StartingPoint Realty Blog
Chicago Area Home Inventory Falls Back in Autumn
Chicago area home inventory dropped during September, while home sales remained steady. Here's the latest market data from Illinois REALTORS©, along with our own insights! The number of homes for sale in the City of Chicago was 22% lower during September 2025,...
First-Time Chicago Area Home Buyers Face Uphill Climb
It isn't your imagination: buying your first Chicago area home is harder today than it was a few years ago. Here's the difference in market conditions over the past five years! Home prices in the City of Chicago increased by an average of 30% between 2020 and 2025. As...
Roof Condition Tips for Chicago Home Buyers
As a Chicago home buyer, there are a few big-ticket repairs you hope to avoid for a long as possible. Among these are roof replacements, which can range anywhere from $10,000 up to $40,000 or more. There are a ton of variables in roof replacement costs: home size,...
Summer Sales Heat Up for Chicago Suburban Homes
Chicago suburban homes saw a boost in sales activity during June, with home buyers capitalizing on improved inventory. By the numbers, sales activity for single-family homes increased by 10% on a year-over-year basis. Sales activity for attached homes, such as...
Home Insurance Tips for Chicago Home Buyers
Home insurance policies are becoming more expensive, due to extreme weather, rising home values, and the increasing cost of home repairs. As insurance companies become more selective about who and what they will cover, there are a few things Chicago home buyers should...
Home Prices in Chicago Suburbs Climb as Sales Pace Slows
Chicago suburban home prices are on the upswing, with the median sales price for a detached, single-family home reaching $405,000 during April. This is a year-over-year increase of 5.2%, according to data from Mainstreet REALTORS©. However, there are a number of...
Why Visiting an “Open House” Can Work Against Buyers
Visiting an "open house" in Chicagoland is fun, but the nature of an open house can work against home buyers. An open house is purposely casual, welcoming, and social. And because this kind of home tour doesn't require an appointment or any pre-screening, the...
Chicago Home Buyers Should Prepare for Counter-Offers
Chicago area home buyers have a couple things in their favor. The inventory of Chicago homes for sale has improved, and mortgage interest rates have retreated from previous highs. Sellers still have the driver's seat, but their grip on the wheel isn't as tight. For...
The Best Time to Sell Your Chicago Home
Timing the Chicago real estate market has its hazards. Statistically, the best time to list your Chicago home for sale is during the last two weeks of May. Home buyers are out in force during the spring, and this short-lived sweet spot seems to catch home buyers at...
Chicago Area Home Selling Strategies for 2025
The Chicago area real estate market could have more homes on the market in 2025, according to Mainstreet REALTORS®. More inventory would be welcome for Chicago area home buyers! But for homeowners planning to move, it potentially means a more competitive selling...
Mortgage Approval Tips for Chicago Area Home Buyers!
Looking to buy a Chicago area home in the New Year? This is the perfect time to prepare for your mortgage approval! The better your financial preparation, the better odds you have of a mortgage approval. Also, with a good credit score and down payment, you will...
5 Things Affecting Chicago Real Estate in 2025
2025 is almost here! We'll soon begin a new year of opportunities for Chicago home buyers and sellers. If you're looking for insights on future conditions, here are 5 things that will affect Chicago area real estate! 1. Mortgage interest rates. As of early...
Chicago Holiday Season Events 2024!
The holiday season in Chicago brings festive events you won't want to miss! With the holidays coming up fast, this is the perfect time to plan your favorite activities. Here's a list of 2024 Chicago holiday happenings! Christmas Around the World The Museum of Science...
More Home Choices for Chicago Area Buyers
After years of below-normal home inventory, the Chicago real estate market is starting to loosen up! The number of homes for sale increased month-over-month for Cook, Lake, DuPage and Will counties, bringing more opportunities to the market for Chicagoland home...