It used to be utility costs were just a small part of the costs of home ownership. But if home prices continue to drop as they have, heating costs may rival mortgage rates.

Some would think lower prices might be an incentive to buy in, but home ownership rates area also dropping. Chicago is among the worst housing markets. Home values in the Chicago metro area have fallen almost 8 percent compared to about a year ago.

To find out what all this means Eight Forty-Eight turned to Dennis Rodkin, who writes the Deal Estate column for Chicago magazine.