FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


FOR HOME BUYERS

1Do buyers really need to hire an agent?
It is true that buying home does not require you to hire a real estate agent. However, you can get the guidance you need, and you can have a smooth-sailing process. Therefore, agents are quite useful, especially in helping you avoid the pitfalls of the buying procedure.
2How about if you are a first time home buyer?
Professionals suggest that you should talk with a bank, especially if you are a first time home buyer. You will even find some programs that are mainly directed toward helping you. Additionally, you can also learn about the costs associated with buying home in Chicagoland. Many first time home buyers, unfortunately, do not understand some terminologies, including pre-paid items, down payment, and escrows. Our real estate agent can provide you with a thorough explanation of these items.
3Do You Need to Discuss Your Options with a Bank Before You Buy?
If you have managed to save up the cash to buy the home outright, you are in a very rare position. But most people will need to talk with their local bank or lender so that they can be pre-approved for a loan. Applying for a loan also gives you an excellent idea of just how much you can afford to pay for a home.
If you are a first-time buyer, you should definitely speak with your bank. You'll learn about the costs that tend to come with buying a home in the Chicago area. You will also have an opportunity to find out about any special programs of assistance for first time home buyers that your bank may offer.
4Should You Buy a Home or is it Better to Keep Renting?
It depends on your financial circumstances. Buying a home is definitely a good investment if you can afford it. The interest rates that are normal in the Chicago area at the moment are competitive and you may well consider it a good time to break out of the rent cycle by buying a home.

FOR HOME SELLERS

1What Moves Do You Need to Make Before You Sell Your Home?
It's an excellent idea to renovate some areas of your home so that you can add to its total resale value. Don't spend too much money on these renovations lest you run the risk of spending more than you can recoup. You can have the property inspected by your real estate agent so that you will know which areas to concentrate on for a possible renovation project.
2How Long Will it Take to Sell Your Home?
There is no standard answer to this question. The time it takes to sell your home will depend on a number of factors including number of similar properties on the currently on the market, condition of the home, interest rates and more. However, if you take the advice of your real estate agent and price your home competitively, you can usually expect to sell it very quick and and in some situations create buyers' bidding wars.
3How Can You Find Out How Much Your Home is Really Worth?
It's easy to discover the median price for homes in your area. But this figure should be taken with a grain of salt. The real price of your home will depend on a great many factors, not all of which will be within your control.
This is why you should let your real estate agent lead your through the process of setting a realistic list price for your home. They are the experts who can conduct all of the necessary research and analysis that will ultimately lead to a competitive price and a successful real estate transaction.
4Is Now the Perfect Time to Sell Your Home?
This is where the advice of a professional real estate agent will really pay off. If your agent gives you the thumbs up to sell, it's most likely because the market is favorable to home sellers.
When the number of homes for sale is less than the number of buyers looking for homes, you have a very favorable "seller's market." This means that you can expect to sell your home for the price you and your agent have agreed upon.

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