Chicago | Kenosha County - Real Estate Home Buyer Agents

Harty Group

Rich Harty: 847.514.4927
John Harty: 847.514.4926
hartygroup@gmail.com




Why to Use an Exclusive Buyer Agent in Chicago Area

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Chicago Exclusive Buyer Agent

Exclusive Buyer Agents key to home-buying success

Are you ready to buy a Chicago area home this summer? Harty Realty Group is made up of Exclusive Buyer Agents, which means that we only serve the buyer! By working with an Exclusive Buyer Agent, you can feel confident that your needs and concerns are met, as there are no conflict of interests.

What do we mean by this? Suppose that in a court case, the prosecuting attorney and defense attorney are the same person, or from the same law firm. That would mean that since the attorney, or the firm, would win one way or the other, both clients’ needs may be ignored or go unmet.

Same is true for real estate. If you have a real estate agent who represents buyers and sellers, that agent will most likely push the listings that they represent, as they will reap a larger reward. They might only show you some of the listings on the market, or make their listings look or sound better than others. The only way to know if an agent is solely looking out for your interests is to ask if they have listings or if they ever represent sellers. If they do, they are not an Exclusive Buyer Agent.

Harty Realty Group is solely made up of Exclusive Buyer Agents, which means we only represent our homebuyer clients, so that there are no conflicts of interest! When you work with us, you know your needs are being met.

Here are some reasons to work with an Exclusive Buyer Agent:

  • We will show you any home on the market, including new construction, FSBO homes, bank-owned properties, any and all the homes available to you!
  • We will keep your motives and budget confidential.
  • We will protect your best interests throughout all stages of the home-buying process.
  • We will educate you about market conditions and the home-buying process.
  • We will perform market price comparisons to protect you from over-paying.
  • We will negotiate exclusively on your behalf, to help you obtain the best price and terms.
  • We will be proactive toward your needs at all times.
  • We will point out material issues or defects that may affect your interests regarding the property, or the contractual terms.
  • We will perform our fiduciary duties with the highest level of integrity!

Buying a Chicago area home is one of the biggest financial and personal investments you’ll ever make, if not the biggest! Work with a Chicago real estate agent who has your best interests at heart, who will show you every home available in the Chicago real estate market, who will negotiate on your behalf and who will ensure that you don’t overpay for a house without realizing it.

Harty Realty Group is here for you! When you’re ready to begin searching for your dream home in the Chicago real estate market, contact us. We’re your Exclusive Buyer Agents, standing by, ready to put your interests above all others!

Harty Realty Group
Chicagoland’s Premier Buyer Agent
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Community Spotlight: Mount Prospect

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Mount Prospect

Make Mount Prospect, IL Your Home!

Harty Realty Group works with homebuyers in numerous Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, and we’d like to introduce you to each one. This well help you make an informed decision when deciding which Chicago area suburb to purchase a home in. Today, let’s talk about Mount Prospect.

Mount Prospect, IL is located 22 miles northwest of Chicago in Cook County, with around 60,000 residents. If you’re looking for a community that offers a small-town atmosphere, but also big-city amenities, this is a great option! In your Mount Prospect home, you can enjoy tree-lined residential streets, picturesque parks and award-winning schools.

Drive, walk or bike to the revitalized downtown area of Mount Prospect and you have a large variety or retail stores and dining options to enjoy. Randhurst Village was once the first enclosed regional mall in the Chicago area when it opened in 1962! Now, it is an open-air mixed-use center, home to a hotel, cinema, well-known retailers and restaurants.

This combination of small-town charm, great schools, safe neighborhoods, local entrepreneurs and big-name businesses may be why Business Week and Money Magazine both recognized Mount Prospect as a great place to live!

There are always great community events taking place throughout Mount Prospect, to help you become acquainted with other residents in the area. For example, this week, the Mount Prospect Public Library is celebrating National Library Week with a slew of events and activities at the library. This Friday is an Easter Egg Hunt at the Mount Prospect Ice Arena. Sunday, enjoy Easter brunch options around town. Tuesday is Opera for Everyone. April 22 is a book sale and an Earth Day celebration.

This year, there are even more events taking place in the community, as a way to celebrate Mount Prospect turning 100 in February! Look forward to more art around town, historical events, holiday festivals and more in the coming months. There is even a special website to celebrate the Mount Prospect Centennial.

Do you love notoriety in Hollywood films? In the popular 1980’s movie, The Blues Brothers, set in Chicago, the car they ride in is described as being bought at auction from the Mount Prospect Police Department.

Whether you work in Mount Prospect, Chicago or a surrounding suburb, commuting from Mount Prospect is a breeze. Two interstate highways connect, along with two commuter rail systems. Getting to O’Hare International Airport is a quick drive as well.

Ready to purchase a home in Mount Prospect? Harty Realty Group is comprised of Exclusive Buyer’s Agents, ready to help you through the entire home-buying process in the Chicago area real estate market! We can help you find the perfect home here or any of Chicago’s other prime communities.

Ready to find your dream home? Contact Harty Realty Group to get started!

Harty Realty Group
Chicagoland’s Premier Buyer Agent
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5 Steps to Follow as a Smart Chicagoland Buyer

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Chicagoland Homebuyers

Chicagoland Home-buying Tips

When you are ready to buy a Chicagoland home, Harty Realty Group is ready to help! Now is a great time to buy. Mortgage rates have fallen for six consecutive weeks and are sitting at 3.65 percent for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. However, industry experts still predict that rates will increase by the end of this year. Home prices are increasing too, with no end in sight. The sooner you buy, the better!

As your Exclusive Buyer Agents in the Chicagoland real estate market, Harty Realty Group exclusively works with you to find the right home. To help you prepare for the financial side of the home-buying process, here are some steps that Credit.com recommends:

1. Tackle your credit. Good news for buyers! Credit standards are loosening. The average FICO score among buyers was 730, but decreased to 722 by the end of 2015. Still, the higher your score, the better off you are with interest rates and mortgage insurance. To improve your score, obtain free copies of your credit report each year, and dispute any errors you find. Pay your bills on time and keep your credit card balances under 30 percent of your limit, or ideally, 10 percent.

2. Explore options. Take time to educate yourself about the home-buying process before leaping in. Learn about the major types of mortgages, the upfront costs of buying, current home prices in the area, neighborhood options, what you should look for in a home, home inspection guides, closing information and more. As your Exclusive Buyer Agents, we can help you understand the entire process, which takes a lot of the stress and work out of the equation!

3. Get preapproved. Before you begin searching for the Chicagoland home of your dreams, get preapproved by a mortgage lender! This way, you won’t be shopping for homes that are outside of your financial means. Also, sellers will know that you’re a serious home-buying candidate, and therefore, the seller and seller’s agent will take you more seriously.

4. Be patient, but ready. There is no set timetable for buying a home. It could take a long time to close on a home, or it could happen very quickly. This depends how fast the seller wants to move, how many offers they receive, the closing terms each of you have, the results of a home inspection, and how busy and backed up the mortgage professionals are that you’re working with.

5. Avoid detours. Just because you’re preapproved doesn’t mean you’re promised a loan. While searching for a Chicagoland home, keep your credit score high and spending low. Don’t invest in any expensive purchases, change jobs, or move money around to different accounts. These are all considered red flags to mortgage lenders.

Harty Realty Group is ready when you are to begin the home-buying process. Contact us today, your Exclusive Buyer Agents!

Harty Realty Group
Chicagoland’s Premier Buyer Agent
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How to Save Money for a Down Payment

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Chicago Homebuyers

Money-Saving Tips for  Buyers

Are you thinking about buying a Chicagoland home this winter? As your Exclusive Buyer Agents in the Chicago real estate market, we’re here to tell you that now is a great time to buy. As KCM Crew pointed out recently, rents increased more last year than they have since before the recession, and no end is in sight. The time to switch to homeownership is now!

Are you wanting to buy, but need to pay off some debt or save up more for a down payment before you’re able to do so? Here are some great money-saving tips from U.S. News:

  1. Shop around for deals. You don’t have to stick with the same companies that you’ve always used, just because you’ve always used them. If you still have cable, research some of the lowest rates available, and then negotiate with your current company to try to get a lower rate. If they don’t budge, switch to the cheaper company. Or, give up cable altogether and enjoy watching Netflix or YouTuble! Do the same with your phone company.
  2. Buy used or refurbished. Before you buy anything new, do some research to see if you can’t find it used or refurbished first. This goes for electronics, furniture, appliances, recreational items, cars, clothes, accessories and more. Craigslist, eBay and thrift shops are great places to start. When you’re looking to earn some money, you can try selling your used items in these places as well!
  3. Go to the library. Stop purchasing books when you can sign up for a free library card, and then take out books for free. Plus, libraries don’t just have physical books anymore. They typically have an impressive selection of ebooks as well, along with DVDs of TV shows and movies. Libraries also host lots of events, such as movie nights or craft nights for kids, and they’re usually free!
  4. Switch banks. If you’re currently with a bank that has numerous fees, switch to one that is fee-free. You actually have many options! There are online-only banks, credit unions, small-town banks and more that are much more lenient with fees. It’s worth looking into.

As the U.S. News article states, the most important step of all is to get clear on your values and spend according to them. We often spend money carelessly because we aren’t paying attention to where we’re spending it! If buying a Chicagoland home is high on your to-do list, keep track of all of your spending and cut wherever possible.

Walk or bike, and save gas. Eat at home instead of dining out. Brew your own coffee. Get a temporary roommate. There are many options!

Also, we suggest contacting a local mortgage lender to see what sort of mortgage options you’re qualified for right now. Standards have eased, so you might be surprised!

When ready to buy a Chicagoland home, or if you have questions, contact us, your Exclusive Buyer Agents!

Harty Realty Group
Chicagoland’s Premier Buyer Agent
Visit Our Website
Search Chicagoland Homes
Like Us On Facebook
Contact Us

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John Harty
Rich Harty
    

CONTACT INFORMATION

Harty Realty Group
699 Park Avenue West
Highland Park, IL 60035
(847) 266-8242
Rich: (847) 514-4927 | John: (847) 514-4926
Email: Ihartygroup@gmail.com