the wasserblawg

By Michael H. Wasserman Discrimination is an ugly, pervasive problem. Even in real estate. We have come a long way over the course of American history, but we still have some work to do, especially in Chicago. As with any problem, this topic need needs to be examined, talked about and understood until we find effective solutions…and can provide equal access to home ownership for all.

By Michael Wasserman Nothing is more personal than cancer. It affects the person diagnosed as well as everyone around them. Gilda’s Club Chicago provides support and resources to those living with cancer, those who have lost someone to cancer, as well as their families and friends. We’re proud to include this dynamic not-for-profit in our Thanks to You charity program.

By Michael H. Wasserman It’s exciting to find a home to buy and have a signed contract in hand. This is when most home buyers start thinking about the fun stuff, like remodeling and decorating. Yet many forget one important step: securing homeowners insurance—which could derail the closing.

At M.H. Wasserman, P.C., music is a big part of our team's lives. We enjoy concerts and festivals, and always play tunes in the office. Further, we believe there's a strong connection between school achievement and musical aptitude. Our team is quite pleased to support a charity that introduces music to Chicago's underserved kids while potentially building Chicago's music scene. TPMS inspires young minds to  experience the joy and benefits of music For four years now, we’ve been running our Thanks to You program, where our residential clients can direct a portion of our fees to a charity on our  curated list . This post is one of a series to tell our readers a little more about these organizations and why we chose them. The People’s Music School (TPMS) is the  first and only completely FREE  music school in the country. Their founder, Rita Simo, a Julliard-trained pianist, started TPMS in 1976 with just $625, a donated piano, and the belief that a...

Working thru divorce, foreclosure, domestic violence, discrimination claims (and really, most legal matters) often involves complex procedures, strict timelines, and—of course—tons of paperwork. Jumping thru all the right hoops can be exasperating...more-so for folks on limited incomes and even worse for those in rural areas. Have no fear, Illinois Legal Aid Online is here. And it’s a 2018 addition to our Thanks to You charity program.

One thing we don’t love about Chicago is its literacy problem. Our city has one of the lowest adult literacy rates in the country. Thankfully, Reading in Motion works hard to reverse this trend by helping our youngest students learn to read in some very cool ways. That’s why we’ve included it in our   Thanks to You   program.

By Michael H. Wasserman  City of Chicago homeowners should be on the lookout for newly proposed assessed valuations from the Cook County Assessor’s office. A property’s assessed valuation has a direct relationship to the amount of upcoming property tax bills. Savvy property owners (including readers of this blog) know that they can—and should—fight back by appealing those assessment notices. Here's how. What’s more American than appealing your property taxes? 

By Michael Wasserman In 2017, the FBI reported that wire transfer fraud was up 480% in real estate transactions. It’s a frightening number. Yet more and more, I’ve heard that real estate lawyers won’t discuss transfer instructions with clients—that they leave it to the title company to avoid the responsibility and liability. What?!

By Michael H. Wasserman You may have heard that Chicago just made  the CityKey ID available to its residents . If you haven’t, CityKey is the city’s first municipal ID card that makes city life more convenient, less expensive and, in some cases, more secure. But is it good for Chicago? 

By Michael H. Wasserman The HRRA helps keep messy contractors out of your dream kitchen.  Image . Before you queue the scary music (or sign on the dotted line), know your rights—and the limitations—provided under the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act  (HRRA).

Hurry, Cook County tax bills are due March 1 "'Tis impossible to be sure of anything but death and taxes." Christopher Bullock's infamous quote still rings true, some 300 years later. Cook County's 2017 First Installment property tax bills are due March 1st. Surrounding counties will be due soon enough too. Thankfully, while none of us can avoid death, there are a few ways to save money on property taxes...which might make living a little sweeter.

Remember to empty and rinse every item. Image from Recycle By City. By Michael Wasserman As many of my clients are new to Chicago, I’m often asked about recycling, typically as we sit around the closing table finalizing purchases. And, since there are updated rules and schedules, I thought I’d jot down a quick overview and links to Chicago’s nifty recycling guide. Plus a cool quiz .

Set aside any discussion of climate change for a moment. It’s winter. It’s Chicago. It snows. As a homeowner, you owe it to your friends, family, neighbors and delivery people to keep the sidewalks free of snow and ice.