A house doesn’t need to be haunted to be scary!
Sure, it helps crank up the creepiness dial if there are cobwebs dangling from the ceiling, black cats hissing and mewling around every corner, and maybe a mummy or two in the basement.
But for home buyers and sellers around Chicago, there are plenty of other factors that set their hair on end and provide endless fodder for nightmares – and most of them aren’t supernatural, but all-too-common parts of the real estate process.
In honor of the spookiest season of the year, let’s conjure up a few common real estate horror stories, and break down what you can do to avoid them.
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Photo credit: Bryan Hayes via Flickr
Even among the many eclectic, ever-changing neighborhoods that make up Chicago, Albany Park truly stands out.
For example, where else could a casual outing take you past delicious restaurants, serving up everything from world-famous falafel to authentic tacos to absolutely delectable Korean meats and veggies? Where else could you take in works like those of the Albany Park Theater Project, an incredible year-round theater with a social justice bent, creating art for young people by young people?
One of 77 officially designated community areas in Chicago, Albany Park is located on the northwest side of the city, bounded roughly by Montrose Avenue to the south and Foster Avenue to the north. We’ve barely scratched the surface about everything that Albany Park has to offer. To explore the neighborhood further, here are a few resources worth checking out:
Interested in buying or selling a house or condo in this hotbed of cuisine, culture, and commerce? Here are the Albany Park market conditions you need to know right now:
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After months of preparation and weeks of searching, you’ve finally found your dream home. You didn’t think you’d ever luck into it, and yet there it is: The “Forever Home” that’s the perfect fit for you and your family.
Of course, in today’s competitive market, it’s always possible for that dream home to slip away in the blink of an eye. Don’t let it happen to you! Instead, it’s important that you’re ready to make an offer quickly and effectively.
What many first-time homebuyers don’t know is that being ready to make an appealing offer at the right time takes a bit of preparation beforehand; fortunately, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
In our experience, and with additional thanks to Keeping Current Matters and Freddie Mac’s “Four Tips for Making an Offer,” here are the key steps to take to make sure that you’re ready to make an offer for the right place, at the right price:
1.) Get a Secure Handle on Your Finances
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Photo credit: Peter Fitzgerald via Wikimedia Commons
One of 77 officially designated community areas in Chicago, Bridgeport stands out from the rest of the pack thanks to its culturally-rich history and trendy present.
Located about three miles southwest of the Loop, Bridgeport is a neighbor to Pilsen, McKinley Park, and Armour Square, and puts sports fans in convenient proximity to Guaranteed Rate Field, home to the Chicago White Sox. It’s also been called “a haven for artists and creative types” by Choose Chicago, and was named one of the city’s “coolest neighborhoods” by CNN.
Before its current status as a destination for art and culture, Bridgeport was renowned for being one of the oldest neighborhoods in all of Chicago. It has been the home or birthplace for five mayors, and is also home to the breaded steak sandwich, a Chicago original that still draws visitors to the city.
Want to know more about this quintessential Chicago neighborhood? Here are some resources worth checking out:
Curious what this area’s condo and home markets look like? Let’s take a look:
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