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Buyer's Guide

How to buy a home in Chicagoland

First condo or forever home — here's the route from pre-approval to keys in hand, and how The Boulevard Group guides you down it.

The buying process, step by step

  1. Get pre-approved

    Before the search begins, talk to a lender and get pre-approved — it defines your real budget and makes your offers credible. We can recommend lenders our clients trust.

  2. Consult with a Boulevard Group broker

    We learn what you're looking for, translate the process into plain English, and set up a search that fits your budget, neighborhoods, and timeline.

  3. Tour homes

    Private showings and open houses across the city and suburbs. We'll point out what the listing photos don't show — the good and the bad.

  4. Make an offer

    When you find the one, we run the comps, advise on price and terms, and submit a competitive offer with your initial earnest money.

  5. Attorney review & inspection

    In Illinois, your attorney reviews the contract and your inspector examines the property — typically within five business days of acceptance. We negotiate any repairs or credits.

  6. Secure your financing

    Your lender orders the appraisal and completes underwriting. We keep every milestone on schedule through the clear-to-close.

  7. Final walkthrough & closing

    We walk the property one last time to confirm its condition, then you sign, get the keys, and head home.

First-time buyer? A few Illinois things worth knowing:

  • Attorneys are customary in Illinois transactions — yours reviews the contract during the attorney review period, and it's money well spent.
  • Property taxes here are paid in arrears — you'll typically receive a credit from the seller at closing.
  • Earnest money is usually delivered in two installments: an initial deposit with the offer and the balance after attorney review.
  • Down payment assistance programs exist for qualifying buyers — ask us what you may be eligible for.

Want the full picture?

See our itemized list of 101 ways we represent buyers — everything that happens behind the scenes on your behalf. And before you write an offer, read the Multi-Board Contract, explained — Chicagoland's standard purchase contract in plain English.

Ready to start looking?

Tell us what you're looking for and we'll set up your search — no pressure, no scripts.

Talk to The Boulevard Group