One of the more unusual but sometimes profitable real estate investments is buying parking spaces In every large city, including Chicago, there is always a need for parking and demand outpaces supply

For parents, sending their children off to college is a major milestone in life Besides facing the empty nest syndrome, they are also confronted with the high cost of college tuition

The recent Housing Stimulus Bill, also known as the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was signed into law on July 30, 2008 Many homeowners may be confused as to what this bill means for them and how it can help

Your home or condo, provided you own it, is probably the biggest source of equity in your personal finance portfolio aside from stocks or investments With the cost of so many basic life necessities going up such as fuel, food and health care, it may be tempting to refinance to lower your monthly payments in order to free up some cash to cover other monthly expenses

With record amounts of rain in many parts of the nation this year, the topic of flood insurance has gained a lot of attention Flooding occurred in areas where it hadn't before, or at least not in decades

For nearly all homeowners who have a mortgage on their house or condo, they dream of the day when it is finally paid off in full Having that legal document in hand that says you are free of debt and the property is in your name is an extremely satisfying life-long goal for many people

Something few people consider when both looking for a home or condo to buy or deciding to sell one is how seasons affect the housing market and when the best time of year to buy or sell is But in fact the time of year that you decide to shop for a home or put yours on the Chicago real estate market is very important

You might think that the spot in the home where people spend the most time would be the living room or family room But in fact the kitchen is the most used room in the majority of homes

If you're shopping for a new home and have about $350,000 in your budget, you might want to consider that your dollar amount will sometimes buy a little more condo in the suburbs than it will in downtown Chicago Of course you have to weigh the pros and cons of suburban living as opposed to in town, and that always varies depending on lifestyle, work and personal preferences

Almost everything in life can be translated into a number You keep track of your favorite sports team's stats, the price per gallon for gas and maybe even your cholesterol if you're really vigilant