I can't believe a year has gone by since Jeff helped me find / buy my condo. He was fantastic from start to finish and I should have written this review right away. I was a first time home buyer and Jeff walked me through the entire process and made me comfortable with it at each step of the way. Lots of details below, but long story short - you should be using Jeff as your buyer's agent! During the search process, he was very knowledgeable about the area I was looking in (it happened to be Logan Square, but he clearly knew his way around all of Chicagoland). A few things stand out during the search process that really helped drive the 5 star rating: 1) The whole process of getting shown listings and getting my feedback to him was really straightforward and efficient. I could review them online at my leisure and then send my comments and ratings back to him to help him understand what I was looking for 2) While he didn't show me anything that was clearly not what I was looking for, he took me to a couple of locations that I may not have immediately considered and he informed me of some options I would have had were I to buy them that I might not have elsewhere. This really helped me understand my options and make an informed decision. Jeff clearly understood my preferences and tailored the search to them. 3) He was honest and straightforward about the pros/cons of different places. He'd let me give my opinion first so he didn't color it, but then he'd go through and point out the things he saw that I might not have picked up on Once I picked a place and was ready to make an offer, he ended up saving me a ton of money. 1) He identified some potential difficulties we might have with the appraisal value due to a lack of good comps which helped me structure some of the subsequent activities to reduce my out-of-pocket risk if things didn't work out 2) At the same time, he leveraged that information to help me negotiate a price that was in the, "it would be amazing if I could get it at this price" range - all without any back and forth between the seller and me During the buying phase, I couldn't be happier with the inspector he recommended, I didn't end up going with his other recommendations for lawyer / bank (though my closing was a circus thanks to my bank, so maybe I should have) but I'm sure they would have been great as well. Jeff was a great resource when I was trying to understand the loan terms and all the ins and outs of that process. As I mentioned, I'm really tardy in writing this, but that amount of time allows me to mention that he sent me a card on the anniversary of my purchase which I thought was a very nice touch to an overall experience that I couldn't have been happier with. Stop your search now, you won't do better. read more

I was a 1st time home buyer, marginally familiar with each of the neighborhoods in the city, and work in the financial services industry. Jeff took care of the entire home buying process for us (home search, loan application, approval, funding, etc.) and it went very fast and seamless. He works exclusively for buyers and is not conflicted like other types of agents (traditional) so he has access to all available homes in the city, not just interested in pushing branded properties. He also has a mortgage broker that funded our loan which was sold to Chase the next day (like almost all mortgage originators), so it is easy for us to transfer funds every month between accounts. I obviously shopped my own rates and they were competitive with every other institution. Jeff can further explain the benefits of having your agent also do your loan funding. But I highly recommend this; for example, with our closing we were all ready to walk away (attorney already left, etc.) and there was a last minute calculation error in the final closing statement which took the process to a grinding halt immediately. If Jeff was not there and did not have a 1st hand relationship w/ the lender than we would not have closed that day and it would have been a huge pain. It was evident via our open houses that Jeff is well connected, respected, and very knowledgeable/realistic about purchasing a home in the city (and all the different neighborhoods with respect to our needs). His expertise proved to be priceless in our home buying experience and I highly recommend his services. read more

Great service! Very professional staff that helped me get a great deal on my condo in Sheridan Park three years ago. It was my first time buying a place and it was easier than I thought thanks to Jeff and his team. He managed the entire process, including the loan processing, attorney review and inspection, and because he managed it all, it was seamless and I didn't have to worry about getting the loan approved in time for the closing. He also negotiated a good deal and credit for closing costs. He has a wealth of knowledge that was incredibly helpful. For example, while preparing to buy a condo, I did a lot of online research about the process and watched a few too many HGTV shows, which made me think I knew a few things about buying a condo, but some of the things I heard or read I learned wasn't be best advice. Jeff provided new strategies and recommendations that were based on his experience helping buyers in Chicago. Ultimately, the decisions (e.g. deciding the amount of the initial offer/bid) were mine as the homebuyer, but I couldn't ignore the recommendations based on his experience (not something I read), as well as the local market data he pulled that looked at the latest closing prices of condos near my condo. If you're buying a place in the city or suburbs, I highly recommend working with the Home Buyer Agents of Chicagolan. read more

