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4 Ways to Make Your First Home Purchase Simpler

Title: 4 Ways to Make Your First Home Purchase Simpler 

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but it can also be a complex and overwhelming process, especially in the real estate market. From navigating listings to understanding financing options, there's a lot to consider. However, with the right approach, you can simplify the journey to homeownership and make the experience smoother and more manageable. In this blog post, we'll explore four effective ways to streamline your first home purchase in the realm of real estate.

1. Start with Financial Preparation

One of the most critical aspects of buying your first home in real estate is understanding your financial situation. Before you begin your home search, take the time to get your finances in order. This includes:

  • Saving for a Down Payment: Determine how much you can afford for a down payment and start saving early. A larger down payment can often lead to better mortgage terms and lower monthly payments.

  • Getting Pre-Approved: Speak with a mortgage lender to get pre-approved for a loan. This will give you a clear idea of how much you can borrow and help you narrow down your search to homes within your budget.

  • Understanding Additional Costs: Factor in other expenses associated with buying a home, such as closing costs, property taxes, and homeowners insurance.

By taking these steps upfront, you'll have a better understanding of your financial capabilities and be better prepared to make informed decisions throughout the home buying process.

2. Define Your Needs and Priorities

Before you start browsing listings, take some time to think about what you're looking for in a home. Consider factors such as location, size, amenities, and style. Make a list of your "must-haves" versus "nice-to-haves" to help prioritize your search.

Additionally, think about your long-term goals. Are you planning to start a family? Do you anticipate needing extra space for a home office or hobbies? By considering your future needs as well as your current ones, you can find a home that will suit you for years to come.

Having a clear understanding of your preferences and priorities will make it easier to narrow down your options and focus on properties that are the best fit for your lifestyle and budget.

3. Work with a Knowledgeable Real Estate Agent

Navigating the real estate market as a first-time buyer can be overwhelming, which is why enlisting the help of a professional real estate agent is invaluable. A knowledgeable agent can guide you through the entire process, from finding suitable properties to negotiating offers and closing the deal.

When choosing a real estate agent, look for someone who has experience working with first-time buyers and is familiar with the local market. They should be able to provide expert advice, answer your questions, and advocate for your best interests every step of the way.

By working with a trusted real estate agent, you'll have a knowledgeable ally who can help simplify the home buying process and ensure that you find the perfect home for your needs and budget.

4. Stay Flexible and Patient

Finally, it's essential to remain flexible and patient throughout the home buying process. Finding the perfect home may take time, and there may be setbacks along the way. Be prepared to adjust your expectations and consider compromises if necessary.

Keep an open mind when viewing properties and be willing to explore different neighborhoods or consider homes that may need some updates or renovations. Remember that buying your first home is a significant investment, and it's essential to find a property that meets your needs and feels like the right fit for you.

By staying flexible and patient, you'll be better equipped to navigate the ups and downs of the real estate market and ultimately find the perfect home for your needs.

In conclusion, buying your first home in real estate doesn't have to be overwhelming. By starting with financial preparation, defining your needs and priorities, working with a knowledgeable real estate agent, and staying flexible and patient throughout the process, you can simplify the home buying experience and make your dream of homeownership a reality. Happy house hunting!

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The 17 Best Donut Shops in Chicago

The 17 Best Donut Shops in Chicago

Satisfy your sweet tooth with all things glazed, raised, dipped, jelly-filled, and twisted—for Paczki Day and beyond.

By Meredith Heil, and Elanor Bock

Published on 3/1/2022 at 4:27 PM

Can we collectively and respectfully rid the world of that awful phrase “guilty pleasure?” We’re only accepting pleasures from here on out—or, at least until winter ends. So the next time you’re in the mood to indulge in that little extra something sweet, shed the shame, and chow down on fluffy, fried, and glazed rings of dough whose only purpose is to inject your body with sugary goodness. From strawberry filled, chocolate covered, vanilla glazed, candy sprinkled, and cinnamon dusted, the variations really are endless. And so, with a big endorsement from us, and zero endorsements from dentists everywhere, here are our favorite donut slingers in Chicago, whether you're gearing up for Fat Tuesday (that’s New Orleans talk for Paczki Day, by the way) or simply trying to make it through a regular old Thursday.


