Found 14 blog entries tagged as Chicago Real Estate.

If you’re interested in living in one of the hottest urban centers in the country, Chicago’s South Loop is the place to focus your search. We offer condos for sale in Chicago's South Loop, of course. From movie theaters that are consistently packed to excellent restaurants, what was once a hub for commerce that went dark after hours, the South Loop continues to evolve and beckon residents looking for a taste of big city living.

Chicago home owners who have lived in the city for decades likely remember a much different South Loop, where abandoned railroad yards and poverty were de rigeur. Now, there’s the Kerasotes ShowPlace Icon movie theater that charges $17.50 per ticket and a 1.3-million-square-foot complex that houses restaurants, retail shops, and…

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With world-renowned eateries like Alinea and Avec, Chicago has made its way to the forefront on national culinary excellence over the past decade or so. For Chicago condo owners and the city's residents, living in areas like River North, the Gold Coast, Streeterville and Lincoln Park often means quick and easy access to some of the finest dining and libations in the nation, and a recent report from Crain's Chicago Business gave the details on some stellar additions to this fine city's bustling food and beverage culture.

First off, there's Three Dots and a Dash, located beneath Lettuce Entertain You's Bub City at 435 N. Clark Street in River North. What is it, you ask? Why only the city's most hip tiki bar, with Polynesian and Hawaiian-style drinks and…

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Chicago condosCase Shiller produces some of the most reliable and depended-upon reports for Chicago condos and homes, and a recent report published by the company shows Chicago condo prices seeing record gains from April to May of this year, the most recent months on record.

These record gains for Chicago condos came in the form of the value of these spaces going up 6 percent on average from just one month to the next. Condo values for this time period also reached highs they had not seen since July of 2011, but more importantly, they are up 18.1 percent from their market lows, signaling a turnaround in the Chicago condo market that has been evidenced recently in increased buyer demand and extremely low inventory rates. Overall, Chicago condo prices were up by 11.9…

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Chicago condo trendsInstead of giving up the dream of Chicago condo living, many young families are looking for larger attached homes in the city center. As such, developers are supersizing Chicago condos in order to keep up with demand.

Amenities in these Chicago condos appeal to both young couples with and without children, empty-nesters, and also move-down buyers who are interested in living in the city center. These are people interested in a turn-key, low-maintenance lifestyle and who value the opportunity to take advantage of the urban lifestyle right outside their door.

Just ask Chase and Stefanie Chavin, who recently purchased a 3,000-square-foot Chicago condo at The Grant, a 54-story condo tower in the South Loop. It was their desire to maintain an active…

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Did you know that public transportation can actually add to the value of your Chicago condo? It’s true. As more and more cities around the country expand their mass transportation offerings, more and more home buyers have come to rely on public transportation to get to and from work, or simply to get around the city where they live. Nowhere is this truer than in Chicago, where on an average weekday, 1.6 million rides are taken on CTA. In fact, it’s the nation’s second largest public transportation system. Studies show that Chicago condos that are located in close proximity to public transportation and mass transit actually have higher values.

California State University at Fullerton recently conducted a survey of 41 studies of 15 rail systems in the U.S.…

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Chicago Condo Finder Real Estate ToolsMost people have a hard time getting through the day without their smartphones, so it comes as no surprise that more and more home shoppers are using smartphones and real estate apps to help them with their search for the perfect Chicago condo. At one point, there seemed to be a new real estate app everyday, but the pace has slowed somewhat. Still, there are a bevy of useful real estate resources that will help you find the Chicago home of your dreams! Here’s a quick look.

Mobile Search: Did you know that ChicagoCondoFinder.com provides a fully supported mobile search? We understand that many Chicago home buyers are on the go, which is why we provide free mobile search for Chicago real estate. You have the option of searching for all active properties…

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Chicago Bank Owned Home SalesIn 2012, sales of foreclosed Chicago homes in the metropolitan area grew 31% from the previous year despite a decrease in the number of nationwide foreclosures. The information comes from a recent survey by RealtyTrac, a real estate information service. According to their findings, the Chicago-area saw 43,178 foreclosed properties last year, and foreclosure sales accounted for 31% of all sales in the area. That’s a 1% increase from 2011.

In fact, the number of bank-owned property sales was up across Illinois. Experts say that the number of distressed homes sold in Illinois last year was up 52% year-over-year. Nationwide, foreclosure sales fell 6% last year, and foreclosures accounted for 21% of all U.S. sales.

Daren Blomquist, vice president of RealtyTrac,…

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Chicago Condo Sales UpChicago condo sales have been assisting the local real estate market with its recovery. In fact, this is the strongest the local real estate market has been since 2006 due to a surge Chicago condo sales in December. A combination of sales for attached and detached homes in the seven-county metro area were up 20% year-over-year, while the sales of attached homes climbed 23%.

According to MRED (Midwest Real Estate Data), the regional multiple listing service, there’s good news across the board when it comes to Chicago real estate. They found that sales prices are moving in tandem with the number of sales: up. In December, the median sales price of all homes sold was 5.5% higher than a year before. The median price for an attached home saw even greater…

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Chicago Luxury Home Owner GiftsMoving is a chore, and whether you’re doing it yourself or you’ve hired movers to assist you with the packing, it can be a stressful time. While you may feel compelled to offer your two hands, sometimes, a gift is all your friends need to let them know you care. If you’re looking for a luxury gesture to send your friends on their way or to welcome newbies to the neighborhood, check-out LuxeBox.

"Some people have called us Welcome Wagon on steroids," said Mike Ruskin, vice president of sales for Sandow, publisher of Luxe Interiors + Design magazine and creator of the LuxeBox. It’s 15 pounds of luxury living all wrapped up in a pretty little bow. Each LuxeBox includes goodies from designers, remodelers, and suppliers of cabinetry, carpeting, home…

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Chicago Real Estate Investment MarketThe Chicago real estate market is on the rise, especially if you’re talking about investment properties. As the stock market continues to fluctuate and news of the Fiscal Cliff went from bad to worse to finalized, many cash-rich investors have been looking for a place to put their money. Couple these factors with historically-low mortgage rates, and it’s easy to see why so many people are on the hunt for investment properties in Chicago.

After the downturn in the economy, many people have been forced to rent, giving investors an even larger incentive to purchase Chicago homes. They can rent them out, increase the return on their investment on a monthly basis while more and more interested buyers return to the market. In fact, so many people have flooded the…

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