As we enter the colder months, it’s always a good idea to make sure your home is prepared and ready to withstand the winter. You don’t want to be dealing with a home maintenance emergency during the holidays or a snowstorm! Whether you’re a seasoned homeowner or are getting ready to enjoy your first winter in your new home, the following checklist will help guide you in making sure your home is in good condition as well as give you peace of mind knowing you can avoid emergency repairs or make a trip to the hardware store in the dead of winter.
Chicago Real Estate Tips
3 Costs You Should Consider Before Closing
Closing costs come hand in hand with purchasing a home. For many first-time buyers, it’s imperative that you discuss with your Fulton Grace agent all of the potential fees you face prior to closing as it is undoubtedly imperative to factor into your budget when you begin looking for your first home! When the property title is transferred into your name, you can expect a few of the costs (including a handful of others) to appear that are either generated by the seller or buyer. The list below is by no means exhaustive so be sure to consult your agent early in the process to understand exactly what you will be expected to pay.
Sellers, Fix These Issues Before a Home Inspection
Selling a home can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. If you’re green, you might be surprised to find the lists of items you need to complete, check in on, or contract before listing. But doing your research and hiring a seasoned agent can greatly impact your experience and result in a smooth, stress-free process. With that, doing preemptive research and housing prep doesn’t hurt. Home inspections have a reputation for either sweetening or ruining a deal. Skip the headache and take note of the items below that you can address ahead of time to make home inspection time a breeze for you and your Fulton Grace agent.
4 Lake View Rentals For Under 4k
Lake View is one of the most coveted, livable neighborhoods of Chicago’s 77. Whether you want to be near Lake Michigan, closer to a myriad of local parks, or get a little more backyard for your buck than what downtown or West Loop has to offer – Lake View is your location. We’ve compiled a list of four luxe homes you can rent today for under 4k a month.
Broker Blog: Fight or Flight: City vs. Suburbs
To many city dwellers, the suburbs signify a more relaxed, slow-paced lifestyle compared to what they’re used to in the city. However, 2020 has managed to shed a light on many different aspects of city living versus suburbia. The coronavirus pandemic paired with stay-at-home orders have made many upgrades such as outdoor and office space a “need to have.” The many offerings of urban living, such as extensive nightlife, restaurants, shopping, and entertainment options, have been heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Limited capacity, outdoor-only dining, timed reservations, or complete business closures, as well as the increased risk of exposure by living in densely populated areas, has led some urbanites to rethink their decision to live in the big city.
Broker Blog: What to Consider When Investing in New Properties
Due to COVID-19, record-low interest rates and loan assistance programs make now a great time to consider investing in real estate. The thought of looking at multiple potential properties and weighing their pros and cons can be daunting, but knowing what to look for in these properties, and their potential tenants, will not only help you decide on the right property but also if real estate investment is right for you.
Get Your Home Ready to Sell: What every seller should know before the listing.
Placing your home on the market can come with an onslaught of tasks, some more daunting than others. However, there are a handful of ways to get your home ready for listing that takes little time and effort. Doing research on both your local listing and buyers market will also help you to understand the landscape you are planning to enter. To make your life a little easier, Fulton Grace has compiled a small list of items to check on and potential precautions to take when considering listing your home.
Which Renovations Give you the Best ROI
Whether you’re planning on selling your home or simply attempting a few upgrades to improve your property, it’s important to know what the potential ROI is before you get started. It can be difficult to decipher if a helpful update on your home will end up being a money pit on your wallet, doing some research beforehand can help curb these curiosities and potential pitfalls. The following list has been curated to assist you with determining your (potentially) greatest ROI – especially if you’re ready to sell.
Broker Blog: 5 Questions to Ask When Considering New Construction
New construction homes come with a set of unique benefits. You’re moving into a new space that hasn’t been lived in by anyone else, everything is clean and unused. Also, you’ve probably got some new, modern features that your friends in older homes don’t have. Just these benefits alone might have you convinced that living in a new build is the way to go, which is great! If that’s what you’ve decided, there’s a lot that you want to be aware of when looking at new construction homes.
Today’s Top Trending Paint Colors
Picking out the right color for your home can be daunting. There are so many options and elements to consider. From the mood you’d like to create for the room and what colors help evoke certain feelings, to what your natural surroundings emote. Now more than ever being comfortable in your own home is paramount. It’s time to get creative and expand the boundaries of what egg-shell white matte offers your home!