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Settling in for winter at home? With social distancing measures in place and cold weather on the horizon, it's more important than ever to make smart investments in your home that will make your time there comfortable, happy, and nourishing.  Looking to make sure your time at home this fall and winter is as comfortable and cozy as possible? Adding a reading nook is a home project that can go a long way — both for your own enjoyment now, and for wowing any future potential buyers. Ready to carve out the perfect space for reading and relaxing, all winter long? Here are four important things to consider when designing a cozy reading nook for your home.

As you search for a new place to call home in Chicagoland, you're sure to run into some important decisions — including whether or not you're more interested in purchasing a newly constructed home, or a previously owned property.  Recent reports from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) indicate that builder confidence is high, with new home sales, housing starts, and building permits all increasing throughout 2020, according to information from the NAHB and data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Monthly New Residential Construction Report. At the same time, buyer preferences are shifting after months spent at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more space and updated amenities coming in high on buyers' future wishlists. 

Title insurance protects homebuyers and mortgage lenders from the costs associated with some major financial or legal issues. However, title insurance is not quite the same as many other forms of insurance, which typically cover future potential events. Instead, title insurance is a one-time purchase that covers past events and title issues that are not known to you, your lender, and your real estate team at the time a property is sold.  Title insurance helps protect your home purchase or sale from anything that has already happened that might nullify the transfer of title — that is, the right to legally own the property involved in the transaction. Common title issues include undiscovered liens, improper or falsified documentation, and unpaid taxes. Title insurance is part and parcel of most real estate transactions in Illinois, and has become more common nationwide over the last several years, according to market research.

2020 has been an unpredictable year, to say the least. As we head for 2021, it's important to take stock of some of the major factors influencing the real estate market here in Chicago and around the country — including generational trends among buyers. In particular, younger buyers are helping to drive the market forward right now, and shaping what we may expect to see in the years and decades to come.  This includes not only Millennial homebuyers — defined by Pew Research Center as those born between 1981 to 1996 — but also members of Generation Z. Pew defines Gen Z broadly as anyone born after 1996; this would make Gen Z-ers 24 or younger as of 2020. 

This past year has brought much uncertainty and even more change. We've all spent a lot of time at home recently. And with winter approaching, people around Chicagoland are sure to keep cozying up in the months ahead! As we all spend more time at home, it's a good time to start thinking about remodeling and repurposing the spaces we use every single day — especially as we look forward to 2021. Home experts agree that design and decor trends for the next year are going to center around creating a sense of calm at home — that is, creating a harmonious and comforting space that can be a sanctuary from the rest of the world. Looking ahead, the overarching theme for 2021 seems to be "comfort and security" — with design and decor trends to match. From comfortable, cozy, and sustainable materials; to multi-functional spaces; to home elements that promote healthy living, here are some key trends to watch for the year ahead: 
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