Homeownership

The Importance of Wills and Trusts

If you haven’t written a will yet, there’s no better time to write one.

I recently had a family member pass, and they didn't have a will or an estate. The kids all have different ideas about what to do with the property, so there's a lot of bickering. None of this had to happen—it all could have been planned for and handled in a will.

Everybody needs a will, and if you own real estate, you also need a trust. You want to stay out of probate because that costs more than creating the will and trust. Having things planned out will also reduce stress during an emotional time. On top of that, establishing a set plan will avoid family members infighting and allow them to grieve together. 

Many attorneys will provide a free consultation over the phone to give you some options. If you need one, we're happy to get you in touch with somebody so you can save your loved ones that headache when you pass.

If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me by phone or email. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Are You Struggling To Pay Your Mortgage?

Those who are struggling with paying a mortgage have options.

Recently, I've started getting questions about being late on mortgage payments and whether you need to sell your house.

There's a lot of fear around this because people have been in forbearance for quite some time, and all of a sudden, they're now forced to come up with the money despite their situation not having changed. If you or somebody you know is behind on payments, I have options for helping those who are struggling to pay their mortgage. I’m happy to discuss and walk you through all your options so you can make the best decision.

If this doesn’t apply to you, please pass this information on to somebody who may need it. If you have any questions, please give me a call. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Understanding Illinois Transfer Taxes

Transfer tax amounts and who pays them vary based on location.

Today I’ll talk about closing costs, particularly transfer tax. When you sell a property in Illinois, you will have a state transfer tax of $0.50 per $500 of the sales price. Every county in Illinois also charges you $0.25 for every $500 of the sale price sales price. Some villages will also charge you.

80% of the time, these transfer taxes are paid by the seller. If you’re a buyer, be prepared to face the uncommon situation where you’ll need to pay instead. For example, Harwood Heights charges the buyer $10 per $1,000 of the sales price as a transfer tax while Cicero charges the sellers that same amount. Chicago actually charges both parties.

If you're interested, I have a list of transfer tax charges by location, and I’m happy to send that to you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or email me. I look forward to hearing from you.

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7 Helpful Fall Home Maintenance Tips


By completing a few simple tasks, you can get your home ready for winter
and prevent a lot of future maintenance costs.

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Fall is here and winter is right around the corner. What should you be doing right now in order to prepare your home? Here’s what I recommend:

1. Seal the cracks. If you have any cracks in your foundation, driveway, or windows, this can create huge problems down the road. Consider having those handled before it gets too cold.

2. Paint your exterior woodwork. This is another place where moisture can get in during the winter and cause rot.

3. Remove your hoses from outdoor spigots.

4. Check your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Make sure those batteries are switched out, too.


Any cracks in your driveway or foundation...