Sage, Practical Advice for Bargain Hunters

On Deal Estate: The Blog, Chicago magazine real-estate columnist Dennis Rodkin offers this sage and practical advice to bargain-hunting buyers:

"Ask your real-estate agent to look for listings in buildings that have been complete for less than 18 months. There is a good chance that most listings there are never-used resales. (A unit that is also listed as a rental is almost certainly a vacant resale.) Your agent can research what preconstruction prices were to get a good idea what the seller paid and then figure in commissions and fees to help you come up with a reasonable offer. "