Did you try to buy a home last year, but you ended up pressing pause?

Maybe you couldn’t find a home that really fit your needs. Or maybe the ones you liked just weren’t affordable. According to a recent survey from NerdWallet, those were the top two reasons buyers gave up on their search in 2025.

But this Spring, there's one trend that could help fix both of those frustration points: more homes are hitting the market.

The Number of Fresh Listings Is Almost 2x Higher Than a Few Months Ago

Data from Realtor.com shows there are nearly 2x as many new listings hitting the market today as there were just 3 months ago. Those are homes the seller just put up for sale (see graph below):

a graph of a bar chartThat’s a significant rise. And while we usually see an uptick…

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1167 Slade Rd, South Elgin, IL

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$ CLICK FOR CURRENT PRICE 3 BEDROOMS 3 BATHROOMS 0.21 acres Lot

Located in the desirable Kenyon Farms community of South Elgin, this beautifully maintained 3 bedroom, 3 bath brick and vinyl ranch offers comfortable single-level living with a functional, open layout and thoughtful upgrades throughout. The landscaped lot features a welcoming front porch, 3 car garage, and a fenced backyard with a covered patio, perfect for relaxing or entertaining, all within walking distance to the Illinois Prairie Path. Inside, you'll find wood laminate flooring,…

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432 Church St, Batavia, IL

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$ CLICK FOR CURRENT PRICE 3 BEDROOMS 3 BATHROOMS 0.21 acres Lot

Beautifully rehabbed in 2024, this stunning all stone 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath two story home in Batavia blends timeless character with modern updates in an unbeatable location. Set on a nice sized lot with mature trees, the home offers great curb appeal with a welcoming front porch, new concrete front walk and an oversized patio perfect for outdoor entertaining. Inside, you'll find hardwood floors, raised panel wood doors, detailed trim work and updated lighting throughout, along with a spacious…

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If you’re getting a tax refund this year, here’s something worth thinking about. That money could actually help you get closer to buying a home.

It may not be something you’ve factored into your plan yet, but it can give your savings a nice boost right when you need it most. And whether your refund is a few thousand dollars or more, there are some smart ways to put that money to work as you get ready to buy.

Your Refund May Be Even Bigger This Year

Let’s start with the good news. People are getting even more money back in their refunds than they did last year. The visual below uses data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to show the average individual’s refund is 11.1% higher this year:

a screenshot of a computerOf course, your exact refund will vary. But any…

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With economic headlines, global events, and near constant talk about affordability, you may be wondering if this is the right time to move. But here’s what you need to remember.

While recent events do have some impact on the housing market, they don’t take buying off the table. You just have to use a different strategy.

Mortgage Rates Have Been Up Slightly – Here's Why

After trending down for most of 2025, mortgage rates have been higher again for over roughly a month now. And experts say it’s a result of what's happening overseas and in the broader economy. As Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, explains:

“Mortgage rates have recently moved higher, driven by geopolitical uncertainty and rising energy costs that are…

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A Busy Spring Weekend for Home Buyers

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to explore homes in the Fox Valley, this weekend is shaping up to be a strong one. With warmer weather settling in and more listings hitting the market, buyers have a fresh wave of opportunities to tour homes in person.

The open houses in Batavia IL, Geneva IL homes for sale, and St Charles IL open houses happening on April 11th and 12th, 2026 offer a great snapshot of what’s currently available across these three highly desirable communities.

Whether you're just starting your search or narrowing down your options, open houses are one of the best ways to get a real feel for a home, a neighborhood, and overall value in today’s market.

Below, you’ll find everything…

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For a lot of people, the math on buying a home just doesn’t really work right now. Maybe that’s how it feels for you too. You look at the cost of buying. Then you look at the cost of childcare. And it starts to feel like you have to choose one or the other.

But some families are finding a way to make both work by doing something a little different: teaming up to purchase a multi-generational home.

One Reason This Is Becoming More Common

It’s no secret that affordability has been a challenge in recent years. But for families with young kids, there’s an added layer that can make it feel even harder: childcare.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, childcare should take up no more than 7% of your monthly income. But in…

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1995 Colchester Ave, Hoffman Estates, IL

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$ CLICK FOR CURRENT PRICE 4 BEDROOMS 3 BATHROOMS 0.21 acres Lot

Home is a Certified Pre-Owned Home. It comes Pre-Inspected, Repaired, and Includes a One Year Home Warranty! Located in the desirable Ivy Ridge neighborhood of Hoffman Estates, this well maintained 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath Colonial blends classic charm with thoughtful updates and a highly functional layout. Set on a landscaped lot with a welcoming front porch, paver patio and attached 2 car garage, this home is ideal for both everyday living and outdoor entertaining. Inside, you're…

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If you’ve been looking for a home lately, you’ve probably felt how tough affordability still is. And that's exactly why more buyers are opting for adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs.

Here's what you need to understand about how they work, and whether they make sense for you.

What Is an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage?

Since a lot of people aren’t familiar with this type of loan, let’s start with a definition.This is how Business Insider explains the main difference between a fixed-rate mortgage and an adjustable-rate mortgage:

“With a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate remains the same for the entire time you have the loan. This keeps your monthly payment the same for years . . . adjustable-rate mortgages work differently. You’ll start off with…

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When your house sits on the market longer than expected, it can get frustrating fast.

You start asking: what now? And for a growing number of homeowners, that turns into: should I just rent it instead?

While it sounds like a simple backup plan, becoming “accidental landlord” is actually a much bigger decision than most people realize. That’s when someone planned to sell, didn’t get the price or traction they hoped for, and decided to rent the house out instead.

And lately, that's happening more often.

Why the Number of Accidental Landlords Is Rising

If you’re faced with the same choice to rent or to sell, here’s what you need to know. First, you’re not alone. And that should actually be some comfort.

According to Zillow about 2.3% of…

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