Chicago Real Estate Law Firm

  • ATTORNEY BIO
  • BLOG
  • PRACTICE AREAS
  • REQUEST FREE CONSULT
  • CONTACT
  • ATTORNEY BIO
  • BLOG
  • PRACTICE AREAS
  • REQUEST FREE CONSULT
  • CONTACT
  • chicago,  real estate,  Uncategorized

    Park District Releases Updated Plans For Renovation of Jackson Park and South Shore Golf Courses

    February 6, 2018

    In case you hadn’t heard, Tiger Woods is coming to the south side.  Sort of.  In 2016, his golf course design company, TGR Design, signed on to oversee the “restoration” of the Jackson Park and South Shore golf courses into a PGA tournament caliber course.  However, plans for the restoration released this past June received a mixed response from the public.  As a result, TGR went back to the drawing board in an attempt to appease some of the critics. Local residents and long time patrons of the courses had a number of concerns about the plans.  First and foremost, they do not want an beautiful course that they can no…

    read more
    loftuslaw No Comments

    You May Also Like

    Closing Costs Part 4 – Miscellaneous Charges

    March 24, 2017

    In Defense of Real Estate Broker Commissions

    July 28, 2017

    Tips On Voting For Judges

    March 14, 2016
  • charity,  chicago,  illinois,  Uncategorized

    Spreading Some Non-Profit Love

    October 26, 2017

    LoftusLaw is decidedly for profit.  However, it is important to give back.  Not only does it feel good to give, it is just the right thing to do.  Hopefully I can inspire some giving here, by telling you a little bit about my favorite charities. World Wildlife Fund I like WWF, because of their support of professional wrestling… ha ha, /r/dadjokes.  Actually, my support of WWF began after a few glasses of wine and a WWF commercial starring some adorable elephants.  I was compelled by the opportunity to ‘adopt’ an elephant, although I am not sure the customer service representative appreciated my somewhat inebriated pattern of speech at 11:00pm on…

    read more
    loftuslaw No Comments
  • chicago,  illinois,  law,  real estate,  Uncategorized,  zillow

    Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Accusing Zillow of Conducting Appraisal Without License

    August 25, 2017

    This is a follow up to my post last week about some of the controversies surrounding the real estate website Zillow.  To bring yourself up to speed, click here… Welcome back to the post!  At the time of publication a lawsuit was pending against Zillow accusing the website of violating Illinois law by conducting appraisals without a license.  The Plaintiff in the lawsuit sought an injunction stopping Zillow from publishing its Zestimates in Illinois, as well as unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. In what could be called a big win for Zillow, Judge Amy St. Eve held today that Zillow is not violating Illinois law, because Zestimates fall into an…

    read more
    loftuslaw No Comments

    You May Also Like

    New IHDA Program Offers Up To $50,000 In Assistance To Under Water Homeowners

    March 16, 2017

    Closing Costs Part 2 – Title Charges

    April 11, 2016

    Estimate Your Closing Costs – Part 1

    April 4, 2016
  • chicago,  condominium,  illinois,  law,  real estate,  Uncategorized

    Condo Rental Caps – How The Board Can Prevent You From Renting Your Place

    August 11, 2017

    Most condo owners prefer that their neighbors are owner-occupants.  As a result, many condo boards enact rental restrictions or even outright ban rentals.  If validly done, the condo board can levy fines and file lawsuit to stop you from renting your unit.  Here is how to determine whether your board’s restrictions are enforceable. Most buildings don’t start off with rental restrictions.  Developers want to cast the widest net possible for buyers, which means they want to be able to sell the new units to both owner-occupants and investors.  Rental restrictions tend to scare off investors.  As a result, rental restrictions tend to be enacted only after the condo board has…

    read more
    loftuslaw 2 Comments

    You May Also Like

    Why Chicago Landlords Should Not Take Security Deposits

    May 8, 2017

    Park District Releases Updated Plans For Renovation of Jackson Park and South Shore Golf Courses

    February 6, 2018

    Estimate Your Closing Costs – Part 1

    April 4, 2016
  • chicago,  real estate,  Uncategorized

    Per Crain’s: South Works Site Has New Developer On Board

    August 1, 2017

    Vacant since 1992, the former U.S. Steel South Works site is set to be purchased by WElink and Barcelona Housing Systems.  Both companies specialize in environmentally friendly construction. Thanks to Crain’s Chicago Business for reporting the story.  Any comments on how you think this news will affect economic development in South Shore neighborhood are appreciated!

    read more
    loftuslaw No Comments

    You May Also Like

    Quick Reference Guide For Informed Judicial Voting

    November 4, 2016

    Checking Your Significant Other’s Email For Evidence of Cheating May Violate Federal Law

    December 22, 2016

    The Tax Bills Are Here!

