Glossary

Appraiser An appraiser is a professional that is certified and licensed by each State to properly assess the value of a property and provide their clients with an appraisal report for the property. According to the Appraisal Institute, an association of professional real estate appraisers, a qualified appraiser should be licensed or certified—as required in all 50 states—and be familiar with the local area. Per federal regulations, the appraiser must be impartial and have no direct or indirect interest in the transaction.

Closing Costs After saving for a down payment, house hunting and applying for a mortgage, closing costs can come as an unpleasant surprise. ​ What are Closing Costs? Closing costs include the myriad fees for the services and expenses required to finalize a mortgage. You’ll have to pay closing costs whether you buy a home or refinance. Most of the closing costs fall on the buyer, but the seller typically has to pay a few, too, such as the real estate agent’s commission. (Buying a home for the first time? See our tips for first-time home buyers.) ​ How much are closing costs? Average closing costs for the buyer run between about 2% and 5% of the loan amount. That means, on a $300,000 home purchase, you would pay from $6,000 to $15,000 in closing costs. The most cost-effective way to cover your closing costs is to pay them out-of-pocket as a one-time expense. You may be able to finance them by folding them into the loan, if the lender allows, but then you’ll pay interest on those costs through the life of the mortgage. When buying a home, you can comparison shop and negotiate some of the fees to lower your closing costs. And some states, counties and cities offer low-interest loan programs or grants to help first-time home buyers with closing costs. Check with your local government to see what’s available. Your lender is required to outline your closing costs in the Loan Estimate you receive when you first apply for the loan and in the Closing Disclosure document you receive in the days before the settlement. Review them closely and ask questions about anything you don’t understand. ​ List of Closing Costs (may not be comprehensive depending on the situation)​ Property-related fees Appraisal fee: It’s important to a lender to know if the property is worth as much as the amount you want to borrow. This is for two reasons: The lender needs to verify the amount you need for a loan is justified and make sure it can recoup the value of the home if you default on your loan. The average cost of a home appraisal by a certified professional appraiser ranges between $300 and $400. Home inspection: Most lenders require a home inspection, especially if you’re getting a government-backed mortgage, such as an FHA loan insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Before lending you hundreds of thousands of dollars, a bank needs to make sure the home is structurally sound and in good enough shape to live in. If the inspection turns up troubling results, you may be able to negotiate a lower sale price. But depending on how severe the problems are, you have the option to back out of your contract if you and the seller can’t come to an agreement on how to fix the issues. Home inspection fees, on average, range from $300 to $500. Loan-related fees Application fee: This covers the cost of processing your request for a new loan and includes costs such as credit checks and administrative expenses. The application fee varies depending on the lender and the amount of work it takes to process your loan application. Assumption fee: If the seller has an assumable mortgage and you take over the remaining balance of the loan, you may be charged a variable fee based on the balance. Attorney’s fees: Some states require an attorney to be present at the closing of a real estate purchase. The fee will vary depending on the number of hours the attorney works for you. Prepaid interest: Most lenders require buyers to pay the interest that accrues on the mortgage between the date of settlement and the first monthly payment due date, so be prepared to pay that amount at closing; it will depend on your loan size. Loan origination fee: This is a big one. It’s also known as an underwriting fee, administrative fee or processing fee. The loan origination fee is a charge by the lender for evaluating and preparing your mortgage loan. This can cover document preparation, notary fees and the lender’s attorney fees. Expect to pay about 0.5% of the amount you’re borrowing. A $300,000 loan, for example, would result in a loan origination fee of $1,500. Discount points: By paying discount points, you reduce the interest rate you pay over the life of your loan, which results in more competitive mortgage rates. The cost of one point equals 1% of the loan amount. So for a loan of $250,000, a 1-point payment would be $2,500. Generally, paying points is worthwhile only if you plan to stay in the home for a long time. Otherwise, the upfront cost isn’t worth it. Mortgage broker fee: If you work with a mortgage broker to find a loan, the broker will usually charge a commission as a percentage of the loan amount. The commission averages from 0.5% to 2.75% of the home’s purchase price Mortgage Insurance Fees Mortgage insurance application fee: If you make a down payment of less than 20%, you may have to get private mortgage insurance. (PMI insures the lender in case you default; it doesn't insure the home.) The application fee varies by lender. Upfront mortgage insurance: Some lenders require borrowers to pay the first year’s mortgage insurance premium upfront, while others ask for a lump-sum payment that covers the life of the loan. Expect to pay from 0.55% to 2.25% of the purchase price for mortgage insurance, according to Genworth, Ginnie Mae and the Urban Institute. FHA, VA and USDA fees: If your loan is insured by the Federal Housing Administration, you’ll have to pay FHA mortgage insurance premiums; if it’s guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Department of Agriculture, you’ll pay guarantee fees. In addition to monthly premiums, the FHA requires an upfront premium payment of 1.75% of the loan amount. The USDA loan upfront guarantee fee is 1%. VA loan guarantee fees range from 1.25% to 3.3% of the loan amount, depending on the size of your down payment. Property taxes, annual fees and insurance Property taxes: Buyers typically pay two months’ worth of city and county property taxes at closing. Annual assessments: If your condo or homeowners association requires an annual fee, you might have to pay it upfront in one lump sum. Homeowners insurance premium: Usually, your lender requires that you purchase homeowner’s insurance before settlement, which covers the property in case of vandalism, damage and so on. Some condo associations include insurance in the monthly condo fee. The amount varies depending on where you live and your home’s value. Title Fees Title search fee: A title search is conducted to ensure that the person selling the house actually owns it and that there are no outstanding claims or liens against the property. This can be fairly labor-intensive, especially if the real estate records aren’t computerized. Title search fees are about $200, but can vary among title companies by region. The search fee may be included in the cost of title insurance. Lender’s title insurance: Most lenders require what’s called a loan policy; it protects them in case there’s an error in the title search and someone makes a claim of ownership on the property after it’s sold. Coverage lasts until the loan is paid off. Owner’s title insurance: You should also consider purchasing title insurance to protect yourself in case title problems or claims are made on your home after closing. The owner's coverage lasts as long as you or your heirs own the property. The cost of the owner’s policy is about 0.5% to 1% of the purchase price, according to the American Land Title Association. Whether the buyer or seller pays for title insurance varies by region. A discount is sometimes offered when both the lender’s and owner’s policies are purchased at the same time. Mortgage Closing Documents With so many closing costs to consider, it’s obvious you’ll face a lot of paperwork just prior to and during the loan signing. Two of the most important closing documents are the Loan Estimate and the Closing Disclosure. You’ll receive the Loan Estimate three days after applying with a lender. It will officially detail all fees, the interest rate and the other costs to close your loan. It’s legally binding, so you’ll want to read it carefully. Then, three days from loan settlement and prior to making the big commitment, you’ll receive the Closing Disclosure from your lender. It confirms — or makes minor adjustments to — what you saw on the Loan Estimate. Again, it’s worth a big cup of coffee and a thorough review. ​ Mortgage closing costs: summary Appraisal fee ($300-$400) Home inspection ($300-$500) Application fee (varies) Assumption fee (varies) Attorney’s fee (hourly or flat fee) Prepaid interest (based on loan amount) Origination fee (about 0.5% of loan amount) Discount points (1 point costs 1% of the loan amount) Mortgage broker fee (0.50% to 2.75%) Mortgage insurance application fee (varies) Upfront mortgage insurance (0.55% to 2.25%) FHA, VA and USDA fees (1% to 3.3%) Property taxes (two months’ worth) Upfront HOA fee (varies) Homeowners insurance (depends on home value and location) Title search fee (about $200) Lender’s title insurance (varies) Owner’s title insurance (0.5% to 1% of purchase price)

