Rockford Is Now America’s Top Housing Market After an Improbable Turnaround – Wall Street Journal

A decade ago, Rockford, Ill., was the underwater mortgage capital of America. Today, it is the country’s top real-estate market, according to The WSJ/Realtor.com Housing Market Ranking.
Subscribe
Notify of

20 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Old Joe
23 days ago

Hmm, I’m only on my 1st beer…….

Riverbender
24 days ago

Some seem too think Rockford is a high crime area…just sayin
https://www.areavibes.com/rockford-il/crime/

Paul Boomer
24 days ago
Reply to  Riverbender

The crime problem is mostly in the usual areas involving the usual suspects. However in a very mobile society the problem makers look for hunting grounds in different areas. Those hunters should be aware that the nearby more rural areas have lots of honest citizens who take advantage of their 2nd Amendment rights. It should be noted that this is not Cook County and arrested persons who commit crimes are prosecuted.

debtsor
24 days ago

Rockford’s turn of fortunes is reminiscent of the fate of Florida swampland in the 1920’s.
We are living through the biggest everything bubble in history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida_land_boom_of_the_1920s

debtsor
24 days ago
Reply to  debtsor

One year ago, Rockford was named one of the best cities for investors…one year later, prices are up 50% YOY. No speculative bubble here folks, move along….

https://www.mystateline.com/news/local-news/rockford-one-of-the-best-cities-to-invest-in-vacation-rentals-study-says/

Streeterville
24 days ago

But it’s still Rockford.

Riverbender
24 days ago

I read the article and found no mention of the pension time bomb that attaches to every Illinois real estate parcel. One would think there should be a disclosure of the situation but, as many who have dealt with Realtor’s before, don’t plan on hidden negative situations to be disclosed.

Pensions Paid First
24 days ago
Reply to  Riverbender

Do real estate agents in the southwest warn potential buyers about water issues? Does Florida warn buyers about potential hurricanes or high insurance rates?

People need to do their own research as well.

Riverbender
24 days ago

Youre right people should do their own research but you mention “potential” issues and, as you so often point out, and with which I agree, those pensions will be paid so I don’t think it is a “potential” issue and instead rather a certainty.

Last edited 24 days ago by Riverbender
Pensions Paid First
24 days ago
Reply to  Riverbender

The potential issue is tax increases or fewer services. That can happen anywhere and certainly not the responsibility of a real estate agent.

Riverbender
24 days ago

I unfortunately do not agree with you on the cut in services. I think the people will demand the services they are used to thus will pay higher taxes to pay off that hidden pension debt. As for realtors I always get a kick out of how they quote monthly payments to a buyer yet, in their calculations, somehow forget to adjust the monthly tax and insurance estimates based upon the new sales price choosing instead to use the seller’s past amounts. When it comes to buying real estate most prospective buyers might consider the old “Caveat Emptor” phrase that… Read more »

taxpayer
23 days ago
Reply to  Riverbender

If the assessor is doing its job competently, the assessed value is based on current market value and therefore a transaction won’t have much effect on taxes.

Pensions Paid First
24 days ago
Reply to  Mark Glennon

You don’t get it because you are focusing on unemployment rather than housing turn around.

Housing up 51.7 percent from 1 year ago. Considering real estate was weighted at 60 percent for this ranking, it makes perfect sense. I’m not saying the ranking is valid just that it makes sense when you only look at numbers and remove your bias.

On a separate note, with increased housing prices, surely the people of Rockford will be happy that their property taxes represents a smaller percentage of their home value. Probably not the property tax relief people are looking for though.

Pensions Paid First
24 days ago
Reply to  Mark Glennon

I wouldn’t call it a top market either Mark. That’s the problem with list like these. They put out their methodology and crank out the list. Common sense tells you with Rockford’s economic climate that it won’t be a long term situation but at the same time it doesn’t appear that was the main variable to making the list. Headlines are so often misleading but boring headlines like “Rockford tops list for affordable housing that is also growing” doesn’t capture readers. Also, what do you have against Portland? I don’t have much knowledge of the area but have known others… Read more »

debtsor
24 days ago

It’s a bubble, a massive bubble, and anyone who 1. lived thru the last bubble and 2. follows these things and 3. most importantly, doesn’t earn a living in the bubble….sees the bubble. It’s twice as big as 2007. There are red flags flashing everywhere in the economy…but the party keeps on going…

“When the music stops, in terms of liquidity, things will be complicated, but as long as the music is playing, you’ve got to get up and dance.” – Chuck Prince, CEO of Citigroup, circa 2007, immediately before the Global Financial Crisis…

Freddy
24 days ago
Reply to  Mark Glennon

The main reason is that the housing stock here is about 290 homes a far cry from the 5-7,000 after the 2008 crash. The average price is based on the number of homes on the market but not the real indicator of average price in the entire city. People who refinanced a few years back do not want to give up 2.5%-3% mortgage. Like PPF says the percentage of taxes to value will decrease a little but the taxes will still be the same or more than last year due to Ptell. The 6.5% rate still reflects somewhat the closing… Read more »

Paul Boomer
23 days ago
Reply to  Freddy

I have an acquaintance whose son did not go to college and started at Frito Lay right out of high school. No CDL until 21 so he worked in different positions. Upon getting the CDL, training provided by Frito Lay at no cost to him, he became a driver and was making in excess of $120K a year with overtime. No college debt, SloJoe probably would have forgiven it already, but he is doing very well for a 25 yr old with a good salary and benefits. The Rockford area has a lot to offer but got beat down because… Read more »

SIGN UP HERE FOR FREE WIREPOINTS DAILY NEWSLETTER

Home Page Signup
First
Last
Check all you would like to receive:

FOLLOW US

 

WIREPOINTS ORIGINAL STORIES

Gov. Pritzker is using the threat of budget cuts to get more tax hikes passed – Wirepoints joins Tom Miller of WJPF Carbondale

Ted joined Tom Miller of WJPF to talk about the details of Gov. Pritzker’s proposed $52 billion budget, why the state is struggling now that federal covid dollars have run out, the controversy surrounding Tier 2 government pensions, why Illinois’ expensive education system fails to teach children to read, the outrageous demands of the Chicago Teachers Union, and more.

Read More »

WE’RE A NONPROFIT AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE DEDUCTIBLE.

SEARCH ALL HISTORY

CONTACT / TERMS OF USE

20
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x