Meet Melissa and Jane at The Home Show in Glen Ellyn THIS SATURDAY!!! Click Here for more info on the show.

A big congrats goes out to Jerry Holanday of Downers Grove who won the $250 Drapery Connection gift certificate this past weekend at The Home Show in Glen Ellyn.

Jane and Melissa thank all who stopped to say hello and pick up some HomesPlus goodies. It was great to meet all of you.

Check out the pictures and see how much fun we had at "The Home Show" in Glen Ellyn. Thanks again for all of you who stoppped by.

For most of us, the purchase of a new home is the biggest investment you'll ever make. Which is why it can be so stressful just thinking about how you'll finance it.

So, for you, what is your biggest worry when it comes to financing the home of your dreams? Is it the interest rate? Down Payment? Credit Score? Having the money to pay the mortgage each month?

So a few weeks back we asked a group of women attending the WLIT-FM "Purse Party" whether or not they shared closet space in their home. We received a number of humorous responses.

A number of builders are offering great incentives on new homes. Check out this list of current incentives being offered from some of our featured partners:

Worried about securing a loan for your new home? Worried about making that down payment? Worried about your credit score? Despite today's tightening credit market, there are still ways to get a home loan. One of those ways is through the Federal Housing Administration.

Is it a good time to buy a new home? It's a question many of us are asking ourselves. Some say it is, some say it's not. But there's one thing that can't be disputed ...

We keep hearing about the problems with subprime mortgages and how it's becoming more difficult to secure a home loan. The good folks over at Inman TV talked with Dan Green from "The Mortgage Report" about the state of the mortgage industry and what to look for in 2008. Do you agree with what he says?

The Bush administration and financial institutions agree to a 5 year freeze on "some" subprime mortgages. Click HERE to read more.

What are your thoughts on this newly announced plan?

Check out our "behind the scenes" pictures at our Homes Plus holiday ad shoot. Jane and Melissa had a blast wearing Santa hats.

Melissa Forman and Jane Monzures have a lot of fun putting HomesPlus together. Here's a look at some of their more memorable moments in 2007.

Here's a look at our new Holiday ad.

Jane and Melissa would like to wish you and your family a Happy Holidays. See video for more.

If you're trying to get a new home loan, there's possibly some good news about the Fed trying to better protect you against shady lending practices. But does it go far enough?

To read more about the new plan, click HERE.

What are people inside the real estate industry saying about the current market? Would they buy a home today? Is this a good market for first time homeowners?

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has declared January "Radon Action Month" in the state and is urging residents to have their homes tested for Radon.

Decorating a home can be a stressful project. Here at HomesPlus we are trying to simplify the process by giving you the tips you need to know. But, do you even know what style best fits you and your home?

For months now, Chicagoland home builders have been offering discounts and incentives to entice you to buy a new home. But how long will these incentives last? According to some industry experts, the discounts and incentives could go away with the first sign of improvement in the spring housing market.

Click here to read the Chicago Tribune article on the subject.

The Federal Reserve today slashed a key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point. The federal funds rate - the interest banks charge one another for overnight loans -- now stands at 3.5%. You can read more about the Fed decision at the Chicago Tribune website.

As for what this might mean for mortgage rates, click here for more analysis from Bankrate.com.

Some good news if you're trying to buy a home, fixed-rate mortgages have fallen to their lowest levels in 4 years according to finance giant Freddie Mac.

Click here to read more.

HomesPlus reached a milestone this week. We turned 1-year-old. It's hard to believe that we've been bringing you the best in new homes and great design tips for 52 weeks.

The HomesPlus team thanks all of you for watching. We could not have had this much success without your help.

Okay, enough celebrating, it's time to shop. Spring will be here before you know it, and that means it's the perfect time to buy your dream home.

And one last thing, when you visit one of the sales centers, be sure to tell them - HomesPlus sent you.

We've shown you a ton of model homes on HomesPlus, but unfortunately we don't ever have enough time to talk in detail about some of the great new home features we see. And that's why we've created a great new video segment that's exclusive to our website.

Melissa and Jane will now take you inside some of these models and show you some of their favorite features. For example, Melissa will show you two great master suites and Jane will show you a cool wet bar that's part of the master suite.

