Chicago Luxe Group

10/14/2026

Buying a Chicago condo? Look beyond the finishes.

Before you commit, ask about the building’s finances—not just the unit’s monthly assessment. How many owners are behind? How much is owed? Are any units in foreclosure? Does the unit you’re buying have an unpaid balance?

Then review reserves, special assessments, major repairs, insurance, litigation, rental restrictions and the building’s eligibility for your loan.

Save this 24-question checklist and bring it to your attorney and lender. A beautiful unit deserves a well-informed decision.

Planning a move in Chicago or the North Shore? Call or text Mike: 872-246-7666.

Michael DiGiovanni
Chicago Luxe Group | powered by Real Broker, LLC
Equal Housing Opportunity

Educational checklist; your attorney, lender and insurance professional can help apply the answers to your purchase.

10/14/2026

Buying a Chicago condo? Look beyond the finishes.

Before you commit, ask about the building’s finances—not just the unit’s monthly assessment. How many owners are behind? How much is owed? Are any units in foreclosure? Does the unit you’re buying have an unpaid balance?

Then review reserves, special assessments, major repairs, insurance, litigation, rental restrictions and the building’s eligibility for your loan.

Save this 24-question checklist and bring it to your attorney and lender. A beautiful unit deserves a well-informed decision.

Planning a move in Chicago or the North Shore? Call or text Mike: 872-246-7666.

Michael DiGiovanni
Chicago Luxe Group | powered by Real Broker, LLC
Equal Housing Opportunity

Educational checklist; your attorney, lender and insurance professional can help apply the answers to your purchase.

10/10/2026

Don’t wait for the first freeze. Save these five checks and start with your outdoor hoses today.

Sarah, my AI assistant, walks through five checks to make before the first freeze.

1. Disconnect, drain and store outdoor hoses. Winterize outdoor lines for your system.
2. Clear gutters and direct runoff away from the foundation.
3. Protect exposed water pipes in unheated spaces with suitable insulation.
4. Test carbon monoxide alarms monthly.
5. Away in cold weather? Keep the heat on, no lower than 55°F, as the Red Cross recommends.

Save this Reel for your next weekend at home—and send it to a homeowner who could use the reminder.

Planning a move in Chicago or the North Shore? Call or text Mike: 872-246-7666.

Michael DiGiovanni
Chicago Luxe Group | powered by Real Broker, LLC
Equal Housing Opportunity

Sources: American Red Cross, NFPA and University of Minnesota Extension. Follow the instructions for your home’s equipment.
Sarah is my AI assistant; the home visuals are AI-generated illustrations.

10/10/2026

Don’t wait for the first freeze. Save these five checks and start with your outdoor hoses today.

Swipe through, save the checklist, and tackle the items that apply to your home.

1. Disconnect, drain and store outdoor hoses. Winterize outdoor lines for your system.
2. Clear gutters and direct runoff away from the foundation.
3. Protect exposed water pipes in unheated spaces with suitable insulation.
4. Test carbon monoxide alarms monthly.
5. Away in cold weather? Keep the heat on, no lower than 55°F, as the Red Cross recommends.

Planning a move in Chicago or the North Shore? Call or text Mike: 872-246-7666.

Michael DiGiovanni
Chicago Luxe Group | powered by Real Broker, LLC
Equal Housing Opportunity

Sources: American Red Cross, NFPA and University of Minnesota Extension. Follow the instructions for your home’s equipment.
Home visuals are AI-generated illustrations.

10/10/2026

10/07/2026

Inherited a house? Put down the trash bags.

The first instinct is to clean it out. In Illinois, that can wait. The paperwork can't.

Watch for what to do first, in order:
01 Secure it. Locks, heat, mail. Tell the insurer the home is empty, because policies can limit coverage for vacant homes.
02 Find the will and the deed. Whoever holds the original will must file it with the circuit court clerk immediately after the death.
03 Learn the path. Joint tenancy or a transfer on death instrument recorded before death can pass a home outside probate. A home only in the late owner's name usually needs probate or another court or title process.
04 Keep the bills paid. Cook County property taxes, the mortgage, insurance and utilities keep coming. Ask the loan servicer to confirm you as a successor in interest.
05 Talk to a CPA before you sell. Federal tax basis is generally the value on the date of death.
06 Then decide: keep, rent or sell, with every heir aligned in writing.

Good to know: the Illinois small estate affidavit covers personal property up to $150,000 for deaths on or after Aug. 15, 2025. It is not a tool for transferring the house.

