Chicago Buyer's Guide

The First Step...
Toward Buying
Your Chicago
Home

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.

Step 1: Select a Realtor®

Why Choose Dream Town?
Service Excellence Guarantee
Code of Service Excellence

Step 2: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 3: 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 4: Secure a Lender

Prequalification – Quick, Free, Easy
Why Prequalification is Important
Pre-approval – Added Leverage
Improve Your Credit Profile

Step 5: Find the Right Home for You

Elements Affecting the Asking Price
Considerations for Condo Buyers
Home Buying Mistakes
Buying A Chicago Vacation Home

Step 6: Negotiate Your Purchase

The Negotiation
Elements of a Purchase Offer
Negotiation Strategies

Step 7: Make Sure Everything’s in Order

Legal Review
Finding the right Chicago Home Inspector
Home Warranty Protection
Property Appraisal

Step 8: Close the Deal

Ways to Take Title in Illinois
RESPA
Your Closing

Step 9: Move In!

Five weeks before your move
Four weeks before your move
Two weeks before your move
Moving week
Is Your Move Job Related?

Neighborhoods Property Values

Suburbs Property Values

Glossary – Commonly Used Real Estate Terms