You can see one of the clips after the jump or in the video player. Just search for "Inside the Models" or scroll over the "more" tab in the upper right corner of the video player and click on "Inside the Models" for a complete listing.

So where is your laundry room located in your home? According to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders, your preference may tell your age.

Younger home buyers prefer a laundry room near the bedrooms. Older home buyers, meanwhile, prefer their laundry room on the mail level of the home -- near the kitchen.

So where do you prefer your laundry room?

More info after the jump ...

HomesPlus is headed to The Home Show in Palatine ...

Thanks to everybody who came out and said hello at The Home Show in Palatine this past Sunday. We had a blast and hope you found what you were looking for.

And congrats to Rosemary Patterson of Schaumburg -- she won the $250 Hortons Home Lighting gift certificate.

See video of the event after the jump ...

Buying your first home? Need some tips on buying your new home? Just need a refresher on some real estate lingo?

We've got you covered. Check out video answers to some of the most asked real estate questions after the jump.

Experts say the time to buy a new home is now!

Here's why:
1. Interest rates are low
2. The selection couldn't be better
3. Prices have dropped

But does that mean that now is the right time for you? If you're anything like me, and committing to an expensive pair of shoes makes you worry, then it's understandable that you might be a bit aprehensive to jump into the housing market.

Spring is finally here! With our first 70-degree days under our belts, many of you are probably gearing up to get your yards back into shape for summer. But all of those fragrant flowers and newly-trimmed shrubs are good for more than your neighborhood garden walk. According to the American Nursery & Landscape Association, landscaping actually increases property values by 7 to 14 percent!

It's time to once again go behind the scenes at HomesPlus and check out some of the outtakes from the show.

Hope you enjoy. Video after the jump ...

If you're thinking of entering the world of homeownership, right now is a great time! Prices are low, mortgage rates are good and the selection of homes on the market is pretty incredible. But for first-time homebuyers, the task of figuring out how much your new home is going to cost you can be intimidating. After all, presumably, this will be the biggest purchase you've made until this point in your life - and the costs can be staggering if you're not ready for them! According to the Federal Housing Administration, your mortgage payments should be no more than 29% of your gross monthly income if you carry some debt, or up to 41% if you have no debt.

It's a great time to buy, mortgage rates are low, yadayadayada...you've heard it all before and I'll spare you the spiel. But did you know that when you buy a brand new home - as in, from the developer - your bargaining power can get you way more than just a few bucks off the asking price? The thing is, when you buy new it's really hard to negotiate a lower price like you might try to do with a private seller. But what you can do is negotiate in upgrades that would normally cost you an arm and a leg - like granite counter tops, upgraded flooring and gorgeous master baths - for FREE! The current new home market is ripe with fantastic deals like this!

In the market for a big, beautiful new home where you can really spread out? The more spacious model homes you look at, the smaller your current home probably feels! Especially if you're in the city, space can be tight. So, until you upgrade to that 3,000 square foot spread in the suburbs, make the most of your space! Adding some color, picking up a few new pieces and re-arranging your old ones can make a small room look a lot bigger! Not to mention, more appealing to a potential buyer.

The National Association of Realtors' chief economist says home sales and prices should pick up across most of the country in the second half of 2008. But a number of analysts aren't sold on the chief's predictions.

Remember, real estate is local. Just because it's bad in one neighborhood, doesn't mean it's bad everywhere else. So tell us, what is the real estate market like today in your neighborhood?

Whether you're buying or selling a home, I'm sure you've heard that neutral colors sell. For years, experts have pointed out that a house full of beiges and ecrus will allow the buyer to imagine their own furniture, styles and lives in the home - thus, speeding up a sale. But here we are, in the days of HGTV do-it-yourself design and buyers and sellers alike are breaking out of the safe world of black and white and painting a picture of their lives with COLOR!

For many new homeowners, moving into that new home also means moving into a new community. So, do you know everything there is to know about your new city or town?

It seems like just about every week we hear a new report out that shows how home prices are falling across the nation. But as the old saying goes, real estate is local.

So, how are home prices doing in your neighborhood? You might be surpised, but some areas of Chicagoland are still doing okay. And that means if you're looking to move into that dream home we've shown you on HomesPlus, you might just be able to do so today.

The information is after the jump.