Beacon Doughnuts
Beacon Doughnuts

Beacon Doughnuts

Lincoln Park

If you’re lucky enough to snag a decorated vegan donut from Beacon Donut’s Armitage alleyway outpost, you’ll know exactly why this newcomer has made quite the splash since opening their doors in April, 2020. Unusual yet intriguing flavors grace the menu, like Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, French Toast Brioche, Blueberry Pancake, and Lavender Vanilla, along with new creations hitting the shelves each weekend. Pro tip: Don’t risk a sell-out by placing an order ahead of time.
How to order: Stop by for counter service or order takeout via Toast.

Somethin' Sweet Donuts
Somethin' Sweet Donuts

Somethin' Sweet Donuts

Albany Park

This year marks a decade since this family-owned establishment has been churning out California-style donuts. Their mission? To make your day a little sweeter, and they've definitely hit the mark. Party-planners will be happy to know that Somethin’ Sweet is ready to make their donut dreams come true, no matter how outlandish—think donuts wearing stately crowns or shaped like martinis. In addition to excelling at all things fried dough, the shop also whips up some darn good coffee, fruit smoothies, and boba teas.
How to order: Stop by for counter service, order takeout online, or get delivery via Uber Eats.

Delightful Pastries
Delightful Pastries

Delightful Pastries

Jefferson Park

Delightful Pastries is the go-to when it comes to p?czki, traditional Polish donuts (FYI, it’s pronounced pownch-keys, not pots-keys). And yes, to some, equating p?czki with donuts is teetering on blasphemy, but p?czki are really just denser, richer donuts. Serving Chicago since the late ‘90s, this Eastern European bakery specializes not only in p?czki, but in a variety of baked goods, like breakfast pastries, cakes, and breads, and each bite reflects an old-school delightfulness. The p?czki are airy and bright, filled with an array of fruity and decadent ingredients like salted caramel, German chocolate, plum butter, and raspberry jelly. While you're there, consider the tempting Drunken P?czki, doused with Jameson whiskey and chocolate custard, or the Moonshine & Lemon—because why not get more than one buzz all in one bite?
How to order: Stop by for counter service, order takeout online, and get delivery via Uber Eats.

The Doughnut Vault
Doughnut Vault

The Doughnut Vault

River North

This sugary offering from Hogsalt Hospitality (Au Cheval, Bavette's) fits right into the restaurant group’s all-star lineup. Expect a mix of intriguing specials like glazed chestnut and an old fashioned-style pistachio number sprinkled with crunchy nuts alongside tasty standards. Make sure to get yours while they’re hot—once this joint sells out of treats, they close up shop.
How to order: Stop by for counter service, order takeout via Tock, or get delivery via Uber Eats.

Stan's Donuts & Coffee
Stan's Donuts and Coffee Chicago | Stan's Donuts and Coffee Chicago

Stan's Donuts & Coffee

Multiple locations

This crave-worthy LA-transplant arrived in Wicker Park back in 2014 and has since managed to stage a total citywide takeover with shops multiplying like wet gremlins from the Gold Coast to the ‘burbs. And for good reason—their menu is both extensive and inventive, running the gamut from classic glazed, cake, cruller, and old-fashioned selections to newfangled creations like red velvet, glazed pretzel twists, and their signature stuffed pockets, plump squares of dough injected with hearty fillings like Nutella, peanut butter, or banana cream. To boot, there’s always a handful vegan and gluten-free options and some locations even serve breakfast “stanwiches” to satisfy the savory set.
How to order: Stop by for counter service, order takeout via Aloha, or get delivery via Uber Eats.

