Buying a house is a huge financial step, and is one you need to take with careful consideration. It’s the quintessential American dream, but can quickly turn into a nightmare if you don’t do your due diligence. Typically, it’s new home buyers that tend to experience the worst nightmares because they simply overlook the fine print.

Understanding the mistakes that can be made during the buying process can help you build financial security without getting sunk into a money pit.

Here are 5 common mistakes new home buyers make that you should be aware of and avoid.

1. Skipping the Mortgage Pre-Approval

One of the first mistakes newbie home buyers do is fail to get pre-approved for a mortgage. First of all, getting pre-approved will give you a ballpark figure of what you can comfortably afford. There’s no sense in pounding the pavement in search of your dream home if you can’t afford the one you decide to buy. You’d be unpleasantly surprised to put an offer in on a house, only to be turned down by the bank because your finances won’t cover the costs of the home.

Not only that, but consider the seller’s point of view in the whole scenario. Let’s say the seller’s got a few bids on the property, and is in a position to sift through and compare them all. How will your offer stack up? If you tell the seller that you’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage, you might be a safer bet. If you don’t, you might be a risky bidder. Some sellers might even refuse to consider your offer at all unless you’ve got a pre-approval document from your lender. Even if the seller picks your offer, you might not be able to get as much financing as you would have hoped when you actually go through the loan application process.

At the end of the day, a pre-approval will paint you in a better picture to a seller. During this process, your lender will verify your finances and credit to see how much the bank is willing to loan you.

2. Foregoing the Home Inspection

When you’re putting up a lot of money to buy a house, you can’t just rely 100% on what the sellers and their realtor tell you about the home. Sure, they’re liable for providing you with a disclosure of everything they know that might be wrong, but even the sellers themselves might be in the dark about problems that are lurking behind the walls.

For this reason, you absolutely need to get the home inspected before you close the deal. If you skip this important step, you leave yourself vulnerable to being stuck with a home with foundation problems, mold, plumbing issues, asbestos, and hoards of other potential issues. As much as you might be attracted to the home, it could turn into a liability when everything is said and done.

Make sure that your offer is conditional upon a home inspection being conducted and passed. Make sure that you agree on what will be checked, which can (and should) include the foundation and structure, plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning, and mold or pest infestation.

You’d be wise to make sure the inspector is licensed and reputable. While the inspector might not necessarily be able to detect every major problem with the home, it’s definitely your first line of defense against getting stuck with a home that will cost you tons of money in repairs.

3. Getting Emotionally Attached to a House

Being in love can be an amazing thing, but it can also be a bad one, especially when your emotions are vested in the wrong thing. If you happen to stumble upon your dream house, you need to use extra caution.

First of all, if you happen to set your eyes on a home that other buyers have on their radar, you may be competing with them. If you find yourself in the middle of a bidding war, you could wind up losing out on the home altogether, or you could be snuffed out by someone else who has more money and all the right criteria that the seller expecting. You’ll be left heartbroken when you don’t walk away with the keys.

On the other hand, you just might be the one to sign on that dotted line of a purchase agreement. There are many times when the house you think is the one for you is actually one you should have walked away from. No matter how many times friends or family warned you about the place, you still might end up going ahead and sinking your teeth into it.

Think about how you’ll feel about the house after the ‘honeymoon’ period has come and gone. You might decide to overlook a property’s quirks now, but there’s a good chance you could suffer buyer’s remorse after the deal is sealed and you’re stuck with a super-small kitchen or no backyard. 

When you’re in the market to buy a house, make sure you do your best to keep a cool head during the entire process so you do the thinking and decision-making with your logic instead of your emotions.

4. Not Thinking About Resale Value

You’re in the market to buy a house, not sell, so why would you even think about selling in the future? Simple. You just never know what the future holds, and don’t want to feel like you’re stuck in your home just because you won’t recoup much money after you sell.

You might get a job transfer, marry someone from the opposite end of the country, or simply can’t afford to keep up with your current mortgage payments. Whatever the case may be, you want to be able to ensure that your house can sell for a decent amount that you can then put towards another home.

This isn’t just a place where you live – it’s an investment. You’d be mistaken not to consider the resale value of the property. Consider the preferences of other home buyers. Maybe this means buying a home that has 3 bedrooms, a decent backyard, or a 2-car garage. It also helps to know if there are loud train tracks close by, or if developers plan on improving the neighborhood in the near future, which could boost the property’s value soon after purchasing.

5. Not Using a Real Estate Agent

If you’re serious about buying a home, do yourself a favor and hire an experienced real estate agent. These experts can give you invaluable advice about buying property, and can keep you from making a huge mistake. They can help steer you in the right direction about where to find the right property, and will use their sharp negotiating skills to help get you the best price possible and ensure you never overpay.

Realtors will help you navigate the complicated waters of purchase agreements, and will make sure you’re fully protected before you sign on the dotted line. All the services they provide come without the price – it’s generally the seller that flips the bill for both the seller and buyer agent.

