Buying your first home in today’s market can feel tough. Between high home prices and mortgage rates, affordability is still a big challenge. And some buyers are making one simple trade-off that’s getting them in the door faster: square footage.

According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), 35% of buyers are willing to purchase something smaller to make homeownership happen. And one place you can usually find a smaller footprint (and sometimes better affordability) is in townhomes.

Why Townhomes Are Gaining Popularity

Townhomes typicallycost less than single-family homes due to their more limited size.And that’s a big plus for today’s budget-conscious buyer. As Realtor.com says:

"In today's market, affordability remains a key…

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524 Ellen Ln, Batavia, IL

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$ CLICK FOR CURRENT PRICE 4 BEDROOMS 3 BATHROOMS 0.27 acres Lot Welcome to 524 Ellen Ln, a beautifully maintained 4-bedroom, 3-bath home in Batavia's desirable Millview neighborhood. This brick and vinyl two-story is ideally located right across from a neighborhood park and just minutes from schools, shopping, dining, and more. Step inside to find hardwood floors, recessed lighting, and a stunning two-story family room with a floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace with gas logs that adds warmth and character. The eat-in kitchen features stainless steel appliances,…

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Recession talk is all over the news, and the odds of a recession are rising this year. And that leaves people wondering what would happen to the housing market if we do go into a recession.

Let’s take a look at some historical data to show what’s happened in housing for each recession going all the way back to the 1980s.

A Recession Doesn’t Mean Home Prices Will Fall

Many people think that if a recession hits, home prices will fall like they did in 2008. But that was an exception, not the rule. It was the only time we saw such a steep drop in prices. And it hasn’t happened since.

In fact, according to data from CoreLogic, in four of the last six recessions, home prices actually went up (see graph below):

a graph of a graph showing the price of falling prices
So, if you’re thinking about buying…

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Last year, 70% of buyers abandoned their home search – and maybe you were one of them. It makes sense. Inventory was low, prices were high, and mortgage rates were up and down like a rollercoaster. All of that made it really hard to find a home you loved – and could afford.

But guess what? The market is shifting.

So, if you paused your moving plans in 2024, it might be time to hit play again. Here’s why.

More Inventory Opens Up More Options

Even if you could make the numbers work, the lack of available homes in recent years probably made it hard to come by something that fit your needs. But inventory is rising, which means you have more options now.

According to Realtor.com, inventory has jumped 27.5% since this time last year (see graph…

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1490 Flora Church Rd, Kirkland, IL

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$ CLICK FOR CURRENT PRICE 4 BEDROOMS 4 BATHROOMS 5.1 acres Lot Escape to your dream retreat with this stunning 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath custom log home nestled on 5 serene acres in Kirkland, Illinois. With over 3,000 sq ft of beautifully finished living space across three levels, this one-of-a-kind home offers rustic charm and modern comfort. Step inside to soaring 24' beamed ceilings, solid ash hardwood flooring, and an open floor plan that seamlessly connects the spacious living room-featuring a stone surround woodburning stove-to a…

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234 Applewood Ln, Bloomingdale, IL

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$ CLICK FOR CURRENT PRICE 3 BEDROOMS 2 BATHROOMS Welcome to this beautifully updated 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath two-story townhome in the desirable Westlake neighborhood of Bloomingdale. Featuring a private front courtyard and an attached 2-car garage, this home offers both style and functionality. Step inside to find wood laminate flooring and recessed lighting throughout the main level. The spacious living room flows into an updated eat-in kitchen with sleek quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, tile backsplash, and an adjacent dining area with slider access…

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screens screenshot of a home price

Some Highlights

  • At a national level, the housing market has shifted over the past year.
  • There are more homes for sale, price growth has moderated, and homes are taking a little longer to sell.
  • Do you want to know how our area compares? Let’s connect so we can go over what's happening locally and what this means for you.

Originally posted at Simplifying The Market.

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If selling your house is on your to-do list this year, the time to start prepping is now. That’s because experts say the best week to list your house is coming up fast.

A recent Realtor.com study analyzed years of housing market trends (excluding 2020 since it was an outlier) and found that April 13–19 is expected to be the ideal window to put your house on the market this year:

. . . we’ve identified April 13-19 as the best week to list for sellers . . . a seller listing a well-priced, move-in ready home is likely to find success. Because spring is generally the high season for real estate activity and buyers are more plentiful earlier rather than later in the year, listing earlier in the spring raises a seller’s odds of a successful sale.”

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2013 Stuttle Rd, Batavia, IL

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$ CLICK FOR CURRENT PRICE 2 BEDROOMS 3 BATHROOMS 0.03 acres Lot

Discover upscale living in this stunning 2BR/2.5BA end-unit townhome in the sought-after Prairie Commons of Batavia! With a vinyl and stone exterior and a finished 2-car attached garage, this home exudes both style and functionality. Step inside to an open-concept floor plan with 9' ceilings and custom upgrades throughout. The sun-filled 2-story living room features power window shades and tinted windows for added privacy, woven shades, and blackout shades enhance the bedrooms. A smart home…

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Spring is in full swing, and the housing market is picking up along with it. And if you’ve been wondering whether now is the right time to buy or sell, here’s the inside scoop on why this spring may be a great time to make your move.

1. There Are More Homes for Sale

After a long stretch of tight inventory, the number of homes for sale is finally improving. According to recent national data from Realtor.com, active listings are up 27.5% compared to this time last year.

Look at the graph below and follow the green line for 2025. You can see, even though inventory levels still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic norms (shown in gray), that number is higher than it has been going into the spring market over the past few years (see graph below):

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