by Lauren Jackson | Mar 6, 2026 | Attorney, buying a home, Lawyer, Real Estate, real estate appraisal, selling a home
What Happens When a Home Doesn’t Appraise? If you are in the process of buying a home, you probably have a lot of unanswered questions. One common concern buyers and sellers share is whether the home will appraise at the contract price. Everyone involved in the...
by Lauren Jackson | Aug 26, 2025 | Attorney, Estate Planning, Lawyer, Limited Liability Company, Real Estate
As a real estate and estate planning attorney, one question I hear all the time is:“Should I put my rental property in an LLC?” It’s a great question—and the answer depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. It could be used for asset protection, liability...
by Lauren Jackson | Jun 23, 2025 | Attorney, buying a home, Contracts, Real Estate, real estate closing, selling a home
Before signing a real estate contract, it’s crucial to review the contract carefully. There are certain terms of the contract that must be correct, to give you the best protection. These provisions affect your rights, responsibilities, and risks as a buyer or seller....
by Lauren Jackson | May 2, 2025 | Attorney, buying a home, Lawyer, lender's title policy, owner's title policy, Real Estate, real estate closing
Many people are drawn to the idea of buying a brand-new home. It’s exciting: you get to choose your lot, customize every detail, and everything is fresh and unused. Homebuilders often try to make the process easy—and even offer special “discounts” if you use their...
by Lauren Jackson | Feb 18, 2025 | Attorney, buying a home, Contracts, Lawyer, Real Estate, real estate closing, Real Estate Inspection, selling a home
When you purchase real estate in Illinois, you will negotiate with the seller and come to an agreement. Once you both agree on the terms in principle, you will sign a real estate contract. Once both parties sign the contract, the real estate attorney is brought into...
by Lauren Jackson | Jan 6, 2025 | Deed, mortgage, Quit claim deed, Real Estate
A very common estate planning practice is to draft a trust and title your real estate in the name of the trust. This practice lets the trust “own” your real estate holdings. There are many positive reasons why one would do this. However, if the property owned by the...
