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Chicagoland Home Buyers FAQ: Your Most Asked Buying Questions, Answered
Whether this is your first home or your fourth, buying comes with a lot of questions, and most of them do not have a simple yes or no answer. Below are the ones I hear most often from buyers across the city and suburbs, answered honestly and without the sales pitch. If you do not see what you are looking for, reach out directly. I am always happy to talk through your specific situation. How much do I actually need for a down payment? Less than most people think. Conventional

Staci Yesner
Aug 114 min read


Condo Mortgage Rules Just Changed for 2026, and There's a New Underwriter at Your Closing Table
vintage Chicago condo building exterior affected by new Fannie Mae reserve requirements If you're buying or selling a condo right now, there's someone new sitting in on the deal. You've never met them. They've never seen the unit. But as of this month, they have more say over whether your sale closes than almost anyone else in the room. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac just finished rolling out the biggest change to condo lending in years, and the last piece of it landed August 3.

Staci Yesner
Aug 53 min read


Chicagoland Home Sellers FAQ: Your Most Asked Selling Questions, Answered
Whether you are selling the first home you ever bought, helping a parent let go of a place full of memories, or moving on to the next chapter of your own life, selling comes with a lot of questions. This Chicagoland home sellers FAQ covers the ones I hear most often from sellers across the city and suburbs, answered honestly and without the sales pitch. If you do not see what you are looking for, reach out directly. I am always happy to talk through your specific situation. C

Staci Yesner
Jul 276 min read


40 Ways to Win a Multiple Offer Situation in Chicago
Let's be honest. Being a buyer navigating multiple offer situations in the Chicago market right now is not always fun. In competitive neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and Logan Square, good homes go fast. Multiple offers happen regularly. And the buyers who win are not always the ones who offered the most money. They're the ones who made the most compelling case overall. I've seen buyers write offer after offer and walk away empty-handed, not because they did anythi

Staci Yesner
Jun 177 min read


Your Most Asked Chicago Real Estate Questions, Answered
Whether you are buying your first home, relocating to Chicagoland, or helping a parent navigate their next move, you probably have questions. Good. Questions are how you make confident decisions. Below are the ones I hear most often, answered honestly and without the sales pitch. If you do not see what you are looking for, reach out directly. I am always happy to talk through your specific situation. What is a Certified Senior Advisor in real estate? A Certified Senior Adviso

Staci Yesner
Jun 157 min read


How to Find the Right Real Estate Agent in Chicago and the Suburbs
A First Time Buyer’s Guide If you’re searching for a real estate agent in Chicago or the Chicago suburbs, you’ve probably already done a lot of research. You’ve compared neighborhoods. Looked at condos. Googled closing costs. Searched first time home buyer programs in Illinois. Now you’re asking: How do I choose the right Chicago realtor? If you’re buying your first home, that decision shapes everything. What First Time Buyers in Chicago Actually Need First time buyers are no

Staci Yesner
Mar 93 min read
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