Design Styles Need help figuring out where to start? FREE CONSULTATION Where to Start? Prior to reaching out to several remodeling services, we're happy to give you advice on how much you might expect to pay for your home update. ​ In our investment business, we work with several trusted construction and remodeling companies and we love sharing information with homeowners. ​ We can also help you get estimates from various vendors anonymously so that you don't get bombarded with sales calls. ​ Get an estimate by filling out the form, call/text 773-389-5166 , or email us at remodeling@padscouts.com First and Last Name Email Description Phone Number (Optional) Upload up to 5 pictures (15mb or less) Select File Get Estimate Understand Your Reason The reason for why you want to start a home improvement or remodeling project is very important to how we advise you on the project. ​ There are different factors to consider depending on the reason for the renovation. For example, an improvement project to increase the home's value is different than building out your forever home concept. Increase Value Forever Home Functionality Style Update Process Gather Information - Create a mood board Get Virtual Estimate - Call Consultation or Physical Estimate With Estimator(s) - Design Process & Receive Proposal(s) Accept Proposal & Sign Agreement Schedule Construction Dates Execute Construction Final Walkthrough & Sign-off Completion Timeline Budget Materials Design Styles Learn More Services The reason for why you want to start a home improvement or remodeling project is very important to how we advise you on the project. Timeline Budget Scope of Work Expectations Anchor 1

