Frequently Asked Questions

We’re Chicago brokers, and local market expertise is a big part of what we do.

Our strongest expertise is in Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, East Village, Bucktown, Logan Square, River West, West Loop, Lakeview, Southport Corridor, Lincoln Square, Old Irving Park, Gold Coast, Streeterville, Old Town, River North, and South Loop, along with other Chicago neighborhoods.

In Chicago, moving a couple of blocks can change the school district, proximity to the Blue Line, street character, and property value. That’s why knowing the neighborhood at the block level matters.

Absolutely.

We represent both buyers and sellers, but our job isn’t simply to get a transaction closed.

For buyers, that can mean preparing a detailed Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), developing an offer strategy, and telling you when we think a property isn’t worth pursuing.

For sellers, we focus on preparation, pricing, marketing, and strong negotiation.

We call it Deal Leadership. We give you our best advice, you call the final play, and we execute it.

We do work with Landlords on leasing, but do not represent renters in leasing.

This is where local expertise really matters.

We start with a detailed, hyper-local Comparative Market Analysis, or CMA.

But we don’t just grab three nearby sales and average them. We look at the block, lot size, finish level, layout, parking, building materials, and current inventory.

We start with what we call a “Prep To Sell” walkthrough. Before worrying about photos and putting the property online, we walk through the home and identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and anything that could interfere with the sale.

Then we build a marketing plan specifically for your property, which may include professional staging, photography, broker outreach, digital marketing, email, Top Agent Network, and the MLS.

We don’t wait around hoping Zillow or the MLS finds us a buyer. We combine them with local Chicago marketing, email campaigns, open houses, and
high-quality photos to attract qualified buyers.

We combine online exposure (MLS, Zillow, Realtor.com, social media) with local Chicago marketing, email campaigns, open houses, and high-quality
photos to attract qualified buyers.

We also use a platform Called “Top Agent Network” to market to the top 1% of brokers in Chicago which gives us tremendous negotiation leverage as an interested party knows we can still list on MLS. Note that on this platform that we still play a co-operating commission as 2 brokers are involved, but we limit the audience to just top 1% brokers that have paid the fee to belong to this service.

In this low inventory environment, it typically takes 7-15 days to sell and 30 to 45 days to close.

Therefore, 37 to 60 days from listing to close is good estimate

We generally start with a free Home Search Consultation at our Wicker Park office, These typically lasting around 60–90 minutes depending on how many questions you have.

And questions are encouraged.

Then we guide you through:
Pre-approval → Home search → Property analysis → CMA → Offer → Negotiation → Inspection → Attorney review → Appraisal → Final walkthrough → Closing

Our goal is to make the process smooth and informed at every step. Before you make an offer, we analyze what we believe the property is actually worth.

You’re buying a home, but you’re also buying an investment.

As Greg says, “Nest in your nest egg.”

Yes, and this is another area where having a genuinely local broker can matter.

Through neighborhood relationships, past clients, other brokers, and Top Agent Network, we can sometimes identify properties before they’re
exposed to the broader market.

There’s no secret warehouse of perfect off-market homes. But in a low-inventory market, hearing about the right property early can make a real difference.

Extremely.

And we are the experts and in the know about the local Illinois school districts, parks, commute routes, and neighborhood highlights that matter most when choosing your next home.

Yes, we work with developers, builders, and investors throughout Chicago to identify opportunities.

We specialize in 2-5 unit Apartment Buildings working with buyers and sellers.

We financially model these properties by creating as is & potential rent forecasts, along with & recommended budgeted scopes of work.

The real question is simple:

What am I buying, what can it become, what will it cost, and does the deal make sense?

First, don’t panic. Almost every inspection finds something.

We’ll help you understand whether you’re dealing with a minor maintenance item or a potentially expensive problem, then work with your
inspector and attorney on the right strategy.

Sometimes that’s a repair. Sometimes it’s a credit. Sometimes the smartest move is walking away.

We’ll guide you through negotiations or repairs, and work closely with your attorney, lender, and inspector to protect your interests.

This is where having the right team including a seasoned agent really makes a huge difference!

Our job isn’t to save every deal. It’s to protect you.

You’ll hear from us.

We provide regular updates by phone, text, or email and keep you informed throughout inspections, attorney review, appraisal, financing, and closing.

You shouldn’t have to chase your broker to find out what’s happening with your own transaction.

Yes — we maintain a vetted high quality list of Handymen, lenders, real estate attorneys, inspectors, & contractors who provide excellent service to our clients.

We have been using these most of these vendors for years and worked to find the best of the best.

Plus they know that if they don’t give A+ service to our clients, they will lose the referral stream.

Bigger isn’t always better.

Ask Nagel Realty has been a local boutique brokerage since 2013. We don’t believe every client or property should be pushed through the same
cookie-cutter system.

Our philosophy is simple: give honest advice, do exceptional work, negotiate fiercely, and get results.

Do that consistently and clients become what we call “raving fans.”

Plus, it just feels really darn good to hit it out of the park for someone.

When you hire Greg, you get Greg.

Greg remains your sole point of contact and coaches you through the transaction from beginning to end.

He’ll tell you when he thinks something is a good deal and, just as importantly, when he thinks it isn’t.

You call the final play. Greg makes sure it’s an informed one.

When representing a Seller, we typically charge 5% of the sales price plus a $350 marketing fee to cover costs, and we co-operate 2.5% to the buyer’s
agent netting 2.5%.

When working with Buyers, we typically charge 2.5% which is nearly always paid for by the seller.

Start with a conversation.

Whether you’re buying, selling, or evaluating a multi-unit investment property, we’ll help you understand your options and figure out the smartest next move.

Call or text Greg at 312-933-1432 or visit AskNagel.com to schedule a consultation over a cup of coffee.

Closing costs depend on the property and the deal.

For sellers, you’ll typically see things like attorney fees, title costs, transfer taxes, and other transaction expenses. Buyers may have lender fees, inspection costs, attorney fees, and other closing-related expenses.

The important part? You shouldn’t be finding out what these costs are at the closing table.

We’ll walk you through the expected numbers upfront so you understand what the deal actually costs before you commit.

Absolutely. Illinois has specific disclosure requirements, and we’ll help you understand what needs to be addressed as part of the transaction.

Our advice is pretty simple: don’t guess, don’t hide problems, and don’t create unnecessary problems by saying something you don’t understand.

We’ll help you navigate what is required to disclose and what is not.