Moving to Manhattan, IL: Should You Buy a Home Here?

Ask most people in Chicagoland about Manhattan, Illinois and you will get a blank look, and honestly, that is part of the appeal. Manhattan sits at the southern edge of Will County's growth, a small town with farm roots, new subdivisions, and a train that starts here. I know the town well, because w

How Interest Rate Buydowns Actually Work (2-1 vs Permanent)

When we bought our new construction home, the builder advertised a rate that looked fantastic. Then we found out the catch: that rate only applied to their existing inventory, not the home we actually wanted to build. The billboard rate was real, just not for us. So we changed the play. I ran the lo

What Happens When You Inherit a House? The Great Wealth Transfer Is Hitting Home

The largest transfer of wealth in history is not coming. It is here. Cerulli Associates projects about $124 trillion changing hands through 2048, with trillions already moving every year and the pace accelerating toward a peak in the mid-2030s. Visa's economists put boomer holdings at more than $93

How to Avoid Being House Poor (Even When Everyone Says You Can Afford It)

I was talking with a client about his situation. Good income, nice house, and every month still felt tight. Savings never grew. Every repair went on a card. Vacations kept getting pushed to next year. A friend listened to me describe it and said, "You know you're describing being house poor, right?"