Jim Schmidt - RE/MAX Realty Associates

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Champaign, IL
Jim Schmidt - RE/MAX Realty Associates

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Helping buyers and sellers in Champaign and the surrounding communities. Together let's see what's possible.

Whether you are a first time home buyer, upgrading/downsizing, relocating in or out of the area, or buying investment property, I would love to be your trusted advisor.

10/30/2026

Think you need a 700 credit score to buy a home? You might be surprised by how wrong that number is.

And if you've been putting off buying because of your credit, this could change everything.

According to a recent Veterans United survey, 57% of prospective buyers think they need a credit score of at least 660 to qualify for a mortgage. And 34% believe they need 700 or higher.

But here's what many people don't realize.

The traditional benchmark for many conventional loans has been 620. And with recent changes to mortgage credit scoring, even that isn't a hard-and-fast requirement for every loan.

Plus, lenders are beginning to adopt newer credit scoring models that could help millions more Americans get evaluated for a mortgage.

So, the number you see on your credit monitoring app may not tell the whole story about your ability to buy a home.

Does that mean everyone can qualify? Of course not. But it does mean you shouldn't count yourself out before talking to a professional.

Curious where you actually stand? Send me a message, and let's connect you with a lender who can help you find out.

Jim Schmidt | REALTOR®
REMAX Realty Associates
217-840-0788
cu4realestate.com

10/28/2026

Home prices just dropped $14,000 in two months. So, is the housing market finally getting cheaper? Not so fast. Because there's a lot more to this story than the headlines are telling you.

According to HousingWire, the national median asking price fell from $449,000 to $435,000 since August.

But here's the twist: that's what sellers are asking for their homes. Not necessarily what buyers are paying. And when you look at actual sales prices, things get even more interesting.

Over the past year, home prices in Chicago climbed almost 7%. Meanwhile, prices in Seattle dipped 1.6%.

Same housing market. Two very different stories.

And that's exactly why making your next move based on national headlines could be a mistake.

So, here's my question: Do you know what home prices are actually doing in your neighborhood?

Drop your town or city in the comments or send me a DM. I'll help you find out.

Jim Schmidt | REALTOR®
REMAX Realty Associates
217-840-0788
cu4realestate.com

10/28/2026

If you’re selling soon, staging can help you draw in buyers and get the most for your house. Mid-level staging can bring a 350% return on what you spend. On a $400k house, the typical $4k cost can add about $18k in value. That could mean about $14k more in your pocket at closing. Working with a smaller budget? Even just decluttering and rearranging furniture can make a big difference. Let’s walk through your house together and pinpoint the updates that’ll help it sell sooner – and for more.

Jim Schmidt | REALTOR®
REMAX Realty Associates
217-840-0788
cu4realestate.com

10/26/2026

Here's something most buyers overlook…

When the housing market slows down, homeowners and builders don't always have the same priorities.

A homeowner may be willing to wait for a better offer. But builders with completed homes sitting unsold often have more reason to keep sales moving.

In October, over 60% of builders offered some type of incentive. And almost half (43%) cut prices.

That could mean more negotiating opportunities for you.

The trick is knowing where to look. Let's find the builders with more move-in-ready homes available right now and see what they're willing to offer to get their inventory sold.

Jim Schmidt | REALTOR®
REMAX Realty Associates
217-840-0788
cu4realestate.com

10/23/2026

Renting can be a good fit for the right person with the right house, but it isn’t the only option. A smart sales strategy can help your house stand out to buyers from day one.

So, if you’re on the fence, let’s sit down and compare what selling and renting would each look like for you.

Jim Schmidt | REALTOR®
REMAX Realty Associates
217-840-0788
cu4realestate.com

Selling your house is a big step, and you want it to go smoothly. And with houses taking a little longer to sell these days, renting it out might start to sound like a nice backup plan.

10/22/2026

Although home sales in September for the Champaign-Urbana area were down 7.6% compared to last year, year-to-date sales are still nearly even at just 0.5% behind 2025.

The median sales price climbed 8.7% to $250,000, which is great for sellers, and inventory is up 23.5%, giving buyers more options. Just keep in mind, homes are taking a little bit longer to sell right now.

Bottom line—steady sales, rising prices, and more homes to choose from. Let’s see what the rest of fall brings! 🏠

10/21/2026

Are home prices going up or down? It depends on where you look.

Over the past year, prices in Chicago climbed almost 7%. In Seattle, they dipped about 1.6%. That’s a nearly 9-point gap between two major cities.

Look at little closer, though. Home prices are rising in 13 of the 19 major cities on this chart. And where prices are down, the dips are small (less than 2%).

So, this isn’t a crash. It’s just a market normalizing after overheating during the pandemic. And that’s hitting some areas differently than others.

Here’s what it really means. Your local market matters.

If you’re selling where prices are still rising, you may not need to cut your price. And if you’re buying where prices are softer, you may have more room to negotiate.

National headlines can’t tell you which side your neighborhood is on. Local data can. Let’s look at how prices...

Jim Schmidt | REALTOR®
REMAX Realty Associates
217-840-0788
cu4realestate.com

10/21/2026

Newly built homes now cost less than existing ones in about 1 in 3 major markets. How much less, exactly? Nationally, a newly built home typically sells for about $35,000 less. So, brand-new could be more budget-friendly than you think. Want to see how newly built and existing homes compare where you’re looking? Let’s tour one of each.

Jim Schmidt | REALTOR®
REMAX Realty Associates
217-840-0788
cu4realestate.com

Address

2009 Fox Drive, Suite G
Champaign, IL
61820

Telephone

+12178400788

Website

https://www.cu4realestate.com/, https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/en/?a=1000001257-5f4d7578e2d73799518a11d367306d1f

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