Buyers

A complimentary guide when looking to buy a home.

The Home Buying Process

Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step first time buyer’s guide will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.

Contemporary living room with a white sectional, stone finishes, and an open dining area.

Step 1: Analyze Your Needs in a Consultation

What is your life plan for the next three to five years? This will directly impact your search and selection of properties.
Develop a “Needs List” vs. “Want List”- Prioritize.
Loop in our Lender so you can better understand the actual numbers and be comfortable with your monthly housing payment.

Open-plan condo kitchen and dining area with a set table and exposed concrete ceiling.

Step 2: Obtain Financial Pre-Approval

It is smarter to start the process with a budget.
A Pre - Approval letter must be submitted with any offer.
Being prepared allows you to take advantage of a hot property.

Open-plan living room and kitchen with a gray sofa, green island, and large black-and-white wall art.

Step 3: View Properties and Refine Your Focus

Experience your Neighborhoods of Interest- Take a walk, go to brunch, grocery shop, get dinner.
Evaluate the selected properties with your goals and financials in mind.

Modern living room with a cream sectional, wood accent wall, sheer curtains, and herringbone flooring.

Step 4: Decision To Purchase... Submit an Offer

We provide an analysis of comparable properties to determine market value.
We will advise on market trends in your specific neighborhood.
We review and draft the offer for your signatures.
Initial earnest money deposit due (usually a check around $1k to $2k).

Our goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home.

Schedule A Consultation

Open-plan kitchen with a large white island, stainless steel appliances, and an adjoining living room with a fireplace.

Step 5: Negotiation Process

Develop a strategy together.
It is our place to find out as much as possible about the seller’s motivation to ensure the most effective offer.
Our depth of experience allows us to “read” the situation and help craft the appropriate responses.

White kitchen with a large dark island, gray bar chairs, and a stainless steel range beneath a decorative hood.

Step 6: Offer Accepted and Contract Signed... Executed Offer

Chicago River downtown framed by raised drawbridges, with high-rises and tour boats.

Step 7: Kicks Off – Due Diligence

Inspection by licensed home inspector.
Attorney review and approval of contract.
Review HOA docs and financials (for condos and townhomes).

Modern kitchen with wood-grain cabinetry, white counters, and stainless steel appliances.

Step 8: Complete Mortgage Application Process

You will work with lender to promptly provide all documentation in order to complete loan process.
Appraisal is ordered.

Open-plan loft living room with white sectional sofas, a high sloped ceiling, and kitchen beyond.

Step 9: Balance of Earnest Money is Due

As per terms of the contract, can be up to 5% of the purchase price.

Modern white kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a granite island, bar seating, and a geometric chandelier.

Step 10: Attorneys Coordinate Closing and Title Documents

Modern kitchen with a wood-paneled island, dark bar stools, and a built-in fireplace.

Step 11: Secure Homeowner’s Insurance and Schedule Activation of Utilities and Change of Address

Chicago River and downtown skyline, with Marina City towers and a bridge in the foreground.

Step 12: Lender Issues Clear to Close

Contemporary living room with white sofas, a mezzanine, indoor plants, and a glass-enclosed fireplace.

Step 13: Wire transfer Remaining Funds due to Title Company

Modern kitchen with light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and a white island with two stools.

Step 14: Final Walk-Through of the Property

Ensure that the property is in the same condition as when the offer was submitted.
Test all appliances to ensure that they are all in working order.
Make sure any repairs that were negotiated during attorney review, were completed.

Modern white kitchen with a large island, gray bar stools, and glass pendant lights.

Step 15: Closing

You go to the title company and sign all lender documents, the signed package is sent to the lender and once approved, closing is complete.
You get the keys to your New Home!

Buyer's Guide

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Interior staircase with curved wooden railings, large windows, and a sculptural pendant light.

Work With Us

Our goal is for you to enjoy your new home and the process getting there. Let us be your guides, we’ve been down that road before, we got you covered.