BomboBar
BomboBar

BomboBar

West Loop

“Eat dessert first” is the mantra at this walk-up Bar Siena offshoot, where starry-eyed West Loopers line up for Italian-style bomboloni served up by the half- or full-dozen. The holeless donuts come loaded with fillings ranging from classic (salted caramel, raspberry, vanilla bean custard, Nutella) to “over the top” (s’mores, cherry cheesecake, Fruity Pebbles). Pair yours with a scoop of housemade gelato and a fanciful hot chocolate bomb and deal with that pesky dentist bill another day.
How to order: Stop by for counter service or order takeout and delivery online.

D&D's Place
D&D's Place Donut Shop

D&D's Place

Ashburn

Old Fashioned Donuts protegee Devell Brittman and his wife Lolita are behind this South Side multi-award-winner. It’s praised the city over for their pillowy, devilishly-sticky glazed originals as well as their legendary Texas-sized apple fritters, served as big as a funnel cake and 10 times as delicious.
How to order: Stop by for counter service.

Firecakes Donuts

Firecakes

Multiple locations
This triple-threat northsider has all the usuals on lock, to be sure, but they’re particularly revered for their off-beat inventions like pineapple coconut fritters, chili-lime-mango glazed, and pepper-dusted candied bacon long johns—flavors so crazy they just might work (spoiler alert: they do). Slice one of those bad boys in half, dollop a scoop of creamy housemade ice cream in between, and consider breakfast good and served.
How to order: Stop by for counter service, order takeout via Toast.
Weber's Bakery
Weber's Bakery

Weber's Bakery

Garfield Ridge

Another South Side gem, this treasure dates back to 1930 and stands proudly as one of the city’s oldest continually operating bakeries. Today it remains as mom-and-pop as ever, filled with friendly chatter and a maze of illuminated display cases crammed full of tempting confections. Go with the iconic chocolate cake donut, its shockingly delicate doughy center crowned with a thick slab of fragrant fudge, or a chocolate-frosted bismarck overflowing with creamy, eggy custard.
How to order: Stop by for counter service or order takeout online.

Do-Rite Donuts & Chicken
Do-Rite Donuts

Do-Rite Donuts & Chicken

Multiple locations

Perfectly crisp and pristinely brined Southern fried chicken? Check. Sinfully decadent donuts smothered in gooey glazes and topped with salty-sweet bacon strips or rich swirls of chocolate ganache? Double check. Perfectly crisp and pristinely brined Southern fried chicken stuffed inside a sinfully decadent donut and layered with cheddar, bacon, and ranch? Let’s just say you have to see it to believe it.
How to order: Stop by for counter service or order takeout and delivery via Uber Eats.

Dinkel's Bakery
Dinkel's Bakery

Dinkel's Bakery

Lakeview

This OG scratch-made purveyor has been slapping smiles on the faces of northsiders since your granddaddy was in short pants. Nothing fancy hare, just a time-honored bounty of chocolate fudge donuts, crunchy old fashioneds, fruit-laden fritters, and more, boxed up with a generous side of neighborly affection.
How to order: Stop by for counter service or order takeout and delivery via

Dat Donut
Dat Donut

Dat Donut

Roseland

Founded by South Side Donut King Buritt “Mr. B” Bulloch back in 1972, this endearingly no-frills outpost doesn’t mess around when it comes to fresh pastries. Bismarcks bursting with tangy strawberry preserves beneath a snowfall of powdered sugar, yeast-raised caramel donuts as fluffy as afternoon clouds, Devil’s Food cake engulfed in a thick ocean of chocolate icing, apple fritters the size of a small spaceship—that right there is a recipe for eternal success.
How to order: Stop by for counter service.

Old Fashioned Donuts
Old Fashioned Donuts Inc

Old Fashioned Donuts

Roseland

Founded by South Side Donut King Buritt “Mr. B” Bulloch back in 1972, this endearingly no-frills outpost doesn’t mess around when it comes to fresh pastries. Bismarcks bursting with tangy strawberry preserves beneath a snowfall of powdered sugar, yeast-raised caramel donuts as fluffy as afternoon clouds, Devil’s Food cake engulfed in a thick ocean of chocolate icing, apple fritters the size of a small spaceship—that right there is a recipe for eternal success.
How to order: Stop by for counter service.

