Chicago Real Estate and Community News

Just Closed! North Center / Roscoe Village

North Center and Roscoe Village are two of Chicago's best-kept secrets. Here, locals know they can find more spacious homes with antique, old-world features. The area has earned itself a charming nickname—"The Village Within the City." That's because it's filled with independent drink spots and taverns, up-and-coming restaurants, cozy coffee shops, and stellar schools. 

1821 W. Patterson is the quintessential North Center multifamily home, offering everything you'd want from a smaller, tight-knit community with city-smart features. Owners can walk down Southport Avenue for shopping and great meals, catch a show at the Music Box movie theater, head to one of the area's many dog-friendly patio bars, and more. Wrigley Field, one of the largest baseball stadiums in the country, is also just 10 minutes away. 

Our city's best-kept secret is our beautiful Chicago summers, and there is no better way to enjoy them than with sweeping skyline views on a Gold Coast rooftop. That was just one of the luxurious features that made this gorgeous unit stand out. Let's explore the rest: 

1339 N. Dearborn, Gold Coast 

Listing by Stephanie Cutter - price: $290,000

Sold by Ron Rashid - price: $312,500

Welcome to 1339 North Dearborn, perfectly situated in the heart of the Gold Coast. Here, owners can walk to the beach in less than ten minutes or stroll to Wells Street in Old Town, filled with buzzing restaurants and bars. The building itself offers several competitive amenities, including doorman services, parking spaces for purchase, and ample storage. 

Looking at Gold Coast condos for sale, realtors Ron Rashid and Jose Hernandez found the perfect place for their clients: a chic, airy two-bedroom, one-bathroom corner unit with lots of sun. 

Summer is the perfect time to explore Chicago's historic Gold Coast.

This neighborhood is an architecture lover's dream, and the picturesque buildings dotting its streets exude old-world elegance. The Gold Coast is conveniently located in the middle of some of Chicago's best restaurants, green spaces, and theaters. 

Living there, you can spend your days exploring local parks, relaxing on Oak Street Beach, or taking a quick bus ride to the nationally renowned Lincoln Park Zoo. At night, you can visit one of Chicago's best restaurants like Maple and Ash, and take in a comedy show at the world-famous Second City theater.

East Water Place is a unique urban townhome community in Streeterville situated on a peninsula of land bordered by Ogden Slip to the North and the Chicago River 1/2 block to the South.  East Water Place combines the perfect blend of city living with the serenity of a single-family home. 

Sellers Real Estate Agent in Chicago

A Challenge Turned into a Success Story!

When our clients contacted us in early June, they were very frustrated!  Their home had been on the market for a year and a half, was listed with two different real estate agents, but they had not been able to sell it.  They were desperately looking for a local real estate agent who could help them get it sold for the right price and as quickly as possible.   We knew it would be a challenge to take on a listing that had been on the market for so long, and we needed to develop a strategy that would help us "successfully sell their home".

We met with our clients to gain an understanding of their goals and plans for the future.  We asked a lot of questions about the history of the listing, what was working, what was not working, and why they felt their home didn’t sell.  We were interested in the number of showings, feedback received, price adjustments, and offers received.  Through our discussion, we learned that the clients had received offers; however, were unwilling to negotiate from the price they had set, and therefore could never reach an agreement with potential buyers.    

(Original post 04/2016)

In Chicago’s energetic and desirable Streeterville neighborhood, luxury condos at One Bennett Park provide an exclusive location and new, energy-efficient construction. Let’s look closer at One Bennett Park and see why this new Chicago building is one of the hottest places to buy and live in the city.

One Bennett Park - Construction and Amenities

One of Chicago’s finest residential towers, One Bennett Park, allows residents the opportunity to live right in the heart of the city in luxury. Completed in 2019, this building is Chicago’s 13th-highest skyscraper and overlooks Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, and the dazzling Chicago skyline.