Jeff Kropp saved me $50,000. I was looking for a home in the highly competitive Saugansh Park area. I was sold on a property that cost $360,000. Rather than just accept the higher commission that this sale would have brought him, Jeff Kropp informed me that this property was overpriced. He did a CMA to prove his point and in the process found a property that was priced at $310,000. It had everything we wanted and it just hit the market. Jeff made himself immediately available and we saw the property the next morning at 10 AM. By noon, Jeff had the property locked up for us. Now, we live in a home that we love, in a neighborhood that we love, and at a price that we can afford. Jeff brings a lot to the table: *He's a great negotiator. *He's extremely knowledgeable. *He's honest and upfront about his opinions. *He's flexible with his times. Most realtors just try to put you in whatever home you are willing, or even slightly unwilling to buy. But not Jeff. Jeff did me and my family a great service by going above and beyond to get us a place that is perfect for us. Thanks Jeff! read more

Jeff was great to work with. He was extremely professional, and very responsive. As first time home owners we were really "in the dark" about how a lot of things worked. However, Jeff really went above and beyond to educate us and keep us informed along the way about the various steps in the home buying process. At the end of the day, he got us an amazing home, in our ideal area, for a great price! Our house was appraised before closing at more than we purchased it for, which is a testament to Jeffs market knowledge and negotiation skills. We are extemely satisfied with our experience working with Jeff and the Home Buyers Agents. We are very happy in our new home, however if we ever did decide to purchase new one, we wouldn't work with anyone else. Jeff was that good. He even jumped our car after our initial meeting (long story). What a guy! if you are buying a house, do yourself a favor and work with Jeff . We really felt like we were a priority for him throughout the whole process, which was very reassuring. read more

Jeff was very helpful helping me buying my apartment in the north side of Chicago. It was the first property I bought in this country and I am very satisfied with my home now. I appointed Jeff as a buyer-only agent and he showed me three places on the first day we met, even before I signed the formal agent-contract with him. He is honest, very easy going and has plenty of knowledge inside and outside of the box. I was not in Chicago most of the time during the deal but Jeff responded me quickly by emails. I hired the inspection service company recommended by Jeff for a very good price. He also recommended me the attorney and mortgage using his personal network, though I finally get some other help from my own friends. I closed the deal within 30 days, paying $12,000 less than the listing price, at a good APR rate and saved me a lot of time, effort and money. It was a happy and efficient experience and I would definitely recommend him and consider working with him again. read more

Jeff made our first buying experience a near perfect one. My fiancé and I were looking to buy a condo after renting for many years. I had no experience with buying property while my fiancé had bought a house in a different city years before. Both of us agree that Jeff did a great job helping us find and secure our condo. First, when looking at places, Jeff was quick to point out any issues he could see (I'm not just talking about the structure of a building itself) (certainly there were technical aspects we didn't know to even look for!). Still, it didn't take us too long to find the perfect home. There was an additional offer made on the property, but with the help of Jeff, it was our offer that was accepted and we closed quickly. Thanks Jeff! I get to paint my walls whatever color I want now. read more

I am so glad I hired Jeff! As a first time home buyer (and single person) the prospect of finding and buying a condo on my own was very intimidating. But Jeff made everything understandable (he basically gave me a crash course in home buying), and greatly simplified things by acting a loan officer and recommending an excellent inspector. He quickly understood what I was looking for and helped me find a wonderful place in an ideal location much much sooner than I expected. And then the buying process--from offer to closing--went off without a hitch. Jeff was awesome to work with--organized, diligent, and generous with his time (plus, he did all the driving). I couldn't be more pleased and would enthusiastically recommend Jeff. read more

Jeff was amazing! For first time home buyers who knew little to nothing, he helped walk us through the whole process to make it as seamless as possible. He gave us guidance and answered all our questions. He's extremely knowledgeable- from where to start, the home buying process, inspection, neighborhoods, potential water damage, mortgage, lenders, etc. We were using other various agents before him, and looking back we're glad we chose him. He's also great at negotiating and made sure we had everything we wanted for a great price. Jeff definitely exceeded our expectations and I would def use him again when we're ready to move up and into our next dream home. read more

