Hank Helton-Realtor/Broker

06/04/2026

I've even told my grandkids that if they want to get into the trades as opposed to going to college, I'd back them 100%. As a fairly-good DIY'er myself, I've learned so much from watching the pros do what they do and have huge respect for all who do it with integrity and precision. I've also watched many a solo contractor wield their venture into a thriving company. Whether working in the trades for a company, going solo as a sub contractor or general contractor or building a business built from being in the trades, it's an honorable and satisfying way to make a living.

This one from Realtor dot Com today:

As Gen Z increasingly avoids heavy student loan debt by choosing trade schools over bachelor's degrees, this shift could accelerate their timeline to homeownership.

05/18/2026

I personally love older homes, and what I mean by this is really old homes, not the median national aged home. We live in a house that was built in 1902, so I understand infrastructure and decor updating very well. All our bathrooms are updated with the only original fixture is the baked enamel over cast iron Kohler monster bathtub in our hall bath on the 2nd floor. Plumbing, electrical, windows, HVAC, you name it, we've been through replacements of almost everything. Very expensive but well worth it. While I understand the nearly worry-free existence a new home will bring its owners, there is nothing like the character of 124 year-old quarter-sawn oak flooring (refinished in 2020) and solid pine, never painted baseboards and casement trim. I don't regret the initial investment, nor the thousands of hours spent doing projects, nor the seemingly vast amounts of money spent for all of this one single bit! This article from Realtor Dot Com 05/15/2026 touches on this subject and addresses the potential expenses a homeowner might expect from buying an "older" home! FB Msgr me if you want to know more, my nearly 30 years as an appraiser taught me well the hazards of leaving "deferred maintenance" items unfixed for long periods of time!

As America faces a $198B repair backlog, new permit data shows how local red tape can slow basic fixes for aging homes.

04/20/2026

I try to remind my buyers (especially first-timers with no experience in the complexities of home ownership) that emptying their reserves for a down payment is not a great move. ALWAYS keep some money set aside for any unexpected expense, and if you can bear thinking of doubling that $1000 in case you get hit twice (it's happened!), all the better. From Realtor dot Com 04-19-2026:

Too many in the U.S. are living paycheck to paycheck, and if you're a homeowner in that situation, there are costs lurking that could cause more debt.

03/03/2026

Link below my comments/observations/opinions from Realtor.com, hot off the presses...03/03/2026.
Well folks, seems like the same old story. Inventory is low. IMHO, the main cause has been the higher-than-perceived interest rates for mortgages (Anecdotal comment here with real-life history as support: my wife and I purchased our first home in 1990 and our APR was a whopping 13%! We were happy to get a foothold...) which is causing everyone, not just older homeowners to stay put. This has caused a bottleneck in lateral and upward movement, further exacerbating the supply on the middle and lower end of the market for (especially) first-time buyers. And on NPR yesterday, I heard the dreaded word "stagflation" for the first time in nearly 20 years.
https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/millennials-gen-z-households-housing-market-supply-gap-report/?cid=eml__1946:66e221571a4446d4e6969d41:rm202603031130_Marketing_Consumer_Daily_EditorialRSSDynamic

The U.S. housing market is missing nearly 2 million households as a widening supply gap and high costs force young adults to delay independence.

02/23/2026

An interesting read from the online Realtor.com newsletter: https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/housing-markets-to-benefit-falling-mortgage-rates/?cid=eml__1946:66e221571a4446d4e6969d41:rm202602231130_Marketing_Consumer_Daily_EditorialRSSDynamic

As mortgage rates hit a three-year low, five metros where the "lock-in effect" is weakest are primed for a robust housing market rebound.

04/08/2024

Well, that's two hours I'm really glad I don't feel like were a waste of time. On the contrary, it was FABULOUS!!

03/18/2024

Thanks to my dear friends and (now former) clients, Nat and Carol for allowing me the pleasure and honor of listing their home and allowing me to guide them through the process. This one was a bit more tricky than all the rest I've ever done, but (as my dear friend Andrew Cornett is fond of saying) cool heads prevailed and we got to the closing without breaking a sweat! Congrats to the new homeowners and may they live large in their new digs!

08/02/2023

If you see this young lady out and about, please be sure to welcome her as one of those special people who are the newest homeowners in our hometown, Springfield, IL. Congratulations, Tish Gordon & thanks so much for bringing me along another wild ride!!

04/25/2023

A huge congratulations to John & Erin on their recent purchase/closing on their new home. Here's to many years of enjoyment and oodles of lifelong memories to be made on this porch and of course, inside!! And thanks for choosing me as your broker!

03/01/2021

4420 Foxbury sold in less than 4 hours...if you are ready to sell, the market is smoking hot, PM me and let's talk!