    June 30, 2016
  • chicago,  illinois,  real estate,  realtor,  Uncategorized

    In Defense of Real Estate Broker Commissions

    July 28, 2017

    I hear it all the time from home sellers.  “Why do Realtors make so much money?”  I’ve heard a few variants on the sentiment, ranging from the more diplomatic, “Realtors don’t seem to do much work to earn their commission,” to the more direct, “this commission is horse s**t!”   I submit to you, however, that Realtors more than earn every penny of their commissions. My first point is quite simple — You don’t realize how much work a Realtor actually does.  If your Realtor friend goes for spa treatments every day, they are not closing deals — it’s that simple.  Prospecting and networking for clients takes a lot of…

    read more
    loftuslaw No Comments

    You May Also Like

    Closing Costs Part 2 – Title Charges

    April 11, 2016

    Estimate Your Closing Costs – Part 1

    April 4, 2016

    Tips On Voting For Judges

    March 14, 2016
  • chicago,  eviction,  landlord,  real estate,  Uncategorized

    Why Chicago Landlords Should Not Take Security Deposits

    May 8, 2017

    I should first and foremost make it perfectly clear that the follow advice is geared specifically toward Chicago (and maybe also Evanston) residential landlords.  If you are a commercial landlord, or a residential landlord somewhere else in Illinois, feel free to scroll past this to another blog post, because it does not apply to you. Now that I have the major disclaimer out of the way, let me tell you why it’s a bad idea to accept security deposits in Chicago.  The City of Chicago has a law on its books called the Chicago Residential Landlords and Tenants Ordinance (RLTO).  The RLTO imposes a number of fairly onerous requirements on…

    read more
    loftuslaw No Comments

    You May Also Like

    In Defense of Real Estate Broker Commissions

    July 28, 2017

    Park District Releases Updated Plans For Renovation of Jackson Park and South Shore Golf Courses

    February 6, 2018

    Closing Costs Part 3 – Lender Charges

    March 8, 2017
  • chicago,  illinois,  real estate,  Uncategorized

    Closing Costs Part 4 – Miscellaneous Charges

    March 24, 2017

    In the first three installments of my series on closing costs, I addressed real estate tax credits, title charges and lender costs.  This fourth, and final, last installment will address the last category of closing costs – everything else.  As you review your closing costs with your attorney at the closing table, it may feel like everyone is taking their pound of flesh from the transaction.  That is because it is essentially true. Transfer Taxes Whenever you buy or sell real estate, the government sticks its hand in your pocket.  The amount of the tax depends largely upon the location of the parcel.  The State of Illinois always gets $1 per…

    read more
    loftuslaw No Comments

    You May Also Like

    Park District Releases Updated Plans For Renovation of Jackson Park and South Shore Golf Courses

    February 6, 2018

    Estimate Your Closing Costs – Part 1

    April 4, 2016

    Quick Reference Guide For Informed Judicial Voting

    November 4, 2016
  • chicago,  illinois,  Uncategorized

    New IHDA Program Offers Up To $50,000 In Assistance To Under Water Homeowners

    March 16, 2017

    The painful memories of the housing bubble are quickly fading amidst the red-hot real estate market here in the Chicago area.  However, the good news is not universal.  Some homeowners live in sort of a limbo where they can just afford their mortgage payment, but they cannot possibly sell their home due to the fact that they owe more than the property is worth. There may be hope for some of you.  The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) has introduced a program for qualifying homeowners to receive up to $50,0o0 toward the balance due on their mortgage and refinance into a more affordable loan based on the market value of…

    read more
    loftuslaw No Comments

    You May Also Like

    Per Crain’s: South Works Site Has New Developer On Board

    August 1, 2017

    Chicago Property Tax Rebates End Tomorrow

    December 29, 2016

    Closing Costs Part 2 – Title Charges

    April 11, 2016
  • chicago,  real estate,  Uncategorized

    Closing Costs Part 3 – Lender Charges

    March 8, 2017

    The third installment of my posts on closing costs focuses on charges you may incur at closing from your lender.  The vast majority of buyers do not have the cash to plunk down a few hundred thousand dollars to buy a home.  As a result, most real estate transactions involve a loan through a mortgage broker.  Not surprisingly, lenders do not work for free, and there are a number of costs you can expect to incur in connection with borrowing their money. Unlike title charges and real estate tax credits, lender charges vary quite a bit depending on the lender and loan product you choose.  However, there are some charges and costs…