Contingency of Sale If your proposal says, "This offer is contingent upon (or subject to) a certain event", you're saying you will go through with the purchase only if that event occurs. The following are two common contingencies contained in a purchase offer: Financing. You, the buyer, must be able to get specific financing from a lending institution . If you can't secure the loan, you will not be bound by the contract. Home inspection . The property must get a satisfactory report by a home inspector "within 10 days after acceptance of the offer" (for example). The seller must wait 10 days to see if the inspector submits a report that satisfies you. If not, the contract would become void. Again, make sure all inspection conditions are detailed in the written contract. The above two examples are contingencies that are common for residential real estate home purchases. However, contingencies can be more specific to your situation. And, technically, you can write in any contingency you would like in an offer or what the Seller would like to add in the counter offer . However, contingencies are only valid for a contract if both the buyer and the seller agree and accept the offer.

Home Selling Understand the Home Sale Process Selling your property is an important transaction. ​ A home sale includes multiple third party involvement, even if you don't use an agent. Understanding all of their roles is important to ensure a smooth transaction. Home Selling Steps Step 1: Find A Listing Agent Professional Involved: Realtor ​ The 1st Step to the home selling process is to find a listing agent that will serve your best interest. A good listing agent will be prepared to present a Competitive Market Analysis, and a provide marketing strategy. If you choose to work with the Realtor, you will sign a Listing Agreement . Step 2: Pick A List Price Professional Involved: Realtor ​ The 2nd step occurs after you sign a listing agreement where you to select a listing price. Your Realtor can help you decide the right pricing strategy and to calculate your proceeds for different prices. But, at the end of the day, it is your home and you can select the price. Steps 3: Marketing Plan Professional Involved: Realtor ​ The 3rd step involves you and your Realtor coming up with a plan to market your property. This is where you will decide if you'd like professional photography, videography, 3D tour, and where your listing will be displayed (i.e. Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.) Step 4: Prepare Home Professionals Involved: Realtor ​ The 4th Step is your responsibility. Your Realtor can provide you with guidelines and details to help your property achieve a sellable look. Preparations include cleaning the exterior/interior, touch-up paint, removing personal decorations, eliminating pet odors, etc. Step 5: Show Your Home Professionals Involved: Realtor ​ The 5th Step is where buyers will come and see your home. Most showings are conducted by your Realtor or the buyer's Realtor. Your Realtor will likely use a lockbox to allow the Buyer's Realtors access. You are in control of the scheduling. Step 6: Negotiate Final Price Professionals Involved: Your Realtor Buyer's Realtor ​ The 6th Step occurs when a Buyer submits an Offer . Your Realtor will help guide you on how to negotiate the price. They will be the liaison to negotiate on your behalf. In this step, you will also negotiate the contingencies for the contract. Step 7: Escrow & Title Report Professionals Involved: Realtor Mortgage Professional Real Estate Attorney Title Company ​ The 7th Step occurs after the offer is accepted. The buyer's earnest money will be placed into an escrow account and your realtor will order a title search . Step 8: Schedule Appraiser Professionals Involved: Realtor Mortgage Professional Appraiser ​ The 8th Step is when the mortgage appraiser schedules an appointment with you to appraise the value of the property. The buyer is entitled to back out if appraisal results are negative. Step 9: Home Inspection Professionals Involved: Realtor Home Inspector Real Estate Attorney ​ The 9th Step is where the home inspector conducts a home inspection . You may need be prepared to negotiate with the buyer if there are issues that need to be addressed because of the contingencies in the contract . Step 10: Closing Professionals Involved: Realtor Real Estate Attorney Mortgage Professional Title Company ​ The 10th step is the closing. Your agent will walk you through the documentation. The title company will transfer the property deed and finalize the documents and cut the checks to the respective parties.

