Batavia, IL Residential Real Estate Attorney

• Property taxes and prorations. Kane-side homes are billed by the Kane County Treasurer; DuPage-side homes by the DuPage County Treasurer in Wheaton. The closing credit for unbilled taxes is calculated from that county’s most recent bill.
• Assessment and exemptions. Kane-side homes are assessed through the township assessor and the Kane County Supervisor of Assessments; DuPage-side homes through the DuPage township assessor and DuPage County. Homestead and senior exemptions are filed with the matching county after purchase.
• Recording. Kane-side deeds are recorded through Kane County in Geneva; DuPage-side deeds through the DuPage County Recorder (Elizabeth Chaplin) at 421 N. County Farm Road in Wheaton.
• Courts. Probate, foreclosure and other civil matters involving Kane-side property are heard in Kane County’s Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, at the courthouse in Geneva. DuPage-side property falls under the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit in Wheaton.

City of Batavia Requirements at Closing

• No city transfer tax. Title-industry ordinance tables list no City of Batavia transfer tax. State and county transfer taxes still apply and are customarily paid by the seller.
• City utilities. The City of Batavia provides electric, water and wastewater service. Sellers should call City Hall at 100 N. Island Avenue with the closing date; title-industry tables call for a final reading a couple of days before closing, and the City may ask for the buyer’s name.
• Historic district review. Batavia has a Historic Preservation Commission that reviews certain exterior work in its historic district. Buyers planning exterior changes to an older downtown-area home should ask the City whether a certificate of appropriateness applies.

Batavia Homes We Commonly See

• Older homes near downtown and the river: pre-1978 lead-based paint disclosure, older electrical and plumbing, and additions that may predate permits.
• West-side subdivisions: HOA covenants on fences, sheds and rentals, and plat-of-survey review for easements behind the lot.
• Townhomes and condominiums: association disclosures, reserves, special assessments and move-in fees.
• East-side homes near the DuPage line: confirm the county, taxing districts and exemption office before closing, not after.

Related Pages

Neighbors: our Geneva real estate attorney and Aurora real estate attorney pages. County rules: Kane County residential real estate and DuPage County residential real estate. Buyers should review the attorney review period article and our home buyer attorney page; sellers should see our home seller attorney page.

Attorney Advertising. This page is general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every transaction is different, contract forms and local rules change, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact an attorney about your specific situation.