Bill Bein's (wbein) Blog

Chicago as a city has many specific neighborhoods (like Wicker Park, Bucktown, etc.) At http://www.chicagoland2to4flats.info/, we provide a chart with the boundaries of some 150 neighborhoods in Chicago. To access that directory, click on this link: Chicago Neighborhood Boundaries And this is jus...

We are proud of all the resources our Sales Data / Maps page offers. Here are some highlights: Property Sales Data: City WideWe are pleased to bring you important data showing current prices and historical appreciation for Chicago. Click here (Sales Summary Chart) to see or print this important s...

There are MANY things you must deal with in Week One: Loan Application: Day ONE, call your lender to activate your application and order an appraisal. The lender we most love to recommend to clients is Guaranteed Rate (Brian Weis is our contact-his office number is  773-290-0591 ; his fax is 773-...

Some people think it is wrong to ever buy at less than a big discount. But that thinking can trip you up. HOT property, for instance, never sells at a huge discount. Here are some different examples: •·      With brand new listings, there can be a ‘feeding frenzy,' and our job is to judge whether...

The offer we write up-and the negotiations I do for you-address the following areas: •a.      Conveyances: The top of the contract has room to check off appliances, etc and a space to add other items we want included. •b.      Price: The final price we negotiate can, with lender approval, include...

The offer we write up-and the negotiations I do for you-address the following areas: •a.      Conveyances: The top of the contract has room to check off appliances, etc and a space to add other items we want included. •b.      Price: The final price we negotiate can, with lender approval, include...

The first step is for us to make a guess how soon and at what price the property will sell. Sometimes, we will think it may sell soon for full or near full price, but not always. We'll study: •1.   Similar, nearby, recent sales: The greater the number of good comp's, the more precisely fair marke...

   At http://www.chicagoland2to4flats.info/, the property we specialize in helping people buy is OLDER (100 years old +). How many 100-year old buildings in Chicago will need NO work over the next 5 to 7 years? The answer, of course, is NONE (that is, ALL will need some work-and that "some" work ...

  Time Typical $ Description •         Yrs 1-3 10-20K Immediate safety and building ‘stabilization' issues (i.e., the building inspection list of short-term, important repairs). •         Yrs 1-3 10-30K Duplexing or enlarging apartments if possible to increase rent (and to eliminate any illega...