Transportation and housing costs are rising, but wages aren’t keeping up

Cut your own Christmas Tree

Tony Farrell of Orland Park, Ill., helps his daughter Faith, 12, cut down a tree at the Luers Christmas Tree Farm in Crown Point on Dec. 1.

Cut your own Christmas Tree

Jen and Tony Farrell, of Orland Park., Ill., and their children Hailey, 10, Faith, 12, and Jack, 6, examine the tree at the Luers Christmas Tree Farm in Crown Point on Dec. 1.

Cut your own Christmas Tree

Jen Farrell takes a photo as her husband Tony and daughter Faith, 12, finish cutting a tree down at the Luers Christmas Tree Farm in Crown Point on Dec. 1. Children Hailey, 10, and Jack, 6, Farrell look on.

Cut your own Christmas Tree

Tony Farrell, of Orland Park, Ill., celebrates after helping his daughter Faith, 12, cut down a tree at the Luers Christmas Tree Farm in Crown Point on Dec. 1. Another daughter, Hailey, 10, looks on.

Cut your own Christmas Tree

Tony and Jen Farrell, of Orland Park, Ill., are followed by their children Hailey, 10, Jack, 6, and Faith, 12, drag their chosen tree to their car at the Luers Christmas Tree Farm in Crown Point on Dec. 1.

Cut your own Christmas Tree

Tony and Jen Farrell, of Orland Park, Ill., take a photo of their children Faith, 12, left, Hailey, 10, and Jack, 6, by their chosen tree at the Luers Christmas Tree Farm in Crown Point on Dec. 1.

So You Want to Be an Investor?

Debt Dip Spells Housing Gain

Rossi and Taylor

Rossi & Taylor Real Estate

Rossi & Taylor

(L to R) Brian Rossi and Bill Taylor of Rossi & Taylor Real Estate in St. John

Home price plunges bestow blessings, curses

Sheila Silhavy stands inside her former Michigan City home, which her son, Eric Cooper, recently bought for $38,000 less than she sold it for in 2007. The house still contains the refrigerator and stove Silhavy used before she sold the home.

Home price plunges bestow blessings, curses

Don Monchamp, of Michigan City, helps clean up a Michigan City home for his nephew, Eric Cooper, who bought the home this year for $38,000 less than his mother sold it for in 2007.

Home price plunges bestow blessings, curses

Kathy Monchamp, of Michigan City, sweeps the front sidewalk of her nephew's home that he bought in Michigan City. Eric Cooper recently bought his childhood home in Michigan City for $38,000 less than his mother sold it for in 2007.

Home price plunges bestow blessings, curses

Sheila Silhavy talks about living at her former Michigan City home that her son, Eric Cooper, recently bought for $38,000 less than she sold it for in 2007.

Home price plunges bestow blessings, curses

Sheila Silhavy looks over needed repairs to the home her son, Eric Cooper, recently bought in Michigan City. Her son bought his childhood home for $38,000 less than Silhavy sold it for in 2007.

Home price plunges bestow blessings, curses

Don Monchamp, of Michigan City, helps clean up a Michigan City home for his nephew, Eric Cooper, who bought the home this year for $38,000 less than his mother sold it for in 2007. The home still contains a few of the original appliances from when the family bought the home in 1998.

Home price plunges bestow blessings, curses

Sheila Silhavy, right, watches as Chad Bootz, of Ellis Electric, installs new wiring in her former home in Michigan City that her son, Eric Cooper, bought recently. Her son bought the home for $38,000 less than his mother sold it for in 2007. The plunge in home prices that followed the housi…