Notes on the Downtown Chicago Condo Market
Practical writing on the mechanics of buying, selling, and owning a downtown Chicago condominium — reserve funds and special assessments, rental caps, parking, financing, and the due-diligence questions that actually decide a purchase. Written for people who want to understand how this market works before they move in it.
Staging a Downtown Condo: What Actually Moves the Needle vs. What's Folklore
For sellers — mechanics Staging a Downtown Condo: What Actually Moves the Needle vs. What's Folklore Staging advice for a downtown condo tends to arrive as a single list, every item stated with the same confidence. Some of it changes how a buyer reads the space. Some of it is repeated because it's
How Long Does It Take to Sell a 2-Bedroom Condo in Downtown Chicago Right Now?
Market data — Q2 2026 How Long Does It Take to Sell a 2-Bedroom Condo in Downtown Chicago Right Now? Downtown Chicago 2-bedroom condos had a median market time of 31 days over the trailing 12 months. A year ago, it was 42 days Over the prior 12-month period, downtown Chicago 2-bedroom condos had a
Selling a Downtown Condo You Inherited: Where to Start
For sellers — situation Selling a Downtown Condo You Inherited: Where to Start You've inherited a downtown condo, and along with it, a decision you didn't ask to make. This isn't a windfall you get to sit on — it's a unit that needs someone to decide what happens to it, on a timeline that isn't en
Outgrowing Your Downtown Condo? Selling a 3BR Is Moving Faster Than It Used To
For sellers — situation Outgrowing Your Downtown Condo? Selling Is Moving Faster Than It Used To The downtown condo that made sense when you bought it isn't the one you need now. That means it's worth knowing what selling actually looks like right now. You've Outgrown the Space I hear a version of
Downtown Chicago Condos Are Selling Faster — and Sellers Are Still Getting Close to Full Price
Market data — Q2 2026 Downtown Chicago Condos Are Selling Faster — and Sellers Are Still Getting Close to Full Price Downtown Chicago 2BR condos sold at a median 99.27% of original list price over the trailing 12 months, compared to 98.73% in the prior 12-month period. Downtown Chicago 1BR condos
Selling a Downtown Condo When You're Divorcing: The Practical Sequence
For sellers — situation Selling a Downtown Condo When You're Divorcing: The Practical Sequence If you're in the middle of a divorce and you and your co-owner also need to sell a downtown condo, I want to talk to the actual situation you're in, not a generic market overview. This is about getting t
Downtown Condos Are Selling Faster Than They Were a Year Ago — Larger Units Gained the Most
Market data — Q2 2026 flagship Downtown Condos Are Selling Faster Than They Were a Year Ago — Larger Units Gained the Most A downtown Chicago 2BR condo took a median 31 days to sell over the trailing 12 months, down from 42 days the year before — an 11-day drop. The improvement is sharper for larg
You've Been Renting Out Your Downtown Condo for Years — Here's What Selling Looks Like Now
For sellers — situation You've Been Renting Out Your Downtown Condo for Years — Here's What Selling Looks Like Now You moved out of your downtown condo years ago, put a tenant in it, and let it run as a rental ever since. Now you're thinking about selling, and it's worth saying plainly: this is no
When a Special Assessment Changes Your Timeline to Sell
For sellers — situation When a Special Assessment Changes Your Timeline to Sell You were already turning the idea of selling your condo over in your mind — maybe seriously, maybe just as a background thought. Then the condo association sent notice of a special assessment, and suddenly the decision