Buyers, Beware of Making These Mistakes During The Home Inspection
After what could be months of browsing online, numerous home showings, and countless updates from your real estate agent about new listings, you're ecstatic to have finally found the home you want to buy. You put down an offer, and the seller has accepted. All the hard work is done, right? Not ...
What Does the Rest of the Year Hold for Home Prices?

Whether you’re a potential homebuyer, seller, or both, you probably want to know: will home prices fall this year? Let’s break down what’s happening with home prices, where experts say they’re headed, and why this matters for your homeownership goals.

Buying a Home May Make More Financial Sense Than Renting

If rising home prices leave you wondering if it makes more sense to rent or buy a home in today’s housing market, consider this. It’s not just home prices that have risen in recent years – rental prices have skyrocketed as well.

7 Ways To Minimize Unnecessary Costs When Moving
Whatever the reason behind your move, whether you're buying your first home, you’ve got a new job in a different city, or you want to be closer to your loved ones and relatives, among others, relocating is no small venture. There are many factors to consider: finding the time and energy ...
Why Pre-Approval Is a Game Changer for Homebuyers

If you’re planning to buy a home this year, you might have heard that pre-approval is a necessary step to take before starting out on your journey. But why is that? And is it still important in today’s shifting market?

What Does it Mean to Be "House Poor" and How to Avoid it?
If you're a first-time buyer who's only just started your house-hunting journey, you might have heard the expression, house poor. Many of us are familiar with the term and understand it carries negative connotations, yet we do not know what it means.  ...
Finding The One: 4 Ways House-Hunting is Like Dating
It's love at first sight. The one that made your heart skip a beat. Maybe it was the charmer, the one needing a little bit of work, or even the one that got away. No, we are not talking about a love match. We are talking about the house hunting journey. Finding your perfect dream home is ...
Here's How to Deal with Things Sellers Leave Behind in Your New Home
Once you've closed the deal and got the keys to your new home, the next exciting part is bringing your belongings with you so you can finally settle in. But rather than finding your new place in a spic and span state and enjoying the fresh start, you stumble across items that the sellers left ...
Home Sellers: How Long Do You Have to Respond to an Offer?
In theory, there's no rule about how quickly a seller has to respond to purchase offers. You can take as long as you want before responding since there is no official time frame. However, the industry standard is to get back to interested buyers within 24 to 72 hours. This is a common courtesy ...
Thrifty Ways To Furnish Your New Home For Less
You've bought your first home—congratulations! It’s a huge milestone you finally accomplished after what could be years of saving up for the down payment. However, once you’ve moved into your new home, that’s when it hits you. Your house now requires far more furniture ...
Expert Questions to Ask When House-Hunting with Pets in Mind
Just how much do we love our pets? Several surveys showed how much pets are affecting the homebuying process. Pets influence many buyers on the types of homes and neighborhoods they search for, becoming the biggest reason their favorite humans decide to become homeowners.A 2021 homes.com ...
Meet Your Agent: Chad Penzo Thacker | Mark Buckner Group

Chad Penzo Thacker might be a Kentucky native, but he's called Chicago his home for the past 10 years. Having rented, bought, and sold in Chicago gives him a unique perspective and allows him to better aid his clients on their journey. When he's working to make real estate dreams come ...

Your Top 5 Priorities If You Want To Buy Your First Home in 2022
If you're looking to make buying your first home your biggest goal this year, it’s crucial that you lay the groundwork as early as you can. And it’s important, especially in today’s competitive housing market.Fortunately, there are some pretty simple but huge steps you can ...
What Does 'Days on Market' Mean and Why Does It Matter to Home Buyers?
Here's a sweet analogy- think of a home for sale like your favorite bread or pastry. Most, if not all, are best consumed when they're freshly baked, much like a home that has been fresh on the market. But bread gets stale as days pass by, which makes it less and less appealing. The same can be ...
Home Buyers: Here are 5 Expert Tips To Ensure A Smooth Closing
As you approach closing, the pinnacle of your home buying journey, you'd want nothing to go wrong. But with many hurdles or complications that could get in the way before you finally hold your house keys, expect the process to be more stressful and overwhelming. With a real estate agent ...