December home sales climb 11.1 percent from November. Illinois ended 2010 with a December boost in home sales compared to the prior two months and declines in prices and sales also appeared to be moderating, according to IAR's report. Statewide home sales in December totaled 7,682 up 11.1 percent from 6,915 sales in November; year-over-year sales were down 7.3 percent from 8,288 sales in December 2009. The statewide median price was $140,000 down 7.9 percent from $152,000 in December 2009. Nationally, existing-home sales also jumped in December. Find Illinois county-by-county statistics, Talking Points and the latest forecast.

Owners and renters agree: owning a home just makes sense. In a new NAR survey, "American Attitudes about Homeownership," 95 percent of homeowners and 72 percent of renters say that over a period of several years, it makes more sense to own. Another positive statistic: 93 percent of owners are happy with their decision to buy and would do so again. 

Early-bird rates end Jan. 26 for IAR Business Conference for Owners & Managers. This targeted half-day program on Feb. 17 at the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center features: consultant Drexanne Evers offering practical tips for running a profitable office, a Chris Bird update on the latest state and federal tax changes and IAR CEO Gary Clayton and IAR Chief Legal Counsel Steve Bochenek on legal and regulatory issues affecting your business. Download the registration brochure and take advantage of this special deal – enroll three and get one FREE. 

Questions about short sales? IAR Legal Counsel answered some of the legal issues involving short sales, foreclosure, and lending/seller financing in a Jan. 18 webinar. Download a recording of the webinar.  

Tax credits, affordability drove Illinois home sales in 2010. First-time buyers taking advantage of the federal homebuyer tax credit and affordable home prices were a dominate force in the Illinois market last year, according to this IAR release on the 2010 Profile of Illinois Home Buyers and Sellers. Find an updated profile with charts and comparisons to the U.S. market.

February training sessions for IHDA and Rural Development loan programs. The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and Rural Development have teamed up to hold training sessions throughout Illinois on the Guaranteed Rural Housing loan and IHDA's SmartMove program. Find a location near you.

Wells Fargo now accepting FHA mortgages with credit scores under 600. Effective Jan. 15, 2011, Wells Fargo will accept Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgages for borrowers with credit scores as low as 500. Read more from NAR. 

Go shopping in the revamped IAR REALTOR® Store. The forms, brochures, manuals and other tools and resources that you need from IAR have never been easier to find. Check out the IAR REALTOR® Store today.

Who would be hurt by MID curbs? Reducing or eliminating the mortgage interest deduction could negatively impact homeowners and the local and state governments that rely on healthy home prices for their property tax revenue. Watch this video from NAR and stay up-to-date on the issue.

Millennials: No we don’t want to supersize that home. Generation Y has a different housing wish list than their parents: smaller not bigger, urban not suburban and casual over formal, according to this Wall Street Journal article “No McMansions for Millennials,” highlighting trends from the recent National Association of Home Builders conference.

Homeowners expected to spend more on remodeling. After a slowdown during the recession, the home improvement industry will see growth, according to a new Harvard University report, "A New Decade of Growth for Remodeling." Over the next five years, homeowners will shift more of their focus and resources to replacements and systems upgrades, the report says.  

Psst, pick up some milk on your way home. An Internet-connected refrigerator that can generate a grocery list? A dryer that can contact the repair person when a heating element is going bad? How about a web-cam equipped, Wi-Fi enabled vacuum? In his latest IARbuzz blog post, IAR Tech Guy writes about some of the tech-savvy household appliances that may be coming to homes in the near future.

Jan. 31 deadline to submit nominations for IAR Distinguished Service Award. Help IAR honor an individual who has provided outstanding contributions and service to IAR and the community. Download a nomination form.

“Book Report” ad campaign extols the other benefits of homeownership. REALTOR® efforts to promote the benefits of homeownership continue with this new public awareness campaign reminding consumers that homeownership benefits not just families but also the greater community.

Tip of the Week: Share money-saving tips/information with your clients with NAR's REALTORS® Content Resource. As this IARbuzz blog post points out, IAR members can use this free consumer content for their blogs, newsletters, even Facebook. Find articles on everything from reducing heating costs to home maintenance projects and financing.

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