WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

A new report suggests Illinois' rate of home foreclosure fell 3.5 percent between June and July. The RealtyTrac Group said the foreclosure rate is now almost 50 percent lower than last year. But there's still some bad housing news: a report from the Illinois Association of Realtors sa

Pending sales of existing U.S.

The number of new homes sold last month soared by 17.5 percent from November, the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Develoment just reported, to annual rate of 329,000.That's still down 7.6 percent from December 2009, though.And, the Associated Press adds, for the whole year it's est

Despite drops in foreclosure activity, Illinois has the ninth highest foreclosure rate in the U.S. and starting this month it's likely to get worse. Over the holidays, many lenders put foreclosures on hold nationwide. But that temporary freeze is over now.

There was a 3.5 percent increase in the number of "pending" home sales in November from October, the National Association of Realtors just reported.Those are home sales where a deal has been signed, but not yet closed.