November 2026: Events Worth Knowing About in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park + Bucktown, and the Gold Coast November is when the neighborhoods start switching on their lights, and this year the big switch gets flipped on Friday, November 20, at Lincoln Park Zoo, Millennium Park, ... Continue Reading » about November 2026: Events Worth Knowing About in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park + Bucktown, and the Gold Coast
Real Estate
Chicago Open Houses This Weekend: October 24-25
Chicago Open Houses This Weekend: October 24-25 Would you be surprised to know that about half of the open houses on the Near North Side this weekend have been on the market for six weeks or longer, while in Lincoln Park and Lakeview, half were listed within the past ... Continue Reading » about Chicago Open Houses This Weekend: October 24-25
What Does a First-Time Buyer Actually Spend in Chicago?
By Maureen Moran, REALTOR®, @properties Christie's International Real Estate. Last updated October 23, 2026. Quick answer One-bedroom condos in four north side neighborhoods sold at median prices from $250,000 (Lakeview) to $345,000 (Wicker Park/West Town) between September 30, 2025 and ... Continue Reading » about What Does a First-Time Buyer Actually Spend in Chicago?
Ready to Buy in Chicago? Why Preparing Now Beats Waiting for a Signal
If you've been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the "right" starter home, or waiting for some signal that it's finally time, I want to walk you through why that instinct, while understandable, may be costing you more than you realize, and the data backs it up. The National Association of ... Continue Reading » about Ready to Buy in Chicago? Why Preparing Now Beats Waiting for a Signal
The Typical First-Time Buyer Is Now 40. What That Means in Chicago
Would you be surprised to know that the typical first-time home buyer in America is now 40 years old? That is not a typo, and it is not a rough guess. It comes from the National Association of REALTORS® 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, which tracks transactions from July 2024 through ... Continue Reading » about The Typical First-Time Buyer Is Now 40. What That Means in Chicago
Open House Chicago 2026 and Neighborhood Open Houses
Open House Chicago 2026 and Neighborhood Open Houses Would you be surprised to know that the same weekend Chicago opens its most interesting buildings to the public, 178 homes across four of its favorite neighborhoods are open too? Quick answer: Open House Chicago takes ... Continue Reading » about Open House Chicago 2026 and Neighborhood Open Houses
Is a Vacation Home Even Worth It Anymore? What Chicago Families Are Actually Asking
A note on transparency: I'm a Pacaso referral partner. If you buy a Pacaso share after I refer you, Pacaso pays me a referral commission and a small equity award. That doesn't change my advice. The right choice depends on how you want to live, and sometimes the answer is to keep renting. I get some ... Continue Reading » about Is a Vacation Home Even Worth It Anymore? What Chicago Families Are Actually Asking
Is Chicago’s New Renter Protection Ordinance About to Make Housing More Expensive?
The headlines say it's about protecting renters. But will it actually—or will it backfire? In September 2026, Chicago's City Council Housing Committee backed Mayor Brandon Johnson's revised Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO)—a sweeping rewrite of tenant protections that caps security deposits, ... Continue Reading » about Is Chicago’s New Renter Protection Ordinance About to Make Housing More Expensive?
Should You Buy in a Small Chicago Condo Building or a Large High-Rise?
“Which one carries more risk?” That’s usually the real question underneath “should I buy in a vintage building or a high-rise,” even when buyers frame it as a lifestyle preference. The honest answer is that both carry risk. They just carry different kinds, and the format that feels safer on a ... Continue Reading » about Should You Buy in a Small Chicago Condo Building or a Large High-Rise?
Special Assessments in Chicago Condos: What Buyers Should Look for Before They Buy
“Am I about to inherit a $20,000 surprise?” That’s the real question underneath almost every conversation I have about special assessments, even when buyers phrase it more politely. They’ve heard the term, they’ve maybe heard a horror story from a friend, and they want to know how to find out before ... Continue Reading » about Special Assessments in Chicago Condos: What Buyers Should Look for Before They Buy
How Much HOA Reserve Is Enough When Buying a Chicago Condo?
If you are looking at a condo and the reserve balance on the association’s financials feels small, you are asking the right question at the right time. A recent buyer I worked with was deciding on a unit in a five-unit vintage building where the association had $3,000 in reserves. His question was ... Continue Reading » about How Much HOA Reserve Is Enough When Buying a Chicago Condo?
Lincoln Park vs. Lakeview vs. Bucktown vs. Wicker Park
"They all look good online. How do I choose?" I hear a version of that question almost every week, and it usually comes from a buyer who has spent a Saturday night scrolling listing photos in four different neighborhoods and landed nowhere. I'm Maureen Moran, REALTOR® and Seller Representative ... Continue Reading » about Lincoln Park vs. Lakeview vs. Bucktown vs. Wicker Park
