Buying a home can be both exciting and daunting, especially for first-time home buyers in a city like Chicago, IL. With so many neighborhoods, housing styles, and factors to consider, navigating the real estate market can be overwhelming. However, with the correct information and guidance, purchasing a home in Chicago is an extremely rewarding experience and an excellent investment.
To help you get started, we turned to some of Redfin’s top Chicago agents and Partner agents to provide tips and advice for first-time homebuyers. Regardless of your background, these tips will help you make informed decisions and achieve your dream of owning a home in the Windy City. Let’s get started!
1. Do your research to prepare yourself for the process
The most important advice I can give any buyer is to be prepared. Have a strong preapproval from a reputable lender. Talk about the buying process with your agent so you know what to expect from contract to closing. In this competitive market, it’s so important to be ready to move forward the moment you find the home you love. – Elizabeth Caya | Redfin Premier agent
I want to encourage everyone to become a homeowner. It is exciting, a great investment, and a means of building wealth within your family and your children. However, be prepared. Research and talk to potential lenders. – Evelyn Randle | Redfin Partner agent, Checklist Homes Realty
For a first-time home buyer, purchasing your home may seem like a huge task and stressful time. Understanding the home-buying process is essential. – Tony Mathews | Redfin Partner agent, Realty of Chicago LLC
Your future home is just a tap away
Explore homes with the Redfin app anytime, anywhere.
2. Consider choosing a lower price point
Your future home is just a tap away
Choose a price point that’s lower than your comfort level when the market is hot. This way, you have room to bid above list price if need be. If you’re looking at the top of your range, it will be hard to compete against others vying for the same home. – Ashley Arzer | Redfin Premier agent
3. Be strict about staying within budget
My recommendation is to strictly stay within their budget and not focus on cosmetic issues as much as significant components of the house. Using tools like an affordability calculator will help you determine how much house you can afford. – Ray Loma | Redfin Partner agent, NellyCorp Realty
My biggest advice that comes up when discussing budgeting for a home with new buyers is making sure you consider closing costs. This is something most first time buyers do not budget for and can be a shock when they see that additional 3% give or take. – Brittany Strale | Redfin Premier agent
4. Reconsider waiting out the market
2023 will be challenging for Chicago homebuyers. Homeowners locked in a favorable interest rate are reluctant to sell, creating a lack of inventory. Buyers may think it’s better to wait out the market, but there is a lot of opportunity in this market if buyers approach real estate as a long-term investment. If prices or mortgage rates dip significantly, all those sidelined buyers will likely come rushing back to the market, driving up competition on offers and prices. Marry the house, not the mortgage. Mortgages can be refinanced for qualified individuals. – Deann Gladwell | Redfin Partner agent, HomeSmart Connect
5. Learn about the different Chicago neighborhoods
Choosing the right neighborhood is a crucial part of purchasing your first home in Chicago. With so many options available, it can feel overwhelming like riding a roller coaster at your favorite theme park. However, Chicago’s diversity of neighborhoods means that there’s a perfect fit for everyone. It’s essential to consider factors such as commute times, local incentives, and property tax rates before making a decision. – David Dominguez | Redfin Partner agent, Realty of Chicago LLC
6. Ask a lot of questions
Buying in the Chicagoland area offers something for everyone, from high-rise condos to single-family homes with yards. As a first-time home buyer in Chicago, it’s important to ask many questions. The more information you have, the easier it will be to decide what option makes the most sense for you. – Victor Senteno | Redfin Partner agent, Senteno Real Estate
7. Get pre-approved for a loan before starting your home search
The best advice I can give new buyers is to get pre-approved. Set up a meeting with your bank or mortgage lender and submit all the financial documents they request so they can pre-approve you. That pre-approval will dictate what type of loan you qualify for and how much you can spend. If you are eligible for an FHA loan, you know you have to look for homes that will pass the FHA loan. If you qualify for a conventional loan, you can look for properties that can pass an FHA or conventional loan. – Juan Espinosa | Redfin Partner agent, E-Professionals Realty, LLC
8. Pay attention to the details when buying a condo
