According to the National Association of Realtors, 86% of new real estate agents don't make it past their first year. The majority give up due to frustration and the overwhelming start-up costs involved in the industry. But there is an untapped resource that will help agents take their careers to new heights-the For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) listing. Many homeowners try to sell their home, without an agent, believing that they can find a buyer just as quickly and avoid paying a commission. But often, nothing can be further from the truth. Author John Maloof has built a stellar career by farming...

In Chicago, it has long been common knowledge that the neighborhoods have been overshadowed by the Loop's luster. Portage Park is one of these hidden gems, offering up a wealth of history, culture, and art. As the site of a lesser-known Chicago Portage, the largest retail district outside the Loop at Six Corners, the visual backdrop of movies such as My Life and The Color of Money, and the spot where both Abraham Lincoln and John Dillinger legendarily stayed and the sister of the czar of Bulgaria prayed, this corner of Chicago has seen its share of glitz and glory. Discover Portage Park's...