Read my real estate HOT TAKES for 2018 in Chicago Magazine

Looks nice? It is! I named Belmont-Cragin as a neighborhood to watch in 2018 (All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, kale Realty)

The fine real estate and city culture writer @ajlatrace with Chicago Magazine (formerly editor of Curbed Chicago) asked me about neighborhoods to watch in 2018. READ IT HERE

My sleeper pick is Belmont-Cragin west of Logan Square. Belmont- Cragin is home to tidy blocks, solid brick houses and tons of gut rehabbing activity. In 2015, 362 single family homes sold with a median price of $195,000. In 2017, 329 homes sold with a median price of $240,000.  The quiet neighborhood is serviced by the Grand/ Cicero Metra on Milwaukee West line or Healy Station on Milwaukee North line both to downtown and easy to highways. Residents may also take advantage of cultural events, shopping and dining of downtown Oak Park nearby.


An eastern Portage Park block close to Metra and CTA Blue Line

Portage Park is my lock to get more buzz in 2018.  An eye popping 441 single family homes closed in Portage Park 2017 (compare that with popular Avondale 113 single family homes closed). 

The neighborhood still features diverse single family home options for varying budgets. You may get a tidy well cared for house at the median price of $310,000. However, the neighborhood also offers new construction in traditional, transitional and contemporary styles for those looking for larger homes with budgets in the $600s. 

Portage Park has a robust dining and entertainment scene, good performing schools and excellent Chicago Park District programs. Homes further east in Portage Park are closer to the Metra stops (Mayfair, Grayland and Irving Park) as well as CTA Blue Line (Montrose and Irving stops) and the I90/94 are desirable to commuters.


Contact us to sell and buy homes in Belmont-Cragin, Portage Park and the greater North Side Chicago and suburbs. We offer the most competitive full service broker commission rates and 20 plus years of experience in real estate transactions. Don't get ripped off!

Happy for this Lurie Children's hero... Congrats on your new home!

We found a super well cared for raised ranch in the Belmont-Cragin. The quiet neighborhood is lined with well cared for bungalows, raised ranches and spotless blocks! The neighborhood has been hot with gut renovations and fast market times on re-sales this year.

Congrats to our man Tyler who closed his first home purchase last week! Tyler is a long time Senior Speech-Language Pathologist at Lurie Children's Hospital (where my wife is a16 year employee and Director of in-patient operations). We can't be happier to have helped another Lurie hero! Bob and I look forward to being a resource during his home ownership.

A big thank you to our go-to lender Steve Dunnett with BlueLeaf Lending for stepping in and getting our client prepared quickly. Our attorney Kent Novit (100 North LaSalle Street # 1700, Chicago, IL 60602, PH: 312- 332-2407) helped make the process comfortable and the closing smooth. 

Please call us to purchase or sell your home.  We will go the extra mile!

Belmont Cragin Chicago home sales see value and mulitple offers

Rows of smart bungalows and well kept lawns on the 4900 block of West George. My favorite part? Spotless street and neighbors out talking, smiling and waving.

You need house? Belmont Cragin got nice house under $300K. And it go fast! We are in our second multiple offer situation this month on "move in" quality brick homes. Let's take a look at neighborhood house sales and prices so far in 2017.

The Belmont Cragin neighborhood is basically North Cicero on the east, North Narragansett on the west, West Belmont Ave to the Metra's Milwaukee District/West tracks to the south. First time buyers from Wicker Park, Logan Square/ Hermosa neighborhoods are looking just west for an affordable, well conditioned house. Developers/ flippers are selling fully renovated one story bungalows in the $300s. Market prices are heating up as older neighbors sell dated but well kept homes.




Belmont Cragin home sales January 1st to May 12th.
107 houses have closed in 2017 so far. The median price of a sold single family house is $219,000. Median price is up $60,000 since 2014!  Many houses around the median price (and for a bit more) are brick homes in really good shape. Additionally homes listed around the median price usually sell in multiple offers.

130 houses sold over the same period last year with a median price of $212,000.
In 2015, 99 homes sold with a median price of only $185,000.
In 2014, 96 homes sold over the same period with a median price of $159,900.

The highest homes sale thus far in 2017 is 5337 W Barry Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60641 for $445,000.  The gut renovated two story home featured four bedrooms, four bathrooms and contemporary finish level.