Crain's "best bets" to buy a house in Chicago and burbs

Oak Park made the recent Crain's Chicago Business best bets to buy a house (photo Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

Crain's Chicago Business published a fun list of best Chicagoland areas to buy a house based on a bevy of data points.  There are some usual suspects (Forest Glen, Wilmette, Hinsdale) and some lesser know areas that offer more affordable options (Jefferson Park, Mount Greenwood, Palos Hills value!).  Congrats to my peeps who made the list! We work in most of these neighborhoods.

Best areas to buy a house

Photos! Meeting a client on East 53rd Street, Hyde Park

The Hyde Park Bank building remains a bold, classic statement on a great residential and retail strip of Hyde Park on Chicago's South Side. Interesting architecture and entertainment options line East 53rd Street.

 I was in Hyde Park on a beautiful Sunday morning a week ago to meet a client at a new listing.  The condo is located at 1229 East 53rd Street just steps from just about anything you need.  From the practical like CVS Pharmacy across the street to excellent dining options like A10.

Here's a handful of photos I took on East 53rd Street on a quiet Sunday morning early this month.

Vintage buildings at 1229 East 53rd Street are steps from local retail, dining and close to the lakefront.

An anticipated 267 unit new construction apartment building at 1330 E. 53rd Street is slated for completion next fall.  The Mobile gas station was demolished early this year.

Take a stroll through Nichols Park

Students sit, chat and play ukulele early Sunday at a plaza in Nichols Park

The park and school campus have many attractive landscaping elements.

Dinner and entertainment at Chant on East 53rd Street

The Mellow Yellow needs no introduction

Flashes of modern retail space have been built closer to the lake

People just starting to mill about along East 53rd Street

Cyclists eat at Valois Cafeteria

Great looking patio and restaurant at A10

Five Guys (!) in a vintage building.