices, it may finally be time to take a second look at your numbers. Affordability is improving in 39 of the top 50 markets, according to First American. And that’s the 5th straight month where buying a home...
2026 Housing Market Outlook
After a couple of years where the housing market felt stuck in neutral, 2026 may be the year things shift back into gear. Expert forecasts show more people are expected to move – and that could open the door for you to do the same.More Homes Will SellWith all of the...
Why More Buyers Are Turning to New Construction This Year
There’s a trend taking hold in real estate right now: more buyers are choosing newly built homes. And it’s not just about getting the latest technology or modern floorplans. It’s because they may be able to get a better deal.Builders are offering serious incentives...
Don’t Let Unrealistic Pricing Cost You Your Move
These days, you’re going to want to get your price right when you get ready to sell your house. Honestly, it’s more important than ever. Why? While you may want to list high just to see what happens, that’s a plan that can easily backfire, and it’s going to cost you...
Why Home Prices Aren’t Actually Flat
If you’ve been following real estate news lately, you’ve probably seen headlines saying home prices are flat. And at first glance, that sounds simple enough. But here’s the thing. The reality isn’t quite that straightforward.In most places, prices aren’t flat at...
Why Experts Say Mortgage Rates Should Ease Over the Next Year
You want mortgage rates to fall – and they've started to. But is it going to last? And how low will they go?Experts say there’s room for rates to come down even more over the next year. And one of the leading indicators to watch is the 10-year treasury yield. Here's...
Why October Is the Best Time To Buy a Home in 2025
If you’ve been watching from the sidelines, now’s the time to lean in. It’s officially the best time to buy this year. According to Realtor.com, this October will have the most buyer-friendly conditions of any month in 2025:“By mid-October, buyers across much of the...
What Buyers Say They Need Most (And How the Market’s Responding)
A recent survey from Bank of America asked would-be homebuyers what would help them feel better about making a move, and it’s no surprise the answers have a clear theme. They want affordability to improve, specifically prices and rates (see below):Here’s the good...
Closing Costs Unpacked: State-by-State Breakdowns for Today’s Buyers
If you’re planning to buy a home this year, there’s one expense you can’t afford to overlook: closing costs.Almost every buyer knows they exist, but not that many know exactly what they cover, or how different they can be based on where you're buying. So, let’s break...
Downsizing Without Debt: How More Homeowners Are Buying Their Next House in Cash
If you’ve been thinking about downsizing to lower your expenses, be closer to family, or just make life easier, here's a trend worth paying attention to:More homeowners are buying their next house outright, without taking on a new mortgage. And, if you’ve owned your...
Why Buyers and Sellers Face Very Different Conditions Today
There’s a new divide in housing right now. In some states, buyers are gaining ground. In others, sellers still have the upper hand. It all depends on where you live. Curious what's happening in your state?These 3 maps show how the split is playing out across the...
3 Reasons Affordability Is Showing Signs of Improvement This Fall
For the past couple of years, it’s been tough for a lot of homebuyers to make the numbers work. Home prices shot up. Mortgage rates too. And a number of people hit pause because it just didn’t feel possible. Maybe you were one of them.But there’s some encouraging...
Do You Know How Much Your House Is Really Worth?
Want to know something important you probably don’t have a professional check for you nearly as often as you should? Spoiler alert: it’s the value of your home.Because here’s the reality. Your house is likely the biggest financial asset you have. And if you’ve lived...
Why Now May Be a Key 2025 Moment To Sell Your House
Mortgage rates are finally heading in the right direction – and buyers are starting to jump back in.According to the data, buyer demand picked up considerably once mortgage rates hit a new low for 2025. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that applications...
What a Fed Rate Cut Could Mean for Mortgage Rates
The Federal Reserve (the Fed) meets this week, and expectations are high that they’ll cut the Federal Funds Rate. But does that mean mortgage rates will drop? Let’s clear up the confusion.The Fed Doesn’t Directly Set Mortgage RatesRight now, all eyes are on the Fed....
Patience Won’t Sell Your House. Pricing Will.
Waiting for the perfect buyer to fall in love with your house? In today’s market, that’s usually not what’s holding things up. And here’s why.Let’s be real. Homes are taking a week longer to sell than they did a year ago. According to Realtor.com:“Homes are also...
Mortgage Rates Just Saw Their Biggest Drop in a Year
You’ve been waiting for what feels like forever for mortgage rates to finally budge. And last week, they did – in a big way.On Friday, September 5th, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to the lowest level since October 2024. It was the biggest one-day...
Why 50% of Homes Are Selling for Under Asking and How To Avoid It
If your selling strategy still assumes you’ll get multiple offers over asking, it’s officially time for a reset. That frenzied seller’s market is behind us. And here are the numbers to prove it. From Frenzy to “Normal”Right now, about 50% of homes on the market are...
Builder Incentives Reach 5-Year High
Even with more homes on the market right now, some buyers are still having a tough time finding the right one at the right price. Maybe the layout feels off. Maybe it still needs some updating. Or maybe it’s just more of the same.That’s why more buyers are turning to...
What Mortgage Delinquencies Tell Us About the Future of Foreclosures
You may be seeing headlines about how foreclosures are rising. And if that makes you nervous that we’re headed for another crash, here’s what you should know. According to ATTOM, during the housing crash, over nine million people went through some sort of distressed...