Good real estate help in Aurora?

[InternetLegend]

I'm appealing to the good Dopers of the Chicago area. My brother-in-law owns a house in Aurora, and it really needs to be sold, but there are some roadblocks in the way.

My BIL fell seriously ill three years ago while he was living in Aurora. My mother- and father-in-law brought him here to New Mexico to take care of him while he recovered. Life went on, as it does, and he's now living with my elderly, widowed father-in-law, who needs pretty much constant care while he recovers from surgery. There's really no practical way for my BIL to go back to Aurora to take care of any business in person right now.

He owns his house free and clear, and he has a wonderful neighbor who is renting it for his adult daughter and her family. The house was in really bad shape when my BIL left, and the neighbor's been doing a lot of repair work. His daughter would like to buy it, but she may not qualify for a loan in this financial climate. They've discussed doing a lease-to-own arrangement, but the discussions have never really gotten anywhere, because no one involved really has a good idea of how to proceed. I believe they'll need an appraisal, and the neighbor will need to sum up the value of the repairs he's done versus what he's paid in rent, and then everyone can come to an agreement about what a fair sale price would be.

The bottom line is that he needs someone who can facilitate this real estate transaction, and we don't really know how to find someone he can trust to do that. I'm thinking a good real estate agent or maybe a broker or lawyer might be able to get things moving, but I don't know anyone in the area. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?

[Lochdale]

I think you should get a lawyer to facilitate the deal. The Chicago Bar Association have a nice referral system that is worth checking out.

[InternetLegend]

Thanks, Lochdale!