New Illinois law prohibits landlords from evicting tenants…

Illinois has become the second state to prohibit landlords from evicting tenants solely because they’re living in the U.S. illegally.

The measure Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law also prohibits landlords from reporting or threatening to report tenants’ immigration status to authorities in order to intimidate them, or as retaliation for exercising their rights as tenants, or to force them to move out.

Read more in the article posted in the Chicago Tribune.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-jb-pritzker-immigrant-tenant-protection-20190821-vh32aefcwnaurp2a5d4u3v37ni-story.html

Give A Smile-Get A Smile

In today’s world of technology, we do not have ample opportunity to get personal. Life is fast-paced and everyone seems to be in a rush. We dial the phone and we talk to machines. We spend long hours on the computer playing games, emailing one another or working with our web pages. Even in the office environment, we email the person in the cubicle 3 feet away instead of walking over to hand them a task list.

Don’t get me wrong. I love technology. I cannot imagine ever being without my computer and am guilty of spending a large part of my day working online. The computer and the Internet afford many opportunities. Now at no charge outside of my Internet connection, I can communicate with persons all over the world. If screened carefully young people have a world of education available at their fingertips. I could continue to expound on the many benefits that technology has brought into our lives. However, that is not the gist of this article.

As a result of the technological age of today’s world, our personal touch with one another is decreasing. We need to take full advantage of the opportunity to be personal. Humans are becoming strangers to one another. People are in a hurry to get on with the business of living and walk past each other on the street without even a nod.

Have you wondered why there is so much clinical depression in the world today? Ask yourself why our young people are so distressed. Why so many of them attempt suicide or worse the murder of their classmates or families. Do you conclude as I do that we need more of a personal touch?

Have you taken notice to how you felt when you were standing in line at a bank and someone turned and smiled at you? Prior to that smile, you were feeling very anxious, possibly tapping your foot in impatience. You weren’t very happy to be there waiting in a long line. You had things to get done and you were getting more frustrated by the minute. It was one of the mundane drudgeries we all have to go through. Then comes this smile from the person in the line next to you and suddenly you feel much better. You are compelled to smile back. You do so without giving it thought, as though it is a natural inclination to reciprocate the smile.

Think about it, don’t you feel compelled to smile back when someone smiles at you? Doesn’t if lift your mood, and bring you out of a frustrated frame of mind? But that smile does so much more than that. It makes you feel accepted and liked. Somebody cares and shares the things you go through. It makes you part of a group, an integral part of the human race. If you do not think that our society, do research into why our young people join gangs. The kids will tell you they are seeking to belong, to be a part of something. The gang becomes an extension of the family.

There is power in the smile, you see. Its as though that instant someone waved a wand and all the drudgery disappeared. You suddenly feel warm and responsive and the person who offered you a smile has just gone from a stranger to be wary of to a kindred spirit. Sometimes a conversation is started and now the mundane drudgery has actually become an enjoyable experience. You no longer feel frustrated and rushed and in spite of yourself and enjoying yourself. The world is now warm and fuzzy instead of cold, fearful and bitter.

I do not mean to imply that giving and receiving a smile is the solution to the world’s problems, but it is a very good place to start. We all need to feel that sense of belonging. We are after all members of the same human family. We should feel moved to embrace each other in our hearts and minds.

So go ahead and smile. I dare you. But be careful. You might find the world a friendlier place to live. You might find that people are warm and kind and appreciative. Your smile might just make their day.

Installment Sales Contracts

New Real Estate Act of 2018 involves Installment Sales Contracts related to Real Estate… It provides that a real estate installment contract for residential real estate is subject to the foreclosure provisions of the Code if the purchase price is to be paid in installments over a period in … Adds a corresponding change in the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Effective January 1, 2018.

To learn more about this new act visit: http://bit.ly/2qfAZHw

Things to know before signing a Rent-to-Own contract

What does rent-to-own mean?

Also known as a lease option, a rent-to-own contract allows renters to lease a property and, at the end of the lease (usually one to three years), have the option to purchase the home at a predetermined price. Ideal candidates for a rent-to-own option are potential home buyers who dream of ownership but are also concerned they haven’t saved up enough cash for a down payment.

As a renter, you must be cautious before you sign a rent-to-own contract. There are many stipulations… READ MORE

 

 

 

Chicago Condominium Laws

Chicago and Cook County condominium laws are some of the most sophisticated and stiff in Illinois.

Whether purchasing a condo or for condo association legal issues it is important to talk with a knowledgeable Real Estate Attorney to help you navigate the complexities of Chicago condo law issues.