Archive for the 'Market Conditions' Category

Market Conditions: Best April Since 2007 as Chicago Sales Rise 28.4%

The latest monthly sales numbers are out from the Illinois Association of Realtors. They confirm what we’ve been talking about for months: the market is hot. Statewide, April sales were the best since April 2007 – which was near the height of the boom. The city of Chicago saw a 28.4 percent year-over-year home sales […]

Market Conditions: 1/3rd of Chicago Area Homeowners Still Underwater

What’s the problem with Chicago’s housing market? According to Crain’s, it is the underwater homeowner. More than 506,000 Chicago-area homes—or one-third of the market—were underwater as of the fourth quarter, according to California research firm CoreLogic Inc. That’s up 7.6 percent from the previous year. Underwater properties are bogging down a residential market that’s clawing […]

Market Conditions: Luxury Rental Rates Hit New Record in Q1 But 5,000+ Apartments Still To Come

Crain’s is reporting that rental rates on Class A buildings in downtown Chicago hit a new record high of $2.63 a square foot in the first quarter of this year. Class A buildings are the luxury apartment towers like The Streeter. For example, the rent on a 700-square foot 1-bedroom apartment would be $1841 a month in […]

Market Conditions: The Chicago Luxury Market is Hot, But Are Prices?

I don’t know if anyone else saw Crain’s luxury residential real estate report yesterday but I was struck by the three listings. House #1: A 6-bedroom 6400 square foot vintage greystone on Cedar in the Gold Coast. Sold in 2000 for $4.5 million Sold in 2013 for $3.1 million House #2: A 6-bedroom 7100 square […]

Market Conditions: Prices Back to 2005, or Nearly Peak Levels in “Core Locations”

According to Crain’s, 120 condos out of 500 have gone under contract since coming back on the market early this year in the South Loop. Related isn’t saying how many of the sales were in each building. It is selling units in Harbor View at 1901 S. Calumet, The Grant at 1201 S. Prairie and […]

Market Conditions: Investors Paying Record Prices For Luxury Apartment Buildings- Is It a Sign?

Crain’s reported that an investment group apparently has paid a record per unit price for the luxury apartment building at 1225 N. Wells in Old Town that was only completed last year. Heitman LLC, a Chicago-based real estate investment firm, has agreed to pay about $158 million for a 250-unit luxury apartment building, according to […]

Market Conditions: New Home Sales Jump 34% in Q1 But They’re Coming Off of the Lows

Crain’s reports that new home sales in Chicago jumped 34% to 691 in the first quarter of the year. It is the first year over year increase in sales since the housing bust began. Sales are up but still nowhere near their level at the market’s peak in 2005, when builders sold more than 33,000 homes […]

Market Conditions: Chicago Sales Rise 13.8% in March But Distress Sales Explode

We all know the March sales data was good, at least compared to the last few years. But there were some surprises in the data. From the Illinois Association of Realtors: The city of Chicago saw a 13.8 percent year-over-year home sales increase in March 2013 with 1,894 sales, up from 1,664 in March 2012.  […]

Market Conditions: February Sales Climb 10.2% While Median Price Jumped 12.9%

It’s time to check in on how hot the market really is. We all know there is low inventory but how many sales are really taking place? From the Illinois Association of Realtors: The city of Chicago saw a 10.2 percent year-over-year home sales increase in February 2013 with 1,378 sales, up from 1,250 in […]

Market Conditions: Crain’s Reports On What We Already Know: Inventory Sucks!

We’ve been chattering about the low inventory for the last two months. Crain’s confirms that in some Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs, it is below 3 months. As of the end of 2012, the neighborhood with the lowest inventory level was the South Loop at just 2.3 months of supply. The number of listed homes fell […]