Have licensed real estate agents in Illinois answer your questions

Can I get a loan without escrow?

I don't like that my loan automatically has this forced escrow account. Can't I just pay my property taxes myself? I'd rather I kept all that money myself so that I can get interest on it rather than just put it in the account that my mortgage company has and it sits there.

Do unincorporated areas have lower taxes?

I'm looking in an area with a mix of unincorporated and incorporated properties. Literally on the same street there's a mix. I'm wondering if unincorporated has lower taxes and that's a benefit? Or is it better to pay more and be incorporated. Does it even matter? They all feed into the same school. What would the difference be between incorporated and unincorporated property.

How to cancel an agent from listing my property ?

Not satisfied with agent and unable to contact at the time to sell the property.voice mail after voicemail and no return calls

Using one property as collateral to buy a second property?

Would it be possible to use a current condominium as collateral to purchase (trade up) to a second condo with the idea of moving from the first one to the second condo? The reason I ask is because I would like to move to Springfield, IL, but may have to settle for the Champaign-Urbana area if nothing materializes in Springfield over a specific time-frame. If I bought a property in Champaign, I would look to transition to Springfield as soon as a desirable property was available. Thanks for your time.

What happens to your home when you die?

Wondering both for myself and aging parent. I am hesitant to ask my parent about it or they'll think I'm wishing this on them. But I'm also wondering what will happen? Or is there something we should talk about to prepare? I know it's a tough topic, but it's also a reality.

Does my realtor have a legal responsibility to disclose ?

We bought a house and moved into Jan 3. That night the furnace went out. It was high efficiency furnace in attic. Condensation and freezing caused to stop. Roof also needs replaced sooner than we were led to believe. Had 4 HVAC pros say to replace it. Shouldn’t our realtor made us completely aware of the problems?

Can I change agents after I've made an offer on a home?

Can I change agents after I've made an offer on a home? My agent seemed eager to help me find a home to buy. Now that I've made the offer, he's radio silent. Or he'll call with last minute requests of items that are due immediately. With work and life obligations, sometimes I can't drop everything to do these urgent items. It seems like with better communication there wouldn't be this scramble. There's a few other issues too that have made this process frustrating. But since I've made the offer with him, do I need to keep him?

Being disabled owning a home?

I'm looking to own my own home. I am disabled and don't know where to start. Looking for help and resources to help guide me in home buying.

Will finishing my basement increase my property taxes?

Will finishing my basement increase my property taxes? We're hoping to finish it, but wondering what kind of financial impact this will have.

Is a bigger down payment better for seller?

Is a bigger down payment better for the seller? If so why? Why would the down payment make any difference as long as they're getting paid?

How soon can I buy a house after buying one ?

Do not want to use persistent house for loan, loan is only4 months old. Thinking of June to purchase for rental

How do I put a positive spin on disclosures?

How can I put a positive spin when disclosing issues with the home? For example, we've had water in the basement multiple times. We have done things to address the issue and we're pretty positive we've solved it. I don't want to scare off a buyer, but I know we need to honestly say what's happened in the home.

Should I tell our insurance company about a reno?

Our basement was unfinished when we purchased our home. We've finished the basement. We used a contractor, but permits weren't required. Should we tell our home insurance company about the renovation? What are the benefits/downsides?

What should I renovate?

What should I renovate before selling my home? I have about $10K to put towards it. The house is cared for, but really dated.

Do pocket listings sell for more or less money?

Do pocket listings sell for more or less money? We'd like to avoid the hassle of lots of showings and open houses (we have young kids) and maybe a pocket listing could generate interest so that house sells sooner?? But we also aren't sure if that's good financially. Any advice would be appreciated.

What is your number 1 piece of advice for home sellers?

We're planning to sell our house in the spring and want to start preparing. What's your number 1 piece of advice for home sellers?

What neighborhoods are safe in Chicago?

Hi. I'm planning to move to Chicago. I'm single, in my 20's, and wondering what neighborhoods in Chicago would be safe or safer than others. Also, need it to be affordable. Still paying off those college loans!

How do I find the property taxes on a house?

How do I find the property taxes on a house? I want to figure out how much house I can afford before looking. Property taxes are high and I don't want to buy a house that I can't afford after taxes. Thanks!

Is it bad to live near power lines?

Is it bad to live near power lines? It seems like houses near power lines are cheaper. Is it harder to sell a house near power lines?

Can I ask someone if they are willing to sell their home?

There's one specific neighborhood that I want to live in, but nothing's for sale. I don't want to be a creep, but if someone is thinking of selling their house, I'd like to be the first one to jump on it. Can I ask people if they're willing to sell their house? If so, how do I ask someone to sell their house?