A lot of first-time home buyers think they’re making all the right moves, but they still aren’t familiar with what can be a complex home buying process. Rather than taking a chance, use your better judgement and get acquainted with a real estate agent who can help you migrate through the buying process and avoid some seriously costly mistakes.

‘White Sox! White Sox!

Go-Go White Sox!

Fight song of the Chicago White Sox, by White Sox minor leaguer Al Trace and Walter “Li’l Wally” Jagiello.

As the Chicago White Soxwraps the first series of their 122^nd season against the San Francisco Giants at Armour Square’s Guaranteed Rate Field, 333 W. 35th Street, it’s no small miracle that Chicago has supported two Major League Baseball teams for more than a century. Today, as always, they are more than just ballgames. They remain events, writ large. 

Be-ginnings: New League/New Park, 1910-91

According to Wikipedia sources, the Chicago White Sox began life as the White Stockings, one of eight charter members of the new American League. The park was built on a former city dump that owner Charles Comiskey bought in 1909 to replace the wooden South Side Park. He started construction on his ‘Baseball Palace of the World’ at the corner of 35th Street and Shields Avenue. Designed by architect Zachary Taylor Davis, who also designed Wrigley Field,  the park’s design was strongly influenced by Sox pitcher Ed Walsh, and was known for its pitcher-friendly proportions-362 feet to the foul poles; 420 feet to center field, according to the Chicago White Sox website. 

Big Events

Through the years, Comiskey Park hosted four World Series (including the infamous ‘Black Sox’ series of 1919)and more than 6,000 Major League Baseball games. The first All-Star Game was held there in 1933, followed by four more, the last in 2003, when it was called US Cellular Field. 

Additionally, the Chicago American Giants of the Negro American League called Comiskey Park home from 1941 to 1950, as well as hosting the Negro League East-West All-Star Game from 1933 to 1960.

The Original Seventh-Inning Stretch 

In the 1970’s, White Sox broadcaster Harry Caray started ‘conducting’ the baseball anthem ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ during the seventh-inning stretch, egged on by then-owner Bill Veeck, who (according to Harry) said that “the fans would sing along when they realized that none of them sang any worse than Harry did, “ according to Wikipedia sources. Caray was accompanied by White Sox organist Nancy Faust. 

“Bill Veeck, as in Wreck”

The Comiskey family sold the White Sox to master promoter Bill Veeck in 1959, who had gained infamy by sending 3’7 Eddie Gaedel to pinch hit when he owned the St. Louis Browns. He remained explosive on the South Side with the addition of the first “exploding scoreboard” in the major leagues – shooting fireworks whenever the White Sox hit a home run.  

Not Baseball, But Sure Fun! 

In one of the most famous boxing matches in history, Comiskey was the site of the 1937 heavyweight title match, in which Joe Louis defeated then champion James J. Braddock (‘The Cinderella Man’).

The Chicago (football) Cardinals won the 1947 NFL Championship Game over the Philadelphia Eagles. 

The park was also home to Chicago Mustangs and Chicago Sting of the NASL, hosting the final edition of the original Soccer Bowl.

They hosted The Beatles in one of their first US concerts in 1964.

On July 12, 1979, Veeck, with assistance from son Mike and radio personality Steve Dahl, held one of his most infamous promotions, Disco Demolition Night between games of a scheduled doubleheader, which resulted in a riot at Comiskey Park and a forfeit to the visiting Detroit Tigers. 

1991-present

Veeck sold the Sox to business executives Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn, who were faced with a crumbling infrastructure. They began construction on a brand-new park in 1989. The park opened on April 18, 1991. Since then, the infrastructure has undergone many renovations and naming rights changes, first as US Cellular Field and since 2016, Guaranteed Rate Field. The ballpark now stands as a tribute to the fun days, as well as the serious business of the ballgame. The White Sox won their first World Series of the new millennium in 2005, and still command the crowds with such innovations as:

Rain Rooms: A place where fans can cool off during hot game days. Near section 107 & 537.

Kids Zone: Located in left field. This 15,000-square-foot area provides young fans with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of baseball. It features a youth-sized whiffle ball diamond for coaching clinics, batting and pitching cages, batting “swing” boxes for proper batting techniques and areas for base running and skills instruction.

Speed Pitch Machines: Near section 155 and 522

Shower: A carry-over from old Comiskey Park where fans can cool off during hot gamedays. Near Section 160.

Go Go White Sox, indeed! 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

When you eat can be just as important as what you eat. We all know that certain foods are good for us, but did you know that carefully choosing when you eat certain foods can have an even greater effect? The following are some suggestions to get the most out of the foods you eat.