Mortgage Professionals There are four main types of mortgage companies where you can apply and receive a mortgage loan, and the one that works best for you will depend on your situation: ​ Banks and Mortgage Bankers - This is a great option if you prefer to have all of your financial accounts in one place; however, it may take longer to close your loan. Additionally, they may not offer government-backed loans (for example, FHA, VA, or USDA home loans). Perhaps the most common of all financial institutions are banks. Banks get their money from investors and its own customers. In addition to offering checking and savings and investment options, banks will often offer different types of mortgage loans for qualified borrowers. For many people, their local bank is the first and possibly only financial institution they will ever do business with. ​ Credit Unions - Credit unions usually offer loans only to their members. They may have lower costs and interest rates, but like banks, they may take longer to close. Like banks, they may not offer government-backed loans. Credit unions are very similar to banks, except that they are owned by their account holders, known as members. These institutions usually require membership and get funds from their members. Similar to their bank counterparts, credit unions offer a range of services to their members such as depository accounts for checking, savings, and retirement. As with banks, credit union members will often utilize their institution as a one-stop shop, obtaining their mortgage loan, as well as all their other banking needs at the same place. ​ Mortgage Lenders - Unlike banks and credit unions, which offer a variety of financial services, mortgage lenders exist for the sole purpose of real estate loans. Unlike banks and credit unions, most mortgage lenders can take care of the entire process “in-house.” This can shorten the time frame involved with obtaining a mortgage. A mortgage lender is a financial institution, similar to a bank, that originates and funds loans in their own name. Unlike banks and credit unions, mortgage lenders exist for the sole purpose of making loans against real estate. Most mortgage lenders do not service, or “keep”, their loans. Instead, lenders sell their loans to banks or servicing companies. These servicers then take on the job of collecting payments on a monthly basis. Mortgage lenders get their money from banks, also known as investors. Unlike banks and credit unions, most lenders do all their own loan processing, underwriting and closing functions “in-house.” They can take care of the entire process with internal staff. In-house operations shorten the time frame involved with obtaining a mortgage loan. ​ Mortgage Brokers - Mortgage brokers do not lend money directly; rather they have access to many different lenders and loan programs. This can give you access to more options. But they do not have as much control over the speed of a loan approval as a bank or mortgage lender. A mortgage broker is essentially a “middleman” between the homeowner and bank. Mortgage brokers do not lend money directly. Brokers have access to many lenders, as well as many different loan programs. In some cases, especially when your credit isn’t perfect, a mortgage broker can shop around to find a home loan that isn’t offered by a bank, credit union, or even a lender. Home buyers with special income types, lower credit, or are looking at a unique property might inquire at a broker first. Or, if your home bank or credit union can’t approve you, your next step is to talk to mortgage companies and brokers.

Showings Showings are scheduled between buyers and sellers so that a prospective buyer can tour the property. The coordination for the showings is generally coordinated between the respective Realtors, with the input of the buyer and seller of course. ​ For the Seller: The Realtor will usually provide a Lockbox where a key for the property will be placed. Either your Realtor or the Buyer’s Realtor will escort the Buyer through your home Make sure to prepare your property for a showing and to also secure your valuables. It is recommended that Sellers do not leave anything out. Although a Realtor will be present during the showing, it is always better to be safe and secure your items. When a Buyer and the Buyer’s Realtor has coordinated a showing with a Seller, the Realtor will receive a Lockbox code to open the Lockbox to receive the key and gain access to the property. ​ For the Buyer: Your Realtor can either coordinate an individual property showing or schedule multiple properties in one day. It is usually a lot more efficient to see multiple properties in a day. Only a Realtor is able to receive a Lockbox code from the Seller’s Lockbox per the Illinois regulations. ​ ​

