A TRUE STORY…BUYING A BANK-OWNED FORECLOSED HOUSE IN CHICAGO Some pitfalls to be aware of. I represent a buyer who made an offer on a bank-owned house. It took us 3 weeks of negotiating with the bank to come to agreement on terms. They signed the paperwork within 5 days after it was sent to them. So far so good… The house was sitting vacant and had been...

Some Hurdles Getting a Mortgage – True Story as of January 2011. I have a buyer whose income varies from year to year due to commissions/bonuses and his wife just graduated from medical school and has been working full-time for 6 months but is paid by 1099 (independent contractor). They have credit scores in the mid to high- 700’s. They also own some rental property...

Buying a Bank-Owned Foreclosure – a true story A timetable and description of events from an offer made on a bank-owned foreclosure condo in Chicago and the outcome. I recently represented a buyer for a condo on Chicago’s northside neighborhood of Edgewater/Rogers Park. It was listed below $80,000 which seemed extremely low given the fact that upon my...

Profile of a First-Time Buyer About 12 years ago I had the privilege of helping what was for me the oldest first-time buyer of my career. She was 71 years old and had been renting the same apartment for the past 25 years. Her building was being sold and she had to make a decision about what she was going to do about her housing...

Chicago’s Parks and Playground System In my opinion it will be Mayor Daley’s legacy that we have neighborhood parks in almost every neighborhood. All this green space has provided lower density recreational space for its residents. On the North Side of Chicago there is a Park within walking distance no matter where you live (Find a Park) and...

Looking for Defects A concern for any buyer is being faced with a serious defect in the property you’re buying which could affect your safety or health, but more importantly, your pocketbook. While some defects may be corrected at a nominal cost, it is important to understand the categories of these defects: building...

Chicago’s Lakeview Neighborhood Architecture & Style Video about Chicago’s Lakeview Neighborhood architecture and...

Lakeview Neighborhood LifeStyle Amenities Video about Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood lifestyle...

Record Low Interest Rates + Lower Home Prices = ? The current mortgage environment is seeing interest rates at the 4.5% for 30-year fixed mortgages. This has been the lowest rate for more than 40 years! Home ownership has never been better since depreciated values and record-low interest rates make the cost of owning a home the same or less than...

Home Buying Confidence is Only a Click Away! The real estate market in Chicago is changing rapidly, more so than ever before. There is a bewildering array of information out there right now, some of it conflicting and not all of it makes sense. Yet, you also probably been hearing how this is the perfect time for people like you who are tired of...

How to Find Your Perfect Home Whether you are searching for small personal space or a starter family home, this tool can help you find a property to fit your needs. The Multiple Listing Service is composed of hundreds of database computer systems located throughout the USA for real estate agents to showcase their available real estate...