Can you open new credit lines based on your mortgage? - 11/22/11 03:28 PM
Did you know that your mortgage is currently working in your favor when it comes to applying for credit? The likelihood of gaining new credit may be enhanced simply by carrying a mortgage, despite the state it’s in. 
In a recent article published by Janet Dedrick of the Equinox Finance Blog, she states that people with mortgages are seen as lower statistical risks to credit card companies. Consider the following: 42% of new credit cards have been issued to people with mortgages and 60% of new credit has been issued to those with mortgages. Half of these people have a … (0 comments)

Fall Gardening Tips for Chicago Homeowners - 11/22/11 03:12 PM
The plummeting temperature and harsh Chicago conditions as of late foreshadow the coming winter season. But before it becomes almost too unbearable to be outside for an extended period of time, Owners of Chicago homes with a bit of land should consider completing any pressing yard work that needs to be done before the weather becomes entirely inhospitable to outdoor labor. The following is a list of chores to consider finishing up before fall gives way to winter:
1.     Cut back perennials that have started to show signs of yellow foliage.  These plants need to be trimmed in order to form clumps … (0 comments)

Home Loan Apps and Refis Rise 4.9% - 11/04/11 06:01 PM
The number of applications for mortgages and refinances was up almost 5% last week, according to reports from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). With interest rates at near record lows, many homeowners are trying to make their monthly mortgage payments more affordable by refinancing. As a result, more than three-fourths of mortgage apps last week and the week before were for refis.
Over 77% of applications were for mortgage refinances during the week ending October 26, said the MBA. The rest were from people trying to purchase homes in the U.S. It was pretty much the same situation the previous week … (0 comments)

Chicago Home Prices Continue to Climb in August - 11/04/11 04:43 PM
The month of August brought good news for the Chicago area real estate market. After home prices grew exponentially in the months of May, June and July, they continued to move upwards in August.
On Tuesday, the Standard and Poor’s/Case-Schiller home price index, a highly regarded measure of the U.S. housing market’s direction, reported that Chicago home prices grew 1.4 percent in the month of August. This followed a 1.9 percent gain in July, as well as two previous months of similar growth.
As home prices continue to grow in Chicago and other areas of the Midwest, experts applaud … (0 comments)

 

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