Lew Sichelman

Interior of the common area at 444 Social in Lincolnshire, Ill.

Good news: ‘Boomerang buyers’ could find it much easier to qualify for financing

May 20, 2019 at 1:24 p.m.

Millions of consumers are in for a big surprise in the coming months. For some, the surprise will be good news; for others, not so good. Perhaps even devastating. And...

Lenders struggle with affordability issues, too

May 20, 2019 at 1:24 p.m.

If you have the feeling that it's getting more difficult to afford the roof over your head, whether it's a home of your own or a rented apartment, you're right....

How to tell if the housing market is hot or not

May 20, 2019 at 1:24 p.m.

Every once in a while, local media proclaim that the local market is "on fire." But is it really? If the report is based solely on the fact that there...

Consumer updates: Teens, tech and automobiles

May 20, 2019 at 1:23 p.m.

Teens and the American Dream: Forget about millennials. Everything that can be written about that age cohort has been written. So let's move on to Gen Z. They are mostly...

Innovative sites offer buyers and sellers new opportunities

June 12, 2018 at 12:41 p.m.

Innovative sites offer new opportunities for buyers and sellers. One, started by the co-founder of Uber, allows would-be buyers to see exactly what they're up against when competing with other...

First step after buying a home: Change the locks

June 8, 2018 at 6:35 p.m.

OK, maybe you could pop a bottle of champagne first and toast your new home. And possibly unpack the kitchen. But after that, change the locks. Not just the front...

Mortgage interest loses value

June 10, 2018 at 8:33 p.m.

Uncle Sam allows us to deduct every penny we pay in mortgage interest, up to $1 million a year. Of course, few people pay that much, but it is part...

Many major retirement properties offer so-called "discovery packages" that allow prospective buyers to stay in the community before deciding to move there.

Try before you buy in retirement community

May 20, 2019 at 1:09 p.m.

When seniors are checking out places to retire — or join the 55-and-over "active adult" set — their question often is, "How do I know I'm going to like the...

Speakers at a meeting of lenders in Atlantic City, N.J., said they expected hundreds of new households of first-time homebuyers in the coming years.

Lenders awaiting next wave of buyers

May 20, 2019 at 1:07 p.m.

Speakers at a recent meeting of lenders in Atlantic City, N.J., said they expected hundreds of thousands of first-time buyers to enter the housing market in the coming years, and...

When potential buyers look at real estate listings, a well-written ad can make a property stand out.

Make your real estate listing pop

May 20, 2019 at 1:07 p.m.

Pam Danziger of Unity Marketing in Stevens, Pa., is not a big-money real estate agent, but she is an expert on the affluent market. And she just released a report...

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