Century 21 Circle - Wicker Park

What a sweet day. Happy World Chocolate Day!

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful, safe, and memorable 4th of July celebration! Let us rejoice in the freedom we hold dear and continue to strive for a brighter future together, reminding us of the strength and unity that has propelled us forward through challenges and triumphs.

Joke aside, we do want to extend our gratitude and recognition for all postal workers and the hard work they put in to ensure our mail gets delivered. THANK YOU!

We are proud to be a participating brokerage for Military Real Estate Benefits by Anywhere®, which offers $350-$7,500 in benefits after closing when you work with us to buy or sell your home! Contact us at CENTURY 21 Circle, Relocation (773) 579-3510 and [email protected] to get started.

Thank you to all our Agent Service Coordinators! We couldn't do it without you!

Number Seven of Seven

Number Six of Seven Series

Contact us here: https://c21circle.com/c...

The home-selling process is complex, sometimes involving as many as 181 steps and with that, it could be a stressful experience as well.

https://c21circle.com/blog/best_time_to_sell_partnering_with_skilled_negotiators/57953

Effective Marketing Strategies for Home Sellers
The impact of the Internet on our professional and personal lives is immense. For real estate consumers and industry professionals alike, the exponential growth of the digital age is impacting the way people buy, own and transfer property. For property sellers, effectively marketing a home online is more important than ever.
Continue reading here: https://c21circle.com/blog/best_time_to_sell_maximizing_your_home_s_visibility/57970

Number Six of Seven Series

Contact us here: https://c21circle.com/contact_us

Partnering with the Right Real Estate Agent
A typical real estate transaction has as many 181 potential steps, from start to closing (and thereafter for real estate agents who know the commitment to a client is a long-term, not short-term, relationship). Selling a home is, therefore, complex and often a stressful and emotional roller-coaster.
To read more click here: https://c21circle.com/blog/best_time_to_sell_the_key_to_a_successful_home_sale/57928

Number Five of Seven Series

Number Four of Seven

Mortgage interest rates are all over the news, as consumers work to better understand the impact of the ‘up and down’ costs to borrow money. For those looking to buy real estate, especially first-time homebuyers, finding the right loan term and understanding the mortgage approval process can often feel intimidating and confusing. Plus, the Internet is replete with myths and misunderstandings that can not only cause unnecessary stress and anxiety but lead homebuyers down the wrong path. In this blog post, we will offer clarity and guidance to help borrowers confidently secure the loan terms best suited for them that leads to the home of their dreams. Continue reading here:
https://c21circle.com/blog/the_spring_homebuying_market_home_loan_myths/57863

Number Three of Seven

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Number 2 of our Seven Part Series
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First of our Seven Part Series on for Selling a Home
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The Spring Homebuying Market: Why Home Sellers Sell

Timing the Market is Tricky & Risky Business

Spring is here, and with it comes the frenzied real estate homebuyer’s market. More listings. More homebuyers. And more competition. Unfortunately for many sellers, the competitive nature of the spring homebuyers’ market is also a time when they consider trying their hand at ‘timing the market.’

Read More here: https://drp.li/6SjBP

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Check out our Award Winning Relocation Team
https://c21circle.com/relocation

This is where the rubber meets the road!

Today, we're spilling the beans on all things home inspections.

After the seller accepts your offer on a home, it's time to schedule the inspection.

This involves a certified home inspector thoroughly reviewing the property to identify potential problems (structural, electrical, plumbing, safety and more).

Your inspector should be experienced and reputable, but the good news is that we have a trusted list of inspectors to choose from.

Inspections can take a minimum of 2-3 hours, depending on the size of the home, and buyers are typically in charge of the bill. The cost usually ranges from around $250-$375.

After the inspection, the inspector will provide the seller with a detailed report, which usually includes recommendations, photo and sometimes video.

Once you receive the report, we'll chat about it and decide how to proceed. A home can't "pass" or "fail" an inspection, but if the inspector finds major issues, we'll need to negotiate repairs (or a price reduction) with the seller.

Do you have any other questions about home inspections? If so, drop them below or shoot us a DM!

We love helping our clients find the home of their dreams!

We helped our client Jintara through her very first home-buying process. She is now the proud homeowner of this beautiful top floor condo with an amazing view of the city.

Are you read to find the perfect home? Send us a message to get the process started!

We'll just come right out and say it: your final walk-through is the most important part of closing day!

It's a simple step, but it's a big one!

When you're buying a home, the final walk-through is your last chance to see a house before closing day.

The way a walk-through typically works is that you'll go room-to-room with your agent, and possibly the seller's agent, to ensure that the home is in the agreed-upon condition.

