Short Sale vs. Deed-in-Lieu vs. Letting It Go to Sale in Illinois
Deficiency Judgments in Illinois: Will the Bank Come After Me After the Sale?
Five Contract Clauses Chicago Investors Ignore (That Blow Up Deals Later)
What to Bring to Your First Call with a Foreclosure Defense Lawyer in Illinois
I Got a Foreclosure Summons in Cook County: How to Read It and What to Do in 7 Days
I Just Missed My First Mortgage Payment in Illinois: What Should I Do This Week?
In real Illinois files, missing one payment does not mean a sheriff’s sale is around the corner. But the first thirty to sixty days after that missed payment follow a predictable pattern—and the quiet first week is your best chance to get in front of it. This guide is for Illinois homeowners, especially in Cook […]
Illinois Foreclosure Mediation vs. Loan Modification in Cook County
How They Actually Work Together in Cook County When a foreclosure summons lands on your door in Cook County, the advice starts flying. “Just sign up for mediation.” “Apply for a loan modification.” “If you’re in the program, they can’t sell your house.” In real files at the Chancery Division, those half-truths can be dangerous. […]
HOA/Condo Association Liens in Chicago: Priority, Payoffs, and Pitfalls
Association debt doesn’t behave like a normal bill. In Chicago condos and HOAs, lien priority, payoff letters, and §22.1 resale disclosures can make or break a closing or a foreclosure. This guide shows how The Bow Tie Attorney and Mahmoud Faisal Elkhatib turn confusion into a clean, underwritable plan. Condo and HOA liens in Chicago […]
Surplus Funds After a Judicial Sale in Cook County: How to Claim What’s Yours
When a foreclosed property sells for more than the total owed on the loan and court-approved costs, the extra money is called surplus funds (or excess proceeds). In Cook County, those funds are not released to you automatically. You must file a petition in the Chancery Division, notify any interested parties, and obtain a signed […]
Zombie Second Mortgages in Illinois (2025): Cook County Playbook
What is a “zombie” second mortgage? A zombie second is a junior lien—often a home-equity or piggyback 80/20 loan from the mid-2000s—that went quiet for years and is now being collected again. In recent years, regulators flagged a wave of attempts to enforce these aged seconds, sometimes after servicing transfers or debt-buyer purchases. If a […]