In some areas, like downtown Chicago, condos are very desirable. Certain features of condos can lead to trouble with mortgage financing. Be sure that your realtor asks the right questions before you put down earnest money on a condo that isn’t financeable. Additionally, condos have other fees like association dues that single-family homes do not. Association dues will play into how much you qualify for when you buy a home, be sure to pay attention to this important detail. – Kayshonna Straughter | Redfin Partner agent, Coldwell Banker
9. Be prepared to compromise space
As a first-time home buyer looking to purchase in Chicago, the advantage is being close to everything, schools, work, commuting, restaurants, and shopping. The disadvantage is that it has a much smaller lot than you would get in the suburbs for the same amount. – Karen Mika | Redfin Partner agent, Exit Strategy Realty
10. Learn about first-time homebuyer loans
Many of my first-time buyers are taking advantage of FHA’s low down payment and reduced interest rates. For first-time buyers that are able to qualify for a conventional loan, they can purchase with as low as 3%-5% on certain properties. Within rising rents, most buyers would rather build their own equity, versus paying their landlords mortgage. – Jacob Reiner | Redfin Premier agent
11. Research grants and down-payment assistance programs
First-time homebuyers in Chicagoland should start by educating themselves about all available grants and down payment assistance programs in Illinois. – Debbie Kula | Redfin Partner agent, arhome realty
12. Work with a seasoned Chicago real estate agent
Be sure to work with a seasoned realtor because, with record-low inventory, buyers need an expert negotiator. A great real estate broker can help you navigate the complexities of purchasing a home. – Sharon Tuckman | Redfin Partner agent, EXIT Grace Realty
13. Surround yourself with a stellar team
My first-time home buyer tips are ensuring you have a good team (agent, lender, attorney, and inspector) when you start your search. – Al Schwartz | Redfin Partner agent, Fulton Grace Realty LLC
14. Create an attractive offer
An attractive offer is going to look simple and clean. Your realtor should call and find out if there are other offers so you can gauge how you should come in. I don’t advise inspection waivers or appraisal gaps, but I do give my clients the information on what that all means and allow them to make that decision for themselves. For earnest money I usually do 1% of the purchase price. Go in As-Is because a seller isn’t required to make repairs anyway, and let sellers choose the closing date. Put at least 10% down for your down payment. Have your realtor call and introduce themselves and when they submit the offer, add the lender to that email. – Jasmine Popoca | Redfin Premier agent
15. Find a reputable real estate attorney
Here in IL, only attorneys are able to modify a contract once it is fully signed. Therefore, attorneys play a very big role in resolving both inspection and contract issues during the review period. The review period usually lasts 5 business days after contract signing. Real estate agents are still involved but take on more of an advisory role at this stage. – Nathan Freeborn | Redfin Premier agent
Have a discussion early on with an agent or ask around for a good attorney. An attorney that specializes in real estate makes a huge difference compared to those with expertise in other areas. Having a real estate attorney makes all the difference in the world. – Becky Wipperfurth | Redfin Premier agent
16. Take a final walk-through prior to closing
On the day of closing, I always suggest doing our final walk through just prior to meeting at the title company for the closing. This allows us to view the full property with all of the seller’s belongings removed, so that we have the most up to the minute condition. Since Chicago has such extreme and fluctuating weather conditions, this alleviates the greatest risk of running into any issues for the buyer. – Amy Gugliuzza | Redfin Premier agent
17. Avoid overlapping rental and mortgage payments
One thing I can think of that first-time home buyers always delight in, is that when you purchase, your first mortgage payment is delayed 30 days. For instance–if you close on May 5th, your mortgage payment is not due on June 1st, it is due on July 1st. A lot of first-time buyers find this very useful because they are often timing their lease expiration and it helps them to know this so they can choose to not double up on a last rental payment and use that month to smoothly move in over 30 days to the new house without both paying rent and mortgage. – Marybeth Durkin | Redfin Premier agent
Partner Agents work for traditional brokerages, but have teamed up with Redfin to help customers buy or sell a home. Customers are connected with partner agents when Redfin Agents are experiencing exceptionally high customer demand or if a home is outside our direct service area.
United States
Canada