Ideally you will always use comps from the same subdivision, same village, etc. When you get into some areas that have more limited comps, you need to use the best comparables which may be from another village/zipcode. The comps that you are most likely seeing will be Riverwoods which shares Deerfield's zip 60015 & can be very similar to Lincolnshire.

Like Kathy said, you really need to get an agent to represent you on the buyside. Just because you went into an Open House does not mean that you have to use the Listing agent as a Dual Agent....to do a dual agency, there are numerous disclosures that both buyer & seller have to sign so everyone is very clear that the agent is representing both the buyer & seller.

My husband and I just kind of wandered into this open house and the agent said that she has to be the dual agent since we weren't represented when we went through the house the first time.

You should really have an experienced agent pull comps with you and counsil you on an opening offer. There is no fee to use a buyers agent and then you would have someone who's on your side negotiating the contract for you with the listing agent. The buyers agent also attends the inspection with you and goes back to the negotiating table for you if any problems are found. Please let me know if you have any other questions I'm happy to help = )

Kathy Diegel
Coldwell Banker
Kathy.Diegel@cbexchange.com