Real Estate Related Links

Cook County Assessor’s Office
Information regarding assessments, locations, office hours and telephone numbers of assessors offices in Cook County. Taxpayers who have recently received notices of increased assessments due to triennial reassessment can check assessments of neighboring properties at this web site to check whether proposed assessment is in line with similar properties.
Visit –> http://www.cookcountyassessor.com

Cook County Treasurer’s Office
Pay current Cook County taxes online (through system established through Amalgamated Bank using funds on deposit with any bank). Check Cook County tax payment status online by entering the Permanent Index Number for a parcel. The site also contains a database of probate estates searchable by year, by names of probate cases, and, where available, by names of listed heirs setting forth amounts deposited with the Treasurer’s Office pursuant to probate court order, as well as instructions to potential heirs regarding how to file a claim. Forms such as Change of Address and Application for a Duplicate or Overpayment Refund are available for downloading. Also has general information regarding taxes in various languages.
Visit –> http://www.cookcountytreasurer.com

Dupage County Treasurer’s Office
Visit –> http://www.dupageco.org/treasurer

Home Buyers Guide
Brochure produced by Illinois State Bar Association detailing steps in a real estate transaction, the importance of having an attorney in the transaction, the Real Estate Agent, Title Insurance, Pre-Closing Considerations, the Closing process, and special concerns relating to condominium, new construction, seller financing, and land trusts.
Visit –> http://www.illinoislawyerfinder.com/publicinfo/buyingahome.html

Federal Housing Authority (FHA)
Information about buying and financing residential real estate using Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insured mortgages, and about servicing these loans; includes RESPA statute and regulations, escrow accounting procedures, proposed and final HUD rules and regulations. Information about FHA insured mortgages, lending and servicing. Includes proposed and final HUD regulations and all mortgagee letters from 1976.
Visit –> http://www.hud.gov

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Information on the national flood insurance program, disaster management and recovery and geographical mapping of flood/disaster zones. Includes forms library and information for filing flood/disaster claims.
Visit –> http://www.fema.gov

Home Path
A FNMA site with information on buying and refinancing homes. Includes calculation directions for consumers to determine what home price they can afford and a glossary of mortgage and financing terms.
Visit –> http://www.homepath.com

Veteran’s Administration (VA)
Veteran`s Administration guaranteed mortgages and programs; includes frequently asked questions about qualifying for VA guaranteed loans.
Visit –> http://www.va.gov

Miscellaneous Sources

Fair Lending Guide Page
Maintained by the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris Shriver & Jacobson to market their book “The Fair Lending Guide,” covering the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Community Reinvestment Act; full text and archives of the Fair Lending Alert Newsletter and articles by FFJSK attorneys. At the FFJSK home page, click on “specialized pages”.
Visit –> http://www.ffhsj.com

Current Mortgage Information
Current and statistical data relating to mortgage rates; daily and weekly rates, market trends and forecasts, home equity rates, ARM index rates, financial calculators and articles.
Visit –> http://www.ired.com

Links Relating to Inspection and Environmental Issues

American Society of Home Inspectors
Web site maintained by national organization providing information on home inspectors. Includes a searchable database to find a local ASHI inspector.
Visit –> http://www.ashi.org

Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety
Information regarding radon testing and remediation requirements in Illinois, text of new radon rule promulgated by the state, as well as lists of current measurement and mitigation licensees authorized under recent regulations to perform radon services. Call IDNS at 1 (800) 325-1245 to verify licensure and individuals offering measurement services.
Visit –> http://www.state.il.us/idns

Other Links

Illinois Association of Realtors
State Board of Realtors web site with property search information, real estate-related links, including state and federal government links, industry and financial links, and links to local realtors associations throughout Illinois.
Visit –> http://www.illinoisrealtor.org

Northwest Association of Realtors
Board of Realtors web site for Northwest Association of Realtors based in the suburban area northwest of Chicago with comprehensive information for sellers, buyers, and agents and links to various real estate-related sites, including governmental, industry, and financial sites. Includes lists of radon Measurement and Mitigation professionals licensed by the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety (click on “real estate links” and then select “service links”).
Visit –> http://www.nwar.com

North Shore - Barrington Association of REALTORS
Board of Realtors web site with lots of general information for sellers, buyers, and agents. Includes forms, information and data regarding continuing education opportunities.
Visit –> http://www.nsbr.com

Office of Banks and Real Estate
Web site of the Illinois state agency charged with the responsibility of overseeing the operation of banks in Illinois and the administration and enforcement of the Illinois Real Estate License Act of 1983, the Time Share Act and the Land Sales Registration Act of 1989. A sub-agency, the Bureau of Real Estate Professions, seeks to protect the interests of the public while providing service to the real estate and real estate appraisal industries. The site includes the texts of applicable laws and other helpful regulatory information of interest to those involved in real estate, as well as mortgage banking and real estate professions complaint forms. (For a complaint form developed by IRELA for use in connection with the failure of a lender to have funds timely wired to a closing, click on the “Members” link on the top navigation bar.)
Visit –> http://www.obre.state.il.us

Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association
Visit –> http://www.irela.org