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ABOUT REALTY OF CHICAGO
Client Focus | At Realty of Chicago, we put our clients first, embracing their unique needs with a real estate experience tailored to their lifestyles. From our agents to our senior management, we share a common goal; building enduring relationships with our clients and the communities we serve established on a foundation of trust, and teamwork.
Pre-Market Inventory | Realty of Chicago offers an unrivaled selection of pre-market inventory. With a large network of agents we are able to offer unparalleled access to pre-market listings. Our clients are able to choose from more home options, and take the time they need to make the decision that is right for them. This also allows prospective sellers to be able to test the market before listing their property, giving them a competitive advantage as they go to market.
- Albany Park
- Andersonville
- Archer Heights
- Ashburn
- Ashburn Estates
- Austin
- Avaondale
- Belmont Central
- Berwyn
- Beverly
- Beverly Woods
- Brainerd
- Bridgeport
- Brighton Park
- Bronceville
- Bucktown
- Burnside
- Calumet Heights
- Canaryville
- Clearing
- Cicero
- Chatham
- Chicago
- Chinatown
- Cottage Grove Heights
- Cragin
- Dunning
- East Chicago
- Edison Park
- Edgebrook
- Edgewater
- Englewood
- Ford City
- Gage Park
- Galewood
- Garfield Park
- Garfield Ridge
- Gold Coast
- Grand Crossing
- Gresham
- Hamilton Park
- Humboldt Park
- Hyde Park
- Jefferson Park
- Kelvyn Park
- Kenwood
- Kilbourn Park
- Lake Meadows
- Lakeview
- Lawndale
- Lincoln Park
- Lincoln Square
- Little Italy
- Little Village
- Logan Square
- Longwood Manor
- Loop
- Marquette Park
- McKinley Park
- Midway
- Morgan Park
- Montclare
- Mount Greenwood
- North Center
- Norwood Park
- Old Irving Park
- Old Town
- Park Manor
- Pilsen
- Princeton Park
- Portage Park
- Pullman
- Ravenswood
- River North
- River West
- Rodgers Park
- Roscoe Village
- Roseland
- Sauganash
- Schorsch Village
- Scottsdale
- South Chicago
- South Deering
- South Loop
- South Shore
- Streeterville
- Tri-Taylor
- Ukrainian Village
- United Center
- University Village
- Uptown
- Vittum Park
- Washington Heights
- West Elsdon
- West Loop
- West Pullman
- Westlawn
- Wicker Park
- Woodlawn
- Wrigleyville
- Wrigtwood
ABOUT SELLING
For buyers: Home buyers generally do not pay a broker fee, as this is almost always paid in full by the seller.
For sellers: Fees are discussed with your Realty of Chicago agent before the contract is signed.
Before you begin your search for a home, the first step is to be pre-approved by a lender.
If you have no idea where to find a lender, Realty of Chicago has an in-house lender who can assist you. Your real estate agent can also refer you to a lender.
Pre-qualified is when a prospective buyer tells a lender his/her income and debt level, so the lender can provide an estimated loan amount.
Pre-approved is when a prospective buyer has provided the lender with tax returns, pay stubs, and other documentation verifying income, assets, and debts. The lender will also run a credit check on the buyer.
The lender will ask for paycheck stubs, two years of W-2’s or 1099’s, recent bank statements, and a driver’s license or other forms of ID.
A credit check is generally performed by the lender during the pre-approval process.
Your credit score for a mortgage should be 620 or above (that number tends to change). However, if you want to unlock better interest rates your credit score will need to be 620 or higher.
With an FHA loan you will need at least 3.5% of the purchase price of the home. Conventional loans generally ask for 20% of the purchase price. It all depends on the type of loan. However, there are down payment assistance programs where the buyer pays zero.
Yes, there are programs to help first time borrowers with down payment assistance. Your lender and your realtor can give you more information.
Seller’s agents represent the interests of the seller. With a buyer’s agent, you have someone who is dedicated to your interests, as well as a point of contact to work with you throughout your entire search to achieve your best interest. There is no cost to you to work with a buyer’s agent, as the seller pays the broker fee.
Seller’s agents represent the interests of the seller. With a buyer’s agent, you have someone who is dedicated to your interests, as well as a point of contact to work with you throughout your entire search to achieve your best interest. There is no cost to you to work with a buyer’s agent, as the seller pays the broker fee.
There are several steps between an offer being accepted and the sale being final. Buyers must apply and be approved for a loan, the home must be inspected with necessary remodeling or renovations taking place, and buyers must liquidate investments if necessary in order to have cash at the ready for the initial down payment. Only after all of these obligations have been met will it be time for closing (when you sign mortgage documents and officially take ownership of the property).
Home inspections are used to provide an opportunity for a buyer to identify any significant issues with a home before closing. After a home inspection, the buyer may be able to renegotiate their offer or request repairs if any issues arise.
The home buyer pays for a home inspection. It should be undertaken as soon as the seller accepts the offer. The cost can range anywhere from $300 to $500. The cost of the home inspection is determined by the location and size of the property.