    read more
    loftuslaw 1 Comment

    You May Also Like

    Per Crain’s: South Works Site Has New Developer On Board

    August 1, 2017

    Estimate Your Closing Costs – Part 1

    April 4, 2016

    Closing Costs Part 2 – Title Charges

    April 11, 2016
 Older Posts

Reviews

LoftusLaw, LLC
LoftusLaw, LLC
5.0
powered by Google
X Zhou
X Zhou
22:13 06 Jul 19
I have worked with Patrick and his team for both the purchase and the sale of my condo in South Loop Chicago. In additional to being professional and efficient in real estate transactions, he guided me through the process of contract negotiations with patience and insight. His input ultimately helped me to close the deal. I will put my word for him enthusiastically when it comes to real estate transactions in Chicago and its vicinity.
Michael Lewanski
Michael Lewanski
03:32 29 Jun 19
Patrick was our lawyer during the process of buying our first home. Every step of the way he was professional, responsive, and clear. He represented our interests in a thorough and dedicated manner, and we certainly saved money as a result of his services. His experience with and knowledge of the home-buying process was on display during the closing, and his friendly manner kept things comfortable and low-stress. Highly recommended, absolutely would hire him again.
Jainesh Patel
Jainesh Patel
01:00 28 Jun 19
Amazing to work with! Made sure everything was done in a timely manner and during closing took the time to make sure I understood and was at ease. Would highly recommend him for anyone needing an attorney in the Chicago area.
Ian McDonald
Ian McDonald
14:01 29 Apr 19
My partner and I purchased our first real estate property and retained Patrick to help us with the legal side of things. He was extremely responsive, candid, and made us feel comfortable throughout the process. I highly recommend Patrick to anyone looking for a stress free experience!
Mick Bockstruck
Mick Bockstruck
19:56 25 Mar 19
We were referred to Patrick by a close friend (who is also an attorney). He assisted us with the sale of our condo and the purchase of our new house. He was very helpful getting our full value from our house purchase, and went above and beyond explaining each step of the process. He even showed up at our closing while a bit under the weather, as he wanted to make sure everything finished smoothly. Although I hope to not be buying/selling anytime soon, Patrick would be my first call if I do.
Max Montesino
Max Montesino
02:24 08 Feb 19
Patrick is very good at explaining the home buying process (the legal aspects) and relentless in looking out for his clients. Would absolutely work with him again.
Scott Kim1
Scott Kim1
21:43 14 Dec 18
Have done transactions with Patrick this year and in the past. He is always responsive and efficient. I would highly recommend him.
Pete Horvath
Pete Horvath
23:21 06 Nov 18
Look no further for your real estate lawyer needs. Patrick is very attentive, well-versed in all scenarios regarding real estate law and a pleasure to work with. Patrick gets my strongest recommendation!
Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
19:05 28 Sep 18
Patrick was the real deal. I discovered Loftus Law through our realtor, and didn't know a whole lot about working with lawyers in the home buying process, but I quickly discovered how easy Patrick made it, especially by having someone that is there to work for you, unbiasedly. If I were to sell or buy again in the Chicago area, Patrick would be my first choice. Also can I say, that he's real, and down to earth. He's not a robot working through our property documents, but a real person, helping me make realistic decisions. He coached and advised me in the closing process for our condo, with suggestions on what to take seriously and what to not put up a fight about, in simple, down to earth terms.
Matt Piazza
Matt Piazza
21:06 07 Aug 18
Patrick was a stellar lawyer to have beside me at closing and to negotiate on my behalf throughout the home-buying process. His explanations and insights made me feel confident about this significant transaction. Generally a nice and trustworthy person who knows a bunch about laws and real estate.
jerome inciong
jerome inciong
00:44 13 Dec 17
LoftusLaw made the sale of my rental property secure and simple. Patrick took the time to walk me through every document with detailed explanation and really made me feel like we had a large firm in our corner. I will definately be returning to LoftusLaw when I buy our next property. Thank you again for all your help!
Tiffany Newby
Tiffany Newby
03:45 09 Nov 17
Patrick provided great service for in the buying process for my first condo. He is accessible and responsive and explained everything clearly. Highly recommended.
Sean O'Sullivan
Sean O'Sullivan
16:42 15 Aug 17
Patrick did a very good job on my recent condo purchase. Everything was clearly explained and he was very patient with me. First time home buying experience was not good overall, but that had nothing to do with the services Patrick offered. In fact, i'm willing to say it would have been much worse if we did not have Patrick. I have no negative comments. Attention to detail potentially saved me thousands.
Glen Charlton
Glen Charlton
23:34 16 Jul 17
Patrick was outstanding. He explained all the legal language of property law and contracts involved in my wife and I selling our condo. He was professional, friendly, and always available for any questions and concerns we had during the process. I highly recommend Patrick.
Erick Ducut
Erick Ducut
17:26 13 Apr 17
Selling our condo in Chicago was a less stressful experience because of Patrick's meticulous handing of the negotiation. He guided us from start of the negotiations to the closing date. We knew we could trust him to have our best interests at heart.
Next Reviews

PHONE – 773-632-8330,

FAX – 773-634-8911

520 S. State St., 1206, Chicago, IL 60605

© 2018 LoftusLaw, LLCPHONE – 773-632-8330,

520 S. State St., 1206, Chicago, IL 60605

Ashe Theme by Royal-Flush