DAVID BRAUN | THE MORTGAGE MANIAC
100+ Mortgage, Housing & Real Estate Resources for Chicago and Illinois Homebuyers
2026–2027 Chicagoland Homebuyer Resource Center
David Braun | Mortgage Loan Officer | NMLS #303007
Buying a home involves much more than finding a house and choosing a mortgage.
Homebuyers need reliable information about mortgage programs, property taxes, housing assistance, consumer protection, credit, local communities, real estate and the overall housing market.
That's why I created this Chicagoland Homebuyer Resource Center—to give Chicago and Illinois homebuyers one place to begin their research.
Mortgage guidelines, housing programs and market conditions change. DavidBraunMLO.com will continue expanding with mortgage education, market updates and homebuyer resources.
Homebuyer Resource Directory
Federal Mortgage & Housing Resources
Start with these official federal and housing-finance resources when researching mortgage programs and homeownership.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Federal Housing Administration (FHA)
- HUD Housing Counseling
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- CFPB — Owning a Home
- Fannie Mae
- Fannie Mae Single Family
- Freddie Mac
- Freddie Mac My Home
- USDA Rural Development
- VA Home Loan Program
- Federal Housing Finance Agency
- Federal Reserve
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- FRED Economic Data
Illinois Homebuyer Resources
- Illinois Housing Development Authority
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Illinois Department of Revenue
- State of Illinois
- Illinois Attorney General
- Illinois REALTORS
- Illinois State Bar Association
Chicago Housing & Real Estate Resources
- City of Chicago
- Chicago Department of Housing
- Cook County
- Cook County Assessor
- Cook County Treasurer
- Cook County Clerk
- Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County
- Chicago Association of REALTORS
- Choose Chicago
Chicagoland County Resources
Chicagoland Community Resources
Research local government, community information and municipal resources for popular Chicago-area communities.
- City of Naperville
- Village of Orland Park
- City of Lockport
- City of Joliet
- Village of Schaumburg
- Village of Downers Grove
- City of Aurora
- City of Elmhurst
- Village of Oak Park
- City of Evanston
- Village of Skokie
- Village of Palatine
Mortgage, Housing & Economic Data
Mortgage rates and housing conditions are influenced by broader economic conditions. These resources can help consumers research the market.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey
- FRED 30-Year Mortgage Rate Data
- U.S. Census Bureau Housing Data
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
- S&P Dow Jones Indices
- National Association of REALTORS Research
Credit & Consumer Resources
Understanding your credit profile before applying for a mortgage can be an important part of preparing for homeownership.
- AnnualCreditReport.com
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
- IdentityTheft.gov
- Federal Trade Commission Consumer Advice
Real Estate & Homeownership Organizations
- National Association of REALTORS
- Mortgage Bankers Association
- National Association of Home Builders
- Appraisal Institute
- American Land Title Association
- InterNACHI
David Braun's Homebuyer Roadmap
Step 1 — Understand Your Credit
Review your credit profile before beginning the mortgage process.
Step 2 — Build Your Mortgage Profile
Income, assets, employment, debts, credit and down payment all work together.
Step 3 — Compare Mortgage Programs
Conventional, FHA, VA and other programs have different qualification requirements.
Step 4 — Determine Your Comfortable Payment
Qualifying for a mortgage and being comfortable with the payment are not necessarily the same thing.
Step 5 — Get Preapproved
Understand your financing before making an offer.
Step 6 — Build Your Real Estate Team
Your lender, real estate professional, attorney, inspector and other professionals all play different roles.
Step 7 — Shop for the Right Home
Search for a home with a financial strategy instead of simply guessing at a price range.
THE MORTGAGE MANIAC APPROACH
Don't Start With a House.
Start With a Mortgage Strategy.
I've been in the mortgage industry since 1997, and one lesson has remained consistent: homebuyers benefit from understanding the numbers before making an offer.
Know your credit. Understand your potential payment. Compare mortgage programs. Understand your cash requirements. Then build your homebuying strategy.
Build Your Mortgage Plan Before You Apply.
CHICAGOLAND REAL ESTATE COMMUNITY
Link to the Chicagoland Homebuyer Resource Center
Are you a Realtor, real estate attorney, home inspector, title professional, insurance professional, CPA, property manager, housing counselor, community organization or real estate website?
If this educational resource would help your clients or website visitors, you're welcome to reference it from your website, newsletter, article or homebuyer-resource page.
2026–2027 Chicagoland Homebuyer Resource Center
AUTHOR
David Braun — The Mortgage Maniac
WEBSITE
DavidBraunMLO.com
SUGGESTED LINK TEXT
Chicagoland Homebuyer & Mortgage Resource Center
SUGGESTED DESCRIPTION
A comprehensive Chicago-area homebuyer education resource featuring mortgage, credit, FHA, conventional financing, government housing, property-tax and real estate information.
Website Owners — Copy This Link
Help make understandable mortgage and homebuying information easier for Chicagoland consumers to find.
Thinking About Buying a Home in Chicagoland?
Don't wait until you find the house to start thinking about the mortgage.
Understand your buying power. Build your strategy. Then make your move.
David Braun — The Mortgage Maniac
Mortgage Loan Officer
NMLS #303007
Important Mortgage Disclosure: This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only and is not a commitment to lend, mortgage preapproval, approval, guarantee of financing or rate quote. Mortgage programs, rates, eligibility requirements and underwriting guidelines are subject to change and may vary based on lender, borrower, property and transaction circumstances. Consumers should consult appropriate qualified professionals regarding their individual circumstances.
Third-Party Resources: External websites are provided for educational convenience. David Braun does not control third-party websites, and their programs, content and website addresses may change.
David Braun | Mortgage Loan Officer | NMLS #303007 | Equal Housing Opportunity