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 | Jul 15, 2026 | Buying, Chicago Real Estate, Lifestyle, Neighborhood Guides, Real Estate
Hey Chicago! This week we’re back with something more real estate-related since we often get questions about the different bungalow neighborhoods around the city. In total, Chicago has more than 80,000 bungalows, roughly one-third of all single-family homes in the...
by Ben Lalez | Jul 8, 2026 | Buying, Chicago Real Estate, Lifestyle, Neighborhood Guides, Real Estate
Hey Chicago! We’re well into summer, and although we know you and the family are still enjoying the sun and good vibes, the next school season is just around the corner. Two years ago, we wrote an article on the top 10 school districts in Chicago, and we thought it...
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...