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 - Alied 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?