Buying a House in Illinois

Buying a house in Illinois can be exciting due to the many positive benefits the state has to offer. Chicago is one of the most diverse cities in the world. Dale Elenteny, a lifelong Illinoisans and veteran loan officer at Gustan Cho Associates made the following statement about buying a house in Illinois.

Illinois has award-winning high schools and mansions in expensive suburbs such as Winnetka, Glencoe, Barrington, and Wilmette where median homes are prices over $1.5 million. Other suburbs such as Mount Prospect, DesPlaines, Cicero, Lyons, Prospect Heights, Oak Brook, Hindsdale, Aurora, and Claredon Hills have modestly prices homes in the mid $200,000.

There are hundreds of different nationalities in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs. Downtown Chicago has one of the most beautiful if not the most beautiful landscapes in the world. Chicago has dozens of top colleges and universities. There are countless top school districts throughout the state of Illinois. Illinois has many beautifully designed award-winning homes. Lake Michigan borders Chicago’s eastern section and the northern suburbs up to the Wisconsin state line. In the following paragraphs, we will cover buying a house in Illinois and getting qualified for a mortgage.

Table of contents "Click Here"

Illinois Political Corruption

Buying a home in Illinois has a negative factor for homebuyers. Illinois’s political corruption has affected the cost of living in the state. For years, Chicago is the number one most corrupt city in the United States. Illinois led the Nation as the third most corrupt state. Four of the last 7 Illinois governors got arrested, convicted, and served time in jail. Former Illinois Governor George Ryan has served more than five years in prison for corruption. Ryan was convicted after he left office and sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison.

Former Governor Rod Blagojevich who served as governor from 2002 to 2009 became the first governor in Illinois history to be impeached. Blagojevich was convicted of many corruption charged and is currently serving a 14-year prison sentence. Dan Walker who served as governor from 1973 until 1977 pled guilty to bank fraud and other charges related to his personal business after leaving office. In 1987, Walker was sent to prison. He served 18 months before being released.

The current Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker who just took office this year is under federal investigation for property tax fraud. Pritzker’s federal criminal investigation is currently ongoing. Public corruption is a major problem in Illinois. The cash-strapped state is bleeding financially due to incompetent and corrupt politicians. The first step in getting Illinois back on its feet would be Fixing Illinois Corruption. In this article, we will cover and discuss Fixing Illinois Corruption Would Greatly Benefit the Budget Deficit In the State.

Fixing Illinois Corruption Would Be The Start In Getting The State Great Again

The Chicago Field Office of the FBI has been busy cracking down on corrupt politicians for decades. However, there is no end. More state, county, and city politicians are getting investigated, arrested, charged, and convicted. Corruption in Illinois seems to be escalating

The FBI has expanded its investigations of potential corruption at the city, county, and state levels throughout Illinois. They have been focusing on top Democratic officeholders as well as those associated with them, special interest organizations, friends, and family members. Wiretapping and raids are more common today than ever before

Many arrested and/or under investigation are turning state evidence and flipping. Only a fraction of those being targeted resulted in indictments. The aggressive investigation by the Feds is welcomed by Illinois taxpayers who are fed up with rising taxes, budget deficits, and corruption.

History Is Repeating Itself In Illinois

Corruption has been a way of life in Illinois, especially in the City of Chicago. Public corruption costs countless money to taxpayers. Illinois and most municipalities in Illinois are facing major budget deficits. Corrupt politicians are adding fuel to the fire hurting Illinoisans

Many of us remember Operation Greylord. Operation Greylord is the massive federal investigation in Cook County back in the 1980s that resulted in the arrests, indictments, and convictions of judges and politicians in Chicago and Cook County.

Operation Safe Road was the reason why former Illinois Governor George Ryan went to jail for. Ryan, then-Secretary of State, allowed bribery and corruption in his office. Drivers, especially CDL applicants, paid the Secretary of State Office to get their licenses without being properly qualified. Ryan was sentenced to 6.5 years in federal prison for illegal patronage, contract rigging, and racketeering within his office. Lives were lost due to this corruption.

Illinois Politicians Under Investigation Facing Potential Indictments

Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich got a lengthy prison sentence of 14 years in the Operation Board Games federal investigation. He was convicted of several felony charges including leveraging a U.S. Senate seat to enrich himself

The current public corruption, yet to be named, is the investigation of Chicago Alderman Edward Burke. Burke is accused of steering using influence on his role as an alderman to steer business to his law practice. Alderman Burke’s Aide Peter Andrews and Chicago developer Charles Cui are also under investigation and are facing indictments.

Many Illinoisans are suspicious of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Madigan is the most powerful lawmaker in Illinois. He has served in the Illinois Senate for over 30 years. Michael Madigan, like Alderman Edward Burke, owns a law firm that specialized in property tax appeals. Madigan has not been charged with any crimes as of today.

Officials Related To Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan Under Scrutiny

Mike Madigan may be under federal investigation. This news is not public yet and the FBI is keeping mum about Mike Madigan. Madigan denies any wrongdoing and told the media that he is not any target of any federal investigation. However, many of Mike Madigan’s associates have been under scrutiny by the Feds. Many of them had their homes and/or offices raided by FBI agents. This includes ComEd lobbyist Mike McClain, ex-aide Kevin Quinn, and former Chicago Alderman Michael Zalewski. ComEd and its parent company Exelon have been subpoenaed to turn over documents that are related and/or associated with lobbying activities.

Fixing Illinois Corruption is going to be a long haul project. You are who you hang out with. Many experts believe in term limits for elected politicians. There are many Illinois politicians seek elected office to further themselves and/or their businesses and help their friends and family. Close scrutiny is being focused on Mike Madigan. The Illinois House Speaker is by far the most powerful politician in Illinois. He has thousands of who he has a lot of influence on.

The FBI is focusing hard on Madigan’s inner circle. Worth Township Supervisor John O’Sullivan has been subpoenaed for his role in the red-light camera investigation. Public Officials in McCook, Summit, and Lyons had their offices and homes raided by FBI agents a few months ago. Crestwood, Illinois Mayor Lou Presta is being investigated for irregularities on the village’s taxpayer-funded expense reports. Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval, a close ally of Mike Madigan and a close connection to ComEd, the game industry, and red-light camera company, had his office and home raided. Another Madigan ally, State Representative Luis Arroyo was arrested and charged with bribery and other federal offenses. He stepped down from the state legislature.