Washington · Buying a Home
Buying a Home in Washington
Know what you can spend, what it costs to own, and how to compete, before you tour a single home.
Buying a home in Washington: what you get
Buying a home in Washington 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 Washington buyers work with me
I'm Shannan Werckle, a Broker-REALTOR® with eXp Realty and the name behind Greater Peoria Living. Washington is one of the towns I work in regularly, and I know how its mix of older and rebuilt homes affects pricing.
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.
Washington sits east of Peoria and East Peoria, with a historic square, boutiques, restaurants, a local winery and the Cornerstone Inn.
How it works in Washington
- 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 Washington overview or compare Buying a Home in East Peoria, Buying a Home in Morton, Buying a Home in Germantown Hills. 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 districts serve Washington?
Washington District 50, Central School District 51 and Washington Grade School District 52 all feed Washington Community High School District 308. The grade-school district depends on the address.
Washington
What buying a home looks like in Washington
East of Peoria and East Peoria, with a historic town square and Five Points Washington.
- The homes
- Older homes toward the center of town. After the EF4 tornado of November 17, 2013, many homes in several neighborhoods were rebuilt, so a 1950s home can sit right next to a much newer, larger one. There has also been a lot of development over the last 20 to 30 years.
- Schools people ask about
- Three grade-school districts (Washington District 50, Central School District 51 and Washington Grade School District 52) feed Washington Community High School District 308.
- Getting around
- East of Peoria and East Peoria. Heading east from Peoria you cross the Illinois River into East Peoria, then reach Washington, and Eureka sits almost in a direct line farther east.
- Nearby
- A historic town square with a park and fountain, specialty shops and boutiques, restaurants, a local winery and the Cornerstone Inn, a boutique hotel in a restored 19th-century bank building. Five Points Washington, a performing arts center that opened in 2007, is home to the Heartland Festival Orchestra.
Buying a Home: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Shannan?