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 disclosures, title work, tax prorations, closing documents, and the closing itself. Finding the buyer is a major step. But there is still quite a bit that has to happen before the sale is complete. 1. Put the Agreement in Writing A buyer and seller may initially agree on the basics of a deal through a conversation, email, or text message. But a real estate transaction needs to move from “we have…
ChicagoRealEstate
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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 transaction suddenly becomes much more complicated. There is no listing agent preparing paperwork or coordinating an offer. The buyer may have an agent. The buyer may have an attorney. Or the buyer may be unrepresented too. So who actually prepares the contract? The Purchase Contract Is More Than a Price and Closing Date A residential real estate contract determines the legal rights and obligations of both the buyer and…
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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 agent involved, it can become even more important for a seller to understand who is handling the contract, disclosures, title work, closing documents, deadlines and problems that arise between contract and closing. That is where a real estate attorney comes in. FSBO Means “For Sale By Owner,” Not “Do Everything Yourself” Selling FSBO usually means that the homeowner has decided not to use a traditional…
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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 before 1978, federal lead-based paint disclosures. Depending on the property and transaction, additional disclosures or documents may also be required. Selling your home without a Realtor does not mean selling it without paperwork. In fact, one of the potential problems with a For Sale By Owner transaction is that there may be no real estate agent involved to remind the seller which forms should be completed and when they should be delivered. Here are three…
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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 estate agent, the buyer’s earnest money should usually be placed with an agreed escrow holder rather than simply given to the seller. In a Chicago-area FSBO transaction, the escrow holder might be a title company, an attorney, the buyer’s brokerage, or another party identified in the purchase contract. This is one of those details that many FSBO sellers do not think about until they already have a buyer. A…
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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 transfer-tax information, and a worksheet for estimating the seller’s net proceeds. You can download the free kit here: Download the Free Chicago FSBO Seller Starter Kit Finding the Buyer Is Only the Beginning Some homeowners decide to sell without a real estate agent because they already know their buyer. The buyer may be a relative, neighbor, tenant, friend, or someone who approached the owner directly. Other sellers decide to market the property themselves to avoid paying a…
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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 issue may affect the asking price, negotiations with the buyer and your expected proceeds at closing. A Special Assessment Does Not Have to Be Final to Affect the Sale Condo owners sometimes assume that a potential assessment does not matter until the board takes a formal vote and establishes the amount. In practice, the problem can affect a sale much earlier. The association may already be: Collecting bids for a new roof Reviewing…
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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 concentrated in the north and northwest suburbs, but individual tax bills vary considerably. Homeowners concerned about an increase should check their exemptions, property record, assessed value and applicable appeal deadlines. The countywide numbers Cook County property owners will pay approximately $19.9 billion in property taxes for tax year 2025, payable in 2026. That represents an increase of approximately $743.8 million, or 3.9%, over the previous year. For comparison, Chicago-area inflation was approximately 3.1% during 2025.…
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What Should a Home Seller Do If a Storm Damages the Property Before Closing?
What Should a Home Seller Do If a Storm Damages the Property Before Closing? If a storm hits while a home is under contract, the seller should promptly inspect the property, photograph any damage, prevent the damage from getting worse, notify the seller’s attorney and insurance carrier, and determine the extent of the problem before promising repairs or credits to the buyer. Material new damage may need to be disclosed, and the purchase contract may give the parties specific rights and obligations when the property is damaged before closing. This issue is particularly relevant in the Chicago area after repeated storms have brought destructive winds, hail, flooding and heavy rain.…
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Selling Without a Realtor Does Not Mean Selling Without a Process
Selling a home without a real estate agent can be a reasonable choice in the right circumstances. Some homeowners already have a potential buyer. Others are comfortable marketing the property, arranging showings, and negotiating directly. Some simply want to reduce the commissions and other costs associated with a traditional listing. These can all be legitimate reasons to consider a for-sale-by-owner, or FSBO, transaction. However, removing the listing agent does not remove the work involved in selling a home. It changes who is responsible for performing that work. Before deciding to sell without a realtor, homeowners should understand the responsibilities they will be accepting and determine where they may still need…
