Q. Do I need an attorney? How much do you charge?
A. With so much at stake, not hiring an attorney would be foolish. Buyers need an experienced attorney to look out for their interests. Read the 10 reasons for buyers to hire an attorney. Bradford Miller Law, P.C., charges $625 for a buyer’s closing. And there is no fee if the transaction does not go through.
Q. How do I hire you for my closing?
A. Call our office — toll free 312-238-9298 — and fax or email us the contract. Our fax number is 312-379-3163. You can also contact our law firm online.
Q. If my home inspector find things wrong with the property, does the seller have to fix them?
A. No. The seller is not required to make the repairs. We may request that the repairs be done by the seller but the seller is not required to repair them. As the buyer, you may have the opportunity to cancel the contract and have your earnest money returned should we not come to an agreement on the repairs needed.
Q. What if I cannot get approved for a mortgage?
A. Under normal circumstances, you will be able to cancel the contract and have your earnest money returned.
Q. How much money do I need to put down as a down payment?
A. This is a question to ask your loan officer/mortgage broker. However, there are programs out there where you can put down as little as 10 percent.
Q. What is earnest money?
A. Earnest money is used as a way to “hold” a property. It shows the seller that you are serious about buying the property. In some circumstances, you can forfeit your earnest money to the seller; however, that typically only occurs when you try to back out of the transaction at the last minute. Your attorney should help make sure this never happens.
Q. Where does my earnest money go toward?
A. It will go toward your down payment and closing costs.
Q. What is a typical timeline for this kind of transaction?
A. Read about the buyers general timeline.
Q. What is the final walk-through?
A. The final walk-through usually takes place the day before closing. Some of the purposes of the final walk-through include (1) making sure any agreed repairs have been made, (2) confirming that the appliances, furnace, hot water heater, etc. are still working, (3) confirming that any personal property of the seller(s) have been removed and (4) checking for any new damage due to the seller(s) moving out or other reasons. The final walk-through is important because after the closing takes place, it is extremely hard to get the parties back together if something went wrong.
To schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced Chicago real estate lawyer, contact our office online or call us toll free at 312-238-9298. Meetings can be set up for weekdays, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. We charge reasonable fees for all services.
Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship. Please consult an attorney before acting on any information.
Bradford Miller Law, P.C.
10 S. LaSalle, Suite 2920
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-238-9298
Fax: 312-379-3163
Chicago Office
