Sprint is making good on a previously reported plan to expand its presence in Chicago by partnering with bankrupt RadioShack. Today, the nation’s third largest wireless carrier will open the first Sprint-RadioShack hybrid stores—adding 27 retail locations in total throughout Chicagoland. Sprint is expected to open 54 co-branded stores throughout Illinois. The move comes as a relief to many Chicago landlords who previously feared they would have to find new tenants in light of RadioShack’s … [Read more...]
Illinois Has Nation’s Second Highest Property Tax
April 9, 2015 by
A recent WalletHub report is confirming what many Illinois homeowners have long suspected—they are paying a lot in property tax. In fact, only New Jersey surpasses Illinois in property taxes. Just $32 keeps Illinois from tying for that top spot. The average real estate tax in Illinois is $3,939. The rate seems excessive when compared with Hawaii’s average of $482, which is the lowest average tax rate in the country. Indiana hovers in the middle at No. 23 with an average tax of $1,507. Overall, … [Read more...]
Debunking 6 House-Hunting Myths
April 8, 2015 by
First-time homebuyers often get inundated with house-hunting advice from friends and family members. They often mean well, but sometimes the advice they give applies to how the housing market was when they bought. A recent Trulia article examined the most common advice given to house hunters and discovered six recommendations that home buyers can take with a grain of salt today. One of those recommendations is that you shouldn’t buy the first house you look at. According to Trulia, that may have … [Read more...]
Securing a Car Loan After Bankruptcy
April 7, 2015 by
Shopping for a car loan can be an intimidating process for any consumer. But, when your credit history includes a bankruptcy filing, the prospect of getting approved at a reasonable interest rate for the car you want can seem impossible. According to a recent CBS Money Watch article, however, you should not be discouraged. The article quotes Phil Reed, senior consumer advice editor for auto authority website Edmunds.com who says, "The most important thing to know is that you do have options." … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Avoid Mortgage Approval Delays
April 6, 2015 by
If you have taken the first step of getting pre-approved for a mortgage before you started house hunting, you may be surprised to learn that you still have to go through the loan approval process. According to Zillow, confusing pre-approval with actual approval is one of the top 5 mistakes homebuyers make. Doing so can cause delays in securing a mortgage in time to close the deal on your dream home. Zillow advises, “Be sure you ask to get ‘underwriting approved’ and obtain a formal loan … [Read more...]
Report: IRS Ignores 60 Percent of Taxpayer Calls
April 2, 2015 by
The IRS is living up to predictions earlier this year that 2015 would be the worst tax season in a decade. With the tax deadline just two weeks away, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen admitted yesterday that the agency is ignoring 60 percent of calls from taxpayers. Koskinen says the IRS simply is not staffed to handle the volume of calls. Severe budget cuts have also impacted the agency’s compliance division. Koskinen says the government stands to miss out on $2 billion in money they would … [Read more...]
Mortgage-Free Homes for Delinquent Borrowers?
April 1, 2015 by
Thousands of underwater borrowers in states like Florida, New Jersey and New York may get to stay in their homes without ever making another mortgage payment. Despite failing to make a single mortgage payment in five years, these homeowners may benefit from their lenders’ failure to foreclose in a timely manner. According to an article published this week in The New York Times, “lenders may never be able to seize the homes because the state statutes of limitations have been exceeded.” Part of … [Read more...]
4 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Real Estate Agent
March 31, 2015 by
If you are a first-time homebuyer looking to hire a real estate agent for the first time, it is important to choose wisely. According to the Chicago Tribune, a real estate agent can “make or break” your home search efforts. But, how do you go about deciding whether a real estate agent is a good fit? Asking four essential interview questions will help you determine if you will be in good hands with a particular agent. One obvious question that may get overlooked is, “Who do you represent?” In … [Read more...]
9 Pros & Cons of Buying Before You Sell
March 30, 2015 by
It’s a question realtors hear often from homeowners looking to make a change to a different home. Should I buy before I sell? A new Trulia blog helps answer the question with 9 pros and cons homeowners should consider before making a decision either way. One pro of buying before you sell is that you eliminate the possibility that you will have to move twice in the event that you cannot find your new dream home before you have to move out of your sold home. The expense and hassle of moving from a … [Read more...]
RadioShack to Auction Customer Info in Bankruptcy Deal
March 27, 2015 by
Bankruptcy has pushed RadioShack to a surprising new low in the minds of some of its loyal customers. The trusted brand reportedly has plans to auction the personal information of more than 117 million customers. According to CBS New York, the highest bidder will gain access to customer names, addresses, phone numbers and other details on purchases. The auction contradicts RadioShack’s privacy policy, which states the company will never “sell or rent your personally identifiable information to … [Read more...]
