62220, Belleville, IL

Belleville is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 36,851. Belleville is the county seat of St. Clair County and home to Northern Illinois University. The city is known for its manufacturing and agricultural industries as well as its downtown district which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987. Belleville's economy has been diversified in recent years with growth in health care and technology sectors.

The median home value in Belleville was $131,200 as of September 2017 according to Zillow data. This represents an increase from $128,000 during the same time period one year prior and $123,600 during the third quarter of 2017 alone (Zillow data). This rapid appreciation can be partially attributed to limited supply within the city limits as well as strong demand from both local residents and those looking to invest in suburban areas near Chicago.

Despite this strong market performance, there are still many homeowners who are feeling the effects of rising prices on their equity levels. In fact, according to NeighborhoodScout data from 2016 (the most recent year for which data is available), approximately one-third (32%) of Belleville homeowners report having less than 20% equity in their homes - a figure that is significantly higher than both national averages (14%) and those found within St Clair County as a whole (24%). Additionally, nearly half (47%) of Belleville homeowners report that they have no money left after paying off their mortgages and other debts - again far above both national averages (26%) and those found within St Clair County as a whole (41%).

While it may not be possible for all homeowners to regain all or even most of their lost equity levels through refinancing or selling their homes outright at current prices, there are several strategies that can help reduce vulnerability to price fluctuations over time:

1) Maintain adequate insurance coverage: A high level of homeowner insurance can help protect your property against major losses should something happen such as a fire or natural disaster outside your control; 2) Make sure you're making timely payments on your mortgage: Late payments can lead to penalties including higher interest rates which could further reduce your equity level; 3) Review your loan terms regularly: Changing loan terms such as reducing the amount you owe down payment or extending repayment periods could result in larger payoffs over time; 4) Consider refinancing if possible: Refinancing allows you take advantage of historically low interest rates while also taking into account any future price increases – potentially resulting in more money being available towards debt repayment down the road; 5) Consider selling if prices continue to rise beyond what you feel comfortable with: If prices continue climbing beyond what you feel comfortable with then it may be worth considering selling your home before it becomes too difficult or unaffordable to do so."