Gov. Bruce Rauner today signed legislation to reduce burdensome licensing requirements for real estate businesses. The new licensing program is expected to save the state money by reducing a duplicative and unnecessary licensure structure that provides no benefit to the public and discourages business creation and growth.

Findings from Illinois’ Customary and Reasonable Fee Survey are now available online, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). The voluntary survey of Illinois licensed real estate appraisers began in January with assistance from the Office of Real Estate Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has waived the final year of a five-year agreement with the Chicago Housing Authority because of the agency’s outstanding performance and commitment to enhancing the Section 3 program that provides job and contracting opportunities to public housing residents.

Illinois licensed real estate appraisers are encouraged to complete the Customary and Reasonable Fee Survey. The voluntary survey is being conducted by the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign on behalf of the Division of Real Estate (the “DRE“) at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation ("IDFPR").

Representatives and college recruiters from big-name corporate organizations - including AT&T, BMO Harris and Microsoft - will network with 100 Chicago Housing Authority college scholars and discuss career opportunities

Fewer homes selling for fewer days at slightly higher prices has been the mantra for many areas in the housing market this year.  This trend continues in this area with slight variations. Housing data for November shows the number of new listings fell from the same period in 2016, while houses under contact rose at a similar rate, according to the North Shore-Barrington Association of REALTORS^® (NSBAR).

Illinois home sales remained largely flat while the statewide median price shifted slightly higher in November as the market moved into the traditionally slower holiday season, according to Illinois REALTORS®

U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), who serves as a Member on the House Intelligence Committee, led a press conference with Illinois election officials on the need to harden our defenses against election hacking. Rep. Quigley was joined by the Illinois State Board of Elections, Cook County Clerk’s Office, the DuPage County Election Commission, and the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners. Click here to watch the press conference in its entirety.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago has charged two suburban mortgage brokers with fraudulently operating a purportedly independent appraisal management company to control property valuations, and brokering fraudulent loans to finance real estate transactions between themselves and nominees.

Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) joined with Senator Dick Durbin, Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-5), officials from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) of Greater Chicago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other area organizations today to officially announce the completion of McCook Reservoir Stage 1, a 3.5 billion gallon section of the McCook Reservoir, part of the MWRD’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP).