I received an email this week from a man, Brad, who with his partner, Jose, wants to sell their condo in the city and buy a house in the north or northwest suburbs. Brad had some questions and was upfront that they weren’t ready to work with a Realtor yet. They’re focused on driving around neighborhoods at this point.
I appreciated Brad’s honesty and think their approach to looking for a new home is wise. Too often I see buyers get focused on looking for their dream home without enough regard for the location. They spend hours looking at homes in a location only to then realize the commute time or some other factor tied to location is unacceptable. Looking at houses online is fun, but looking at neighborhoods in the beginning is a better use of time.
Try out the commute to work from locations you are considering. I helped a man buy a townhouse a couple of years ago by Elgin after he tried the commute to Highland Park. Many people wouldn’t commute that far, but it was acceptable to him. Consider how the new location will affect getting together with friends and family. I worked with a young couple last fall who decided after looking at condos in Logan Square that they would be too far from their friends who live in Lakeview.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fran Bailey shows, previews and tracks downtown Chicago homes for sale giving her the insights needed to help her clients negotiate the best price and terms. Fran has been quoted in numerous Chicago and national publications. To schedule showings of listings regardless of broker or to contact Fran email her at fran.bailey@bairdwarner.com or call 773.793.4516. Learn More
Fran Bailey, Realtor
