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Welcome! Here You Can Find Great Information on Real Estate in Chicago's Hottest Neighborhoods
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Looking for homes? Search everything the web has to offer, right here! Don't miss my Feature Homes. Need local real estate information? I've summarized much of what is important about the Chicago and Lincoln Park real estate market in this site. Need expert advice? No web site, large or small, can take the place of a top Realtor. Not even mine! This site is filled with ways that you can contact me for one-on-one expert help and advice. That's my job. Contact me with confidence! I guarantee your privacy will be respected. And I offer the services on this site for free and without obligation. Why? I want to be YOUR Realtor. As your trusted, professional real estate partner, I will help you find the best home in your area within your price range. And together we will sell your home, for as much as the market will bear, and as quickly as possible. Buying and selling a home is one of the biggest events in your life. As a top Chicago and Lincoln Park Realtor, I have the experience and track record you are looking for. Please let me help. - Tod Pratt  |
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First Time Buyers >The Seller May Pay
The costs of buying a home may be daunting. For example, you may have finally saved enough for a down payment on your first home, with a little left over to buy the furniture you will need. Then you hear about having to pay closing costs you weren't anticipating, and this may seem like a real setback.
One way to cover such a shortage is to make the sellers an offer that calls for them to credit you for some of the closing costs. As a rule, the sellers may pay a maximum of 3 percent of the sales price if the buyer is putting five percent down. If the buyer is making a down payment of 10 percent or more, the seller can contribute up to 6 percent of the sales price to cover the buyer's closing costs. Some items, such as prepaid taxes and the first month's mortgage payment, must be paid by the buyers. Sellers may also contribute to paying the appraisal, points, title insurance, settlement attorney fees, state or local transfer taxes and similar items.
Keep in mind that if the credit is included in the price of the house, the appraiser will have to justify the amount, based on sales prices of similar homes in the neighborhood.
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| Q |
What are the world's most valuable chairs?
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| A |
A pair of Chippendale chairs designed by Robert Adam sold in 1997 at Christie's, London to an anonymous buyer for $2,762,330. |
See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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