Here's what to look for at a final walk-through:

-All household items included in the purchase are still present (i.e. major appliances, window treatments).
-Any agreed-upon repairs have been completed, as negotiated after the inspection.
-All major systems are in working order (plumbing, electric, HVAC).
-Condition of the home is the consistent with the last time you saw it.
-Any new damage, stains or problems.
-Exterior damage, such as new cracks or pest issues.

If you find an issue during the walk-through, call it out immediately. While most issues aren't dealbreakers, we might need to renegotiate the terms of the purchase agreement with the seller.

Questions about this step in the process? Message us anytime!

Coming in 48 hours.....



https://youtu.be/YhWwumc85F8

Hype video 2

This step is a big one!

Once you've found "the one," it's time to write a killer offer.

Because you've followed all of our previous steps, writing a great offer won't be hard!

You have a pre-approval letter in hand, you're represented by an agent who is dedicated to helping you succeed, and you have thought carefully about your needs and wants.

Once you find a home that checks all of your boxes, we're ready!

Even though the market has shifted and conditions aren't as competitive for buyers as they were a year ago, inventory is still low. Sellers still have good leverage, and it's possible that your offer won't be accepted right away.

So here are three tips we give our home buyers when it comes time to put forth a great offer:

1) Be prepared to be flexible. Buyers do have some negotiating power back, but it's still important to consider what the seller might be looking for in terms of earnest money requirements, timeline, and closing date. We'll always do our best to glean as much information as possible from the listing agent, but flexibility is often key!

2) Partner with your lender. The reason that cash offers are usually more appealing to a seller is because without a financing contingency, it's a lot less likely that the deal will fall apart. Sometimes an enthusiastic endorsement from a loan officer (via email or even in a video message to the seller's agent) can reassure the seller that your financing is secure.

3) Consider an escalation clause. If there are multiple offers (and yes, that does still happen, despite what you might hear in the news!) an escalation clause tells the seller that you will pay $X above the highest bid to have your offer accepted.

Questions about submitting a winning offer? We've got the answers and our inbox is always open.

Congrats to our client Stiphan on his beautiful new condo with incredible city views!

This wonderful 17th floor unit features 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

While this is not Stiphan’s first home purchase, he is excited to be moving to Chicago from Virginia.

We love seeing our clients happy with their new home. Send us a message if you’re ready to start the home buying process.

Just closed 🥂 Congratulations to our first time homebuyers Marc and Whitney!

They are very excited to be moving from New York and purchasing a beautiful five bedroom, three bathroom home in Irving Park.

We are thrilled to have found them this spacious and elegant single-family home, which features modern updates while maintaining its vintage charm.

Congrats to the new homeowners!

Don’t skip this crucial step!

Today, we’re talking all about the pre-approval process, which determines what homes you can afford.

What does it mean to be pre-approved?

It means that a certified mortgage lender has checked your credit, employment, and verified assets. Once they've reviewed these things, they can tell you how much money the bank can loan you for your mortgage.

Also, most sellers require a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender before negotiating with a buyer.

In order to get pre-approved, you’ll need to provide proof of:

✔️ Employment verification

✔️ Proof of assets (cash on hand; the money in your checking or savings accounts, money market accounts, etc.)

✔️ Proof of income (income tax returns)

✔️ A qualifying credit score (usually above 620)

✔️ Personal documentation (government-issued identification)

Once you're pre-approved, we can begin the home-buying search in earnest!

Drop a “YES!” in the comments if you found today’s lesson helpful. We think we covered the basics, but if you have any questions, feel free to shoot us a DM!

Let’s talk about home buying.

Today we're going to tell you what we always tell our buyers: be prepared for the process to take longer than you expect, but be ready to move quickly anyway!

Here's what the typical steps in a home purchase look like:

1) Find a real estate agent
2) Get pre-approved for a mortgage
3) Determine your wish list and outline "wants" vs "needs"
4) Tour homes that interest you
5) Make an offer on "The One"
6) Schedule a home inspection
7) Set up the home appraisal
8) Finalize your loan
9) Closing Day 🥂

On the quick end of things buying a home could be your reality in as little as 10 weeks. We're ready if you are — DM us and let’s get started!

Let’s party! 🎉

I don’t know about you, but I am ready to celebrate 2022 (and ring in 2023) in style!

Whether you’re looking for a calm, relaxing dinner or a festive and fun party, here are my picks for the best New Year’s Eve celebrations in Chicago.

Best place to grab a fancy dinner: Travelle
Best place for dancing: NYE Masquerade Party at Hubbard Inn
Best spot for a drink package & champagne toast: Scofflaw
Best place for live music: Whistler Chicago
Best overall New Year’s Eve vibe: Offshore Chicago

Do you plan to go out on NYE, or are you staying in your PJs? Let me know in the comments!