Peoria · Buying a Home
Buying a Home in Peoria
Know what you can spend, what it costs to own, and how to compete, before you tour a single home.
Buying a home in Peoria: what you get
Buying a home in Peoria starts before the first showing. You'll know what you can spend, what the home will really cost to own, including Illinois property taxes, and what it takes to win the kind of home you want.
Some buyers try to win by waiving inspections or piling on earnest money. Being early, prepared and smart about the offer can often win without giving up your protections.
Why Peoria buyers work with me
I'm Shannan Werckle, a Broker-REALTOR® with eXp Realty and the name behind Greater Peoria Living. Peoria is home base for me, and I know every part of the city, from the West Bluff to the condo communities off Willow Knolls Road.
I'll show you homes that fit how you want to live, and tell you what I notice beyond the photos: the age of the roof and mechanicals, how the lot drains, and what similar homes nearby sold for.
Peoria is a 20-minute town: urban, suburban and rural living are all about 20 minutes apart, and Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis are each about two and a half to three hours away.
How it works in Peoria
- A first conversation about what you want and your timing
- Pre-approval with a lender, and our buyer-brokerage agreement
- A focused search, with my notes on each home
- Offer options laid out side by side, and your choice
- Inspections within the typical 14 days, then appraisal and closing, usually through a title company
For the full picture, see how I help buyers, or read more about buying a home in Greater Peoria. You can also see the Peoria overview or compare Buying a Home in Peoria Heights, Buying a Home in East Peoria, Buying a Home in Dunlap. When you're ready, tell me about your plans or call (309) 740-0990.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much earnest money do buyers usually put down?
On Peoria-area contracts, earnest money is usually about 1% of the purchase price, though it can be any amount the buyer and seller agree to, and it's increasingly held by the title company.
What school district serves Peoria?
Peoria Public Schools District 150 serves most of the city. Parts of North Peoria are in Dunlap School District 323, and the line zigzags, so I always check the specific address.
Peoria
What buying a home looks like in Peoria
The hub of the region: a 20-minute town with big-city amenities, from the riverfront to Bradley Park.
- What stands out
- Big-city amenities without big-city traffic, close to major employers including OSF HealthCare, Carle Health and Caterpillar.
- Schools people ask about
- Peoria Public Schools District 150
- Getting around
- A 20-minute town: urban, suburban and rural living are all about 20 minutes apart. Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis are each about 2.5 to 3 hours away. Route 6, a half-ring road, connects to I-474 and I-74; War Memorial Drive (Route 150) runs through the city and becomes Route 24 heading east-west across the state.
- Nearby
- Two professional orchestras (the Peoria Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1897, and the Heartland Festival Orchestra), the Peoria Ballet, community theater from Peoria Players and Corn Stock Theatre (whose summer shows play under a big-top tent in Upper Bradley Park), professional hockey and baseball, art galleries, museums and the riverfront. Bradley Park near Bradley University, Detweiler Park, the Rock Island Trail, and the developing Warehouse District downtown with shops, eateries and nightlife.
Buying a Home: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Shannan?