According to Zillow’s monthly Buyer-Seller Index, which was released last week, Streeterville and the Gold Coast—two of the most prestigious downtown neighborhoods—are among the top buyer’s markets right now in the Chicago metro area.

Although somewhat surprising, the report shows each of these two areas having a relatively high percentage of recent listings with a price cut, and a slightly lower sale-to-list-price ratio than some of the city’s neighborhoods with a strong seller’s market, like Logan Square and River North for example.

The index, which uses days on market stats, rate of price cuts, and sales-to-list price ratios to determine market conditions, doesn’t necessarily relate to home values in each particular neighborhood however, as…

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Best Moving Company in Chicago

When it comes down to it, there aren’t many things worse than moving to a different home or condo here in downtown Chicago. Boxing up all your belongings and loading up all your furniture can be quite a process, especially after you’ve already spent countless hours trying to find that right new place to call home.

Aside from all the heavy lifting, which of course is the worst part about any move, finding a place to park the truck, making sure the elevator is reserved, and of course reviewing all of the building’s strict move-in policies are only a fraction of what most people hate about moving in Chicago, and depending on what time of year it is, the weather or loads of other people moving in or out of the same building can certainly make any moving…

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400 W. Huron Condos For Sale

For those concerned about the lack of new condominium inventory in downtown Chicago, it seems developers are slowly but surely starting to bring more new construction condos to market. Earlier this month we learned more about a possible new Related Midwest project at 451 E. Grand that will be a combination of rentals and condos, while in the Gold Coast, a new condominium tower at 4 E. Elm is already underway that will add 35 ultra-luxurious units to a part of the city that hasn’t seen a new high-rise built in nearly a decade.   

Now, it looks as if River North will be the next location for another boutique condo project, as Smithfield Properties LLC has reportedly filed a zoning application to ultimately build a 15 story, 46 unit condo tower that would…

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Over the past several years, downtown Chicago’s rental market has been, in a word, crazy. From the development and opening of buildings like 500 N. Lake Shore Drive, 111 W. Wacker, and Optima to the construction and planning of a handful of others that are still in the pipeline, there doesn’t seem to be a slowdown in the luxury rental craze coming anytime soon.

If you’re like many Chicagoans who are opting to rent rather than buy in the downtown area, there’s certainly a lot to consider, as the apartment landscape seems to be changing and evolving constantly. News for an apartment tower that will replace the old Howard Johnson Inn at LaSalle and Superior broke yesterday, while other projects nearing completion like Madison at Racine in the West Loop will…

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Divvy Bike Sharing Expansion Details Released


Earlier this month, stats were released for Chicago’s very popular Divvy bike sharing program, with news also coming out about a possible expansion to bring even more Divvy bikes to Chicago’s neighborhoods in addition to 3,000 that are already part of the fleet.

Yesterday, even more details were released about the Divvy expansion, which is set to get underway in the spring of 2015. Once completed, the additional bikes and Divvy bike stations added next year would bring the system total to 475 stations, with 4,750 bikes in all.

As for possible locations for the new Divvy bike hubs, the company promises many will be in parts of Chicago that don’t already have a strong Divvy presence, claiming that…

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The West Loop is quite possibly Chicago’s hottest location for authentic and stylish lofts for sale. But along with all the classic interior finishes usually associated with loft conversions, which typically includes timber ceilings, exposed brick and duct work, huge windows, and expansive open floor plans, the West Loop has also transformed itself into one of the most walkable and livable neighborhoods in all of downtown Chicago, making it the most sought-after location for those only searching one-of-a-kind Chicago lofts for sale.  

Restaurant Row on Randolph Street continues to expand and feature some of Chicago’s finest restaurants, bars and eateries, while development all along Madison Street and throughout many of the West Loop’s side streets…

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Chicago has hundreds of million dollar home listings currently on the market which range from lavish high-rise condos to spacious single-family homes situated all over town. Some of our favorite luxury properties to show prospective home buyers browsing the Chicago real estate market, however, are million dollar lofts for sale that feature all kinds of exceptional interior features and unique layouts that are sure to satisfy anyone who appreciates the history and urban-ambiance behind many of downtown Chicago’s hottest loft conversions and developments.

 

Neighborhoods like Streeterville and the Gold Coast are where you’ll find some of Chicago’s most expensive condominiums and historic single-family homes for sale, but if it’s a million dollar loft…

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Chicago Real Estate Market

Traditionally, the summer months bring a little bit of a slowdown to the Chicago real estate market, but a recent article from Chicago Agent Magazine documented higher sales activity in the city of Chicago over the broader Chicagoland region over the entire month of June. Using data from Redfin, several charts relating to the total home sales, single-family home sales, and condominium sales in several of Chicago’s hottest neighborhoods are featured below; and as you can see, the Lincoln Park real estate market seems to be on fire as we enter the dog-days of summer.

A recorded 120 condo sales, just one sale under the Lakeview total, and 61 single-family home sales were seen in Lincoln Park last month, while other high-activity neighborhoods included…

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Plans for a magnificent new tower were detailed this morning on Curbed, and if you haven’t seen the initial renderings, this latest proposal from Wanda Commercial Properties will likely make your jaw drop. Standing 89 stories high, the new mixed-use tower would include a 5-star hotel and both residential and commercial space. The site in which the building would be constructed is in the upscale and ultra-urban New Eastside neighborhood, just a few doors down from the renowned Aqua building.

At nearly 1,150 feet high, the new New Eastside mixed-use tower would become Chicago’s third tallest building, behind only the Willis Tower and Trump Tower Chicago. According to the outlet that first published the report, the $900 million project could be finished as…

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July 4th Weekend in Chicago

While many Chicagoans flock to lake country in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana for the 4th of July weekend, plenty of events and festivals are still taking place for those who are sticking around and the thousands of tourists who travel to Chicago to enjoy one of the summer’s most anticipated holidays.

If you are one of those locals who will be in Chicago for July 4th, or perhaps someone who may be spending the holiday weekend here in the Windy City, here’s a quick list of things to do in Chicago over the July 4th weekend in 2014.  

Fireworks at Navy Pier

Like any major city, or small town for that matter, there will of course be a spectacular fireworks display that will light up the sky as soon as the sun sets over downtown. This year’s July 4th…

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