Is a loan for a condo different than a house loan?

Is a mortgage for a condo different than a mortgage for a house?

Can I ask that people wear no shoes during showings?

I have small kids and we don't wear shoes in the house. I also don't want someone tracking in dirt and then someone else coming later and thinking our house is dirty. How do I politely ask that people not wear shoes during showings?

Thoughts on rent to own?

Hi, I've heard of rent to own. How does rent to own work? Is it still an option? How would I find a rent to own property?

Should I appeal my property taxes?

We're already paying a hefty sum every year in property taxes. And every year they're going up. Should I appeal my property taxes to try to get them reduced? Or do I just need to accept the increase in property taxes?

Property value and taxes have gone way up?

We received our tax assessment and our property value went way up. This also means our taxes went up significantly. Do we have any recourse to fight the increase in property taxes? We live in Illinois.

Do solar panels add value to a house?

Do solar panels add value to a house? Can solar panels decrease value? Do some people don't want to care for them or worry about them damaging the roof?

What's the best way to scope out a neighborhood?

What's the best way to scope out a neighborhood before moving and without being creepy?! We all know neighbors can make or break a living situation...

Should I buy a condo or a small single family house?

Hi, First-time homebuyer. Should I buy a condo or a single family house? What are the advantages/disadvantages?

Which repairs should I perform after an inspection?

Our buyer wants a long list of repairs on the house we're selling. We feel that they're asking for too much and the repairs are unnecessary and picky. We also want the deal to go through. Do you have any advice on what repairs we should perform?

How to avoid capital gains tax on real estate?

Hi, How do I avoid paying capital gains tax on real estate? We're planning to move, rent for a bit to see what neighborhood is best for us, and then buy a home. It might take a year or so before we buy our next home. But we don't want to pay capital gains tax. Is there a way to avoid this?

Kitchen updates for selling?

We want to sell our condo in the spring. Our kitchen is older and has forest-green linoleum countertops. We want to do some updates to make the kitchen more attractive, but we only have $2K to spend (and we'd like to spend less if possible). What updates do you recommend where we don't spend a lot, but it has a big impact on the look of the kitchen?

Are solar panels worth the investment?

Are solar panels worthwhile? I live in Illinois where it's cloudy often in the winter. I'm also worried about putting holes in my roof. But I wonder if the cost savings is worth it? Also, does it add any value to my home?

Should I shed be included in a home inspection?

My mom is trying to sell her home. She had an old, small storage shed in the back of the 1/2 acre yard. An inspector included the shed in the inspection, and now the buyer wants my mom to pay for repairs on the shed. Should this even be included? What advice do you have?

How can I tell if an area is up and coming?

Hi, I'm thinking of buying a place and wondering how I can tell if a neighborhood is up and coming. I'm hoping to get the most out of my home purchase by buying a place that will appreciate relatively quicker than other areas.

The proposed contract with a comm'l realtor seems ?

Recently had a commercial realtor walk thru my property which has business zoning on the main level with a 1 BR residential apartment upstairs. The contract, which I haven't yet signed, indicates that the realtor would have exclusive rights for a period of 12 months. I am concerned about making such a long term commitment. Realistically, what are my other options?

What can I do if I have concerns with my agent?

Hi, I've had 8 offers on my house, but they've all backed out. Sometimes I wonder if it's due to my agent. My agent is very abrasive and dismissive. She turns people off and I wonder what she's saying to the potential buyers. How do I bring up these concerns? Or do I cut ties with her and find a new agent?

What would be my options to sell ?

I bought my house about a year ago and would like to sell

I am in need of an Appraisal for my condo.?

What is the difference btwn realtor and real estate agent?

I'm not sure if I need a realtor or a real estate agent when selling my house.

average listing price?

three bedrooms, two baths, office, butlers pantry,

How much does appraisal cost in Chicago?

What is the value of my home?

What is value of my Briarcliffe Lakes 3 bedroom TH?Some remodeling since purchased late 1980’s. 1 1/2 baths 1 car attached garage Hardwood floors living/dining rooms Corner lot

How do I sell a small office building?

1800 sq ft - 5 office spaces

How do I move without a gap between homes?

Looking to sell a home which I own outright. Also looking to purchase a home which I would use the cash from the original sale to fund a purchase. My question is without having closings back to back, since I would have nowhere to go upon the sale closing how do I get into a new home immediately without any Gap. My last home I sold I had a closing for sale, and a closing for a purchase in the same day it ended up being a nightmare. It basically gave me one day to move and put all my stuff in storage which is not what I want to do.

Where do I find someone certified in short loans and foreclosures?