For nearly all homeowners who have a mortgage on their house or condo, they dream of the day when it is finally paid off in full Having that legal document in hand that says you are free of debt and the property is in your name is an extremely satisfying life-long goal for many people

Something few people consider when both looking for a home or condo to buy or deciding to sell one is how seasons affect the housing market and when the best time of year to buy or sell is But in fact the time of year that you decide to shop for a home or put yours on the Chicago real estate market is very important

You might think that the spot in the home where people spend the most time would be the living room or family room But in fact the kitchen is the most used room in the majority of homes

If you're shopping for a new home and have about $350,000 in your budget, you might want to consider that your dollar amount will sometimes buy a little more condo in the suburbs than it will in downtown Chicago Of course you have to weigh the pros and cons of suburban living as opposed to in town, and that always varies depending on lifestyle, work and personal preferences

Almost everything in life can be translated into a number You keep track of your favorite sports team's stats, the price per gallon for gas and maybe even your cholesterol if you're really vigilant

You might think you have to live in Florida, California or a state where natural weather disasters or wildfires create a cycle of home rebuilding to be targeted by contractor scams But in fact, anyone who owns a home is at risk for falling victim to unscrupulous contractors

With the recent real estate market downturn and condo bust affecting most states across the US

So you've decided to sell your house or condo It's one of the biggest decisions you'll make, and everyone who has ever sold real estate knows that it can be time consuming, confusing and sometimes more difficult than you ever thought possible

In a year when a record 5,900 new condos are scheduled to be completed, a home owner who is trying to sell faces a huge amount of competition With so many pre-construction condos, renovated lofts and scores of single family homes available, buyers have the luxury of taking their time to pick from a seemingly endless supply from which to chose

With an apparent over supply of new condos on the market, both from last year's inventory and new units coming online this summer, it sometimes seems as though developers are offering more incentives than ever Everything from kitchen upgrades to the often used free parking lure has been heavily advertised with most developments