If the inspection report shows that the house is in good shape, you can proceed with the purchase. If the inspection shows problems you and your Realtor can negotiate to have the seller pay for necessary repairs or negotiate a lower purchase price
Purchasing property is a legal transaction, with tax and title implications.
We recommend that you hire a real estate attorney who specializes in real estate to ensure that the transaction is smooth.
This is a fee paid to the attorney representing you in your real estate purchase.
A fee which estimates whether or not a property is worth enough to support a loan. A qualified appraiser will look over the property and produce a report.
Homeowners insurance covers property damage from hazards, such as fires and floods and provides liability coverage against accidents in the home or on the property.
Loans of more than 80% of the home's value often require mortgage insurance to protect the lender if the borrower defaults on the loan. PMI is waved when the borrower’s down payment is 20%
ABOUT BUYING
Sellers who decide to sell their homes without the help of a licensed professional often do so to avoid paying the agents commission fee. However, that could end up costing them more in the long run. Selling a home for sale by owner is a lot harder than most people think. There is a reason why agents are required to complete a licensing program-they have experience. Working with a real estate agent will save you time, work, and more importantly, money.
Once your home is placed on the market, there are many different factors that determine the length of time it takes to sell. A few factors that will determine how much time your home is on the market are, how much you are willing to sell your home for and how the market is performing during that time. In a high-demand market, a well-priced home will sell much faster than an overpriced home.
In order for you to calculate the selling price of your home, we take data from recent sales in your area, as well as homes that are currently on the market or in contract. Armed with this information, we draw comparisons between your home and other similar properties. There are a number of factors that come into the equation in determining the value of a property – such as the size, location, views, age, condition, presentation, quality of fixtures and fittings, and how unique and desirable the property might be to the current buyers in the market.
When a property is overpriced, windows of opportunity are missed. Broker and buyer interest is at its highest when a property is initially placed on the market. But if the property is priced above realistic market value, the number of potential buyers is significantly reduced. Later, it may be necessary to adjust the price appropriately to compete with new, competitively priced listings.
A home's “must-do repairs” are those that will negatively impact your home's resale value if they are not done. Things like leaky faucets and cracked tiles will stick out to a buyer because it is right in front of them when they are inspecting your home. For example, kitchens and bathrooms leave a lasting impression on buyers. Ensuring that they look fresh and inviting is valuable. Other must-do home repairs prior to selling include and are not limited to; replacing damaged vinyl flooring, cleaning, repainting or renewing baseboards, and resealing toilets.
The price has to be right, but your property also has to be staged properly. Prospective buyers need to be able to imagine themselves living in the apartment, so storing personal items (photos, knickknacks) can be an effective way to give the prospective purchase a “clean slate” on which to project their own future in the apartment. Clearing out closets and sometimes removing furniture will make your apartment seem larger and more inviting; items can be easily stored in a rented storage facility. Refresh your property if needed; a good paint job can make all the difference. And of course, your agent will be happy to advise you.
Staging your home is a method of decorating it. Staging is designed to showcase your homes best assets, impress buyers, and help sell it quickly for the highest possible price.
Preparing a home for showings can be a job in itself. A home that is well prepared for showings will likely sell faster than its competition. Making sure a home is clean, de-cluttered, bright, generally in good condition, and that no foul odors are present are just a few things that sellers can do to prepare their home for showings.
It generally takes seven to 10 days from accepted offer to contract signing. From there, the average amount of time necessary to get to closing is 60 days.
Generally, the real estate agent with whom you have entered into an agreement will show your home. That agent will never leave keys for another broker or allow other agents to show your apartment without being present unless you have given prior consent.
Yes, your agent will always get back to you after a showing. Your agent will give you a report of all the new buyers interested in your property. You will be informed about the degrees of interest and all the comments (both positive and negative).
Find a target date for moving. If looking to finance, expect to take about 3 months from purchase to close. Buyers, begin your search 4-6 months prior to an estimated moving date. Once the buyer has been approved by the board, a closing date will be scheduled. The seller needs to be completely moved out before the closing.
After finding a property that you want, your real estate agent will run a comparative market analysis to help you determine an appropriate offer. Your agent will submit an offer on your behalf, both verbally and in writing. There are a lot of different reasons, other than money, that influence a seller in choosing the right buyer. If the verbal offer is accepted, have your broker get confirmation of the offer and acceptance via email. Once the written offer is accepted, your agent prepares a deal sheet (or transaction summary sheet), to be sent to the seller’s and buyer’s attorneys for review. Using the signed offer and acceptance, the seller's attorney then prepares a contract of sale. After the buyer’s attorney reviews the contract, negotiates terms, and evaluates the property’s financial statements, the buyer then signs the contract and presents the down-payment check. Generally, contract deposits are 10% of the contract sale. This money is held in the selling attorney's escrow account to be sent to the seller's attorney. The seller then executes the contract.
