If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, you’ll want an experienced real estate attorney on your side. I’ll go over how to select one today.Buying a home? Search all homes for sale on the MLSSelling your home? Get a home valuationHow can you make sure you’re choosing the right real estate attorney? I’ll go over how to select someone who will ensure your home buying or selling process is a smooth one. First, ask your Realtor for their recommendations. Many times, Realtors will have their own list of qualified lenders who can assist you throughout the entire process. These vendors are typically people with whom your Realtor has worked with in the past, which means he or she can vouch for them. If your Realtor doesn’t have a preferred real estate attorney, ask for recommendations from your friends, family, and colleagues. From there you can call a few different attorneys and assess their different fees and services.A real estate attorney will attend the closing to make sure your mortgage and title documents are in order. You also need to clarify who will be working on your sale to ensure that person has the right amount of experience. There are many benefits to hiring an experienced real estate attorney. They take care of all of your documents and attend the closing to make sure your mortgage and title documents are in order, to name a few. If you have any other questions about real estate attorneys or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

Chicago Real Estate Podcast with Dave Auffarth

How Can You Ensure You Hire the Right Real Estate Attorney?

If you plan on selling your home, don’t list it before making these three improvements to it.Buying a home? Search all homes for sale on the MLSSelling your home? Get a home valuationWhat are the three most cost-effective improvements to look at before listing your home? It really comes down to the major areas of your home that buyers are going to notice the most. To many buyers, it’s important that their new home is move-in ready and all the main surface areas are taken care of. Spending the extra money to make sure that these areas are in great shape will pay off down the road. The first thing you want to invest in is paint. A new coat of paint will cover up signs of wear and tear and make your property shine. Next, you want to focus on the flooring. Start by replacing any old carpeting or having it cleaned. Buffing and refinishing hardwood floors may also be wise, as those are a favorite among homebuyers.Investing in these three things will almost guarantee a great return. Lastly, you’ll want to invest in some new lighting fixtures. If a space is too dark, it can be a huge turnoff for buyers. LED lights have become very popular in the industry, both for their cost effectiveness and their ability to really brighten up a room. By investing in these three things, you will not only give your home a fantastic, fresh feeling, but you can almost always guarantee a great return. If you have any questions or anyone you know is looking to buy, sell, or invest in real estate, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help!

Don’t List Your Home Before Making These 3 Improvements

If you’re thinking about buying your first home, here are four steps you should follow to make it a successful purchase. Buying a home? Search all homes for sale on the MLSSelling your home? Get a home valuationWhat are the four steps to buying your first home?First, hire an experienced Realtor. The guy next door or your brother’s girlfriend’s cousin who just got their real estate license might be hungry for your business, but that doesn’t mean they’re your best bet. An experienced agent knows things that brand-new agents don’t. They’ll also have important relationships in place that will help you in every phase of the purchase, including: Finding homes that aren’t even on the market yet and/or ones that might be slightly outside of your criteria but still worth considering.Leveraging industry relationships to get great deals or better terms.Managing appraisals and inspections and working through every step of the process to handle any issues that might pop up along the way.Second, don’t be afraid to talk to multiple lenders. Your Realtor will most likely have several that they’ve worked with and can refer you to. You might also want to speak to loved ones and get a referral or two from someone they’ve worked with successfully. Keep in mind, each lender may have a different recommendation and/or knowledge of special loans that might work best for you.Make your purchase a smooth one by following these four steps. Third, mind your credit. Many people have no idea what their credit score is, but if you’re thinking about buying a home, knowledge is power. Different loans have different minimal credit scores and requirements. A good mortgage lender can advise you on the best option to raise your score. The earlier you learn your score and dive into the details with a qualified lender, the more time you have to address any issues you find. Your lender will spell out the do’s and don’ts on how to protect your credit. If you haven’t yet talked to a lender and you think you’re getting close to being purchase-ready, do not open any lines of credit. Finally, stay at your job. Are you not happy at your current job and thinking about changing jobs? If you’re thinking about buying a home, you might have to delay that plan. Part of your qualification for a mortgage will be based on your job history. Making a big change right before you buy or during the process will be problematic. Lenders always advise buyers to stay the course until the home is closed. If you have any questions about this topic or any other topic regarding real estate, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to helping you!

What Are the 4 Steps to Buying Your First Home?

