by Ben Lalez | Aug 26, 2026 | Buying, Chicago Real Estate, Real Estate, Real Estate Market Analysis, Selling
Hey Chicago! If you’ve bought or sold a home before, you might have wondered about the difference between a CMA (comparative market analysis) provided by a real estate agent and an appraisal prepared by an appraiser. They seem to be doing the same thing, but sometimes...
by Ben Lalez | Aug 19, 2026 | Buying, Chicago Real Estate, Condos, Real Estate, Relocating, Selling
I’m a Chicago real estate broker. I put myself on this list. Here is why, and who I would recommend when I’m not the right agent for the job. Most “best real estate agent” lists are garbage. Some are advertisements disguised as journalism. Some are assembled by...
by Ben Lalez | Aug 5, 2026 | Buying, Chicago Real Estate, Condos, Real Estate, Selling
Hey Chicago homeowner! If you’re planning a renovation, or you’re buying a home where someone else already did one, we need to talk about permits. Unpermitted work can hold up a closing, tank an appraisal, void an insurance claim, or force a buyer to...
by Ben Lalez | Jul 29, 2026 | Buying, Chicago Real Estate, Condos, Lifestyle, Neighborhood Guides, Real Estate, Real Estate Market Analysis, Relocating, Selling
Hey Chicago! If you’ve been following along on our weekly blog, you know we cover a lot of topics related to Chicago: the beaches, pickleball courts, Michelin restaurants, school districts, and the bungalow belt are just a few of the more recent ones. We try to...
by Ben Lalez | Mar 18, 2026 | Buying, Condos, Real Estate, Selling
Hey there, Chicago homebuyers! This week, we wanted to talk about something that is increasingly important to discuss with your agent: what could potentially happen after your offer gets accepted. We’re the Ben Lalez Team, and over the years, we’ve tracked...
by Ben Lalez | Dec 23, 2025 | Buying, Condos, Real Estate, Selling
Hey Chicago! Over the past few weeks, there’s been growing news about how Zillow may handle Chicago listings in the future, and it’s raised questions for people who rely on it to search for homes. Today we want to share some insights into what’s happening and what you...