Liberation Donuts
Upton's Naturals

Liberation Donuts

West Town

Attention Chi-town vegans: Your donuts has arrived. Sharing a space with similarly veggie-friendly cafe Upton's Breakroom, this 100% animal product-free venture fries up revolutionary-minded concoctions on the daily, tickling the senses and fueling the good fight with options like rabble-rousing Balaclava, a plain cake donut hidden beneath a mask of sweet tahini glaze and topped with pumpkin seed baklava.
How to order: Stop by for counter service or order takeout and delivery via Tock.

Brite
Brite

Brite

West Town

Ex-Publican chefs Erika Chan and Sieger Bayer are the culinary dream team behind this colorful West Town slinger stashed inside Metric’s sleek West Town headquarters. The savvy pair quickly made a name for themselves by cranking out exceptional pies, enticing savory pastries, and, most importantly, some of Chicago’s most inspired donuts. Anyone up for a yeasted number teeming with nutty Emperor's Genmaicha tea and finished with caramel-lemon icing and crisp puffed grains? How about a spiced carrot cake version, layered with pineapple cream cheese icing, elegant carrot pâte de fruit, and candied walnuts? Thought so.
How to order: Stop by Metric Coffee’s West Fulton cafe for counter service or order takeout and delivery via Tock.

Dip and Sip Donuts

Dip and Sip Donuts

North Center

From the cheery retro design to the melt-in-your-mouth treats, this modern throwback buzzes with neighborhood charm. Stock up on feisty best-sellers like chili-flecked Mexican hot chocolate and vanilla tie-dye marble with rainbow sprinkles—each available with or without gluten, by the way—or take matters into your own hands with a customized batch prepared with the glaze, drizzle, and toppings of your choice.
How to order: Stop by for counter service, order takeout via Ritual, or get delivery via

Believe it or not, this forward-thinking wholesale operation harnesses the starchy, versatile powers of the humble potato to set its ultra-unique lineup apart from the rest of the wheaty bunch. Available in both gluten-free and gluten-full versions, these curiously textured treats make ample use of their base’s naturally velvety mouthfeel and come dolled up with seasonal ingredients like local produce, artisanal extracts, and specialty spices. Don’t knock it until you try it—and you definitely need to try the miso-honey butter glazed with black sesame seeds ASAP.
How to order: Stop by for counter service or order weekend delivery online.


Elanor Bock is a Chicago born, New York-based professional dancer, writer, and renaissance woman, excelling at philosophy, mathematics, outdoor adventuring, and balancing six martinis on a tray in a crowded bar. Like her dog Oli, she is highly motivated by treats. Follow her on instagram @rathernotthanks.
Meredith Heil is a Senior Cities Editor at Thrillist. She's originally from St. Louis, now lives in Chicago, and in between has been to all 50 states (that's boots on the ground, no airport BS). She enjoys all things cocktails, crosswords, and women's soccer. Challenge her to a game of Hoop Shot at @mereditto.

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Boom in Home Building

NAHB’s (National Association of Home Builders) Builder Sentiment measures how builders view the housing market in terms of how much demand there currently is for new homes and how much demand is expected in the future. A score above 50 indicates a favorable outlook for home sales. In April and May 2021, builders’ confidence remained constant at 83, despite the persistent price problem and shortage of construction materials. Builders will need to build 1.1 million to 1.2 million single-family homes to meet long-term demand.

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Mortgage Rates

Compared to the 2.66% rate seen from December 2020 through January 2021, we will see mortgage rates rise more in 2022. Due to high real economic growth in the first quarter of 2021, which allowed a $1,400 stimulus for individuals under the American Rescue Plan Act, rates are looking up. This means that buyers who were attracted by low mortgage rates may have to take a step back. Rising mortgage rates will create a small dampening effect on demand.

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When will be the best time to purchase your home

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Lighting Up Your Home

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Zaneta Sanders

815-304-5384

zrealtor@zrealty.group

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