What advice do you have for a first-time homebuyer in the Chicago area? Here’s what you told us

We asked readers what advice they have for first-time homebuyers in the Chicago area. Here’s what you told us, lightly edited for clarity:

“Go visit the neighborhood at different times during the day and on different days. Think twice about buying a home on a corner lot or on a busy street.”
— L. Rogers

“Spend less than your bank pre-approves you for.”
— Traci Coddy

“Go to several mortgage brokers, and also your bank, to find out how much money a bank/lender will lend you, how much money you will need to bring to the table to get a loan, and what the monthly expenditure will be. … Ask every question you can think of. Don’t be shy or afraid or intimidated. Without understanding the money you won’t have any idea … how much you can really afford.”
— Jane Wenger

“Get the hell out of Illinois! My property taxes just went up almost $3,000. I’m literally looking for a second job.”
— Maria Locascio Urbanek

“Keep functions separate. Don’t let your realtor do you a favor by finding your inspector or your closing attorney. Find them yourself. You’ll avoid conflicts of interest.”
— Daniel Christie

“The biggest oversight … is forgetting to apply for the ‘Homeowner Exemption’ (aka Homestead) on the primary residence’s property taxes.”
— David Weinert

“If you’re buying an older home that was recently renovated or flipped, ask the seller to show permits for the work that was done. If they don’t have permits and instead used general contractors for plumbing, etc., they probably cut a few corners that you can’t see.”
— Jordan Mainzer

“I hear property values are going up over in Hammond.”
— Tim Van Driska