When My landlord sold the place I had been living in for the last seven years, I was in a bit of a Jam. Jeff and the Home Buyer Agents saved the Day. Jeff helped me quickly find the right home in my budget and line up all of the services I needed to purchase a home ad a great price. As a first time home buyer, I had no idea what I was doing. Jeff helped me get a mortgage, find a great home inspector, and even recommended a fantastic attorney. He was easy to work with from start to finish. Everything went smoother than I expected given how stressful the situation was. I'd recommend Jeff to anyone looking for a home. read more

Working with Jeff is like working with your best friend. I recently closed on a Duplex with him and he made the whole process a breeze. He was there every step of the way to answer any questions even when he was on vacation. Every property I wanted to see Jeff was there giving his opinions and pointing out important things he noticed along the way. He took care of every step and answered every question of the entire process. In a profession that seems like the wild west at times, Jeff always stood out as a true professional. I highly recommend him and hope to be working with him again in the near future! read more

I feel compelled to write a review for Jeff considering I was connected to him through Yelp. As a first time homebuyer, I had lots of questions about the process and what to expect. Through an initial consult over the phone, Jeff demonstrated that he was very knowledgable about the home buying process and he was willing to take the time to address all my concerns. Jeff helped me to find a neighborhood within in my budget and knew exactly how to write up a contract for a property with multiple offers. I would highly recommend selecting Jeff as your agent in the home buying process. read more

Jeff came highly recommended from my brother and his wife, and when we first met with him he even remembered my brother from when they bought their house two years ago. Going into the process Jeff definitely retained that personal service throughout. He was very knowledgeable about the home buying process and did an excellent job managing expectations and emotions. He was very organized with the logistics, kept us on schedule, and facilitated all paperwork very well. It certainly reduced the stress of home buying and made buying our first home a very positive experience. read more

First time buyer here, had many recommendations for agents but no particular reason to choose one over the other - got very lucky with Jeff. He answered all my questions and never made me feel like an idiot or a pest. Always very responsive to outreach, usually within an hour or so and never more than a day. I imagine he has many clients but I never felt like his attention was divided. I also felt very confident in him representing me through the offer and negotiation. We closed in 25 days without any major hurdles - very happy client here and happy to highly recommend. read more

Jeff is the best!!! As a first time home buyer, my husband and I had a million questions. Jeff was SO helpful and patient with us. He answered all of our questions and walked us through the entire process. We really had no idea what we were doing, and Jeff did an amazing job of making sure we understood each step of the home buying experience. Jeff was always available to answer questions and put our home buying anxiety at ease. We recommend Jeff to all of our friends and hope to use him down the road!! Thank you Jeff!! read more

As first time home buyers, we were very grateful to work with Jeff. He was knowledgeable, flexible, quick to respond, and helpful in explaining both the realty and mortgage sides of the process to us. Jeff's connections came in very handy when he provided us with referrals for other vendors (such as our home inspector and attorney). He was great throughout the entire process, and has done a wonderful job of following up with us to make sure we're settled in. I would highly recommend Jeff to any home buyer! read more

Highly reccomend Jeff, he's the best exclusive buyer agent I've worked with. I've never worked with a regular realtor after learning about exclusive buyer agents, which only represent buyers of real estate. Exclusive buyer agents never take listings and, therefore, never represent the seller in a real estate transaction. Exclusive buyer agents have chosen this business model to eliminate the conflict of interest that exists when one firm attempts to represent both buyer and seller in the same transaction. read more

I was browsing Redfin and was connected to Jeff when I was looking to purchase a condo. Jeff is a very responsive person either using phone or email. He is very flexible with showing times, and always gives honest opinions about the property. As a first time homebuyer, Jeff really guided me throughout the process. He is always on hand to answer my questions during escrow up until closing. Glad to have worked with him! read more

Just closed on a condo in River North with Jeff as my agent! He is an overall friendly guy and I appreciated the fact that he works exclusively as a buyer's agent. He helped me negotiate the price down a substantial amount from the listing price, and then the process was smooth after that. I definitely recommend Jeff if you are looking for a new home! read more