Get pre-approved. It’s not sexy, but it’s the truth. A pre-approval tells you what you can actually buy, not what your late-night Zillow scrolling thinks you can buy. Also, when you do get out there and start looking, you’ll need that pre-approval ready to go so you can move quickly when you find “the one.” The market in Chicagoland can move fast and you don’t want to miss out on your dream home because you weren’t ready to buy it. 

Plan for your down payment plus closing costs, which often land around 2 to 3 percent of the purchase price. If you’re buying a condo, don’t forget the HOA fees and move-in fees (Chicago condos - especially high-rises - love a little paperwork and a check). I’ll walk you through every dollar so nothing sneaks up on you.

If you’re decisive, it can happen in 45–60 days. If you need to see every West Town condo built since 1998, it might take longer. Finding the place is usually the wildcard. Once you’re under contract, the timeline is predictable (because it’s all spelled out in the contract!)

It depends on the neighborhood and the price point. Some areas are a cage match, others (like downtown neighborhoods like South Loop, Lakeshore East, The Loop, River North, Gold Coast) are the opposite of stressful. My job is to make sure you understand what’s actually happening so you can make strong decisions without feeling like you’re auditioning for a home-buying Olympics.

Yes. Not because I’m bossy. Because it makes everything smoother, faster, and less heartbreaking. You don’t want to find your dream home and then lose it to someone else because you had to wait 3 days to get your pre-approval. If you know you’re going to buy, there is no downside to getting pre-approved, so just do it as soon as possible so you’re ready to go.

Chicago is a choose-your-own-adventure book…and every neighborhood has its own unique vibe. You gotta find the one that’s right for you! Tell me what matters to you (schools, transit, nightlife, dog parks, quiet mornings, loud evenings, whatever) and I’ll guide you toward the right options. And our search can be updated or changed at any moment. So if you want to add neighborhoods as we go, great! And if you change your mind and want to nix a few along the way, that works, too. My goal is to help you find your neighborhood.

Chicago housing has… personality. Pay attention to windows (are they foggy? Are there signs of water around ‘em?), plumbing (how’s the pressure?), electrical (open the panel - are there extra breakers? Are there enough outlets around - especially in the kitchen?) , the age of mechanicals, and any “quirky charm” that might become a full-time job (sloped floors, creepy basements). I’ll help you spot the difference between normal homeowner stuff and run-for-your-life stuff.

Condos: you own your unit plus a share of the building.

Co-ops: you own shares in a corporation that owns the building, and there’s usually an interview.

Single-family homes: you’re the boss of everything, including the roof, the gutters, and the squirrels.

I’ll help you figure out which style matches your lifestyle and your tolerance for building meetings.

Property taxes in Cook County vary wildly by neighborhood and assessor voodoo. They’re not random, but they can feel random. I’ll help you make sense of the numbers so you’re not blindsided later.

At minimum: a general home inspection. Unless you’re knocking the house down or planning to completely gut it, you should ALWAYS DO AN INSPECTION. If the inspector recommends a specialist (sewer scope, radon test, structural engineer, etc.), get one. Inspections aren’t about finding perfection; they’re about knowing what you’re buying so you’re not shocked six months in.

Assessments cover building expenses like maintenance, insurance, and snow removal. Reserves are the building’s emergency fund. Strong reserves = fewer surprise assessments. The rules outline how the building runs. I’ll help you read between the lines so you know what you’re stepping into.

We start with pricing strategy, listing prep, professional photos, and a marketing plan that doesn’t put people to sleep. Once we’re on the market, I manage showings, negotiate offers, and keep things moving to closing. You handle… honestly, very little. My goal is to make it as easy and stress-free as possible.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to preparing your home for sale. If someone tells you differently, run. I’m going to create a plan specific to your goals, your tolerance for work, and your specific property. For some, that means de-cluttering and cleaning; for others, that means updating the kitchen, moving your things out and fully staging the home. I’ll tell you exactly what’s worth doing and what’s a waste of money, and I won’t sugarcoat it. Then we’ll decide together what works best, and put things in motion.

If it’s priced right and looks great, many homes sell in the first couple weeks (or, lately, the first couple of days!) If the market is slower or you’re in a niche segment, it can take longer. My goal is to figure out what timeline works best for you, and then develop the best strategy to make that happen.

This varies, but you can typically expect somewhere between 8-10% of the sale price (including agent compensation). That includes transfer taxes (Chicago loves making money whenever and however they can), title costs, attorney fees, and any agreed-upon credits to the buyer. If you have a condo, you’ll also pay for required documents from the association. I’ll map out your full net sheet at the beginning so you know exactly what to expect.