Get Real With Eddie

Congress just passed a new housing bill, and the National Association of Realtors is applauding it — but what does it mean for buyers and sellers?
In this episode of Get Real with Eddie, we break down why it’s becoming more affordable to buy a home, review the latest sales data for Shorewood, and discuss the top reasons people are still choosing homeownership.
We also take a closer look at why townhomes are growing in popularity among today’s first-time buyers and what that means for the market overall.
Whether you’re buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on trends, this episode will help you understand what’s happening in the housing market right now.
#RealEstate #HousingMarket #ShorewoodIL #IllinoisRealEstate #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #Townhomes #HomeBuying #MarketUpdate #GetRealWithEddie
Chapters
00:00:00 NAR Applauds Congress on Housing Bill00:10:40 It Is Getting More Affordable to Buy a Home00:18:42 Shorewood, IL Sales Data00:27:15 Top Reasons to Buy a Home00:45:26 Townhomes Are Popular with Today’s First-Time Home Buyers

Are BIG investors really buying up all the homes — and pushing everyday buyers out of the market?
In this episode of Get Real with Eddie, Eddie Ruettiger and Nancy Vallee break down what’s actually happening in today’s housing market. From falling builder sentiment to surging mortgage demand and growing buyer remorse, we dig into the data behind the headlines and separate fact from fear.
If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or just trying to understand today’s real estate market, this episode gives you the straight talk you won’t hear in clickbait news stories.
Are BIG investors really buying up all the homes and pushing everyday buyers out of the market?
In this episode of Get Real with Eddie, Eddie Ruettiger and Nancy Vallee break down what’s actually happening in today’s real estate market. We cover falling builder sentiment, surging mortgage demand, buyer remorse, and the big question everyone is asking — are large investors taking over the housing market?
If you’re thinking about buying, selling, or just want real facts instead of headlines, this episode delivers straight talk backed by real data.
Get Real with Eddie airs on 1340 WJOL AM in Joliet, IL and is also available as a podcast, YouTube channel, and online at www.getrealwitheddie.com
Like, comment, and subscribe for weekly real estate insights.
#getrealwitheddie #realestate #housingmarket #realestatepodcast #realestatenews #homebuyers #homesellers #realestateinvesting #investors #mortgagerates #housingmarketupdate #illinoisrealestate #jolietrealestate #1340WJOL #EXITRealEstate
⏱️ Chapters00:00:00 Builders' sentiment falls00:09:43 Mortgage demand soars00:17:12 Buyer remorse00:28:05 Are BIG investors buying up all the home

In this week’s episode of Get Real With Eddie, hosts Eddie Ruettiger and Nancy Vallee of EXIT Real Estate Specialists break down the full year 2025 real estate sales data — from hyper-local market stats to broader trends across Northern Illinois and the entire Chicago metro area.
This annual market recap gives homeowners, buyers, sellers, and investors a clear picture of what actually happened in the housing market in 2025 and what those numbers could mean moving into 2026.
You’ll hear insights on:✔️ Home sales trends and price movement✔️ Market activity by city and county✔️ Chicagoland housing patterns✔️ What the data may signal for the year ahead
Whether you're tracking your home’s value, thinking about making a move, or simply want to stay informed, this episode delivers the real numbers behind the real estate headlines.
⏱️ Episode Chapters
00:00:00 Sales Data for Joliet, IL00:10:05 Sales Data for Plainfield, IL00:13:34 Sales Data for Crest Hill, IL00:18:40 Sales Data for Shorewood, IL00:21:30 Sales Data for New Lenox, IL00:30:11 Sales Data for Will County, IL00:35:02 Sales Data for Grundy County, IL00:43:39 Sales Data for Chicago, IL00:47:28 Sales Data for Northern Illinois (Entire MLS Region)00:50:22 Sales Data for Chicago Metro Area

