What’s it Like to Work with a Buyer’s Agent?

One of the biggest concerns buyers have is how long it will take to find a home. They are not actually worried that it will take them a long time, i.e., 6 months or more. They are more concerned that their agent is going to pressure them into buying something before they are [...]

Economic Unpredictability: What is the Impact on the Barrington Real Estate Market?

Noted economist Paul Krugman said in an interview published earlier this week that we could see an average of a 25% drop in housing prices across the country (How Bad is the Mortgage Crisis Going to Get? Fortune, 3/17/08). This is a big statement.
But before we panic, before we make this dire forecast come [...]

Office Buzz in Barrington and Market Feel in Palatine and Inverness

This entry is a little more anecdotal than statistical. The office buzz at my home-base, Keller Williams in Barrington, has been a shared feeling of cautious optimism and anticipation this past week. The mood was especially cheery and alive on Monday after the weekend. Colleagues reported an increase in open house attendance and [...]

Cruel Winter Delays Spring Market

It seems like months since we’ve seen our lawns. . . And the weather is impacting the market, too. Sales are down in the Northwest Suburbs compared to last year at this time. Realtors used to think of the spring market as beginning after the Super Bowl. Over the last couple years, [...]