We're shifting into the spring market here in Chicago, so I wanted to address some key questions about the market and how to take advantage of it now as a buyer or seller.Buying a home? Search all homes for sale on the MLSSelling your home? Get a home valuationRecently, I've received a lot of questions about the spring real estate market here in Chicago and when the best time to get your home on the market is. If you've been thinking about selling your home, this winter represents a great opportunity. For one, home prices have hit record highs over the past few months—even higher than the peak of the housing bubble in 2006. In spite of this, though, our market isn't experiencing a bubble like we saw 10 years ago. Today's high prices are mostly driven by the lack of supply. That's why you're in such a good position right now if you're looking to sell your house. Secondly, we're seeing periods of high, low, and rising mortgage rates. For example, the average 30-year mortgage has been steadily rising from a low of 3.37% last July to above 4% as of just recently. Historically speaking, rates are still low, but when you combine this with the fact that rates are likely to keep rising in the near future, it's easy to see why buyers are eager to buy a home and take advantage of low rates.Buyers are coming onto the market to lock in a low rate while they're still historically low. Thirdly, we've finally made it to the end of the election cycle. Many people were sitting on the sidelines of the real estate market due to the uncertainty of the election. These people have finally returned to the market, and we suspect this will keep demand healthy in the coming months. Spring is already underway in the Chicago market and is the hottest market of the year. You have to get moving now to take advantage of it. I know the area well and talk to buyers every day, so I have a great feel for the current market. If you'd like to know more about your home's value in the current market or you have any other questions about how to take advantage of our current market, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help you!

Why Is Winter Such a Great Time to Sell in Chicago?

The My City Home Group has buyers looking for homes. Here’s how you can help us.Buying a home? Search all homes for sale on the MLSSelling your home? Get a home valuationHere at the My City Home Group, our team has a bit of a problem. What kind of problem? We’re working with a number of buyers ready to purchase all over the metropolitan area who just aren’t happy with what the current inventory offers.Do you know anyone who wants to sell their home? Inventory levels are low, and I’m asking you to see if you know anyone in your life who’s contemplating selling their home. They can be from church, work, your neighborhood, or just be friends of yours on Facebook. If they’re talking about selling their home, contact me with their name, phone number, and/or an email so I can reach to them right away. I’m confident one of my buyers will buy their home. Thank you very much for your help, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Know Anyone Who Wants to Sell Their Home? Drop Us a Line

What's the number one way to make your home more marketable and sell quicker? Staging. Today, I'll explain how.Buying a home? Search all homes for sale on the MLSSelling your home? Get a home valuationAs a seller, how can you make your home more marketable and sell it faster? I always recommend staging, so today, I have three staging tips I wanted to offer. The purpose of staging is to create the illusion of more space, and these three tips will do just that: 1. Clean and declutter the home. Having the home professionally cleaned will make for a nice, fresh look. Clear all the clutter from areas like the countertops, bookshelves, coffee tables, and corners of the room to open up areas that suck up space. You want buyers to walk in and feel all the extra space. You're moving anyway, so think of it as pre-packing before you list your home on the market.2. Paint. Add a fresh coat of paint to neutralize the home's colors. I'd be happy to tell you about the latest hot designer colors on the market that will make your home appeal to more buyers and help your home sell faster and for more money.3. Buy modern kitchen appliances. Statistics show time and time again that buyers always get excited about new appliances in the kitchen. They make the room pop, which is what buyers look for.You want buyers to walk in and feel extra space. If you have any specific questions about staging your home or about buying and selling in general, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd be glad to help!

How Does Staging Improve Your Home’s Marketability?

Have you ever wished you had someone you could go to for all your service provider needs? I have relationships with tons of service providers from landscapers to financial planners, and even doctors.Buying a home? Search all homes for sale on the MLSSelling your home? Get a home valuationIf you are in need of any sort of professional services, please reach out to me. I have decade-long relationships with a lot of service providers such as interior designers, landscapers, general contractors, plumbers, electricians, and more. I also have solid business relationships with people such as financial planners, mortgage brokers, doctors, dentists and attorneys. I want to be a resource for you. Last but not least, if you are thinking about moving or investing in real estate anywhere in the country, I have a network of more than 100 top-producing agents that can help you as well.I have decade long relationships with tons of service providers. I want to make sure that wherever you are buying real estate, you are getting the top service and care you deserve. I can help your family and friends as well. We even work with agents in the local suburbs.If I can assist you in any way, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I look forward to talking to you soon!

How Can I Be a Resource for You?