In the market for a condo offering the very best of Chicago residential real estate? Look no further than 10 East Delaware, the shining gem of Chicago’s central Gold Coast neighborhood. These luxury condos are some of the most desirable on the market. Let’s look at the details and accessibility that these state-of-the-art units have to offer.

10 E Delaware Condos

10 E Delaware Place is a 35-story, 121-unit residential tower in the heart of Chicago’s premiere Gold Coast neighborhood. Designed by luxury architect Lucien Lagrance in 2009, this building offers top-of-the-line condos and immediate access to the very best parts of the city: the Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, Grant Park, the lakefront, and so much more.

Residents at 10 E. Delaware have access to unparalleled amenities: a rooftop garden terrace and outdoor pool, climate-controlled indoor private parking, a private owner’s club with full kitchen and fireplace, state-of-the-art fitness center, and 24-hour door staff. Both housekeeping and room service are available from the neighboring world-renowned Talbot Hotel.

There’s no point in sugarcoating it: deciding what to do with a home during a divorce can quickly become stressful and complex. A home is not only one of the biggest financial assets that have to be divided between you and your spouse in a divorce but an emotional asset as well: one that you both have most likely spent part of your life in and worked hard to pay for over the years. 

Divorce is complicated enough; deciding what to do with the home on top of the divorce can be a messy process if you’re unsure how to proceed. Here we’ll break down your best options in this scenario and some ways to begin the process of selling a home in a divorce.

Why Working with a Divorce Realtor Matters

Going through a divorce is one of the most emotional financial decisions many homeowners will ever face. Over the past two years, a large percentage of my real estate transactions have involved couples going through a divorce. While every situation is different, one thing remains the same: both parties deserve a real estate professional who remains neutral, communicates openly, and keeps the transaction moving forward.

Unlike a traditional home sale, a divorce sale often requires coordinating with two attorneys, two decision makers, court deadlines, and emotions that naturally come with ending a marriage. My role extends beyond marketing the home. I frequently help reduce conflict by keeping both parties informed, explaining each step of the process, and making sure everyone has the same information at the same time.

Whether you're searching for a Chicago divorce Realtor, a divorce real estate agent, or guidance on selling a house during divorce in Illinois, working with an experienced professional who understands these unique transactions can make the process significantly less stressful.

What happens to a home in a divorce?

There are several different ways a home can be handled in a divorce. Legally, a house is considered a marital asset, which means that its value will be divided between the divorcing parties depending on what state the divorce takes place in and how each person contributed financially to the mortgage. If you have children, considering the home as a way to maintain stability for them can also impact what happens to the home. 

A home inspection gives buyers the opportunity to examine every inch of a prospective property. Here’s how home inspections work, why they’re so important, and how you can use your inspection to help you make the critical decision on whether or not to buy a home.

The Importance of a Home Inspection

In addition to finding a reasonable mortgage rate and negotiating a sale price, the home-buying process entails a home inspection. A home inspection is conducted by a certified professional who inspects and assesses the physical aspects of a home, including every element from the foundation and walls to conditions of the plumbing and electric systems. 

Home inspections can be stressful because they determine any underlying issues with the property that either take it out of consideration or can be used to negotiate a lower sale price. Because this is the last chance before closing to examine a property from top to bottom, it’s essential not only to find a good inspector but to make sure that any concerns you have are addressed. 

In a city full of old properties like Chicago, inspections are especially important. It’s crucial that you find an inspector you trust to give you a thorough report of the property’s condition.

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, you’ve probably considered working with a real estate company or platform that offers a discounted rate or cash back at closing. Discount agencies offer helpful tools and deals that you can access from your own computer and promise to save you money (and when it comes to real estate, that’s always a good thing to hear). 

But while these agencies offer today’s online customers efficiency and a chance to save money, there are some disadvantages to the process as well. Depending on what market you are selling in and how knowledgeable you are about buying or selling a home already, it might be wise to work with a traditional brokerage instead. 

Here we’ll cover some of the pros and cons that come with working with discount realtors so that you have full disclosure of what will work in your favor as a buyer or seller and what won’t.