Julija Jovanovic, Real Estate Agent

Julija Jovanovic, Real Estate Agent Let me guide you through the process of selling, or buying a home.
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06/16/2026

Most buyers think the winning offer comes down to price.
Sometimes it doesn’t.
I’ve seen sellers choose an offer because it matched their timeline better.

Maybe they needed:
• a fast closing to buy their next home
• extra time after closing to move
• a specific closing date that aligned with a job relocation
• certainty around an important life event

Before I write an offer for a buyer, one of the first things I do is call the listing agent.

One question I always ask is:
“What is the seller’s ideal timeline?”
I’ve learned that sellers don’t all want the same thing.

Some need a quick closing so they can purchase their next home.
Some need extra time after closing to move.
Others have a specific date they’re trying to coordinate around a job transfer, school schedule, or other life event.

That information helps me position my buyer’s offer in a way that’s more attractive to the seller.
Because a strong offer isn’t just about price.

It’s about understanding what’s important to the seller and creating terms that help meet their needs.

Sometimes that conversation reveals an opportunity to make an offer stand out without increasing the purchase price.

A strong offer solves the seller’s problem.
And sometimes that comes down to a single date on the contract.

I’m Julija Jovanovic eXp Realty, an IL Realtor with over 10 years of experience and deep local roots, helping clients relocate, invest, build new construction, and buy their first home in Darien, Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Willowbrook, Indian Head Park, Westmont, La Grange and Oak Brook

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06/15/2026

One thing I’ve noticed recently is that many buyers still think new construction is a “take it or leave it” situation.

That used to be more common.
Today, many builders are actively competing for buyers.

When I’m helping clients explore new construction, I’m looking at much more than the advertised price.

I’m asking questions about:
• Interest rate buydowns
• Closing cost assistance
• Available incentives
• Inventory homes
• Upgrade opportunities
• Preferred lender programs

Sometimes the best value isn’t the lowest price.
Sometimes it’s the builder offering terms that reduce your monthly payment or lower your upfront costs.

That’s why I almost always compare new construction and resale options side by side.

Many buyers are surprised to learn that a builder may be willing to do things a resale seller simply can’t.

One of the biggest mistakes I see buyers make is assuming the advertised price tells the whole story.
It rarely does.

I’m Julija Jovanovic eXp Realty, an IL Realtor with over 10 years of experience and deep local roots, helping clients relocate, invest, build new construction, and buy their first home in Darien, Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Willowbrook, Westmont, Indian Head Park, La Grange and Oak Brook.

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06/12/2026

Wait, why do I have to sign something just to see a house??

• — Totally fair reaction. Let me
explain without the boring legal voice.
Thanks to a big industry shakeup in 2024 (hi, NAR settlement.
buyer’s agents now have to have a
signed agreement with you before taking you to a private showing. It’s basically just putting everyone on the same page about how your agent gets paid - nothing sketchy, just new rules.

BUT - and this is the part people miss - open houses don’t count. Walk in, grab a cookie, snoop around, zero paperwork.

No agent, no signature, no commitment.
Just vibes.
The form only comes into play when an agent is personally taking you somewhere. Think of it less like a contract and more like a “yes we’re officially doing this together” handshake. In writing. With a pen.

Moral of the story: don’t let the paperwork scare you off from your dream home. Just know what you’re signing and why - and if your agent can’t explain it clearly, that’s a bigger red flag than the form itself. •

Questions? My DMs are always open.

• Buying in Chicago land area ? Let’s make it make sense.

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Save this, as a reminder.

06/10/2026

The best compliment Realtors can receive is a referral🏠❤️

Looking to buy or sell? Send me a message📱📞
Follow for more info.
Share with someone looking to make a move.

I am Julija Jovanovic your IL Realtor.

06/09/2026

We will TRY it all. But if you’re making your agent do these types of things to sell your house after months on the market...it’s usually the price that’s not correct. More open houses usually don’t work. Definitely does not work if changing the order of the listing photos.

My best advice is to hire a true professional who knows the market and trends in your area and take their advice. PRICE THE HOUSE CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME.

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06/07/2026

Let me tell you something that most buyers shopping on Zillow have no idea about right now.

A new wave of homes is hitting a private market before they ever reach the MLS. Redfin just launched something called Early Access. Compass has their own exclusive network. And Zillow is in a full-on battle with agents and MLSs over who gets to control this inventory first. It is a mess behind the scenes, and regular buyers are the ones paying the price.

Here is what that means if you are actively looking for a home.
If you are searching on your own, you are already behind.

