Home Sales Rise as Prices FallThe Wall Street Journal reported that sales of existing homes rose unexpectedly by 2.7% in January; this increase in demand seems to be a response to the overall drop in home prices; the Standard & Poor’s/Case Schiller home price index reported that home prices in the Chicago area are down 30% from their 2006 highs.HOME PRICES STINK! Look Beyond the Headlines…We listed this headline since that is what most newspapers would have you believe, especially after the recently reported Standard & Poor’s/Case Schiller home price index. However, if you look at dozens of towns throughout Greater Chicago, you may see a different story – HOME PRICE STABILIZATION and even (gasp!) APPRECIATION! HOME PRICES SURGE! Maybe a stretch…However, a sampling of 20 cities and towns throughout Greater Chicago showed increases in the average sales prices from 2009 to 2010 (per MLS data). The following is the list of these towns and the corresponding increase in average sales prices – Glen Ellyn – 10.6%, Riverside – 6.3%, Glenview – 6.2%, LaGrange Park – 4%, Oak Park – 3.6%, Wilmette – 3.4%, Hinsdale – 3.2%, LaGrange – 2.3%, Park Ridge - .6% and Western Springs was essentially even as compared to 2009. This is just a sampling, not a comprehensive list of all towns that had appreciation. UHL Launches New Website!We launched our brand new website on Friday February 18th with a clean new look and it offers more information and easier navigation. Visit www.uhloans.com <http://www.uhloans.com> and take a look around!
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