Blog
Local market insights, practical advice, community guides and answers to the questions I hear most from buyers and sellers in Chicago's South Suburbs and Northwest Indiana.
The Forge's Enchanted Adventure opens its pumpkin-lit trail tonight in Lemont, Hobart's Johnson's Farm runs nearly every weekend of pumpkin season from September 26, and October's first big festival weekend is nearly here. Every detail verified this week.
Freddie Mac's September 24 survey puts the 30-year rate at 7.03%, above the 7% line for the first time in well over a year, while builders keep trimming new-home prices. What the fresh numbers mean for buyers and sellers.
Lemont's scarecrow trail through October 18, the great farm trail on both sides of the state line, Portage's haunted hayride and New Lenox's Halloween weekend, every detail verified this week.
August existing-home sales fell below 4 million for the first time since June 2025, the supply cushion reached its highest level since 2015, and the latest published rate survey holds at 6.95%. Fresh verified reads for every town I serve.
Portage's Harvest Festival this Saturday, Empty Bowls in New Lenox on Sunday, then Mokena Family Fall Fest, Crown Point and St. John Oktoberfests, and Orland Park's Great Pumpkin Party, all verified this month.
Freddie Mac's September 17 survey puts the 30-year at 6.95%, a new high for the year, and this month the big forecasts moved up to match: Fannie Mae and the MBA now see rates near 6.8% through much of 2027. Fresh Cook, Will, Lake and Porter reads for the towns I serve, explained for buyers and sellers.
New this week: the North Judson Pumpkin Train's October Saturdays, Mokena Family Fall Fest October 1 through 4 with a free family movie, Tinley Park's October events, and the final weeks of the farmers market season, details verified this month.
Freddie Mac's September 17 survey puts the 30-year rate at 6.95%, up from 6.76% a week earlier and a new high for the year. Fresh Lake County, Will County and community reads, explained for buyers and sellers.
Tinley Park's Boo Bash on October 25, Odyssey Fun Farm's corn maze and Zombie Safari through the season, the Westville Pumpkin Festival and the trick-or-treating hours these towns typically use, all verified this month.
Freddie Mac's September 10 survey keeps the 30-year rate at 6.76% with the 15-year at 6.09%, up from 6.35% a year ago. Verified reads for Frankfort, Orland Park, Munster, Crown Point and Schererville, and what the numbers mean as the season turns.
Wickedly Whiting's 10th anniversary, Munster's family Halloween party at Centennial Park, the Valparaiso Fall Harvest Festival and the farm stops worth the drive, all verified this month.
Freddie Mac's September 10 survey holds the 30-year rate at 6.76% with the 15-year at 6.09%, town-level data shows where the pause runs deepest, and the Illinois-Indiana tax gap keeps shaping moves across the state line.
Tinley Park Oktoberfest, the Portage Harvest Festival, Crown Point's Oktoberfest and the full first-weekend-of-October lineup across the South Suburbs and Northwest Indiana, verified this month.
Freddie Mac's September 10 survey moves the 30-year rate to 6.76%, Lake County's August picture stays tight-but-paused, and Crown Point, Munster and Schererville show where the demand is. What it means for buyers and sellers.
Farmers market mornings, the last concert nights, Oktoberfest weekends and October festivals: here is what is coming up across our communities, verified this month.
Freddie Mac's latest survey holds the 30-year rate at 6.71%, Lake County's August data shows pending sales down sharply, and the South Suburbs keep adding choices. Here is what it all means.
Oktoberfest season, pumpkin festivals and the first spooky events of the year: here is what is coming up across our communities over the next several weeks, verified in early September.
Freddie Mac's September 3 survey put the 30-year rate at 6.71%, the highest in more than a year. Here is the latest available data for the communities I serve, and what it means for buyers and sellers.
A week-by-week plan of the season's festivals, concerts and harvest fun across the communities I serve, with details I verified in early September.
Mortgage rates touch their highest level in more than a year, Lake County keeps leading the region, and the South Suburbs keep adding choices. Here is the verified data, and what it means for you.
Markets, music, pumpkins and harvest fests: here is what is on the calendar across our communities over the next several weeks, with details verified in early September.
Rates near 6.66%, Lake County still running hot, and Frankfort, Orland Park and Crown Point settling into a more balanced rhythm: what the latest numbers mean for buyers and sellers.
Apple cider, Oktoberfest, pumpkin patches and parades: here is what is on the calendar from September through October across the communities I serve.
Mortgage rates near 6.7%, Crown Point cooling, Schererville still fast. A fresh look at the latest available market data,and what it means for you.
From the Frankfort Fall Festival to the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, here is what is happening in our communities as summer turns to fall.
A data-driven look at current market conditions across the communities Joanne Dal Santo serves, with practical takeaways for buyers and sellers.
From the Frankfort Fall Festival to the Valparaiso Popcorn Festival, here is what is happening in our communities before fall arrives.
A data-driven look at current market conditions across the communities Joanne Dal Santo serves, with practical takeaways for buyers and sellers.
Not every upgrade pays for itself. Here's how to spend wisely and skip the projects that won't move the needle.
A look at what's happening in the South Suburban market right now and what it means for sellers.
Waiting for the 'perfect' time could be more expensive than you think. Here's the math.
A licensed guide to navigating the state line, from taxes to lifestyle to finding the right community.
Beyond the listing photos, here's what daily life looks like in two of Northwest Indiana's most sought-after communities.
Selling a long-time family home is emotional, logistical, and deeply personal. Here's how to approach it with care.
A practical, step-by-step approach to scaling down your home without the emotional spiral.
First impressions are formed in seconds. Here's what buyers see and judge before they ever read the listing details.
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