We all know the hassles of finding the perfect property as a first-time buyer. And then making sure the deal goes through without any obstacles. You spend hours upon hours looking online, only to find that nothing quite meets your needs. That’s when it’s time to partner with a realtor or real estate agent.
One of 23 Legal’s recent clients, Abdul, needed help closing on his first property. While Abdul has a full-time career as a software developer and is also a photographer, becoming a landlord as another avenue of income was his next goal. He was looking to buy a property in the Chicago suburbs, particularly a multi-unit house to allow several renters. More specifically, Abdul saw there was a need for travel nurses to find temporary housing. His entrepreneurial mind decided owning a rental property near a hospital would be the perfect way to solve that problem and cater to a niche clientele.
He spent countless hours searching Zillow and Trulia but was unable to find anything that fit his requirements. That is when his realtor, Tiffany Razzo (of Compass Realty), suggested connecting with a real estate attorney to find his ideal property.
After weighing his options, Abdul chose Ben Weaver as his real estate attorney:
“She gave me Ben’s description and I just felt like he would be the right guy for the job. I looked him up online and all the raving 5-star reviews he had just gave me that peace of mind that I had made the right decision!”
Since Abdul was looking to buy a property that he could rent out as a way to earn some supplemental income as he continued pursuing his primary careers, he knew the property had to be zoned accordingly and follow all protocols necessary. He finally settled on a multi-unit house that fit the bill.
According to Ben Weaver, “The deal definitely took some time. The loan was such that the lender had to approve the condition of the home. Hence, the seller took some time to ensure the house met the official standards, and then we could get the ball rolling.”
However, that was not the only hurdle that Abdul and our team were up against:
“It definitely took longer than I would have wanted, but I was actually glad that I had Ben Weaver on my team. He did what was in his power to keep the process moving. We also ran into some trouble later when we were about to sign off during the closing…”
The problem was discovered during the home inspection. The house was legally categorized as a 2-unit, however, we realized that it had been used as an illegal 3-unit home. Abdul wanted to make sure the property allowed for three units and not only two. But no need to fear, Transaction Titan wasn’t going to let this obstacle throw a wrench in Abdul’s goals. Ben appealed the zoning status and got it officially recognized as a 3-unit home, thus accommodating more tenants for Abdul to manage and eventually more money in his pocket! Ben also negotiated a better deal by ensuring that the repairs and maintenance were top-notch, and that any required repairs were monetarily compensated.
On working with attorney Ben Weaver, Abdul stated:
“I would rate my experience with Ben and 23 Legal as a solid 10. As a first-time buyer, I went through a whirlwind of emotions. The house hunting process was very overwhelming and some days I just wanted to give up and go back to my apartment. But Ben made sure that didn’t happen, he kept me motivated and hopeful. He was there managing everything, even the smallest of issues when I was busy during the work day and couldn’t devote extensive time to the hunting process.
Even when we found the property, he assured me that the inspection and the negotiation were taken care of and he made it his mission to get me the best deal in the end. I can’t recommend him enough! Ben is definitely going to be my go-to lawyer for all future real estate matters.”
Abdul’s situation is not unique. Many first-time buyers feel overwhelmed with searching for the perfect property as well as dealing with all the legalities and any issues that arise in the process. You may spend countless hours searching for your dream home, only to come up empty handed. The moral of the story is that it pays to have an excellent team of real estate professionals on your side!
Abdul’s realtor was able to connect him with Ben Weaver, who in turn helped Abdul find the perfect property for his needs, settled zoning obstacles, and he was also able to negotiate the best deal. The 23 Legal team loves sharing stories about how we helped someone achieve a major life milestone! If you’re looking to buy a property in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs, make sure to give us a call, we’re ready to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goals.
Looking to make a significant real estate investment?
Struggling to find the perfect property?
Trust an expert like attorney Ben Weaver to guide you through every step!
Whatever your real estate endeavor may be, we can help you get there: (847) 447-6004
Why Choose 23 Legal
23 Legal offers Real Estate and Estate Planning legal services to individuals, families, community associations and small business owners throughout Chicagoland. We know how intimidating “the law” can be. In fact, when most people think of law offices, they think of stuffy leather chairs, huge wooden desks and pompous lawyers who charge outrageous fees. That’s not us! We believe in 1-to-1; the same lawyer should work with you all the way through. Whether you have an estate planning issue, family trust concern, or you have a legal problem in regard to a new home, business, real estate or remodel, you need a lawyer who cares. That’s where Ben comes in! We are great listeners; more than that, we are lawyers who believe that our clients always come first.
