First offer to keys
Buying a home in Northwest Indiana with Realest
To buy a home in Northwest Indiana, sign a written buyer agreement, get a lender letter if you’re financing, tour the towns you named, then offer, inspect, appraise, and close. We walk Northwest Indiana and Illinois buyers through every step from the shop on South Main in Crown Point.
112 S. Main St., Suite B, Crown Point, IN 46307 | (219) 801-0432 | saso@realest.com | Licensed in Indiana and Illinois
Home search
Home search and solds live on Realest.com
Home search and solds for Indiana and Illinois live on Realest.com, not on this site. Find a house there. Call us when one looks right, and the shop walks the deal with you.
The shop path
How we buy with you
You don’t need a portal account to start. You need a conversation. Call or walk into 112 S. Main St., Suite B, and tell us the towns and the number. That’s where we start.
Step 1
Call or walk in
Tell us the towns and the number. We write down where you want to live and what you can afford. We don’t start by sending listings you can’t buy.
Step 2
Paper before the tour
In Indiana, we need a written buyer agreement before we can work as your agent. It can cover a day, a weekend, or one house. We walk the form at Suite B before you sign.
Step 3
Lender letter first if you’re financing
Get a letter before you fall in love with a house. Cash is different. Your lender sizes the loan, and we help you see whether the house still fits after taxes.
Step 4
Real houses in the towns you named
We show the places you asked for. If a nearby town fits better, we say so the Love Thy Neighbor way.
Step 5
Offer, inspection, appraisal, close
We write the offer. We stay with you through inspection, appraisal, and the closing table. You shouldn’t have to chase us.
Testing for radon? Read Should I test for radon when I buy a house in Northwest Indiana?
Know before you sign
Indiana rules buyers should know
Five rules that shape an Indiana purchase. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Written buyer agreement
Indiana Code 25-34.1-12-2 took effect July 1, 2024. A buyer agreement has to be in writing and show a definite end date. You get a copy within three business days of signing.
Still picking an agent? Read How do I choose a Realtor in Northwest Indiana?
Who pays your agent
What we get paid is negotiable, and it goes in the agreement in writing. You can ask the seller to cover part or all of it in your offer. Since August 17, 2024, those seller offers no longer appear in the MLS.
Seller’s disclosure form
If the home has one to four units, the seller must give you the state disclosure form before accepting your offer, unless the sale is exempt. If the form comes after acceptance and shows a defect, you have two business days to cancel in writing.
Near a creek or the river? Read Do I need flood insurance to buy a house in Northwest Indiana?
Closing Disclosure timing
If you finance, your Closing Disclosure arrives at least three business days before closing. Lay it next to your Loan Estimate and ask about any line that grew.
Mapping your dates? Read How long does it take to close on a house in Indiana?
Homestead after you move in
Own the home and live in it as your main residence? File for the homestead deduction with your county auditor. The same filing puts the home under the 1% property tax cap.
The money
Budget for cash to close
Down payment is one line. Closing costs, prepaid taxes and insurance, and a reserve you can still live with are the rest.
We don’t post sample rates. Your lender sizes the loan. We help you see whether the house still fits after taxes.
Down payment in Northwest Indiana | Buyer closing costs | Financing guide
Guides from the shop
Selling, moving, or reading more
Selling too
Selling before you buy? See how the shop helps sellers, then read the selling guide.
Sellers guide: Sell with Realest | Learn selling
Moving in
Crossing the state line from Illinois, or moving from farther away? The relocation guide covers the sale, the search, and settling in.
Relocation guide: Relocation
Living guides on Real Estate USA
Longer reads for buyers
Real Estate USA publishes living guides on buying in Northwest Indiana. They are guides, not listings. Home search stays on Realest.com.
Before you tour
Under contract
Buyer questions
Buying answers, plainly
Where do I search homes?
Search homes and solds on Realest.com. Homes in Indiana and Illinois are both there. We are licensed in Indiana and Illinois. This site does not run a home search. It holds the buyer guides and the shop phone, (219) 801-0432.
Do I need a written buyer agreement in Indiana?
Yes, before we can work as your agent. Indiana Code 25-34.1-12-2 took effect July 1, 2024. The agreement has to be in writing and show a definite end date, and you get a copy within three business days of signing. Read the buyer agreement answer for more.
Who pays the buyer’s agent?
What we get paid is negotiable, and it goes in your buyer agreement in writing. You can ask the seller to cover part or all of it in your offer. Since August 17, 2024, those seller offers no longer appear in the MLS.
Should I get a lender letter before I tour?
Yes, if you are financing. Get the letter before you fall in love with a house. We are Realtors, not lenders, so we don’t post sample rates. Start with the Financing guide.
What does an Indiana seller have to tell me?
If the home has one to four units, the seller must give you the state disclosure form before accepting your offer, unless the sale is exempt. Indiana Code 32-21-5 sets the rule. If the form comes after acceptance and shows a defect, you have two business days to cancel in writing. See the seller’s disclosure guide.
When will I see my final closing costs?
If you finance, your Closing Disclosure arrives at least three business days before closing. Lay it next to your Loan Estimate and ask about any line that grew. The Lake and Porter closing costs guide lists the county fees.
Do you work with Illinois buyers moving to Indiana?
Yes. Realest is licensed in Indiana and Illinois. Read the Relocation guide and the Illinois guide, then call (219) 801-0432 and we’ll line up the licensing and the timing. Illinois homes and solds are on Realest.com too.
Is there a fee to talk to the shop as a buyer?
The first conversation is just a conversation. Call (219) 801-0432 or use Contact. How we work for you and how we get paid are explained in writing before you sign anything.
Ready when you are
Ready to tour?
Tell us budget, towns, and timing. We’ll walk the homes that fit.
Realest112 S. Main St., Suite B
Crown Point, IN 46307
Phone: (219) 801-0432
Email: saso@realest.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Love Thy Neighbor
Crown Point square photo: Chris Light, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Still deciding?
Ask Realest, or keep reading
Questions about fit, money, or where to start? Ask Realest has short answers. For longer reads from the shop, browse the blog.
Search homes on Realest.com | Buy | Sellers guide | Learn selling | Relocation guide | Learn | Financing | Towns guide | Illinois guide | Communities | Ask | Contact