Home Sales in October Remain Steady

October recorded the fastest pace of home sales since June, according to a report from the National Association of Realtors®. Total home sales grew to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.48 million, which is up two percent from the previous month. The year-over-year median existing home price is up 5.5 percent compared to the previous year. Locally during the same time period, home sales were more modest but still up, with the Chicagoland area showing a 0.3 percent increase year-over-year. 

FHA Conforming Loans Limit to Increase in 2018

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced that the maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages on one-unit properties to be acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will increase in 2018 from $424,100 to $453,100. According to the seasonally adjusted Home Price Index, home prices increased 6.8 percent, on average, between 2016 and 2017, leading to the same percentage increase for the maximum conforming loan limit.

KoenigRubloff Cares Foundation raises over $20,000 for Hurricane Relief

In November, the KoenigRubloff Cares Foundation held their Night in Monte Carlo event at the Montgomery Club in Chicago. The evening raised $20,000 that will go towards hurricane relief through Habitat for Humanity’s Hammers Back program and the Sunshine Kids organization, for children who have suffered from storm devastation. To read more about the Night in Monte Carlo event, and also the Sunshine Kids Chicago Teen Getaway experience, we invite you to read November’s edition of the KoenigRubloff Cares Foundation Newsletter by clicking here.

Cooking with Winter Vegetables 

Hearty winter vegetables can complement a dish or serve as a main course to get you through the chillier season. HGTV.com offers suggestions on how to take popular winter vegetables such as turnips, Brussel sprouts, beets, carrots, and potatoes, and turning them into an easy go-to meal. To read more about this, please click here. ​

“Spring” Cleaning Before the Deep Winter

Before temperatures dip and reluctance to go outside increases, Houselogic offers nine often forgotten ways to clean your home! Some of the helpful suggestions include washing and disinfecting the trash cans in your home, cleaning the tops of doors, trims and artwork, cleaning the floor behind the refrigerator and changing the filters in the furnace.  Click here to read the entire list.  

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