Illinois real estate brokers weigh in on short sales

by Ann LondriganJuly 9, 2010

We took the pulse of managing brokers on the topic of short sales in the June IAR Broker Sentiment Survey sent to a random sample of members of the Illinois Association of REALTORS® who are managing brokers.
Has the number of transactions involving short sales changed for your office compared to a year ago?

58%  More short sales
6%    [...]

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The road to becoming a 30

by REALTOR® Lauren MitrickJuly 7, 2010

I’m 26 and have gray hair. I’m a wee-bit Irish, but I’m guessing it’s not the genes that are causing my hair to turn gray; it’s got to be the real estate.
I’m a third generation REALTOR® and have been in the business since before I could walk. My parents used elevator buttons to teach me [...]

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RE Tech Con Chicagoland blends technology and real estate

by Stephanie SieversJuly 6, 2010

Technology and social media can be a powerful tool for today’s REALTOR® as the more than 200 attendees of RE Tech Con Chicagoland discovered. The day-long event was the initiative of The Community Alliance of Chicagoland REALTORS®, a collaborative venture of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®, the North Shore-Barrington Association of [...]

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Selling farm land requires special expertise

by Ann LondriganJuly 2, 2010

Farm land is big business in Illinois and you don’t need to look far beyond the outskirts of any major city or small town to see it for yourself. Uniform row upon row of corn and soybeans stretching to the horizon line.
According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, close to 80 percent of the state’s [...]

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President Obama signs bill extending tax credit closing deadline to Sept. 30

by Stephanie SieversJuly 2, 2010

Homebuyers who qualified for the Homebuyer Tax Credit now have three more months to make the closing deadline.
This morning, President Obama signed the Homebuyers Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623), which extends the closing deadline to Sept. 30, 2010. The extension only applies to buyers who had a ratified contract in place by the April [...]

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Congress extends tax credit closing deadline to September 30

by Ann LondriganJuly 1, 2010

Late on June 30, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reported Congress passed an extension of the closing deadline for the Homebuyer Tax Credit, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act (H.R. 5623).
According to NAR:
The extension applies only to transactions that have ratified contracts in place as of April 30, 2010, that have not yet closed. The legislation is [...]

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House passes tax credit closing deadline extension

by Ann LondriganJune 30, 2010

News from the National Association of REALTORS®:
On June 29 the United States House of Representatives passed HR 5623, the Homebuyer Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010, by a vote of 409-5. This bill extends the deadline for closing tax credit eligible transactions from June 30 to September 30, 2010. The bill moves to the Senate [...]

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June 30 tax credit closing deadline still in place unless Congress acts

by Stephanie SieversJune 29, 2010

Up to 180,000 homebuyers will lose their tax credit because they are unable to close by the June 30 deadline, according to estimates released yesterday the National Association of REALTORS®. The estimates include state figures showing 7,030 Illinois homebuyers who qualified for the tax credit by signing a contract to purchase a home by April 30 [...]

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How about a Career in Real Estate?

by Carrie ElliottJune 24, 2010
how-about-a-career-in-real-estate

Maybe now is the time to start a new career and practicing real estate is what you have always aspired to do. It would seem from the influx of questions about real estate career choices, there is a growing demand for both pre-license and broker programs. It may be that word is getting around that [...]

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Low interest rates, financing programs take the sting out of post-tax credit market

by Luke RunyonJune 22, 2010

Worried about losing the marketable aspects of the homebuyer tax credit? Don’t fret! First-time and long-time homeowner programs combined with current mortgage interest rates hovering at historic lows could make all the difference in closing the sale.
A number of analysts are urging potential homebuyers to take advantage of low interest rates now because they’re long [...]

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