Watch, then save this for someone who needs it.

Inherited a home in Chicago or the suburbs? Call or text Mike at 872-246-7666 for a no pressure value check and a clear next step.

Not legal or tax advice. Talk to an Illinois attorney and a CPA about your situation. Sources: Illinois Probate Act, Cook County Clerk, Assessor and Treasurer, CFPB, IRS.
Chicago Luxe Group | powered by Real Broker, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.

10/07/2026

Inherited a house? Put down the trash bags.

The first instinct is to clean it out. In Illinois, that can wait. The paperwork can't.

Do this first, in order:
01 Secure it. Locks, heat, mail. Tell the insurer the home is empty, because policies can limit coverage for vacant homes.
02 Find the will and the deed. Whoever holds the original will must file it with the circuit court clerk immediately after the death.
03 Learn the path. Joint tenancy or a transfer on death instrument recorded before death can pass a home outside probate. A home only in the late owner's name usually needs probate or another court or title process.
04 Keep the bills paid. Cook County property taxes, the mortgage, insurance and utilities keep coming. Ask the loan servicer to confirm you as a successor in interest.
05 Talk to a CPA before you sell. Federal tax basis is generally the value on the date of death.
06 Then decide: keep, rent or sell, with every heir aligned in writing.

Good to know: the Illinois small estate affidavit covers personal property up to $150,000 for deaths on or after Aug. 15, 2025. It is not a tool for transferring the house.

Save this for someone who needs it.

Inherited a home in Chicago or the suburbs? Call or text Mike at 872-246-7666 for a no pressure value check and a clear next step.

Not legal or tax advice. Talk to an Illinois attorney and a CPA about your situation. Sources: Illinois Probate Act, Cook County Clerk, Assessor and Treasurer, CFPB, IRS.
Chicago Luxe Group | powered by Real Broker, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.

10/06/2026

Housing snapshot from HousingWire (Oct 3, 2026).

Purchase apps are down 14% year over year as rates climb above 7.5%. The speed of the rate move matters. National looks soft. Local still decides.

DM MARKET for a ZIP read.

Rates ~6.64% to ~7.57% since mid-July
Purchase apps: -14% YoY / -4% WoW
Weekly pending: 57,724 vs 64,232 last year
Active inventory: 902,112 vs 863,972
Price cuts: 42.83% of listings (up from 41.6%)

Chicago Luxe Group | powered by Real Broker, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.

10/06/2026

HOUSING SNAPSHOT

Purchase mortgage applications are down 14% year over year as rates climb above 7.5%.

Since mid-July, rates moved from about 6.64% to roughly 7.57%. That speed matters. Fewer buyers are writing offers, more sellers are cutting price, and inventory is edging higher.

What the latest HousingWire tracker shows:
• Purchase apps: -14% YoY (-4% week to week)
• Weekly pending sales: 57,724 vs 64,232 last year
• Active inventory: 902,112 vs 863,972
• Price cuts: 42.83% of listings (up from 41.6%)

National headlines are soft. Local still decides the deal. Chicago pricing, DOM, and condition beat a national rate chart every time.

If you are buying or selling in Chicagoland and want a clear read for your ZIP, DM MARKET.

Chicago Luxe Group | powered by Real Broker, LLC
Source: HousingWire, Oct 3, 2026. Subject to change.

10/06/2026

The open house questions agents hope you won't ask.

An open house is your chance to learn what listing photos do not show. Clear answers lower risk. Vague or defensive answers are useful data too. You are not being difficult. You are doing diligence before you write.

Five questions worth asking:
1. How long has it been listed, and what changed? Ask for the full listing history, not only the current price.
2. Why this price versus comps? A solid answer names nearby sales, dates, and how the homes compare.
3. What's included, and what's known? Appliances and fixtures, past repairs, seller disclosures, and whether a prior inspection exists you can review.
4. Noise, parking, and HOA rules. For a condo or townhome, monthly assessments, reserves, rental caps, and special assessments matter as much as the paint color.
5. Is there room on concessions? Closing cost credits, rate buydowns, repair credits, or personal property. You do not need a number on the spot. You need to know if the conversation is welcome.

Tone matters. Lead with curiosity. Take notes. Thank the hosting agent. Save the hard negotiation for your offer, with your own agent advising you.

Going to an open house? Call or text Mike at 872-246-7666. Our team will help you prep questions and read the answers.

Not legal advice.
Chicago Luxe Group | powered by Real Broker, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity.