What Is a Comparative Market Analysis and Why It Matters
A comparative market analysis is a broker's estimate of a property's likely sale price based on recent comparable sales in the same market area. In western Chicagoland, choosing the right neighborhood-level comps can matter more than applying a broad countywide average when you're deciding what to offer or how to price a home. You may […]
Buyer Agent Compensation: What It Means for Chicago Buyers
Since August 17, 2024, sellers no longer advertise a buyer-agent fee through the MLS, and buyers generally must agree in writing to compensation before touring a home. The fee might be paid by the buyer, requested from the seller as a concession, contributed by the listing broker, or handled through a combination of those options. […]
How to Calculate Mortgage Affordability the Right Way
You're sitting at the kitchen table with a preapproval letter in one hand and a monthly budget in the other, and the numbers don't line up the way you expected. The lender says you qualify. Your checking account says something different. That gap is where most buyers in the western suburbs get uncomfortable, especially after […]