Why I Built ChicagoFirstTimeHomeBuyer.com

Buying your first home comes with a lot of questions. How much can you afford? When should you talk to a lender? What happens after an offer is accepted? And how does the process work here in Chicago?

You can find answers scattered across hundreds of real estate websites. But first-time buyers usually get a small section of a site built for everyone: sellers, investors, experienced buyers, and people browsing listings. I wanted to build a place where the first-time buyer is the entire focus.

That is why I created ChicagoFirstTimeHomeBuyer.com.

The idea is simple: 100% of the content is geared toward people buying their first home in Chicago. The site is being built around their questions, the decisions they face, and the order in which those decisions come up. Someone just beginning to think about buying should be able to arrive with a basic question and find a clear place to start.

A clean web experience is part of that goal. Buying a home already involves unfamiliar terms, deadlines, paperwork, and financial choices. The website should make those things easier to understand, not add another layer of clutter. I want visitors to be able to read, learn, and move at their own pace.

Chicago deserves its own first-time buyer resource, too. Choosing a condo or a single-family home, understanding monthly costs, and finding the right location all take on a local character. General homebuying advice can provide a starting point, but buyers also need to understand the city where they hope to live.

I'm building the site because I believe a more informed buyer has a better experience. You don't need to know everything before speaking with an agent or lender. You should feel comfortable asking questions, understanding the answers, and knowing what comes next.

If your first Chicago home is still an idea, this site is for you. If you're ready to take the next step, it is for you, too. Visit ChicagoFirstTimeHomeBuyer.com and start wherever you are.

Joe Bjorklund is a Realtor with Baird & Warner in Lincoln Park and the creator of ChicagoFirstTimeHomeBuyer.com.