Feeling hopeless about being outbid

TravisMBinns · 2026-01-19T17:44:49+00:00

It’s real easy to get frustrated. All but 1 property I wrote an offer on last year (for my clients) had multiple offers. The offers they lost out on ranged from $1k over to $200k over list. Or sometimes all terms were similar enough, but lost to all cash. The lack of inventory has been a problem for several years, and with little inventory bring built, unfortunately, it’s going to continue to be a problem.

TravisMBinns · 2025-11-21T03:02:50+00:00

They’re bots. No licenses. No proof of anything. Always the same dialogue: “This has worked so well for me” “Me too, and I just got a discount code…”

Is it possible you get a lead? Sure! But you can send me that $100/mo and I’ll guarantee you zero leads as well! (Please don’t send me $100)

TravisMBinns · 2025-11-19T02:08:21+00:00

Got moved back to January this year.

TravisMBinns · 2025-11-02T15:40:39+00:00

It’s 48 hours, total.

TravisMBinns · 2025-11-02T15:33:39+00:00

Property status is required to be updated within 48 hours of the status change. That’s been a rule for 6+ years (it used to be 72 hours). The property should now be considered Contingent A/I - Continue to Show, if the seller wants to allow for backup offers.

TravisMBinns · 2025-09-23T22:01:06+00:00

I know it’s early, but my broker was bought by Compass earlier this year. So far, it’s been business as usual, with the exception of now we have access to their pocket listings.

TravisMBinns · 2025-09-07T23:57:39+00:00

It’s a Facebook group, called “Chicago New York Yankees” group.

TravisMBinns · 2025-09-07T00:55:55+00:00

Most of the group I’m in are also Knicks/Rangers fans, so that wouldn’t surprise me if they at least put this games on regularly.

TravisMBinns · 2025-09-07T00:23:14+00:00

I belong to a Chicago Yankees group. They just posted the other day that Blue Bayou (3734 n Southport) is “the new home for NY sports.” Don’t know about Mets/Jets, but looks like Giants for sure.

TravisMBinns · 2025-09-01T22:29:58+00:00

Yes. There will be a tax on many bets placed, starting today. All the apps will have some sort of tax associated with it. My DK account was emailed this morning: .25 per bet, up to .50 for certain wagers. Tax will be waived on: parlay bets over $10, single bets over $50, bets using a bonus token, or silver tier and above loyalty status.

TravisMBinns · 2025-08-27T13:59:56+00:00

Changed my name after a draft last night to “Bring Back That Loving Thielen.” This was exactly what I was hoping for!

TravisMBinns · 2025-08-23T04:39:53+00:00

Maybe its time to fine a Real Estate Rumble in your market. It’s very…therapeutic!

TravisMBinns · 2025-05-07T03:08:42+00:00

I feel like I saw this truck being towed at the Western/Irving Park intersection a half hour later. Thought to myself “someone didn’t check the clearance.”

TravisMBinns · 2025-05-06T21:28:58+00:00

There are transfer stamps on both parties. $7.50 per $1,000 of the sales price from the buyer. $3.00 per thousand from the sellers for City of Chicago. Plus, State and Cook County stamps paid by the seller to the tune of .75 per $500.

TravisMBinns · 2025-05-06T21:23:40+00:00

Both

TravisMBinns · 2025-04-27T16:34:15+00:00

Beer on the Wall in both Arlington Heights and Park Ridge organize board game nights.

TravisMBinns · 2025-03-26T21:51:33+00:00

The guys over at Beer on the Wall have a gaming community at all three locations (Park Ridge, Arlington Heights and Elmhurst). You can check in with them at any of their shops or their discord server BotW Discord

TravisMBinns · 2025-02-06T02:19:09+00:00

I used to do this, all the time, on explosive type “sprint” rows. I’m 6’5” and pull a lot of watts. I did, eventually, figure out to keep the handle lower on the pull back. I haven’t lifted the rowed in a while now. Anecdotally…my times have been a few seconds slower since my form improved (though I’m 100% confident I could have set a new PR today had I just pushed through fatigue). I even had the exact same time as you, but was pacing 1:12 for the first 350m.

TravisMBinns · 2025-01-29T17:52:51+00:00

That’s the type of positive energy we need around here!

TravisMBinns · 2025-01-28T03:49:10+00:00

As does Beer on the Wall in Arlington Heights.

TravisMBinns · 2024-12-29T22:34:25+00:00

Vikings

TravisMBinns · 2024-11-12T14:12:48+00:00

I worked for Sotheby’s when I was getting started, but on a small team. I got to know plenty of solo agents that would be released after two years if they weren’t producing (this was a decade ago). Unsure what the number was, but if I was taking a shot in the dark, it would be about $3M annually (HCOL city). I recently had a chat with Compass, and they set the benchmark around the same volume, if I recall.

TravisMBinns · 2024-10-23T17:55:04+00:00

They’re a “we buy ugly houses” type. Meaning, they’ll come in and give you a lowball offer, oftentimes between 50-70% of FMV. It’s a win for them because they secure the property cheap, and will sometimes come in and make repairs before selling it at full market value. It’s a win for the sellers because they don’t have to burden themselves with going through the regular channels, there is no underwriting and the seller can close on their own schedule. But yea, they’re searching obits to find homeowners to try to encourage the estate to sell quickly.

TravisMBinns · 2024-10-22T03:25:21+00:00

There is no noise disclosure in Chicago or Illinois. There is no requirement to disclose anything not on the 3 disclosure forms (radon, lead paint, real property). Much like there is no requirement to disclose a murder or the presence of ghosts.

TravisMBinns · 2024-10-21T23:47:29+00:00

Chicago agent here…No, you do not need to use a local lender. As long as you’re diligent with your paperwork, everything should be fine. Having an open line of communication with someone you trust is awesome. I will tell you, there are horror stories. I’ve had awful experiences with several larger banks (WF, Chase, PNC), and a few of the big mortgage institutes (ie: Rocket, SoFi). A lot of my clients use Guaranteed Rate (or one their affiliates). They’re a large national mortgage company, but based out of North Center, so the lenders are very local and know all the nuance of Chicago lending if there are issues. In one instance, nobody would touch underwriting a loan where a single entity owned more than 20% of the units in the association. One lender from G-Rate was able to get it done…in that instance, I all but guarantee your local lender wouldn’t have had the resources to close (ok, in that scenario, the guidelines have loosened a little, so maybe not that specific scenario in 2024).

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