All Blog Entries by Helaine Cohen

As we transition from the spring market to the summer market, many of us are still wondering what the housing market will look like during the rest of 2020 and heading into 2021. While still it’s impossible to know how COVID-19 will change market conditions over time, realtor.com's Weekly Housing Recovery Report is showing some positive signs. 

Not surprisingly, there’s been substantial growth in online home searches since the beginning of the pandemic, and asking prices have also surpassed pre-COVID levels too. 

But according to economists at realtor.com, movement in supply is still expected to be well below seasonal levels. 

Also noted is that cities and markets with a strong technology sector are better-equipped to weather the storm thanks to

If you're actively searching for a new place in Chicago and prefer the space of a single-family home but also hope to be close to downtown, the South Loop features a pretty strong mix of townhouses that might be the perfect solution. And while available inventory may not always be strong, here's where you might have some success finding the perfect South Loop townhome. 

Museum Park

A prestigious address is just one of the reasons to consider buying a townhouse in Museum Park. The address also gives buyers the advantage of multiple levels of living space, some fantastic views and an easy walk to some of the best sites and attractions in Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood. 

Prairie Place 

Another place to search in the South Loop for a townhouse

Mid century modern architecture has always been a popular style but it’s become especially trendy over the last couple years, especially among suburban home buyers in Chicago. As you probably already know, Chicago’s North Shore is where you’ll find an impressive collection of classic mid century modern homes. From Evanston and Wilmette all the way up to Glencoe and Highland Park, there’s really no shortage of desirable mid century modern homes in the area that are ideal for any true mid century modern enthusiast. 

Not surprisingly, though, the North Shore isn’t the only area you’ll find authentic mid century modern homes in Chicago’s suburbs. Oak Park and River Forest are two communities that come to mind in the West Suburbs, and the list goes on from

If you’re in the market for a new condo you may want to consider a garden unit. That’s because there are plenty of pros when it comes to buying a garden unit condo.

To begin with, a garden unit is located on the ground floor or slightly below street level, with easy access to a backyard garden or patio. They sometimes also offer a small front porch.

The accessibility also means you won’t have to contend with stairs. Whether stocking up on weekly groceries or more easily moving in furniture, a garden unit is the way to go.

This is ideal, too, if you have a pet that needs to go for daily walks. If you work untraditional hours, you won’t have to worry about disturbing others when you leave and return home. 

Another good reason to buy a garden

If you’re looking to buy in the near future, you’re sure to love the news condos of Peoria Green. From the location to the floor plans, we found three great reasons you’ll love the property.

Location

To begin with, the condos sit in the heart of the West Loop and overlook Mary Bartelme Park. Not only does this guarantee nearby green space, a playground and a dog park, but it’s an easy walk from Peoria Green to a neighborhood school.

Floorplans

You’re also sure to love the generous floorplans at Peoria Green. The condos come in four- and five-bedroom layouts, including some with direct park frontage. The sophisticated homes also feature high ceilings and the grand illusion of living in a private home.

Private amenities

The private

The pace of home price growth in Chicago continues to lag behind the national pace, and new reports show it’s slowed down even more in recent months.  For some time, the Chicago area was running about half that of the national pace.

New data from January shows the pace in Chicago has now slowed to less than one-sixth of the national figure. Some say this points to evidence the real estate market in Chicago was struggling before COVID-19 began impacting the national housing market.

Single-family home values in the region rose about 0.6 percent in January compared to the same time a year ago. When looking nationwide, home values this January were up nearly four percent.

While nationally home price growth was strong in January when compared to the previous

High prices and a lack of buyers in Chicago may be indicative of a housing bubble. At least that’s what some real estate experts are saying.

They point to evidence that people are still buying but aren’t necessarily willing to pay more than the asking price. Redfin found Chicago homes spend a longer time on the market than those in other major U.S. cities.

Unlike some of those other cities, Redfin also found it’s uncommon for Chicago homes to sell above asking price. On the flip side, just 15-percent of Chicago homes are said to sell at less than list price.

Homes in Chicago’s southern suburbs are some of the hardest to sell. Some equate that to the area’s high taxes. Illinois, in general, has extremely high property taxes, behind only New Jersey.

Despite a

Concrete lofts are among the coolest, most desirable living spaces you'll find in the city. Along with being a quieter option than timber, concrete walls and ceilings also allow for minimal recurring maintenance, and its versatility in creating both historical and ultra modern aesthetics is second-to-none. So just where can buyers some a sweet concrete loft on the market? We explore a few options below...

The Ontario Lofts

The Ontario Lofts, located at 411 W Ontario St is a striking residential loft building built in 1910. Amenities for residents include; a bike room, rooftop deck with BBQ grill area and seating, 24/7 door-staff, a fitness center, and the ultra-convenient on-site cleaners. This building screams sophistication with its industrial

Who doesn't love a cool, historical, loft-style building? Industrial lofts are hot and timber is one feature that truly sets an urban living space apart from any other. So if you're in the market for a new place and a timber loft is high up on your wish list, here's a closer look at several of the top places to begin your search...

Erie Center Lofts

The Erie Center Lofts are located in an extremely desirable location in the River North area. Buyers have the option of a layout with 1, 2, or 3 bedroom units. The Erie Center is 6 floors high and houses a total of 101 units. The location is a great option for pet lovers as it allows dogs & cats and is also within close proximity to a dog park. Additional features of this building include; Gym,

The Belgravia Group recently launched sales for their much anticipated, CA6 property containing 72 total units. As originally designed, the building was to have 67 condo units that were under 2400 sq. ft. and 5 units being 3150 sq. ft. The larger condos were priced from $1.63 million, while the smaller ones started at just under $826,000.

The first weekend the condos were offered for sale, all 5 of the larger units went under contract and according to the developer, there were at least a dozen other buyers interested in purchasing one. The demand prompted architects, Sullivan Goulette & Wilson, to immediately redesign the top of the building turning 7 of the smaller units into larger, more expensive duplexes. The total amount of units, 72 remained the