Is 2026 the year you finally make your move in real estate? In this episode of Get Real With Eddie, we break down what’s really happening in today’s market — and why smart buyers and sellers are getting organized and positioning themselves for success right now.
From real local data in Plainfield, IL to buyer demand trends and why January is one of the best months to buy, this show is packed with practical insight you can use immediately.
Whether you’re buying your first home, selling a property that didn’t move, or just watching the market, this episode will help you make smarter decisions in 2026.
#GetRealWithEddie #WinningInRealEstate #RealEstate2026 #HousingTrends #MarketUpdate #HomeBuyingTips #HomeSellingTips #RealEstateStrategy #PlainfieldIL #JolietIL #ShorewoodIL #WillCountyIL #IllinoisRealEstate #FirstTimeHomeBuyer #MoveUpBuyers #InvestInRealEstate #LocalMarket #RealEstatePodcast #RealtorLife #JanuaryIsTheBestTimeToBuy
00:00  Organization in 202603:20  Ask Yourself These 5 Questions Before Buying10:39  Why 2026 Is a Good Year to Be Optimistic About Real Estate17:13  What to Do If Your Home Didn’t Sell29:26  Plainfield, IL Market Sales Data35:33  Buyer Demand Is Picking Back Up45:14  Why January Is the Best Time to Buy a Home

In this episode of Get Real With Eddie, we kick off 2026 by spotlighting the Joliet Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the powerful role local volunteers play in protecting and supporting our neighborhoods during times of crisis. From natural disasters to community emergencies, these everyday heroes are often the first line of defense — providing life-saving assistance, organization, and hope when it matters most.
We also connect the dots between community strength and real estate confidence. With headlines causing uncertainty, Eddie breaks down what’s really happening with home values and what it means for homeowners, buyers, and investors in 2026. If you’re wondering whether now is the right time to sell, buy, or hold, this episode brings clarity through real local data and real-world insight.
Finally, we look ahead at why more buyers are planning to move in 2026 and what that means for the Joliet and Will County housing market. Whether you care about community safety, your home’s value, or your next move, this episode delivers the facts without the fear.
 
#GetRealWithEddie, #JolietRealEstate, #WillCountyHomes, #CommunityStrong, #CERTTeam, #EmergencyPreparedness, #JolietIL, #HomeValues, #2026HousingMarket, #LocalHeroes, #DisasterPreparedness, #RealEstateTalk, #HousingTrends, #BuyersMarket, #IllinoisRealEstate
Chapters
00:00:00 Welcome to 202600:01:13 Joliet Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)00:28:12 Do the headlines have you worried about your home’s value?00:44:32 More buyers are planning to move in 2026

The Federal Reserve has dropped rates—so what does that really mean for buyers, sellers, and investors right now? In this episode, we break down how lower rates impact the housing market, where to find the best deals today, and what the latest Will County sales data is telling us about local trends.
We also talk strategy—how to stretch your options in a changing market, protect yourself and your home, and spotlight a great opportunity at 3806 Brenton Drive in Joliet, Illinois. Whether you’re actively house hunting, investing, or just trying to understand where the market is headed, this episode delivers practical, real-world insight you can use.
#RealEstate #HousingMarket #FedRateCut #MortgageRates #IllinoisRealEstate #WillCounty #JolietIL #HomeBuying #RealEstateInvesting #MarketUpdate #SmartBuying
Chapters
00:00:00 The Fed Drops Rates00:10:37 How to Find the Best Deal Now00:17:49 Will County Sales Data00:26:50 Talking Sci-Fi00:30:05 How to Stretch Your Options00:37:09 3806 Brenton Dr, Joliet, IL For Sale00:44:48 Things to Protect Your Home and Yourself