These pre-marketed listings don’t show up where most buyers look. They are only visible through agents who have access to these private networks. By the time a home hits Zillow, it may already have multiple offers
from buyers who saw it days earlier through channels you didn’t know existed. Homes are going under contract before they are ever publicly listed.

I am not telling you this to panic you. I am telling you because the rules of home searching changed this month and most buyers haven’t caught up yet.

Here is what to do about it.
1. Stop treating Zillow as your complete picture of the market. It is showing you a fraction of what is actually available.
2. Work with an agent who has access to pre-market and off-market inventory in your target neighborhoods.
3. Ask directly: Do you have access to pre-market listings in the areas I’m looking at?
4. Set up automated alerts through your agent’s MLS portal, not through consumer apps that lag behind.
5. When something goes live, move fast. Pre-market exposure shortens the window every single time.

The homes you want are out there. Some of them are sitting in private networks right now waiting to hit the open market. You need someone with the right access to find them before the rest of the market catches up.

DM and l’ll send you a private home search that pulls from sources most buyers never see.

Follow for more real estate advice. Share with someone thinking of moving.

06/06/2026

🏠 That home you’ve been checking out online? ••

Instead of wondering “what if,” let’s find out what’s possible.
Send me the listing you’ve been eyeing and I’ll help you understand:
✅ What it may take to buy it.
✅ Estimated monthly payments
✅ Potential competition
✅ Next steps to make an offer.

Sometimes your dream home is closer than you think.

📲Send me the address, link, or screenshot and let’s talk about how we can make it yours.

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06/05/2026

They went up.
As of this week, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is sitting at 6.53 percent. That is up from 5.98 percent back in February. The window that briefly opened this year. It closed back up.

I am not saying this to scare anyone into a decision they are not ready to make. I am saying it because waiting is a strategy with a real cost that most buyers never actually stop to calculate.

Here is the math that changes the conversation.
Every month you rent, your landlord builds equity. Not you. The average renter in the US pays around $1,800 a month. Twelve months of waiting costs you roughly $21,600 in payments that built exactly zero net worth.
Meanwhile, home prices in most markets are projected to grow 2 to 4 percent this year.

The home you are looking at today will cost more when rates eventually come down. And here is the part buyers miss. When rates do drop, every other buyer who was also waiting floods back into the market at the same time. That surge in demand pushes prices up. You end up paying more for the house AND competing against a crowd.

The buyers I work with who act in windows like this one are always glad they did. The ones who wait often call me two years later saying they wished they had not.

Here is what to do right now.

1. Get pre-approved. Knowing your real purchasing power changes the whole calculation.

2. Ask your lender about a buydown. A 2-1 or 1-0 buydown lowers your effective rate today, and you can refinance when rates drop.

3. Run the actual rent vs. own math with your real numbers, not with the rate you are hoping for someday.

4. Start shopping now. When the rate drop comes, you want to be under contract, not starting over.

You can refinance. You cannot go back in time and buy at today’s prices.

Comment SEARCH below and I will send you a private home search link so you can see what is available in your market right now.

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06/04/2026

Self-employed buyers, 1099 workers, freelancers, and business owners - this is where the mortgage process gets tricky.

You may know what you actually earn... but lenders don’t look at it the same way.

If you gross $60,000 in your business, but your tax deductions bring your taxable income down to $32,000, that lower number may be what the lender uses to quality you.

That can completely change your debt-to-income ratio.
And once that number gets too high, even a strong credit score and solid down payment may not be enough.

Here’s what matters when you’re self-employed:
✅ 12-24 months of consistent income. ✅ Clean bank statements. ✅ Properly prepared tax returns. ✅ Profit-and-loss statements. ✅ A lender who understands 1099 income. ✅ A plan before you start house shopping.

The biggest mistake self-employed buyers make is waiting until they find the house to talk to a lender.
Start early. Get your numbers reviewed. Know what the lender will actually count before you fall in love with a home.

Save this so you don’t forget it. Follow for more real estate tips that actually help.

06/03/2026

For years, I thought success in real estate meant closing more transactions, working more hours, and constantly chasing the next deal.

Then I realized there was a bigger question:

How do I build something that creates opportunities beyond my next commission check?

That’s what led me to explore a different business model—one that offers collaboration, training, technology, stock ownership opportunities, and multiple ways to grow a real estate business.

Whether you’re a new agent looking for support or an experienced agent looking to scale, it may be worth having a conversation about what’s possible.

📩 Send me a message with “GROWTH” and let’s talk about your goals and whether eXp could be a fit for you.

Follow for more info.

Address

Chicago, IL

Telephone

+17736209714

Website

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