Selling a house in Hometown, IL: what the city requires
Cook County, Illinois · Last checked November 2026
Hometown requires a municipal inspection before it issues transfer stamps. $50 Inspection fee.
What Hometown requires
Village inspection before transfer stamps
- Who does it
- Village or city building department. The seller schedules it.
- Cost
- $50 for a single-family home, per the title-company list.
- Deadline
- The village will not issue transfer stamps or a compliance certificate until it is done, and the deed cannot be recorded without them.
- $50 Inspection fee.
Who to call
Village of Hometown
708-424-7500
Official page
Need this done in Hometown?
Get quotes from a local contractor for village inspection repairs, help with repairs, or a cash offer to sell as-is. We pass your request to independent local providers. Free, no obligation.
How the illinois transfer stamp and village inspection process works
Many Chicago-area villages will not sell you the municipal transfer stamp needed to record the deed until the seller pays final water bills and, in a long list of towns, passes a village inspection. Some inspect the whole house, others only the sewer, sump pump or sidewalk.
- Check the village website or call the clerk as soon as you list. Some villages want the inspection before you put up a sign or hold an open house.
- Pay the inspection fee and schedule it, often 2 to 4 weeks before closing.
- Fix the items on the report and pass a reinspection, or ask whether the buyer can sign an as-is or compliance agreement, sometimes with an escrow or bond.
- Order the final water reading, pay village debts, and buy the transfer stamp before closing.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Village inspection fee | $0 to $350 |
| Municipal transfer tax | Up to $10 per $1,000 of price in some towns |
| Typical repair list | $200 to $5,000 |
Read the full illinois transfer stamp and village inspection guide
Other towns with the same requirement: Municipal transfer tax
If the house fails
You can repair before closing, use an escrow or extension where the city allows it, let the buyer assume the work for a credit, or sell as-is. Compare the options.
Frequently asked questions
What does Hometown require before I sell my house?
Hometown requires a municipal inspection before it issues transfer stamps. $50 Inspection fee.
How much does the village inspection before transfer stamps cost in Hometown?
$50 for a single-family home, per the title-company list. Typical related costs: village inspection fee $0 to $350; municipal transfer tax Up to $10 per $1,000 of price in some towns; typical repair list $200 to $5,000.
What if my house fails?
You can make the repairs before closing, negotiate a credit with the buyer, or sell as-is to a buyer who will handle the work. Ask the municipality whether it allows a buyer to assume the work or an escrow.
Who pays, the buyer or the seller?
The ordinance usually makes the seller responsible for ordering it, but who pays for repairs is negotiable in the purchase agreement.
Nearby: Chicago area
- Glenwood Required at sale
- Hanover Park No point-of-sale rule
- Harvey Required at sale
- Hazel Crest Required at sale
- Hickory Hills Required at sale
- Hillside Required at sale
- Homewood Required in some cases
- Justice Required at sale
- Lansing No point-of-sale rule
- Lemont No point-of-sale rule
- Lincolnwood No point-of-sale rule
- Lynwood Required at sale
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Sources
Last checked November 2026. Rules and fees change by ordinance and resolution. Confirm with the municipality before you list. See something out of date? Report a change.