Tag: Buyer tips
Five benefits of building a home with J. Lawrence and Smykal Homes
With plenty of resales and foreclosed homes still on the market, it can be easy to forget that building a new-construction home in Chicago from th [...]
You bought your first home — now learn to take care of it
Many of today's buyers are first-timers who will face the challenges of a home's upkeep for the very first time. The sales staff at Shodeen Reside [...]
Quote: Poor common areas equal poor investments
Syndicated columnist David Myers warns a reader against buying into a development with dilapidated common areas and immediately running for a spot on [...]
Higher credit scores needed for FHA-backed loans
Wells Fargo and Bank of America have tightened their standards for FHA-backed loans, says Bloomberg. Both banks now require applicants to have FICO sc [...]
What’s your beef?
Halloween's long gone, but the horror stories keep on coming. In the past day buyers have complained under our YouTube videos and in NewHomeNotebook p [...]
From the vault: A primer on VA loans
Last fall, Joe Zekas talked to Daniel Chookaszian of American Street Mortgage about one of the most misunderstood types of mortgage loans on the mar [...]
ILSA: "an escape hatch" for buyers
How much do you know about the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act? If you made a deposit for a new-construction condo in 2006 and found yoursel [...]
Identifying electrical deficiencies in basements
In this segment from our wide-ranging discussion about home inspections and common home safety issues, Tom Corbett of Tomacor points out several ele [...]
Tell-tale signs of termite treatment
You know to keep an eye out for termite damage as you shop for a home, but what exactly should you look for besides chewed-up pieces of lumber? In t [...]
How to spot termite damage before you buy
Contrary to popular belief, Chicago does have termites, and the damage they cause isn't just "an old house phenomenon," says home inspector Tom Corb [...]
Beware the bad breakers
Owners and buyers take notice: Siemens AG has recalled 2.2 million circuit breakers over a fire risk. The breakers have date codes from June and July [...]
Trust, but verify
While I'm on the subjects of 2650 North Lakeview and Redfin data, I might as well point out the following.
You see this Google map at the bottom of [...]
Suburban showcase: Where are taxes headed on that North Shore home?
Joe Zekas writes regularly about North Shore homes at the Homeward Bound - North Shore blog at ChicagoNow. There, he recently posted the following:
P [...]
The annals of inconsequential price cuts: more examples of stupid Realtor tricks
This weekend Joe Z. pointed out the pettiness of minuscule price cuts, which have no purpose except to bump homes up to the top of a search for newly [...]
Neno and Shivam on 235 Van Buren: Low assessments, working with CMK, and tips for condo buyers
In the second half of their interview with Joe Zekas, Neno and Shivam, two new homeowners at 235 Van Buren, talk about the upside of living in a low [...]
Chatting with Chaz: Open house philosophies
For a while now I've been interested in talking with an agent about open houses. Not for any property in particular, but about the overall process, [...]
Tip jar: Watch that debt load
Here's some advice from a local lender to buyers who are already thinking ahead to home furnishings and a ride to park in the garage:
Nowadays, once [...]
Why Rob chose a condo at 235 Van Buren
One of the best ways to learn about a home you're interested in buying is talking to the neighbors. Rob bought at the new Ralph Johnson-designed hig [...]
Buyers can't rely solely on the Internet
So many of today's buyers start their home searches online, and look to websites like ours, Cribchatter, and in some cities, Curbed, to get a sense [...]
From the field: It's a short sale world
First off, remember that you're going to be working with someone in hardship, someone who's probably going through a very hard time emotionally. You h [...]