Our marketplace is replete with multiple offer situations. Luckily, if you’re a buyer, there are three things you can do to make your offer stand out.Buying a home? Search all homes for sale on the MLSSelling your home? Get a home valuationRight now in the real estate market, about 70% of all the homes listed for sale are getting multiple offers. If you’re a buyer in this marketplace, how do you make your offer stand out?First and foremost, keep your offer simple and straight to the point. Don’t put a lot of things in the offer that are really minor such as minuscule repairs you want done in the home. You’ll have the opportunity to do that later.The second thing you can do is write a letter to the seller(s). This letter should be a flattering dispatch explaining who’s going to live in the home, why you want their home, and what you like about it. Put a little sugar and spice into it. Tear at the seller’s heartstrings, if you must. I’ve seen this work more often than not.Keep your offer simple and straight to the point. The third and last thing you can do is have your lender do a follow-up call to the seller’s agent letting them know that you’re very serious about buying their seller’s home and how qualified and able you are to buy it. Your lender won’t disclose anything personal or inappropriate about you; they’re just going to reassure the agent that you can buy this home and get the job done.If you have any other questions on any other real estate-related topics, please feel free to reach out to me. I look forward to speaking with you soon!

Three Ways to Make Your Offer Stand Out From the Rest

Before you get a home inspection, there are a few things you should know. Though an inspector will look at hundreds of items, their focus is not on cosmetic flaws.Buying a home? Search all homes for sale on the MLSSelling your home? Get a home valuationIf you’ve decided to get a home inspection, congratulations! This means that the seller has accepted your offer and now you’re about to move on to the next part of the home buying process. Before you get an inspection, however, there are a few things that I think you should be aware of. Here is what you need to know about the home inspection process: You get to choose your home inspector. In the state of Illinois, inspectors are licensed by the state. The more reputable ones are members of the NAHI, or National Association of Home Inspectors. This means that you will get a really good home inspection from a qualified professional. What does this mean? NAHI home inspectors operate under a code of ethics and a standard procedure. You should be at your home inspection. Why is this? Your home inspector is going to take you through the home and point out anything that they find, which will teach you a lot of things about your home. Keep in mind that the home inspector’s job is not to point out cosmetic flaws; an inspector’s job is to point out adverse conditions in the home.Inspectors will not report cosmetic issues. The inspector will look at more than 100 different items, from the front step of your home to the chimney, the roof, and the ceiling. A home inspector will also point out structural and mechanical issues in the home you’re considering buying like heating and air, plumbing, and the foundation. From there, the inspector will put together a precise report that they will review with you so that you have all of the details of the inspection. The inspector works for the party that is paying for the inspection. This means that they are working for you. The NAHI Code of Ethics states that the home inspector is an unbiased third party to the real estate transaction. It goes on to say that the home inspector will not conduct the home inspection if the fee is contingent upon them delivering an untruthful conclusion. This means that you are getting an honest inspector who knows what they are doing. If you have any questions about home inspections or about Chicago real estate in general, please give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

What Do You Need to Know About Home Inspections?

The Chicago market is starting to slow down a bit. However, there are still benefits out there for both buyers and sellers.We are coming up on the time of year where the market slows down a little bit. You’ve been hearing that inventory is low all year, but it’s actually shrinking a bit more now. However, there are still plenty of buyers in the market.What this means for buyers is that you may have to look at a few more homes to find what you want. You’ll still be able to get a good deal; it will just take longer. You still have the opportunity for a good deal. For sellers, it means that there is less competition and it’s a great time to put your home on the market. If you have any questions for us about the market or if you’re interested in buying or selling in Chicago, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Why Is It a Great Time to Sell in Chicago?

There are three things you can do as a seller in order to avoid getting lowball offers on your home.How can sellers avoid a lowball offer?The first thing you can do is improve the condition of your home. Think about when you walk into a brand-new home. What does it have that your home doesn’t? Well, it has new carpet, paint, lighting fixtures, doorknobs, hinges, faucets, etc. These are all things you can do to your home that can both improve its condition and take 10 to 15 years off its age.The second thing you can do is price the home appropriately. Get it as close to market value as possible. I’ve not seen any type of market, whether it’s a buyer’s market or seller’s market, where overpricing the home has ever netted the seller more money.Price your home appropriately and understand where the market level is. The third thing you can do is understand where the market inventory is once you list your home. Are there a lot of homes on the market? If this is the case, then the inventory is high. Are there very few homes on the market like yours? If this is the case, then the inventory is low. This isn’t something you as a seller can really control, but you can negotiate it by making sure you understand where the market level is. If it’s low, buyers will likely come in with stronger offers because they’re afraid someone else is going to swoop in and take your home for a few thousand dollars more. If it’s high, buyers will likely come in with lower offers.If you have any other questions about lowball offers or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Just give us a call or send us an email and we’d be happy to help you.