In this episode, Eddie breaks down what Fed Day means for the housing market and what interest rate decisions could mean for buyers and sellers. The conversation explores whether a housing reset may be on the horizon, offers a quick and easy-to-understand history of inflation, and explains how economic shifts impact real estate locally. The episode also highlights a new listing at 3806 Brenton Dr in Joliet, located in the highly desirable Plainfield School District, and wraps up with a discussion on one of Illinois’ fastest-growing boomtown communities and why so many people are moving there.
#RealEstateMarket #FedDay #InterestRates #InflationExplained #HousingMarketUpdate #IllinoisRealEstate #JolietIL #PlainfieldSchools #HomesForSale #Boomtowns #BuyersAndSellers #MarketTrends #LocalRealEstate #GetRealWithEddie
00:00:00 Fed Day Breakdown: What the Fed May Do Next00:06:20 Is a Housing Reset on the Horizon00:17:29 Inflation Explained: A Quick Historical Overview00:38:57 Featured Listing 3806 Brenton Dr Joliet Plainfield School District00:44:34 Spotlight on One of Illinois’ Fastest Growing Boomtowns

This episode dives into some of the most talked-about real estate topics happening right now, beginning with a snowy Midwest start and moving straight into major market shifts. You’ll hear why Zillow removed climate data from listings and what that means for buyers and sellers. We break down the surprising trend of new and existing homes costing about the same and explore the latest numbers on new construction. You’ll also learn four key reasons your home may be landing high on buyers’ wish lists in today’s market. We cover why experts aren’t worried about a recession, highlight the featured property at 3806 Brenton Dr in Joliet, and wrap up with what the public is feeling about the market right now. This episode offers clear, practical insights to help you stay informed in a fast-changing real estate landscape.
#RealEstate #HousingMarket #MarketUpdate #RealEstateNews #HomeBuying #HomeSelling #NewConstruction #ZillowUpdate #HousingTrends #EconomicOutlook #JolietIL #HomePrices #RealEstateInsights #MarketSentiment #RealEstate2025
00:00:00 SNOW, SNOW, SNOW00:01:57 Zillow takes Climate Data off of home listings00:09:17 New and existing homes cost the same00:18:26 Numbers on newly built homes00:29:05 4 reasons your home is high on buyers' wish list00:44:05 Experts are not worried about a recession00:48:00 3806 Brenton Dr Joliet IL for sale00:49:13 The public feeling of the market

Sam kicks off the show with a mission to spread some holiday cheer, and then we dig into what Fed officials are hinting at for December rate cuts and how that could steer the early-2026 market. We break down the latest sales numbers in Romeoville to show where demand is heating up and where buyers are hesitating. To wrap it up, we talk about the home features people are suddenly asking for again — and why some trends deserve a comeback.
#realestate #GetRealWithEddie #housingmarket #interestrates #RomeovilleIL #homebuying #homeselling #Fed
00:00:00 Sam Is Here for a Giving Cause to Brighten the Season00:10:48 What the Fed Officials Are Saying About December Cuts00:28:43 Sales Data on Romeoville, IL00:31:33 Features That Need to Come Back Into the Home

The 50-year mortgage has become the newest lightning rod in real estate — some call it a necessary tool for affordability, others say it’s a trap that stretches buyers too thin over too long. Eddie and Nancy dig into the debate with no sugar-coating: who this kind of loan actually benefits, who it hurts, what it could do to pricing, and why it’s even being discussed right now.
They also tackle a growing reality in 2026: the market is shifting again, and early signs show buyers and sellers adjusting in real time. From small decisions that cost buyers big opportunities (yes, even an $80 difference) to the often-misunderstood VA loan, this episode lays out what matters and what’s noise.
You’ll also get a straight-up look at Joliet’s latest sales data, a featured listing with an open house, and some blunt truth about why builders are getting overlooked at a time when they might be the key to inventory relief. Packed episode, no fluff — just the insights people actually need.
#RealEstate #HousingMarket #GetRealWithEddie #MortgageTalk #50YearMortgage #HomeBuying #HomeSelling #JolietIL #PlainfieldIL #VALoan
Chapters00:00 Nancy is back from NAR NXT00:02:40 Housing market is turning a corner in 202600:08:20 Would you let 80 dollars hold you back from buying a home00:13:08 The 50 Year mortgage Pros and cons00:29:45 Joliet, IL sales data00:33:13 The VA LOAN00:43:34 3806 Brenton Drive, Joliet, IL 60431, for sale with an open house00:46:23 Builders are being overlooked