1606 S Ashland Ave Unit C-1, Chicago, IL 60608 4,675 SF of Retail Space Available Space: 4,675 SF Year Built: 2023 Sprinkler System: Fire Extinguisher/s, Smoke or Fire Protectors, Sprinklers-Wet, Stand Pipe, Carbon Monoxide Detector(s) Air Conditioning: Central Air Electricity: Circuit Breakers, Separate Meters, 201-600 Construction: Brick Foundation: Concrete Zoning: C1-2, Chicago Stunning Pilsen condo-quality new construction, available September 1st! 1622sq of modern, spacious, and bright 3BD/2BA with 1 garage spot included. Unit features 11' ceilings, 9' doors, oversized floor to ceiling windows, central air and heat, custom lighting, vinyl luxury plank floors throughout, wide open kitchen/ living/ dining space, modern kitchen cabinets, quartz countertop, GE ss appliances, contemporary bathroom tiles and fixtures, vast number of closets and private balcony. 2nd bedroom with large full bath presenting free standing tub, shower, and double vanities. In unit full size site by site washer & dryer. Application fee is $50 per adult applicant. Non-refundable move-in fee is $350 per adult tenant. Non-refundable pet fee is $350. 1 pet per unit under 35lbs allowed. Tenant pays heat/ cooking gas and electric. No security deposit. Minimum credit score requirement - 750. 1 year lease minimum. The building is within walking distance of Pink Line, great restaurants, convenience stores, art galleries, boutique shops, park and many more. Quick access to expressway, Medical District and UIC. DESCRIPTION 1606 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60608 Residential Units Available Units: 24 Floors: 8 units on each floor (2nd, 3rd, 4th) Pricing: 2nd Floor Units: $3,000/mo 3rd Floor Units: $3,200/mo 4th Floor Units: $3,400/mo Request More Information on 1606 S Ashland Ave Unit C-1 First Name Last Name Email Phone Write a message Submit Thanks for submitting!

Home Remodeling Speak with a professional today about your project! FREE CONSULTATION First and Last Name Email Description Phone Number (Optional) Upload up to 5 pictures (15mb or less) Select File Get Estimate Services Kitchen New countertops, appliances, cabinets, sinks, and completely new redesigns.​ Bathroom New bath, shower, vanity, mirrors, lighting, sinks, and complete redesigns. Exteriors New Gutters, Deck, Patio, Painting, Windows, Sidings, Roof Basements Flooring, drywall, painting, and fully finished basements Where to Start? Prior to reaching out to several remodeling services, we're happy to give you advice on how much you might expect to pay for your home update. ​ In our investment business, we work with several trusted construction and remodeling companies and we love sharing information with homeowners. ​ We can also help you get estimates from various vendors anonymously so that you don't get bombarded with sales calls. ​ Get an estimate by filling out the form, call/text 773-389-5166 , or email us at remodeling@padscouts.com TIMELINE BUDGET SCOPE OF WORK EXPECTATIONS Process Gather Information - Room Measurements & Mood Board Get Estimate - Virtual, Call, or Physical Estimate Design Process (Optional) & Receive Proposal(s) Accept & Sign Agreement Schedule Construction Dates Execute Construction Final Walkthrough & Sign-off Completion Timeline Budget Materials Design Understand Your Reason The reason for why you want to start a home improvement or remodeling project is very important to how we advise you on the project. ​ There are different factors to consider depending on the reason for the renovation. For example, an improvement project to increase the home's value is different than building out your forever home concept. Increase Value Forever Home Functionality Style Update First and Last Name Email Description Phone Number (Optional) Upload up to 5 pictures (15mb or less) Select File Get Estimate Our Partners We work with a variety of local contractors and companies to help bring our projects to life. ​ ​ If you'd like our recommendations, enter your project details into the estimate form and someone from our team will speak with you to determine which contractors may be a good fit for your project. We strive to get you a few recommendations so that you have more than one option!

Earnest Money ​ Earnest money is an amount paid in to escrow early in the home purchase process to essentially put a “hold” on the property for the buyer. The money is deposited once an offer has been accepted . It’s a way of showing serious intent that the buyer is going to stay true to their offer, and protects sellers from having to deal with buyers putting out multiple offers or going into negotiations on multiple properties. At closing, the earnest money payment is generally taken out of escrow and put toward the buyer’s down payment. ​ A REALTOR®, title company, or an attorney can usually hold this deposit. The amount varies from community to community, and it becomes part of your down payment. ​

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