Illinois is a big place without a lot of open space. So, even though it is only about 60 percent the size of Wyoming in regards to land mass, it has a population density that is 41 times higher. This means there are a lot of homes and communities to be aware of across the densely populated state. It makes finding a really good Illinois realtor that is expert in Illinois real estate a little more difficult.

Whether you are buying or selling, there are a few things that you want to look for in an Illinois realtor. A good Illinois realtor should be:

- Familiar with the current state of Illinois' real estate market
- Intimately familiar with the real estate market in Illinois specifically
- Living in or near the area where you hope to buy or sell
- Familiar with Illinois culture, community, and neighborhoods
- If selling, good at marketing
- If buying, familiar with the requirements needed to conduct common home repairs

Many of these items are good tips for finding a realtor no matter where you live or are looking to buy or sell. However, when you are specifically looking at Illinois properties, you want a realtor that is familiar with the local conditions.

This means the state of the economy from city to city, the conditions of the neighborhoods, the kind of local community events that occur, local statistics for things such as crime and schooling, and so forth.

Because so many items pertain specifically to regions within the state of Illinois, you want to be sure that your realtor actually lives in the area you are looking at so you know that person's knowledge comes from their own experience of living there and actively participating in the community.

Since a typical real estate transaction these days averages well over $100,000, you definitely want to hire a realtor that is experienced with the process and knows every little in and out of such an enormous financial undertaking.

You also need someone that you can trust implicitly. When there are these kinds of huge numbers being thrown around, there are always going to be a few people that come out from under their rocks to try and take advantage of you.

A good Illinois realtor can earn your trust by showing you why a particular property is valued for a certain amount, and can back it up with valuations of other similar properties that he or she has no affiliation with.