IT'S HERE ... Welcome to the official HomesPlus Blog!!!! Melissa, Jane and the rest of the HomesPlus team are all very excited. Now we can interact better with YOU -- our viewers.

Here's a sneak-peak at what Jane and Melissa will be checking out on HomesPlus this Sunday (Oct. 7th):

We've got a great show for you this weekend. A number of builders are currently offering incentives on immediate delivery homes. We'll tell you which builders are doing so.

Plus, Ryland Homes is the latest builder to join the show. We'll profile their newest development in Elgin. Be sure to check out Ryland's website for more info.

Time for a preview of Sunday's HomesPlus show ...

Time for a preview of Sunday's HomesPlus show ...

We've found your dream home. Now you just need to watch HomesPlus this Sunday.

Here's a look at what's coming up on HomesPlus this weekend.

2007 was a roller coaster ride for the real estate industry. So what will 2008 bring? Can we expect an uptick in the housing market here in Chicago? Will things get worse, before getting better?

Don't miss HomesPlus this Sunday. We have a number of great communities you will want to check out.
Want a preview? Check out the video after the jump.

The HomesPlus team is excited to welcome a new member to our team. Rochelle Vayo is our newest co-host. Melissa Forman and Rochelle will continue to bring you the very best in new home construction every weekend only on CLTV.

Rochelle is currently out searching for your new dream home and you'll begin to see her on the show towards the end of March.

See pictures after the jump ...

Rochelle Vayo is the new co-host for the HomesPlus show. She and Melissa Forman met for the first time recently and we caught it ALL on tape.

Enjoy the clip after the jump ...

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 ...

This weekend on HomesPlus we talked with Chicago Magazine's Dennis Rodkin about Chicago real estate trends in July. You'll have to check out the video to see what he said, but the basic theme was foreclosures (cue scary music).

But the news actually wasn't so scary. There are some great ways to find incredible deals these days and Dennis filled us in on a couple simple ways to find something in the neighborhood you desire.

First - Google maps has a new real estate feature. Just head to google, click on maps, enter the city of your choice and the words "real estate" in the search bar and the option to specialize a search will come up on the left (including an option for foreclosures), with the map of all of the listings that meet your criteria on the right. Pretty impressive...or sad depending on how you look at it.

Another easy search tool is to head to Chase Real Estate's website where you can search the foreclosure listings in specific areas and according to your desired search crieteria. The site also schools you in the ins and outs of buying foreclosures. It includes an informative blog, videos and various articles about financing.

Tune in to HomesPlus to get tips on the market, buying, selling and design every weekend on CLTV!

On this weekend's show you'll see a tour of an incredible single-family home in Lincoln Park, an update on what's changed in the last few months when it comes to getting a mortgage (spoiler: major changes with the regulations surrounding appraisals!) and plenty of other home-related advice! If you're interested in finding out more about anything you see, just fill out the "Send us a comment" box or find the topic of your interest in the "featured partners" section to the right to link directly to them. (Just don't forget to tell them you saw them on HomesPlus!)

Have a great weekend!

This weekend on HomesPlus, we're touring a home on State Parkway in the Gold Coast neighborhood inside the historic Fisher Apartment building. Louise Study showed us through the gorgeous space, which is just steps away from the shops, restaurants and fun of the Gold Coast, but so quiet you could hear a pin drop while we were there on a busy weekday.

We also checked in with Don Prell, president of the Sterling Home Mortgage company, to get some tips on how to get pre-approved for a mortgage.

Plus, we did some shopping at the Rebuilding Exchange in Chicago to find out how to save a few bucks on a home renno and do our part to save the earth at the same time!

To contact any of the companies or people we feature on the show, be sure to move your mouse to the right and find the links to our featured partners!

In this week's show, we're looking at changes in the mortgage process with the president of Sterling Home Mortgage, checking out why deconstruction is so much greener than demolition with The ReUse People, touring 2 very different types of homes (a $3.9 million Lincoln Park home and a small condo community in Naperville) and much, much more!

This weekend we're touring a $3.4 million dollar home in River North, checking out the best mattress deal in 20 years and getting the latest on buying, decorating and living in Chicagoland!

Tune in Saturday at 9am & 1pm and Sunday at 9am!

The end of August means back-to-school and we've got the design ideas to make that dorm room stand out from the rest. Also in this episode of HomesPlus - Chicago Magazine's Dennis Rodkin updates us on the celebs that have bought and sold in Chicago during August, we check out the last of our summer outdoor spaces and find out what's hiding in your bed...

Watch Saturday at 9am & 1pm and Sunday @ 9am!

We're checking out a River North penthouse, showing where you can shop for your home while helping the community and finding out why Naperville is such a great place to call home. Plus, much, much more!

It's all this weekend on HomesPlus!
Saturday @ 9am & 1pm, Sunday @ 9am

This weekend we're checking in with designer Michelle Williams to find out what pieces of furniture and home accessories to invest in early on and we'll get some tips on how different mortgage products compare. Plus, as usual, we're touring a fantastic Chicago home and of course there's plenty more!

Check out HomesPlus Saturday at 9am & 1pm and Sunday at 9am!

Interested in being the first family's Chicago next-door neighbor? All you have to do is make an offer! (And get through Secret Service of course) This weekend's show is brought to you from President Obama's Kenwood block in Hyde Park, where the Obamas' only next door neighbors have put their home on the market.

Also, we've got a great do-it-yourself design project, brought to us by the lovely and creative Lauren Paradise of Kelly+Olive Design and we're checking out the great deals you can find at a Home Show Event (sidenote: there's an event THIS weekend in Hoffman Estates).

So, check out the show this weekend, Saturday @ 9am & 1pm & Sunday @ 9am!

This weekend, we're checking out another DIY design project (hint: the thrift store is your friend!) with the frugally brilliant Chicago designer Courtney Davis, touring a $2.8 million Lake Bluff home that brings the outdoors in and much, much more!

Whether you're buying, selling, into design or just curious what you can get for the money in Chicago, check out HomesPlus Saturdays @ 9am & 1pm and Sundays @ 9am on CLTV!

This market has some great deals and we found two side-by-side properties in Highland Park for the family with serious space (and luxury) needs - check out the tour of these properties this weekend on the show!

Plus, learn a little bit about staging your kitchen, find out what to expect when you're selling and much more!

Saturday @ 9am & 1pm, Sunday @ 9am!

Dorothy Collins, of South Holland!

Dorothy's 70's-style bedroom is going to get some undivided attention from local designer Michelle Williams, who is excited to get started. Dorothy will receive a brand new Sealy mattress and boxspring from the Bedding Experts, as well as that $10,000 makeover! The makeover will take place in the coming weeks and will be aired on HomesPlus so that you can see Dorothy's story and her gorgeous new bedroom!

There was some really tough competition out there! Not to mention some very deserving Chicagoans...check back in a few days to see some of our favorite entries!

Congratulations, Dorothy!

On this weekend's show we're kicking off our series on foreclosure design. We'll be following Courtney Davis, an Evanston designer and co-owner of Kelly+Olive Design through the renovation of her foreclosure home over the next couple of months. You'll get to see what it takes to go room by room and turn a great deal into a great home!

For more info on the other show features this weekend, check out our featured links on the right side of the screen.