Chicago, Illinois · Cook County · DuPage County records
Find the right place to check a property value, tax notice, deed, estate case, or sale question. This page links Cook County resources and the DuPage County Recorder for properties in DuPage County.
USA Home Buyers buys houses in Chicago and Cook County. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
Call USA Home Buyers at 888-274-5006.
Ask for a Chicago cash offerLocal offices
Check the property’s county before using a county office. Assessed value, unpaid taxes, recorded deeds, and court judgments are different records.
Cook County · property assessment and assessed value
Use the Assessor for Cook County assessment and assessed-value questions. An assessed value is not the amount of unpaid property taxes, a recorded deed, or a court judgment.
Cook County Assessor ↗Cook County · recorded land documents
The Clerk records Cook County land documents, including deeds. Use this office for a recorded deed or document—not a property assessment, current tax balance, or court judgment.
Cook County Clerk's Office ↗Cook County · probate and estate court matters
Use the Probate Division link for estate-related court information. It is a court-record path, separate from the Assessor’s valuation records and the Clerk’s recorded deeds.
Cook County Probate Division ↗DuPage County · recorded land documents
For a property in DuPage County, use the Recorder for recorded land records such as deeds. Cook County offices do not serve as the recorder for a DuPage County property.
DuPage County Recorder ↗Illinois transfer taxes
For a taxable transfer, Illinois charges 50 cents for each $500 of taxable value, or part of $500. A county may add 25 cents per $500, and a city may have its own transfer tax. Chicago has a city transfer tax, so the state rate alone is not the total. Exemptions, taxable value, the property’s actual county and city, and the transaction determine the figures and who is responsible for them. Ask the closing professional to show the taxes for the specific property.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the Illinois state, county and city transfer taxes. That does not pay a mortgage balance, liens, back taxes, or your share of current property taxes.
Situation help
Find next steps for estate paperwork, property condition, and questions about who can sign.
Review the court papers and dates that determine whether a sale can fit your situation.
Review ownership, required signatures, court papers, and sale planning.
Consider the lease, occupants, access, and possession when comparing sale options.
See what to check when a property has an open notice, repair order, or other city issue.
Review property damage and the questions to sort out before choosing a sale path.
Separate a tax balance, mortgage payoff, recorded lien, and court judgment before a sale.
Find estate-record and signing-authority questions for a house in probate.
Read or compare
Use the market report for dated Chicago context, the calculator to change planning inputs, and the guide or process page to compare next steps for your property.
Chicago, IL Home Sale Net Proceeds Calculator
CalculatorCompare what you would keep from listing your house or selling as-is for cash. Change the repair costs, cleanout, monthly bills and closing costs to fit your house.
Read dated Chicago-place market context without treating a market statistic as a property valuation.
Compare a direct as-is sale with listing and other ways to sell.
Read the local article about sale choices and the questions to check for a Chicago property.
Browse the Chicago article hub for more seller questions.
See the steps from sharing a property address to written terms and closing.
Read the available seller reviews and check each review’s stated location.
Return to the existing Chicago home-sale page.
Here's what sellers have said about working with us.
“We had a grease fire in the kitchen that spread to the wall and the cabinet above the range before we got it out. Insurance gave us actual cash value — $19,000 on a kitchen that would cost $35,000 to rebuild. I wasn't going to fight that for six months. USA Home Buyers bought the house as-is in nine days.”
“I worked at the Amazon distribution center in Kenosha and took a medical leave for six months. Fell behind on payments, the bank filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court — Wisconsin judicial foreclosure. USA Home Buyers explained exactly where the timeline was and moved fast. Written offer in twenty-four hours, closed in eleven days. Foreclosure dismissed.”
“We owned our Lakeview property for twenty-six years and the property taxes hit $6,400 this year. Both retired, two incomes gone to one Social Security check. The house had too many stairs for my husband's knees anyway. USA Home Buyers gave us a fair number and closed in seven days. We moved to a one-floor condo in Waukegan.”
Use the Cook County Assessor for assessment and assessed-value questions. That is different from checking an unpaid tax balance, finding a recorded deed, or looking up a court judgment.
Start with the current property-tax bill or delinquency notice for the property and use its account details to confirm the balance with the tax office shown there. An assessed value, transfer tax, deed record, and unpaid tax balance are separate items.
For a Cook County recorded deed, use the Cook County Clerk’s land-record path. For a DuPage County deed, use the DuPage County Recorder. A court judgment is a court record, not a deed; use the court and case details on the judgment or notice. The Cook County Probate Division link above is for estate-related court matters.
Check which county the property is in first. Use the Cook County offices for Cook County records and the DuPage County Recorder for DuPage County land records.
Property-specific help
Share the property address and the question in front of you. Call USA Home Buyers at 888-274-5006.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
Takes 2 minutes. No obligation.