Chicago Real Estate News & Neighborhood Notes

River North is loaded with condo buildings of all shapes and sizes, and more importantly all different price ranges. But if you're a luxury condo buyer who isn't as concerned about price as you are about what a particular building offers, here's our short list of River North condo buildings with the best amenities.

Trump Tower

Trump Tower is Chicago’s tallest condo tower and the building truly reaches new heights in terms of luxury, as well. Amenities at Trump Tower include a health club and spa, concierge service and river views from a heated swimming pool. The building also offers world-class dining and more.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences

Located at 118 E Erie, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Chicago offers top notch amenities ranging from a

Despite the ongoing slowdown, middle-market, multifamily deals still appear to be attracting interest. At least one Chicago-based company says buyers and lenders are ready to sign.

Brokers report they’ve closed several middle-market deals in recent weeks and expect to close even more in the near future. That’s a far cry from what the market experienced more than a decade ago during the recession.

While buyers were walking away from properties then, it’s said the current housing market has a stronger foundation than it did in 2009. Even with high unemployment right now, landlords have eased up on rent collection and lenders are making some temporary loan modifications.

Still, there are challenges. Some county offices have temporarily closed due to the

No matter how long you've called Chicago home, there's a good chance you've noticed we have quite the selection of hot dog joints scattered all over the city. But as is the case with most restaurants and eateries, some Chicago hot dog stands tend to be more highly-regarded than others when it comes to taste, creativity, and quick and efficient service.

So with the warm summer weather and the much-anticipated baseball season fast-approaching, we figured there's no time like the present to provide our readers with a short-list of the top places to grab a Chicago-style dog, because let's face it—in a city like Chicago, there's no really no end to the number of great places to grab a hot dog and we really don't want to be here all day...

Portillio’s Hot

Looking to buy a new construction condo in Chicago right now? Check out what’s currently available in the city’s hottest new construction condo developments currently in the works..

Vista Tower

Vista Tower is probably Chicago’s highest-profile condo tower under construction, mainly because of its size, its location along the river, and of course the renowned architect behind the memorizing project. When finished, we think Vista Tower will feature some of Chicago’s most luxurious living spaces, not to mention some of the most premium downtown and lake views you’ll find anywhere.

One Bennett Park

One Bennett Park is noted for its elegant limestone design and downright perfect location right in the heart of Streeterville. Designed by legendary

A multi-family home can be a great investment to help build more income or diversify a portfolio of single-family rental homes. Determining whether the increased responsibility, liability, and capital reserve expense required to add a multi-family property is a good idea requires diligent research. The following list includes a few key tips to consider during your multi-family property purchasing process.

Live Inside One of the Property Units: If you are purchasing a building with 2-4 units, and you plan to live inside one of them, you may qualify for more favorable financing terms. This could include a lower down payment allowing you to save more upfront.

Request Detailed Financial Paperwork: A buyer of a property specifically set up to house

One Bennett Park is one of Chicago’s most impressive residential towers now that construction officially wrapped up last year, making the news of a 63rd floor unit selling for $6.25 million last month hardly surprising.

Nonetheless, this mega deal still represents the highest residential real estate sale in the Chicago area during the first quarter of 2020, which makes it significant.

The buyer of the unit is still unknown, but the living space features 4,800 square feet, three bedrooms, and three and a half bathrooms. According to reports, the unit doesn’t have any private outdoor space but does provide sprawling lake views from three directions.

In 2019, another 4,800 square foot unit sold for $6.2 million.

For new construction in the West Loop, you cannot go wrong with the luxury units of 1400 Monroe. The condo building is home to just 42 units, in both two- and three-bedroom designs.

Buyers can expect to find custom-designed kitchens and large master suites at 1400 Monroe. You will also find light-filled homes due to the loft-style windows, open floor plans and high ceilings.

Additional features include continuous hardwood floors and the addition of some smart home technology. The kitchens come with an island, quartz countertops and a wine refrigerator. 

The new condos additionally come complete with large balconies and functional storage space. This is on top of the sweeping views of nearby Skinner Park and the city’s skyline from the units of

Multi-Family housing is a great option for people looking to invest in their first income generating property, or for seasoned investors to expand their portfolio of rental homes. There are many benefits to investing in multi-family real estate, including tax breaks, high volume cash flow, and attractive loan terms. Below are some key reasons why investing in a multi-family housing property is a wise choice.

Steady Flow of Cash: A big benefit of investing in multi-family housing is that the buildings will have multiple units that all provide a steady monthly income. This consistent cash flow comes from the tenants and is secured by a long-term lease. An owner can also provide additional things on-site to generate more cash, such as, vending machines,

When it comes to the nation’s top 10 largest metro areas, Chicago had the smallest share of new housing units for 2019. That’s according to a recently released study by Construction Coverage.

The pace of housing construction in Chicago last year was less than half that of the rest of the nation. In Chicago, 19 housing units were built for every 10,000 people. When looking nationwide, the number was nearly 42 units per 10,000 people.

Los Angeles came in slightly above Chicago with 22.5 new units per 10,000 people. According to the study, the Chicago metro was also the only one in the top 10 that saw a dip in its population between 2013 and 2018.

Last year the Chicago area saw around 18,000 new housing units. More than half of them were multi-family units,

A Chicago waterfront high-rise has a new owner. A New Jersey investor recently partnered with a Korean investor to purchase Cityfront Place for $154 million.

The 39-story building sits along the Chicago River. It is a Class-A building with 480-units and lake views.

The new owners are said to be planning on making several upgrades to the property. Lincoln Properties will manage the building.

Various reports suggest the new investors were drawn to the building in large part due to its location. The building sits near educational and healthcare institutions with a strong workforce, which helps ensure the purchase will be a good investment in the future. Cityfront Place is also convenient to neighborhood amenities and local landmarks.

The building previously