Chicago / Cook County Residential
Real Estate Lawyer For
Home Sellers 

As a Chicago residential real estate lawyer team with more than 20 years of experience, home sellers in Chicago and throughout Cook County often approach us with questions about the home selling process. We understand selling a home is a momentous endeavour and strive to make the process as simple as possible while ensuring you are protected. 

What a Chicago Residential Real Estate Lawyer Can Do For You

In recent years the housing market has been breaking new records, not just in Chicago, but around the country. For sellers looking to take advantage of a market in their favor, working with a Chicago residential real estate lawyer can help ensure you see top return from your investment.

The Law Office of Alexis Hart McDowell helps ensure your best interests are in mind throughout the sales process. We think about the issues you might not know to address like transfer taxes, water certifications, and zoning certifications. We have been helping home sellers in Cook County for more than 20 years and are recognized by our clients as the go-to trusted legal expert. Book a consultation to learn how we can help protect your home sale.

What will my closing costs be when I sell my home in Chicago?

When a home is sold, there are typically closing costs that the buyer pays and closing costs that the seller pays. For a home seller in greater Chicago, closing costs generally consist of:

• Real Estate Broker Commission

• Closing Cost Credits

• Property Tax Prorations 

• Transfer Taxes

• Title-Related Fees

• Water Certification

• Zoning Certification

• Survey

There may be other costs, and when all is said and done, a seller can expect to pay somewhere around 6% to 8% in closing costs. For example, if you sell your home for $300,000, you can expect closing costs to be somewhere around $21,000 to $24,000.

Can I sell my home in Chicago without a real estate agent?

You are not required to enlist the services of a real estate agent or broker to sell your home. However, you should consider doing so. A real estate agent can help you sell your home by:

• Performing a market analysis so you know what your home is worth

• Advising you on things you can do to make your home sell faster

• Advertising your home to potential purchasers

• Acting as an intermediary between you and the purchaser, or the purchaser’s real estate agent

There is no shortage of real estate agents in Cook County. If you’re not sure where to start, the Law Office of Alexis Hart McDowell can make you a trusted referral.

Do I have to give a buyer closing credit?

Selling a house is a negotiation. As part of that negotiation process, the buyer may request a credit from you for their closing costs. Whether or not you extend this credit to the buyer is up to you. To decide, you will need to take a step back and look at the big picture. Are you making enough profit off the sale of the house for the credit to really have any effect on your bottom line? Answering this question can help you decide how you handle the buyer’s request for a credit. 

Do I have to give a buyer a tax credit?

When you sell your home, you are required to give the buyer a tax credit for the portion of the year you owned the home. This is because the purchaser will be responsible for paying the entire tax bill at the end of the year, and it is only fair that you pay for the part of the year you owned the home.

Can I sell my home without the help of a Chicago residential real estate lawyer?

While having a real estate attorney involved in selling your home is not required under Illinois law, the extra time spent consulting with a lawyer could save you significant time and financial resources by ensuring a smooth sales transaction. A real estate attorney hired by you is exclusively interested in what is best for you, and their sole job and legal obligation is to work in your best interest. No other party involved in this transaction has this responsibility towards you. 

At the Law Office of Alexis Hart McDowell, we will provide invaluable information and advice gained from more than two decades of experience selling homes in your neighborhood. We can, and will, walk you through the process and ensure that your rights are protected and your interests preserved. 

Let’s Talk: Contact a Chicago Residential Real Estate Lawyer Today

Book a consultation and learn more about how the Law Office of Alexis Hart McDowell can help you with the process of selling your home. 

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