Chicago: A Buyers' Market

"What's not to like?" asks an article in the Sun Times News Group -- at least for buyers, the Chicago real estate market is a friendly place to be:

Buyers in the Chicago area have perfect conditions for looking right now, said Laura Ellis, senior vice president of sales for Baird & Warner. "It's a great time to get a great deal. Interest rates are fabulous -- bouncing around 6 percent -- and there is plenty of financing available."There's a great selection of properties on the market, so buyers can take their time and find the right house and a good deal," Ellis said.

Sellers find themselves in a challenging market. "If you want to sell your home in today's market," Ellis said, "you really need to hire a professional agent who knows what they're doing. There are simply more homes out there and sellers need to price their homes correctly, present them properly and market them professionally."

It bears repeating: the moral is not simply to be a buyer rather than a seller, but to get professional help on either end!