Panel ponders today's market; Exec: Homes became investments, and now there's a correction

Slow sales, excess inventory, tighter lending restrictions andhigher costs have taken their toll on the local real estateindustry, said experts at a recent panel discussion in Chicago.Financiers, developers, builders and project managers from aroundthe Chicago area provided their opinions at the "Challenges & Changein the Real Estate Industry 2007" panel hosted by RooseveltUniversity's School of Real Estate and Warady & Davis LLP, aDeerfield-based certified public accounting and consulting firm.

POSITIVE SIGNS

"Despite these negative indicators, there are positive signs topoint to," said event moderator Norman Nagel of Warady & Davis."Chicago is not as impacted …