Before working out is the best time for some complex carbs. Wheat toast, whole grain cereals, pasta, and brown rice are all good. Fruits and vegetables are good too. Save the protein for later, since they are slow to digest. Hungry right before working out? Have an apple or banana! After working out, you need protein and carbs. This helps refuel the muscle energy spent. PB&J  sandwiches are great, as well as lean meat like turkey on whole wheat. Yogurt and fruit works, as well as a healthy smoothie with dairy or protein powder. Even chocolate milk with pretzels is effective!

If you have an energy slump in the afternoon don’t always reach for the coffee. Dark chocolate is a great alternative as it contains caffeine; the darker it is the better! Fruit has sugar for energy but won’t cause the crash associated with processed snacks. Fruits rich in Vitamin C like oranges convert fat into energy.

Feeling anxious? Foods rich in zinc have been linked to lower anxiety. Cashews, oysters, and egg yolks are all rich in zinc. Salmon and other omega 3 rich fish may lessen stress. The probiotics in foods like sauerkraut, kimchee, and pickles can lessen social anxiety.

If you have a busy day ahead, oatmeal is your best bet to start out the day. It contains a fiber known as beta-glucan. It keeps you feeling full longer. Complex carbs like oatmeal boost your serotonin levels to keep you calm and even keeled throughout the day.

Going out for some drinks? Having some good high protein food in your stomach is the way to start out the night. Food eases the irritation of your digestive system and lets the alcohol absorb more slowly. Cheese is good, as well as tofu.

Food can also heal. Chicken soup eases congestion and is anti-inflammatory. The BRAT diet ( bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) helps with all sorts of digestive maladies. Bananas and kiwi fruit can also help with bloating and irritable bowel syndrome.

Nutrition can also affect your skin. We’ve always heard greasy foods as well as chocolate can cause breakouts, but it’s not quite as simple as that. Eat a diet rich in low glycemic foods like vegetables, oats and dried beans. Good nutrition can also help if you are trying to conceive. Folate is most important. It comes in leafy vegetables, peas, oranges, lemons, bananas, melons, and strawberries. Some research suggests full-fat dairy, whole grains, and more protein from plant sources instead of animals can make a difference.

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

Welcome to the month of April.  Who would have thought we’d kick-off our weekend on April Fool’s Day!  So, beware the fools and keep yourself entertained at one or all the following events!

The Midwest’s largest pop culture event Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) returns to its annual stomping grounds at McCormick Place (2301 S. Lake Shore Dr.) in the South Loop this Saturday (10 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.-5 p.m.).  Fans can immerse themselves in their favorite fandoms by interacting with award-winning comic artists, anime creators, and their favorite TV and film stars on the Show Floor as well as search for one-of-a-kind merch in Artist Alley, and attend live panels hosted by creators, celebs, and fans!  This year’s guest lineup includes Tom Welling, Matt Lanter, Chris Evans and more!!  And don’t forget to show off your most creative and exquisite cosplay outfit.

After its debut in Chicago last year, Golden-Con is back for another go with this year’s Golden Con:  Thank You for Being a Fan Convention this weekend at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk (301 E. North Water St.) in the River North neighborhood.  This event celebrates the critically acclaimed sitcom The Golden Girls that ran from 1985 to 1992 and will feature special guest appearances, expert panel discussions, live performances, a costume parade, a vendor market, a trivia tournament, and much more!  Celebrate laughter, joy, and friendship with your fellow fans!!

You know it’s time to celebrate Spring and welcome in outdoor drinking when the Half Acre Brewery (2050 W. Balmoral Ave.) in the Lincoln Square neighborhood hosts their Strong Beer Time this Saturday (1 p.m.-7 p.m.).  It’s a celebration of strong lagers including Spring Bock and Doppelbock, some limited barrel aged stouts, and additional lagers from guest breweries.  The afternoon will also be filled with grilled brats, music, and games.  There’s even a Hammerschlagen competition (a game where participants compete to drive nails into a wooden beam) to win prizes!

With Easter right around the corner, the following egg hunts will take place this Saturday:

The NEWCITY and The Chocolate Factory Egg Hunt will take place 2 p.m.-5 p.m. at NEWCITY (1457 N. Halsted St.) in the River North neighborhood featuring over 20,000 eggs pre-stuffed with toys and candy; however, you must register to participate.  Plus, find the magical, coveted Golden Eggs to win prizes as well!  Other activities include music, face painting, balloon artists, an interactive photo station, a candy bar, and more!

The Dog Egg Hunt will take place 1 p.m.-3 p.m. at Horner Park (2741 W. Montrose Ave.) in the Albany Park neighborhood.  Your four-legged family members can search for treat-filled eggs hidden across the lawn.  Other activities include a decorated photo area, local businesses offering freebies and giveaways, a costume contest, and more!

Baseball Season is Back!  Come cheer on your new winning Chicago Cubs as they take on the Milwaukee Brewers this Saturday and Sunday (1:20 p.m.) at Wrigley Field (1060 W. Addison St.) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood.  And no, this is not an April Fool’s Joke!  Let the games begin!!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago