Bryan Keane - Lakeside Bank

11/20/2025

Wait. What? Under $400k !!

Contact Kyle at the The Altenburg Real Estate Group of Hanley Realty.

Need a mortgage pre-approval for this fab home or any other home, condo, townhome or multi 2-4? Give me a ring at Lakeside Bank.

GLWS Kyle!

06/27/2025

Mortgage Down Payments: According to Fannie Mae “Approximately 90% of consumers overstate or don’t know the minimum required down payment for a typical mortgage.” 👈 Very surprising.

Did you know as a first time homebuyer, you can put down as little as 3% on a CONVENTIONAL mortgage loan? Did you also know active or retired military may be able to put down 0%? Repeat homebuyers can put down as little as 5%, and this applies to owner-occupied 2-4 unit properties too!!

There are A LOT of mortgage programs out there, and at Lakeside Bank you have lots (I mean lots and lots) of options. And you'll love our superior customer service. Now that we’ve clarified the mortgage down payment misconception, let’s connect and get your homebuying process started!! Contact me at your convenience, even if it’s just to ask some questions. I’m ready when you are. 😊👍

06/04/2025

US home price insights for June 2025 - prices coming down to reality? Year over year (YOY) home price growth continues to moderate. ⬅️ Great news for prospective homebuyers. 😎

From Selma Hepp, PhD, Chief Economist and SVP , formerly CoreLogic:
👉 "April posted the lowest home price growth in more than a decade. Two months ago, prices were rising at a nearly 3% clip, but by April 2025, prices slowed to only 2% — which is the slowest growth since spring of 2012. Widespread concern about personal finances, job prospects, and potential tariff impacts continues to weigh on home prices."

Check out the attached graphics. Notice the "hotness" in the north and the "coolness" in the south, notably in Florida. After years of explosive housing market growth, Florida continues to correct. Please check out the full article for informative interactive maps and expanded data. How did your region fare?

Top 10 Hottest 🔥 Markets
+13.4% Kokomo, IN
+12.5% Decatur, IL
+11.1% Syracuse, NY
+11.1% Weirton, WV
+10.8% New Haven, CT
+10.7% Vineland, NJ
+10.2% Muskegon, MI
+9.8% Lima, OH
+9.6% Evansville, IN
+9.6% Battle Creek, MI

Top 10 Coolest ❄️ Markets
-6.5% Cape Coral, FL
-6.2% Punta Gorda, FL
-5.4% Logan, UT
-5.1% McAllen, TX
-4.5% Victoria, TX
-4.3% North Port, FL
-3.7% Naples, FL
-3.1% Waco, TX
-2.7% Lake Charles, LA
-2.7% Eagle Pass, TX

Whether you're looking to jump aboard one of the hot housing markets or seek value in a correcting market, Lakeside Bank has your back as a nationwide residential mortgage lender. Chicagoland to us stretches from coast to coast! Please feel free to reach out at your convenience with questions.

Full article: https://www.cotality.com/insights/articles/us-home-price-insights-june-2025

05/30/2025

Amid today's home affordability challenges, a condo 🏢 may be just what you want to consider. Why? 🤷 Don't condos have expensive monthly assessments? Maybe, but let's discuss.

The biggest difference between a single family home and a condo is going to be the Homeowner's Association or "HOA" that governs the condo project and enforces the rules. The HOA also provides amenities that only the condo owners can take advantage of. 😎 Things like landscaping, garbage removal, community maintenance, internet, TV, a pool, clubhouse, etc etc. There can be a plethora of perks included in your monthly HOA dues......or not. It all depends on the specific condo development. With the vast majority of single family homes, none of the above perks are included.

A few more things to ponder about condos:

👉 Condos often have a lower purchase price than single-family homes in the same area, making them more accessible for first-time buyers or those on a tighter budget.

👉 Condos are often located in central urban areas, close to public transit, restaurants, work, and entertainment. A single-family home in the same area could be prohibitively expensive.

👉 Condos often offer enhanced security features like gated entrances, surveillance, and on-site staff, which are less common in single-family homes.

👉 Condos can be ideal for retirees, frequent travelers, or anyone who wants to simplify life and reduce space.

Danielle Hale, Chief Economist at Realtor.com: “When considering a home with an HOA, buyers should work to understand what benefits it provides like maintenance, security, or communal amenities, and how the HOA fees factor into their overall budget.”

Your real estate agent will help to gather all the relevant information from the HOA prior to your purchase so you can make an informed decision as to whether condo-living suits your situation.

When you're ready to make the move, please reach out to me for a condo mortgage pre-approval. At Lakeside Bank, headquartered in the beautiful City of Chicago, we do A LOT of condo lending, and we have some great condo mortgage options for YOU.

https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2025/05/20/what-buyers-need-to-know-about-homeowners-association-fees/

When buying a home, you’re probably thinking about mortgage rates, home prices, your down payment, and maybe even your closing costs. But you may not be thinking about homeowners association (HOA) fees.

05/29/2025

Did you know VA loans have been around for 80 years? If you're active or retired military, first of all, THANK YOU 💚 for your service. And if you're thinking about buying a home, you should definitely look into a VA mortgage loan option.

Why? The VA mortgage loan program has benefits specifically for our beloved military and veterans; like zero down payment, lower closing fees, more flexible underwriting, no PMI, and very attractive interest rates! Unfortunately many of the VA mortgage loan benefits are overlooked or just not understood.

According to a report from Veterans United Foundation, only 3 in 10 Veterans are aware they may be able to buy a home with no down payment.

For more general info on VA loans, you can visit the Department of Veteran's Affairs website at: https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/loan-types/purchase-loan/

Want to run a custom scenario based on your VA eligibility? Please feel free to reach out to me at your convenience. At Lakeside Bank, all our active military, veterans, and first responders are eligible for a $500 closing cost credit. And we do it all across the country!

Source: https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2025/05/27/many-veterans-dont-know-about-this-va-home-loan-benefit/

05/06/2025

Housing: Buy now or wait? 🤷🏼 That question gets tossed around a lot, especially when interest rates and home prices are high during uncertain economic times....Kinda like now!

Here's what we do know.

✅ Homeownership is a long term investment.
✅ Historically, home prices rise over time.
✅ As you pay your mortgage, you build equity.

Take a look at the attached charts.

Chart #1: According to the Fannie Mae Home Price Expectations Survey (HPES), home prices are expected to rise through at least 2029.

Chart #2: Based on the HPES projections, if you bought a typical $400,000 home in 2025, it could gain nearly $80,000 in value by 2030.

So, the question isn’t: should I wait? It’s really: can I afford to buy now?

If you're in good financial shape to buy a home now, don't wait and try to time the market. Experienced investors understand that timing any market is not recommended. See a good investment? Get in it, now.

"If you’re debating whether to buy now or wait, remember this: real estate rewards those who get in the market, not those who try to time it perfectly."

Source: https://lnkd.in/gWUv4F4k

04/25/2025

I'm not just a mortgage loan officer..... I'm a mortgage loan professor 🧑🏻‍🏫

Kudos to Lakeside Bank for their progressive financial literacy initiative. 👍

THIS is community banking. 💙

Send a message to learn more

04/17/2025

Shopping for a new home right now? 🏠 Well, you already know what a mortgage pre-approval is and why it's so important to have, especially in today's market. 👍 For those of you looking to take the plunge, don't overlook 👀 a pre-approval.

Why all the fuss about a pre-approval? "I know I'm qualified!"

YOU may think so, and maybe even KNOW so. That's great, but the listing agent doesn't care. Around Chicagoland and most major metros, you won't even get the time of day from a listing agent without a lender pre-approval letter.

WHY is this piece of paper so important?

✅ A Pre-Approval Helps You Understand Your Numbers
👉As part of the pre-approval process, a lender will walk through your finances and tell you what you can borrow based on your income, debts, credit score, and more. That number is power.

✅ A Pre-Approval Helps You Move Quickly When You’re Ready
👉While you can’t control when the right home shows up – you can be ready for it. Pre-approval isn’t about jumping the gun or rushing your timeline. It’s about making sure you’re ready when it’s go-time. 👍👍

Here's what Experian has to say:
“Waiting too long to get a preapproval, however, could leave you at a disadvantage . . . you could find the perfect home, but another buyer could sn**ch it up while you’re waiting for the lender to review your preapproval application. . . getting a preapproval just before you begin actively looking at homes may be your best option.”

At Lakeside Bank we do fast and free mortgage pre-approvals. Even if you're "thinking" about buying, come and get your letter. You won't regret it. Please reach out at your convenience with questions or for more information.

Bryan Keane
NMLS: 1828705
312-399-6228

If buying a home is on your radar – even if it’s more of a someday plan than a right now plan – getting pre-approved early is still one of the smartest moves you can make.

04/09/2025

The BOND market is playing hardball. ⚾ In a shocking reversal, yields have jumped 0.63% in just a few trading sessions! Forget last week's dip 📉 in interest rates. You blinked, 👀 and it's gone.

I can't recall seeing this sort of whip-saw action in yields, ever. Last week 10yr yields shed 50bps, this week so far we've added 63bps. Mortgage rates are updating several times throughout the day, making it quite difficult to quote the "correct" rate. It's like trying to hit a moving target, if that makes sense.

Meanwhile, housing developers and suppliers are scrambling to update materials pricing forecasts amid ever-changing tariff news. According to Todd Tomalak, principal of building products advisory at Zonda, home builders should anticipate a 9% increase in overall material costs.

Tomalak said that manufacturers who supply housing materials are in a difficult position where it’s hard to gauge how much they should raise prices to offset tariff costs, as they risk losing market share if the price hikes are too steep. “In this environment, it’s not clear that you can actually raise prices to match the cost,” Tomalak said.

Just crossing the wires as I type: 👇 👇 👇
Trump says ‘BE COOL! ... THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!’

Hang in there folks.

04/03/2025

Yikes!!! 😱 These tariff announcements are much worse than anyone was thinking and there's a lot of confusion out there! At the moment there is a huge flight to safety in U.S. Treasurys. This bond buying action is pushing yields down hard.

In fact, the 10yr Treasury yield is around 4.03% - the lowest levels we have seen since October 2024. See Chart #1. To be sure, this is spilling over into Mortgage Rates, so if you are in the market, you should be double-checking your rate, now.

Just over the last five trading sessions, yields have dropped nearly 40 bps or 0.40%. That's a big move. See Chart #2.

Tomorrow brings the U.S. Employment report, which will no doubt add more volatility. Is this THE turning point for interest rates? 🤷‍♂️📉 Too early to say, in my opinion. However, if we are slipping into a recession, then yes, rates will come down more. But don't forget who the president is. Things can change quickly...very quickly. Tread lightly.

03/28/2025

So much interest, they are adding a second open house day! Swing by this weekend 3/29-3/30.

🏡 Open House 🏡

📍 3320 S Lowe Ave
📅 Saturday & Sunday | 12-2 PM


📢 Don’t miss out! Come see this Bridgeport gem in person.

For more details, contact us today! 📞🏡
www.sageadvice.pro
[email protected]

Coldwell Listing: https://lnkd.in/gMUa8Xqf

03/27/2025

📢📢📢Attention Attention!! NEW LISTING ALERT -- OPEN HOUSE 🎈🎈🎈

⌚ Saturday, 3/29 - 12pm-2pm
🏠 3320 S LOWE AVE, Chicago IL (Bridgeport Neighborhood)

Don't miss this amazing investment opportunity to own a piece of Chicago's history! This beautifully preserved Greystone sits on one of Bridgeport’s most iconic streets—Lowe Avenue.

✨ Property Highlights: 👇 👇 👇

✔️ Solid brick & limestone 2-flat with timeless craftsmanship
✔️ Two turnkey units – each 3 bed, 1 bath with original millwork, hardwood floors & arched doorways
✔️ Full basement & attic – endless expansion potential! (Think duplex up/down)
✔️ Private deck & retractable awning
✔️ 12x20 above-ground pool leading to 2-car garage w/ party door
✔️ Recent updates: Newer appliances, washer/dryer, electrical replacement, roof (2008), plumbing, dual boiler system, hot water heaters, & second-level soundproofed hardwood floors & new windows

Nestled among historic churches, neighborhood cafes, parks, and small businesses, this home offers charm, character, and a true piece of Chicago’s legacy!

📢 Don’t miss out! Come see this Bridgeport gem in person. 👍


Contact 👉 Tiffany Casica - LaGrange SAGE Luxury Network Coldwell Banker Realty for more details.

Contact ME at Lakeside Bank for financing options. 😊👍

Link to Coldwell Banker Realty listing: https://www.coldwellbankerhomes.com/il/chicago/3320-s-lowe-ave/pid_64349162/

OPEN HOUSE: Saturday, March 29, 2025 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM. For Sale - 3320 S Lowe Ave, Chicago, IL - $689,000. View details, map and photos of this multi-family property with 6 bedrooms and 2 total baths. MLS # 12322262.