In 2018, a Michigan man shot his neighbor to death while she used a snowplow to clear snow from the driveway the two neighbors shared as an easement. There had reportedly been problems between the two families over the driveway easement prior to the murder, and police had been called to the homes several times […]
6 Reasons the Due Diligence Period Is Important in a Real Estate Sale
If you’re buying property, due diligence is one of the most important parts of the purchase process. That’s true whether you’re purchasing a home or some type of commercial property, such as a unit of rental apartments or a business downtown that you plan to turn into a cozy Italian restaurant. You need to know […]
Ready to Sell? Take These 10 Steps to Get Started
If you’re looking to sell your home, whether it is a place you’ve outgrown or it has become too big, there are some things you should do before that first open house to make sure it sells. Don’t store the clutter in your closets. Closets are one of your home’s biggest selling points, and buyers […]
10 Essential Elements of a Real Estate Sales Contract
If you’re looking for a home or a business space in the Chicago area, the search alone can be daunting. Should you take a risk on a foreclosure and buy the property to flip, or do you hear the siren song of myriad windows and hardwood floors that makes the great room of another property […]
6 Tips for Negotiating the Sale of Your Property
Selling your home is one of the most important financial transactions you will ever make in your lifetime. Your goal is to get the most money possible from the sale without having to sacrifice high-end expenses such as kitchen and bathroom upgrades you’ve put in to boost the sale price. In your eagerness to sell, […]
4 Reasons It’s Important to Have a Home Inspection
Buying a new home is an exciting event. However, you can get so caught up in the negotiations, paperwork, and financial arrangements that scheduling a home inspection may be an afterthought. A home inspection is a visual examination of a property’s structure, mechanicals, and components to confirm that all is in proper and safe working […]
A Step-by-Step Guide to the Closing Process for Sellers
You’ve received a great offer on your home and you accepted. Congratulations! All the time, money, and effort you spent marketing the home with your realtor, preparing for showings, and accommodating potential buyers has finally paid off. Now all that remains is closing on the sale. This is when the buyer becomes the new legal […]
How to Properly Handle an Eviction
If you are an Illinois landlord, you will probably run into a situation where you have to evict a tenant. They may be months behind on their rent, interfering with other tenants, damaging the property or even engaging in some form of illegal activity. Alternatively, they may have done nothing wrong at all and perhaps […]
5 Alternatives to Foreclosure
A difficult economic climate has left hundreds of people throughout Illinois underwater on their mortgages. In October 2018, the foreclosure rate averaged one for every 1098 homes, with Will County topping the list at one in every 661. If you are underwater, falling behind, or struggling to make your mortgage payment each month, it may […]
A Brief Overview of the “Quiet Title”
Many buyers have been on the verge of acquiring their dream home or a piece of prime investment property when a title search turns up complications. Perhaps there is more than one chain of title or a mechanic’s lien was placed on the property after a previous owner failed to pay for contracted improvements. Should […]