Illinois RealEstateRama

Governor Bruce Rauner issued the following statement on the tornadoes that hit Illinois last night: "Given the reports of tornado touchdowns across north-central Illinois last night, we are fortunate things are not worse and are thankful there were no fatalities. Diana and I are thinking of those who were injured or suffered property damage in the storms and send our prayers to you.

The year’s housing market momentum continues with Illinois home sales and prices posting robust gains in May, according to the Illinois REALTORS®. Statewide home sales (including single-family homes and condominiums) in May 2016 totaled 16,150 homes sold, up 6.0 percent from 15,237 in May 2015

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $4,852,151 in federal funding for upgrades to small airports in Illinois. The grants were awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration and will help improve safety and efficiency at DuPage Airport, Greater Kankakee Airport, and Lewis University Airport. Senator Durbin has worked to increase funding for critical transportation and infrastructure grant programs that benefit Illinois.

During a speech at the City Club of Chicago, Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) CEO Eugene “Gene” Jones, Jr. today outlined how the nation’s second largest public housing agency is creating opportunities for residents and changing Chicago’s neighborhoods through holistic development strategies that were set in motion over a decade ago.

May xx, 2016 — Local home sales data for April is in and it confirms that the prevailing trends of last year have continued into 2016 with strong positive indicators for the spring home sales season.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau unveiled a proposal for a new national rule on payday and car title lending that has the potential to save Illinois residents millions if changes are made before the rule is finalized.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced the City’s Ending Veterans Homelessness Initiative (EVHI) is receiving a $100,000 grant from the Elks National Veterans Service Commission that will be used to launch a Veterans Emergency Fund. The $100,000 in private funding, provided by the Elks, will help support at least 50 veterans in securing stable housing, and is another step in the City’s commitment to ending veteran homelessness in Chicago

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) announced today that the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDPFR or the Department) began using the National SAFE Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) Test with Uniform State Content starting today, bringing the total number of state agencies that use the test to 52.

The Illinois Department of Transportation today released a $11.2 billion plan to improve Illinois roads and bridges over the next six years, a $2.8 billion increase fueled by a boost in federal funding and a commitment to direct more resources at construction

Addressing a crowd gathered at a breakfast to honor the achievements of young people, Chicago Housing Authority CEO Eugene Jones, Jr., commended two CHA scholarship recipients for their accomplishments and announced that a recent decision by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to extend the agency's Moving To Work (MTW) status for another 10 years will allow thousands more to also have new opportunities

The Illinois housing market accelerated in April with robust home sales and a double-digit year-over-year jump in the statewide median price, according to the Illinois REALTORS

Following is a statement by Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), on Illinois energy legislation

Senate FY17 Energy & Water Bill Includes Kirk-Driven Provisions to Boosts Supercomputer Development, Strengthens Illinois Waterway Infrastructure; Bill Funds National Labs, Waterway Infrastructure, Cybersecurity Improvements

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Division of Banking today announced that it will adopt the new SAFE Mortgage Loan Originator (MLO) National Test Component with Uniform State Content on June 1, 2016. IDFPR is one of 52 state agencies that have adopted the test. Additional states are eventually expected to adopt the new SAFE MLO National Test Component with Uniform State Content

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA), Congressman Danny Davis, Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr. (27) and Holsten Real Estate today cut the ribbon on Terrace 459 at Parkside of Old Town, the latest development in the revitalization of Cabrini-Green. This phase adds 106 rental units in two buildings at 459 West Division and 1151 North Cleveland, expanding mixed-income housing options in the neighborhood.