The Home Front

By Don DeBat For thousands of Illinoisans, an HOA turns the American dream into ‘condo jail.’ To combat board abuse and financial mismanagement, state lawmakers are weighing new bills to protect frustrated owners in ‘Condoland.’ Buying a condominium or homeowners association (HOA) property in Illinois can sometimes feel like entering “condo jail.” Board abuse, breach of fiduciary duty, and a lack of transparency are widespread complaints. Because there is currently very littl

(Above) While 87,000 Cook County taxpayers remain stranded by a system-wide software backlog, Tyler Technologies Chairman John Marr celebrates corporate success by ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on February 3, 2026. The Texas firm’s unresolved county tech contract has left an estimated $46 million in local refunds bottlenecked. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) By Don DeBat While tens of thousands of Chicago property owners are reeling from soaring taxes, some

FreddieMac interest rates as of 3/12/26 By Don DeBat With spring’s cloudy skies overhead and rain or snow in the forecast, Chicago’s North Side home-resale market remains in a quagmire in early 2026. One veteran Near North Side/Gold Coast broker simply described the current home-resale activity as “a see-saw market.” The March 2026 Baird & Warner Market Analysis, covering the key North Side neighborhoods of Near North/Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview and North Center, close

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi (left) and Sen. Javier Cervantes. By Don DeBat Cash-strapped senior citizens in Chicago and Cook County must be rattling their walkers in unison this month, and eagerly casting absentee ballots from wheelchairs and rocking chairs. All their applause and votes are directed to Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, who is joining with community groups, the clergy, and wise members of the Illinois General Assembly, calling for easier access to propert