Selecting a Neighborhood Location preferences are driven by what is most important to you. However, you must qualify that by what you can afford. Firstly, you need to decide what type of property you’re most interested in (i.e. single family house, townhouse, condominium, 2-4 flat, etc). Then, given your price range the...

Chicago’s Logan Square Neighborhood Located on the NW side of Chicago Logan Square has become a location in convenient proximity to Downtown Chicago. It is only 6 “L” stops from Chicago’s Loop and reflects an artsy multi-ethnic diversity. The central commercial/business district runs along Milwaukee Avenue which is the longest...

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...

Buying Short Sales in Chicago Buying Short Sales in Chicago Real Estate. Foreclosures…Short Sales…Bank-Owned…What do these terms mean? Definition/Terms . Let me make it simple: Short Sale: When a homeowner has stopped making mortgage payments and is trying to sell their home which is worth LESS than what they owe on their...

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...

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...

How Much Money Do I Need to Buy? Obviously, there is a down payment required to start with. With a FHA loan the down payment is 3.5% of the purchase price. In addition there are closing costs. In today’s real estate market it is not unusual for the buyer to ask the seller to pay the buyer’s closing costs which would be included in the...