Chicago Real Estate Investing Blog

By Mark Ainley

Why Is Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast important to Chicago Landlords

The Straight Up Chicago Investor podcast can be important to Chicago landlords for several reasons:Expert insights: The podcast features interviews with experts in the Chicago real estate market, including successful investors, property managers, attorneys, and other industry pro...

By Mark Ainley

What Chicago Landlords Must Know About GC Realty & Development

GC Realty & Development is a real estate brokerage and property management company based in Chicago. If you are a landlord in Chicago who is considering working with GC Realty & Development, there are several things that you should know:GC Realty & Development offers ...

By Mark Ainley

Does GC Realty & Development have a strong reputation as a Chicago Property Manager?

GC Realty & