Chicago brick home beside a checklist titled “Found a Buyer? Now What?” outlining six steps from contract to closing for FSBO sellers.

I Found a Buyer for My House. What Happens Next?

If you have already found a buyer for your Illinois home, the next step is usually to put the agreement into a written real estate contract. After that, the transaction may involve attorney review, earnest money, inspections, required seller

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Loftus Law graphic showing a real estate purchase agreement being reviewed at a desk, with a sold sign in the background.

Who Prepares the Contract in an Illinois FSBO Sale?

The short answer – your lawyer. The long answer… So, you found a buyer for your home without using a Realtor. Congratulations. Now someone has to prepare the purchase contract. For many Illinois FSBO sellers, this is the point where the

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Loftus Law graphic asking “Selling FSBO in Illinois? Do You Need a Lawyer?” with a Chicago skyline, For Sale By Owner sign, and promotion for the free Chicagoland FSBO Seller Starter Kit.

Do You Need a Lawyer for an FSBO Sale in Illinois?

No. Illinois law does not generally require you to hire a lawyer simply because you are selling your home without a real estate agent. But selling FSBO does not eliminate the legal work involved in selling a home. In fact, when there is no listing

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Chicago FSBO seller disclosure graphic from Loftus Law listing property condition, radon, and lead-based paint disclosures before signing a contract.

Which Disclosures Do Chicago-Area FSBO Sellers Need?

Most Chicago-area homeowners selling their property without a real estate agent should be prepared to provide an Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Report, the required Illinois radon disclosure and information, and, for most homes built

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Graphic explaining who holds earnest money in a Chicago-area FSBO home sale, featuring a house, real estate contract, escrow lockbox, Chicago skyline, and Loftus Law branding.

Who Holds Earnest Money in a Chicago-Area FSBO Home Sale?

If you are selling your property without a real estate agent, my Free Chicagoland FSBO Starter Kit includes practical information designed to help sellers understand the steps involved in a private home sale. When you sell your home without a real

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Loftus Law graphic promoting the free Chicago FSBO Seller Starter Kit with checklists, disclosures, transaction timeline, and net-proceeds resources.

Free Chicago FSBO Seller Starter Kit: What to Prepare Before Selling Without an Agent

Chicago-area homeowners selling without a real estate agent can now download the free LoftusLaw Chicago FSBO Seller Starter Kit. The kit includes Illinois disclosure forms, a pre-contract checklist, a plain-English transaction timeline, Chicagoland

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Can You Sell a Condo While the Association Is Considering a Special Assessment?

Yes, you can sell a condo while the association is considering a special assessment. However, you should investigate the proposed project and the association’s finances before listing. Even if an assessment has not been formally approved, the

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Cook County tax year 2025 graphic comparing the 3.9% countywide property-tax increase, 3.1% Chicago-area inflation and 6.4% north and northwest suburban increase.

Cook County Property Taxes Increased in 2025: What the Numbers Mean for Homeowners Cook County’s total property-tax burden increased 3.9% for tax year 2025, exceeding both Chicago-area and national inflation. The largest regional increase was

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