Chicago Real Estate Buyer's Guide

The First Step Toward Chicago House Buying

Congratulations - you're about to realize your dreams and buy a home! To assist you and help explain this complex process, we've prepared our Chicago Home Buyer's Guide, just for you.

Step By Step: Your Dream Town Chicago Home Buyer's Guide leads you through the 9-step home buying process point by point. Scan it quickly for an overview of the steps involved. Then, as you move forward, look to the Guide whenever you need an instant, detailed reference source.

Table of Contents:

• Step 01
  Select a Realtor?

  Why Choose Dream Town?

  Service Excellence Guarantee

  Code of Service Excellence

• Step 02
  Should I Buy?

  Renting vs. Buying

  Considering Buying a Chicago Rental Property?

  Taking on a Chicago home remodeling project

  First Time Home buyer in Chicago

• Step 03
  Set Your Price Range

  Size your down payment

  Ratios and Budgets to Help Assess Affordability

  What Can You Really Afford?

  What Does the Future Hold?

• Step 04
  Secure a Lender

  Prequalification - Quick, Free, Easy

  Why Prequalification is Important

  Pre-approval - Added Leverage

  Improve Your Credit Profile

• Step 05
  Find the Right Home for You

  Elements Affecting the Asking Price

  Considerations for Condo Buyers

  Home Buying Mistakes

  Buying A Chicago Vacation Home

• Step 06
  Negotiate Your Purchase

  The Negotiation

  Elements of a Purchase Offer

  Negotiation Strategies

• Step 07
  Make Sure Everything's in Order

  Legal Review

  Finding the right Chicago Home Inspector

  Home Warranty Protection

  Property Appraisal

• Step 08
  Close the Deal

  Ways to Take Title in Illinois

  RESPA

  Your Closing

• Step 09
  Move In!

  Five weeks before your move

  Four weeks before your move

  Two weeks before your move

  Moving week

  Is Your Move Job Related?