Buying your first home can be confusing and overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be. Educating yourself about the real estate market and staying informed on the latest trends and tips for buying a home can make the process smooth and seamless.

Before you embark on your home search, remember that a little research can go a long way toward getting you in your new front door — and with minimal stress.

Have your finances in order

Before you start searching for a home, check your credit score. Make sure the facts are correct and fix any problems you discover. Be sure to determine your budget — and take into consideration hidden fees like special assessments and any home repairs or renovations you need to make once you move in. Even when you’re eager to move toward a sale, shop around to make sure you’re getting the best deals on your loan/mortgage rates.

Seek help from a real estate agent

Find an agent you can trust to help you throughout the whole home buying process, from searching for a home in the neighborhood you desire to placing an offer that will stand out and even navigating a successful close.  You don’t want to make an offer in haste before you’ve thoroughly researched the market’s availability, and your real estate broker will know
the market better than anyone.

Some of the most common mistakes homebuyers make occur because there’s little awareness of the common pitfalls. Your real estate broker already knows what is necessary to prevent potential negative situations, so utilize your resources.

Get a home inspection

Faults in your home may not catch your attention at first glance. When deciding to not invest in a home inspection, you’re risking incurring extra expenses and discovering hidden defects in your house. Being educated about the current condition of your home is worth the low up-front fees and will lessen the likelihood of incurring pricy home repairs when you move in.

Be careful when examining homes that need to be fixed up. You might end up pouring more money and time into it in the long run than you think.

For more tips visit: American Home Shield.

Food fests. Art fairs. Cool music. Chicago’s hotly anticipated festival season is back, and it’s packed with tons of can’t-miss neighborhood events.

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When looking for the perfect place to live, we at @properties know that what’s around a home is just as important as what’s in it.

That’s why the all new AtProperties.com not only has enhanced search functionality and other features you’d expect from Chicago’s #1 independent real estate company; it also emphasizes hyper-local content that gives consumers a better idea of what it’s like to live in the communities we serve.

The revamped site  is your go-to source for all things local including neighborhood overviews; write-ups on dozens of condominium buildings ; market trends; and information on nearby schools, shops, restaurants, and transportation. Other highlights include neighborhood videos and a new @properties blog that is regularly updated with buying and selling tips, housing news and the scoop on what’s happening around town. Continue reading

@properties, the Chicago area’s largest independent real estate brokerage, announced that it has launched a new company website at AtProperties.com. The ground-up re-design features a brand new look and integrates everything from in-depth neighborhood information and local market trends to social media sharing.

Features on the new @properties website include:

• Enhanced property search functionality, which allows users to sort through all properties on the Chicago-area Multiple Listing Service by neighborhood, price, property type, schools, transportation, and more, and view search results in a matter of seconds
• Listing detail pages with large photos, floor plans, and maps featuring nearby shopping, dining, public transportation and a parking availability rating powered by Parknav
• Detailed write-ups on dozens of neighborhoods and towns, as well as a number of high-rise condominium buildings in downtown Chicago Continue reading

Chicago-based real estate firm @properties announced that The Schiller Team, the top-producing real estate brokerage team in Elmhurst with more than $90 million in annual sales volume, has joined the firm. The addition marks the largest single hiring of a suburban agent or agent team in @properties’ history, according to @properties co-founders Thaddeus Wong and Michael Golden.

The Schiller Team, which is headed by brother and sister, Tim Schiller, 37, and Amy Schiller, 48, comes to @properties from Koenig & Strey Real Living, where they were that firm’s No. 1 team. The Schillers are the second generation of a family that has been involved in Elmhurst real estate for more than 40 years. Their father, Bob Schiller, founded Schiller Real Estate in 1970 and sold it to Koenig & Strey Real Living in 2010. Continue reading

850 Lake Shore Drive, the transformation of the historic Lake Shore Athletic Club building to Chicago luxury apartments, has been named a finalist in the Chicago Building Congress’ 2014 Merit Awards program.

The Chicago Building Congress (CBC) is a vertically integrated trade association bringing together members from diverse fields related to the building industry, including developers, contractors, architects, engineers and financial professionals. Since 1956, the CBC’s Merit Awards program has honored outstanding construction projects in the Chicagoland area. 850 Lake Shore Drive is a finalist in the Rehab Construction category. Merit Awards winners will be announced at a ceremony on May 15th. Continue reading

The Legacy at Millennium Park, a new 72-story high-rise in Chicago’s Loop, has surpassed the 75-percent sold mark amid strong sales activity and a dwindling supply of new-construction condominiums downtown.

Located at 60 E. Monroe Street, overlooking Millennium Park, Lake Michigan and the city skyline, The Legacy at Millennium Park features 356 luxury condominiums with available two- and three-bedroom floor plans ranging in size from 1,342 to 2,930 square feet and priced from $620,000 to $2.5 million. Garage parking is available from $45,000 to $70,000 per space. Continue reading

Luxury is back – and in a big way.

Sales of homes priced at $1 million or more in the Chicago area jumped 33 percent in 2013 from the year before, according to a recent Chicago Magazine article. The increase was spurred along by the improving housing market and economy, as well as ultra-low jumbo mortgage rates. But the sentiment among many luxury homebuyers and most brokers is that luxury inventory is still tight. So if you’ve been thinking about listing your luxury home, now is a great time to do so.

At @properties, we offer high-end sellers and buyers the best resources and service to be successful in today’s luxury marketplace. Continue reading

@properties is continuing its rapid growth throughout Southwest Michigan with the opening of a new office in St. Joseph, Mich. @properties co-founders Thaddeus Wong and Michael Golden made the announcement.

Located at 3399 S. Lakeshore Dr., just east of Interstate 94, the 2,400-square-foot office marks @properties’ second location in the region. The new office will serve homebuyers and sellers in the areas of Berrien, Cass, Van Buren and Allegan counties. Continue reading

Sales are now underway at Floral Avenue, a new-construction single-family home development featuring neo-traditional design near downtown Skokie. The community is being developed by Libertyville-based StreetScape Development, LLC.

Located on tree-lined Floral Avenue, near Oakton Street and Lincoln Avenue, the neighborhood offers 27 custom-tailored single-family homes in two styles: StreetScape Homes and Courtyard Homes. StreetScape Homes will face Floral Avenue, and start at $455,000. Courtyard Homes, which will be set around a courtyard at the heart of the neighborhood, start at $335,000. Continue reading