If you've been watching listings for a while and haven't called anyone yet, I get it. You don't want to end up with an agent who's going to pressure you into something before you're ready. That's not how I work.
When you're ready to talk, we start with questions. What kind of home are you looking for? What neighborhood, what building, what block? What are the non-negotiables and what are the nice-to-haves? I listen before I send a single listing.
Most buyers focus on the unit. I focus on everything around it. The building's financial health, the real cost of the commute, the things that don't show up on Redfin but absolutely affect your life after closing.
A condo purchase isn't just a unit. It's a share in the building it sits in. I look at HOA reserves before anything else. Are they sufficient for the size and age of the building? A building with three months of reserves and deferred maintenance isn't a deal. It's a liability. I'll tell you the difference before you make an offer.
Twenty minutes in city traffic is not the same as twenty minutes on the Metra. It's not the same as twenty minutes on the CTA. If you're relocating or moving to a new part of the corridor, we'll map out what your actual daily life looks like from that address, including your commute, your remote work setup, and yes, your proximity to the elevator if that matters to you. It often does.
Most buyers don't know what a special assessment is until they're staring at one. I'll explain how they work, how to spot a building that's likely to have one, and how to factor that risk into your decision before you're under contract.
