Client Resource Center
Home Buying Resources
Guidance and checklists to help you feel prepared and confident at every step of your purchase.
Get ready before you shop
The best time to prepare is before you fall in love with a house. Knowing your numbers and having your team lined up means you can move fast when the right one shows up.
First things first
Your get-ready checklist
- Talk to a lender and get fully pre-approved
- Decide on a comfortable monthly payment, not just a max price
- Set aside money for earnest money, closing costs, and moving
- Choose a real estate attorney (most Illinois buyers use one)
- Make a list of must-haves vs. nice-to-haves
- Think through your timing: lease end, current home, school year
For your lender
What to have handy
- Two years of W-2s or tax returns
- Recent pay stubs
- Two months of bank statements
- Photo ID
- Info on any other debts or assets
Know your real number
Your budget is more than the price
Property taxes
Lake County taxes vary a lot from town to town and even street to street. I'll show you the real tax bill on every home we look at.
HOA and insurance
Some neighborhoods have HOA dues and some don't. Homeowners insurance also changes with the age and condition of the home.
Cash to close
Plan for your down payment, earnest money, inspection, attorney, and lender fees. Your lender can give you a full estimate.
Protect your approval
Until we close, please don't…
- Open new credit cards or loans
- Buy a car or big-ticket furniture on credit
- Change jobs without talking to your lender first
- Move large amounts of money without a paper trail
- Miss any payments
If anything changes with your job, credit, or savings, call your lender before you do it.
Pre-approval isn't just paperwork. It's what tells a seller you're serious, and it tells you exactly what's comfortable.
While you're doing this
What I'm doing behind the scenes
- Connecting you with a lender I trust
- Setting up your custom home search
- Watching for Compass Coming Soon and Private Exclusive homes
- Sharing what homes are really selling for in your areas