HouseLogic: A New Tool for Smarter Homeowners

by Stephanie SieversFebruary 17, 2010

A home is one of the biggest investments a person can make so why not do everything possible to maintain, protect and increase the value of that investment.
HouseLogic, a new consumer Web site from the National Association of REALTORS®, gives homeowners the tools and information they need to make smart decisions to that end.
Wonder how [...]

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IAR Advocacy Program Develops New Guide Exploring the Impact of Mandating Residential Fire Sprinklers

by Howard HandlerFebruary 16, 2010
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The National Fire Sprinkler Association, an organization that advocates for municipalities to mandate fire sprinkler systems in new construction single-family homes, advises its members that “statistics can often confuse a decision and make the public officials question what otherwise would have been a 5 – 0 vote to pass a [...]

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One Cent, Two Cents, Three Cents More…Saving for a Dream Makes Sense

by Mary SchaeferFebruary 12, 2010

Achieving the dream of homeownership takes dedication and a mindset and commitment to save hard-earned dollars and cents for a down payment. Above all, it makes a lot of sense or should I say takes a lot of cents? You begin to build that nest egg with a few cents that after time can build [...]

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NAR Broker Involvement Program – Making a Difference

by Jim Barbagallo, REALTOR®February 12, 2010

Strength “is” in numbers…. 1.2 million to be exact and WE need all of you! The NAR Broker Involvement Program is how the National Association of REALTORS® is making it easy for REALTORS® to make a difference in Washington D.C. We can create our own destiny and the NAR Broker Involvement Program is the easiest [...]

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Buyer market conditions boost 4Q09 home sales

by Mary SchaeferFebruary 11, 2010

Despite the truckloads of snow in Illinois recently, the real estate market is already gearing up for an early spring with the looming tax credit deadline of April 30 and low mortgage interest rates expected to tick up some although Freddie Mac in its 2010 forecast expects interest rates to remain in the 5 to [...]

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Understanding the costs of owning a home

by Mike ScobeyFebruary 10, 2010

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® Advocacy Program has developed two new brochures that IAR member REALTORS® can share with their clients. The brochures were created with one central purpose: to help put prospective homebuyers, mainly first-time homebuyers, on the path to RESPONSIBLE homeownership.
It’s safe to say that some newer homebuyers in the last decade or so [...]

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LAND USE PLANNING: A McHenry County Story

by Conor BrownFebruary 8, 2010

McHenry County, like most counties, is going through the routine of updating its land use plan and map. Land use plans and maps are intended to guide future growth in a community. McHenry County is currently operating on its woefully outdated 2010 plan and map. An attempt to do a 2020 plan [...]

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REALTORS®, the “go-to” for economic development

by Sharon GorrellFebruary 5, 2010
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As a REALTOR® you are a huge asset to your community. Housing plays a major role in economic development and you are the professional who can potentially be the “go-to” person for expertise and data that can help position your locality as a desirable community for business to locate and grow. Being part of your [...]

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Long-time homeowner tax credit update

by Mary SchaeferFebruary 4, 2010

Thank you to REALTOR® Sherry Liang from Baird & Warner in Olympia Fields for calling me to clear up a fact from my HOME START + tax credit post.
According to the IRS, if you meet all of the requirements for the long-time homeowner tax credit, the law does NOT require you to “sell or otherwise dispose of your current principal residence [...]

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Some elections remain undecided, clearly every vote counts

by Julie SullivanFebruary 3, 2010
some-elections-remain-undecided-clearly-every-vote-counts

Here it is, Wednesday morning and still no finals on either the Democratic or Republican candidates for Governor in these amazingly tight primary races.  So much for the thought of your vote not counting! 
IAR Advocacy funds were spent to educate voters on three home rule referenda in Sammons Point, Hometown and Midlothian.  The voters rejected [...]

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