Chicago Real Estate Blogs You Need to Check Out Before You Move

Posted on February 21st, 2011 by Paulina Aguilera

Frank Sinatra sang it, Broadway has a musical named after it, and Oprah Winfrey is based out of it. It’s home to the Willis Tower, the Art Institute, Grant Park, and the Navy Pier. It inspired a unique style of pizza, a writer’s manual, and even has a font named after it.

There are plenty of reasons to move to Chicago, often noted as one of the friendliest major cities in America. Maybe it’s the Midwestern values that make Chicagoans pleasant, or all of those excellent attractions. Perhaps it’s all those negative ions emanating from Lake Michigan that puts residents in a good mood. There’s just something about Chicago that appeals to a variety of people.

If you’re in the market right now for a home in Chicago, the best way to find out what Chi-town has to offer is with the city’s expert real estate insiders. These are the top five blogs that MovingCost.com has dug up to help you during your Chicago real estate research:

YoChicago (http://yochicago.com/)

Lincoln Park, Oak Park, Jefferson Park – there are a lot of neighborhoods in Chicagoland with the word Park attached, but which Park is the right one for you? YoChicago breaks it down in their handy Chicago neighborhoods guide. From the suburbs to downtown, every enclave is examined right here.

For an up-close look at Chicago’s vibrant districts, spend some time checking out the many videos of “The Windy City” posted here. Read the comments section after the posts for some residential insight directly from native Chicagoans. You’ll be sure to move into the trendiest community in Chicago after reading YoChicago’s informative posts.

The Chicago Real Estate Local (http://www.chicagorealestatelocal.blogspot.com/)

Realtor and blogger Eric Rojas gives us the lowdown on current pricing and housing deals in Chicago and the surrounding metro area. Whether you’re buying or selling in Chicago, Rojas is the realtor with the expertise you need. Scope out the hottest buys, just reduced home prices, and the best local schools in the areas from his perspective as an active realtor.

Rojas isn’t all about pricing and neighborhood detailing all the time, however. He takes a lighter approach to Chicago real estate, particularly when it comes to his cohorts. In his words, ” From time to time we take a shot at our industry because, well… we just can’t take our own people some times.” That precedes the post calling for the end of realtors using the word stunning to describe homes in their ads. It’s interesting to see what makes a realtor tick and what just ticks them off, particularly a top-selling agent like Rojas.

Your Windy City Guide (http://www.yourwindycityguide.com/)

Chicago real estate agent Robert Darrow brings us a thorough look at the Chicago housing market with the commentary and outlook of a lifelong Chicagoan. The latest trends in the Chicago real estate market are mixed in with musings, selling guidelines, and Chicago homes galore.

Aside from listing current homes on sale here, Darrow offers tips that will help you sell your Chicago home, and he provides up-to-date housing news from “The Second City.” Whether you have a house for sale in Chicago or anywhere else in the country, you’ll want to know which wall color will drive away potential buyers.

Mr. Chicago Real Estate (http://www.mrchicagorealestate.com/)

Twenty-two year real estate industry veteran Sheldon Salnick has been blogging since 2007. His blog is part of the resourceful Sheldon Chicago site, which has MLS listings, selling advice, and a nifty Chicago market analysis.

Salnick follows the goings on in Chicago that could affect the market and current sellers, buyers, and those that are still on the fence about selling or buying. Salnick says “Purchasing a Chicago home buys a lifestyle as well,” which is a fantastic point. He goes on to list the top reasons to move to Chicago, as if though authentic Chicago-style pizza wasn’t enough of a reason!

Chicagoland Real Estate Forum (http://www.chicagolandrealestateforum.com/)

Rounding out the top five best Chicago real estate sites are the bloggers featured on Chicagoland Real Estate Forum. This is where you’ll find wide-ranging topics revolving around Chicago, like new housing laws that could affect the city’s senior citizen population, former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s bid for the mayor’s office, and the latest community seminars on home ownership.

When you normally think about eco-friendly cities, places like Portland, OR and San Francisco, CA are the first cities that come to mind. But as CREF blogger Tracey details, Chicago is on the cusp of becoming a model eco-friendly city. The city recently signed a contract to install over 70 electric charging stations around Chicagoland, proving that the Midwest can be just as environmentally friendly as the cities on the West Coast.

Stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the Chicago real estate market when you visit these useful blogs. Browse through Chicago’s townhomes, condos, lofts, and single family homes posted by Eric Rojas, Robert Darrow, and Sheldon Salnick. Find out which neighborhood is right for you when you take a good look at all of Chicago’s districts on YoChicago. Catch up on the city’s activities at the Chicago Real Estate Forum. Tap into the wealth of resources offered on these blogs, and get your Chicago moving plans in order at MovingCost.com once you’ve found your dream home!

Related Articles:

1. Finding the Right Real Estate Agent
2. Should You Hire a Real Estate Attorney?
3. First Timer? 5 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Real Estate Attorney!

Tags: chicago homes, chicago real estate, moving to chicago

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