Selling a house in Park Forest, IL: what the city requires
Cook County, Illinois · Last checked November 2026
Park Forest requires a municipal inspection before it issues transfer stamps. $100 Inspection. Transfer tax: $5.00 per $1,000.
What Park Forest requires
Village inspection before transfer stamps
- Who does it
- Village or city building department. The seller schedules it.
- Cost
- $100 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.
- $100 Inspection.
- Inspection needed before closing if property to be owner occupied. Request form available online.
- Inspection needed after closing but before occupancy if property to be rental.
Municipal transfer stamp (tax)
- Cost
- $5.00 per $1,000..
Who to call
Village of Park Forest
708-748-1112
Official page
Housing in Park Forest
- Median year homes were built
- 1958
- Median home value
- $115,300
- Owner-occupied homes
- 5,351 of 8,129 (66%)
- Total housing units
- 8,841
With half the homes built by 1958, inspectors here commonly flag older wiring, missing GFCI outlets, handrails, and worn exteriors. Fix the cheap items before the inspection.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates for Park Forest village, Illinois.
Need this done in Park Forest?
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 Park Forest require before I sell my house?
Park Forest requires a municipal inspection before it issues transfer stamps. $100 Inspection. Transfer tax: $5.00 per $1,000.
How much does the village inspection before transfer stamps cost in Park Forest?
$100 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.
How old are the homes in Park Forest?
The median home in Park Forest was built in 1958, and the median home value is $115,300, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey.
Nearby: Chicago area
- Oak Park Required in some cases
- Olympia Fields Required at sale
- Orland Park No point-of-sale rule
- Palatine No point-of-sale rule
- Palos Heights No point-of-sale rule
- Palos Hills Required at sale
- Park Ridge Required in some cases
- Posen Required at sale
- Richton Park Required at sale
- River Forest Required at sale
- River Grove Required at sale
- Riverdale Required at sale
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Sources
- First American / Saturn Title, Illinois transfer stamp requirement listing (rev. Nov. 25, 2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25035, B25077, B25003, B25001)
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.