Rita Kerins-Neighborhood Expert Chicago Real Estate Broker

A Rate-Locking Strategy For Today’s Fed Meeting

The Federal Open Market Committee adjourns from a scheduled 1-day meeting today, its second of the year. The FOMC has held the Fed Funds Rate in a target range of 0.000-0.250 percent since December 16, 2008, and the voting members of the Fed are expected to vote “no change” again today.

15-Minute Fixes For Around The Home

Home maintenance is an ongoing project. There’s always something to do around the house, or something to fix. The problem is, you may not have the time, or the skills, to get it done yourself. In this 4-minute piece from The Today Show on NBC, you’ll see some projects are quite simple.

How To Refinance When Your Home Is Underwater

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has extended the government’s Home Affordable Refinance Program by 12 months. HARP’s new end date is June 30, 2011.

Foreclosures Per Capita | February 2010

According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, foreclosure filings topped 300,000 for the 12th straight month last month as 1 in every 418 U.S. homes received a foreclosure filing.

Don’t Rush To Refinance That ARM — It May Be Adjusting To 3 Percent Or Lower

If your mortgage is set to adjust this year, the smart move may be to let it. Today’s conforming mortgages are adjusting lower than ever before — as low as 3 percent. It may not be what you expected when you signed for your ARM several years ago.

7 Weeks Remain To Find A Home, Claim Up To $8,000 In Tax Credits

In November, Congress extended and expanded the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program to include a subset of “move-up” buyers — homeowners that have owned and lived in their home for 5 of the last 8 years. The credit ranges up to $8,000 per buyer. There’s now just 7 weeks left to take advantage. To be eligible, home buyers must be under contract for a new home no later than April 30, 2010, and must be closed no later than June 30, 2010.

Geek Gifts : The 16-Piece iPhone Coaster Set

You could call it the Ultimate Geek Gift for an iPhone-toting friend — or even for yourself. It’s a set of 16 coasters made to look like iPhone application icons.

Pending Home Sales Drag In January, But Should Rebound For Spring

Fewer homes went under contract in January as the housing market continues to limp through the winter months. According to the National Association of RealtorsÂ®, the Pending Home Sales Index fell to its lowest level in 3 quarters this January. By contrast, in October 2009, the index had touched a 3-year high.

Contact Rita
773-807-2387
rita@ritaestate.com

Rita Kerins
Real Estate Advisor

A Chicago Native, Rita Kerins is a realtor who balances her tech-savvy skills, with the personal connection of seeing her clients from the start of their journey, all the way to the closing table.

“We truly enjoyed working with Rita. She really understands the Chicago real estate market and helped us reach our end goal of selling. She was very friendly, straightforward, attended every showing in person and constantly provided immediate feedback on every showing.” - Robert and Tanya Eckl

Rita approaches each client with a personal touch. She takes her time to understand their needs and communicates with them every step of the way. Rita truly enjoys the close interactions she has with her clients. Being with her clients when they find the perfect home or sharing the news that their home has sold are the moments that make her truly passionate about her job.

“Rita Kerins is what every buyer and seller needs. She is always there for her clients. At no step of the process did I have to wonder what was next, or feel terrified that I didn’t know what to do, because Rita explained what was going on and what to expect. I’ll always recommend Rita Kerins to all of my friends and co-workers and will ask her to be my agent whenever I go to sell my property and buy my next place. She’s that good!” - Johanna Gonzalez

Let her help you find your perfect home. Contact Rita today!

Designations and Awards

- Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI)
- Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLMHS)
- Certified Social Media Marketer (CSM)
- Chicago Association of Realtors Top Producer Award Winner