Illinois' population is the fifth most in the United States, and its largest city,  Chicago, is the third most populous city in the country.  Illinois' other large cities include Aurora, Rockford, Naperville, Joliet, Springfield, and Peoria.  Springfield is the capital of the state.

Illinois is the home to many private and public universities.  Among the private schools are Northwestern University and the University of Chicago.  A few of the public schools are the University of Illinois and Illinois State University.

Most of the professional sport teams in Illinois make their focal point the city of Chicago.  The Chicago Bulls are one of the most well-known basketball teams in the country and the Chicago White Sox recently won a World Series championship.  The Chicago Cubs baseball club is the other popular Major League Baseball team in the state, and the Chicago Blackhawks are Illinois' professional hockey team.  The Bears make their home in Chicago, and are one of the most storied franchises in the NFL.

With interest rates becoming as low as they have the last few years, homeowners are taking the opportunity to refinance their houses and take out home equity loans and lines of credit.  When refinancing, homeowners in Illinois can take advantage of these lower interest rates and reduce their monthly mortgage payments.  With home equity loans and lines of credit, homeowners in Illinois can take the equity in their houses and use it to pay for large expenses, such as medical bills, college, or home improvement projects.  Use Refinance Mortgage Brokers.com to learn more about these mortgage opportunities and find out how refinancing or home equity loans can help you.