3 Things You Can Do to Avoid Lowball Offers

There are many things you can do to improve your home when you’re preparing to list it on the market, but four things stand out to us.There are plenty of things you can do to make sure your home is in tip-top shape when it comes time to list it on the market. We’ve got four different tips to share with you today that will help you sell your home faster and for more money:1. Staging. The way you live in your home is fine, but if it’s going on the market it has to look sharp. Remove items that don’t need to be there. Fresh paint, fresh carpet, and fresh scents all make the home appealing. Many buyers are looking for homes that are move-in ready.2. Market knowledge. Understanding what is going on in your local market is huge. When you know what your neighbors are selling for, it can help you sell as well.3. Price it right. I haven’t ever seen a home sell for more money because it was overpriced. The only way you can get the most money possible for your home is by pricing right. Think of it this way - if you bought a stock for $75 a share and the value dipped to $25, you aren’t going to be able to sell it for $35 a share. Your home is the same way. You need market knowledge in order to price correctly and get it sold.4. Home inspection. We all live with the little things that are wrong in our home such as leaky faucets or creaky doors. Buyers notice these things, however, and devalue your home because of it. Having an inspector come in before you list the home and give you a rundown of every little thing wrong with your home is a smart move. You can prioritize what you want to fix and make sure your home looks as good as possible when it comes time to list.Home inspections can tell you a lot. If you have any questions for me, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

4 Tips for a Successful Home Sale

Get a FREE Home ValuationSearch All Homes on the MLSI get questioned by sellers a lot who are trying to sell their current home and buy a new one at the same time. They ask me how they should go about it, so I thought I would give my recommendation to all of you.Keep in mind, everyone’s situation is a little different. Generally, I always recommend that you sell your current home first before buying the next one. For one, you want to make sure you get the most money possible for your home. When you purchase your new home before selling, you are more likely to take a reduced offer on your home out of a sense of urgency.“I always recommend that you sell your current home first. ”As a Realtor, I am always going to negotiate the best terms for you and your family. By choosing to sell first, you will have better results. Once we’ve closed on your home, we can even negotiate a rent-back from the buyer while you look for your new home. Now you’ll have the money to shop for it.If you have any questions for us, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

When You Need to Buy and Sell, Which Should Come First?

Get a FREE Home ValuationSearch All Homes on the MLSWhat is your home worth? I get this question from sellers all the time. It really depends on a number of different things. For instance, what have your neighbors been doing? Have they been selling their homes for higher prices or letting them go at a very low price? That is going to affect the value of your home. What improvements have you done to your home? If you bought your home three years ago and didn’t make any improvements, your home may be worth about what you paid for it in the first place. Did you put in new appliances or update the flooring? Things like that can make a big difference. “What updates have you madeto the home since moving in? ”Of course, location is key. What is the neighborhood like? What kind of amenities are available in your neighborhood? Does your home have a great view or are you looking at a brick wall? Corner units can sometimes be worth more than interior units. What’s your motivation? Why are you selling your home? That’s going to have an impact on your home value as well. If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

How Do You Know What Your Chicago Home Is Worth?

Get a FREE Home ValuationSearch All Homes on the MLSWhat’s happening with the market inventory in Chicago? At the moment, inventory is low and there aren’t many homes on the market. If you’ve been thinking about selling, now is the time to get your home on the market. There isn’t much competition out there, which could help you get a better sale price than you would in a market flush with inventory. If you are buying a home, low inventory means you need to act and move quickly. Unlike sellers, you are up against more competition. If you really like a home, don’t wait a couple of days to make an offer. In this market, chances are someone else has already made an offer. You could end up in a multiple offer situation or even miss out on the home entirely. “Buyers need to act fast in this market. ” We will help you by creating a strategy so you can get that home at the right price. How do we do that? I’ll share some market statistics about similar homes in the neighborhood. We’ll look at what these properties sold for, as well as the list-to-sale price ratio. That way, you know what to expect when buying this property. Now, I always have buyers asking me, “Can I get the home for 10% less than the list price?” Again, looking at the list-to-sale price ratio will help answer that question. With all of that information, you and I will create a strategy to get that home for the best price. If you’re a seller, we will do everything to get your home priced appropriately for the market. In a low inventory market, if you are priced right, you can get multiple offers. If you have any other questions, please contact me. I would be happy to help you!  

What Chicago Buyers and Sellers Should Know About Inventory

If you are looking to buy or sell a home, get all the information and the latest updates, tips, and tricks from Dave Auffarth - your professional City Home Group Real Estate Agent.

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Chicago Real Estate Podcast with Dave Auffarth

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