Market Overview

 

 

Updated January 20, 2011

Annual Review Buildings Recent Sales
Community Areas Links

Annual Review

(Based on 2010 Sales on the MLS)

2010 Condo Sales Volume Remains Flat, Units Sold Down by 2%, to 9,887
Median Sales Price Down 6%, for Average Price Per Square Foot of $278

The dollar volume of condo sales in the city of Chicago remained flat in 2010, at $3.1 billion. And the number of units sold in the city dropped by 2%, from 10,070 to 9,887. Median sales price of city condos also dropped, by 6%, from $270,000 to $255,000. The average market time increased by 3%, from 147 days on the market to 151 days. Those figures are based on sales of condos as recorded on the regional multiple listing service (MRED).

Contributing to the decrease in median sale price: more than one-third of the condos sold in the city were distressed properties, either short sales or foreclosures.

As 2010 statistics confirm, Chicago is condos. Based on number of units, Chicago is the nation's third-largest condo market (and third largest population). In the city, 2010 condo sales made up 51% of all residential transactions (including multi-unit), compared to 50% in 2009. There are an estimated 260,000 condo units in more than 13,000 buildings in the city, with several thousand units added annually. Based on the 260,000-unit estimate and 2010 sales of 9,887 units, the turnover in 2010 was 3.8%. An estimated 20% of condo units are rented out by their owners. Some condos prohibit rentals.

Condos create much of the city's skyline. Their prominence is especially evident along prestigious North Lake Shore Drive, the largest concentration of units. Most high-rises, and most luxury buildings, are located in three community areas along Lake Michigan: Near North, Lake View and Lincoln Park. The most desirable buildings offer magnificent views of Lake Michigan, are on or near Michigan Avenue or overlook Millennium Park.

Recent years have seen rapid growth along the Chicago River, and west and south of downtown. Lofts, created by rehabbing vacated warehouses, are increasingly popular for their high ceilings and brick walls. Vintage buildings offer Old World charm and elegance. Conversions, of apartment buildings to condos, are occurring at a pace not seen since the 1980s and are generally 20% less expensive than new-construction units. More than a dozen condo hotels, the newest trend, offer room service to residents and rental income to owners. Thousands of two-flat condos are scattered throughout the city. Town houses can be either condos or homeowner associations. Co-ops, not listed in our database, are less than 5% of the market. Most high-rise co-ops are at the high end, especially on East Lake Shore Drive, but the first co-ops were two- and four-flats, and are still occupied throughout the city.

Each year in the city, between 10,000 and 20,000 condo units turn over. That is roughly 2% of the 900,000 condos & co-ops bought and sold across America. More than 10,000 units are on the marktet ("active") at any given time. In 2010, prices ranged from $2,500 for a 1,200-square-foot unit in South Chicago to $8.6 million for a 6,400-square-foot, 3 bedroom condo in The Elysian at 11 E. Walton. The citywide median sales price in 2010 was $255,000, $278 per square foot. That is less than one-third the cost PSF in New York City. The ultra luxury end of the market now brings in excess of $1,000 per square foot.

 

Recent Sales (2011 & 2010)

Year-to-Date 2011 vs. Year-to-Date 2010

In 2011, city condo dollar volume has remained flat compared to 2010. But volume in December was up 9.62% compared to November.
According to figures generated for ChicagoCondosOnline.com by MRED, the regional MLS, sales of Chicago condos through December 2011 are:

Comparing December sales to November:
* Units closed were up 9.62%, from 603 to 661 closings
* Dollar volume was up 4.45%, from $171 million to $179 million
* Median sales price was down 1.54%, from $195,000 to $192,000
* Average market time was up 7.30%, from 178 to 191 days

Year Over Year (December 2011 – Decemberr 2010)

Category December 2011 December 2010 Change
Closings 661 725 +8.83%
% Condo Closings 52.92% 49.25% 7.45%
Median Sales Price $192,000 $215,000 -10.5%
Avg. Days on Market 191 163 +17.18%
New Listings 752 1,165 -35.45%
Supply 8.73 months 13.28 months -34.27%
Total sales volume $179 mil $268 mil -33.20%

Month Over Month (December 2011 – November 2011)

Category December 2011 November 2011 Change
Closings 661 603 +9.62%
% Condo Closings 52.9% 54.4% -2.67%
Median Sales Price $192,000 $195,000 -1.54%
Avg. Days on Market 191 178 +7.30%
New Listings 752 1,076 -30.11%
Supply 8.73 months 9.38 months -6.96%
Total sales volume $179 mil $171 mil +4.45%

 

View previous monthly market reports


Total annual condo sales (2010 MRED):  9,887 units for $3.1 billion

Condo sales as percentage of all residential sales in Chicago: 51%

Inventory of unsold units (new construction and conversion):To come

 

Buildings

(Based on the 12,000 buildings in our database, which includes virtually all properties with 25+ units, virtually all new construction and conversions, plus thousands of smaller buildings, including hundreds of two- to six-flats)

Total buildings (for which number of units is known): 7,173

500+ units: 38 (0.5%);
499-100 units: 453 (6%);
99-25 units: 1,128 (16%);
24-7 units: 3,123 (44%);
6-2 units (flats): 1,768 (34%)

 

New Construction: 571 buildings; Conversion: 362; Re-Sales: 11,067

 

Community Areas (77)

(Based on 2010 MRED statistics and 2000 Census Data)

Most Condo Units Sold:
1. 8008, Near North Side (1,796 units)
2. 8006, Lakeview (1,053)
3. 8032, Loop (780)
4. 8024, West Town (680)
5. 8028, Near West Side (589)
6. 8007, Lincoln Park (569)
7. 8002, West Ridge (433)
8. 8077, Edgewater (426)
9. 8003, Uptown (409)
10. 8033, Near South Side (322)

Highest Median Sales Price:
Loop ($398,080),
North Center ($366,000),
Lincoln Park ($360,000)

Lowest Median Sales Price (among areas with 10+ sales):
South Chicago ($7,500),
Chatham ($13,000),
West Garfield Park ($13,100)

Highest Median Income (2000 census data):
Lincoln Park ($68,613),
Forest Glen ($68,269),
Beverly ($66,823)

 

Increase in Median Sales Price Only three areas saw an increase in median sales price in excess of 5%:

Forest Glen +14%
Austin +7%
Armour Square +6%

 

 

Links

CityofChicago.org
ChicagoTribune.com
Chicago Police Department

 

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E-mail: RicCox@ChicagoCondosOnline.com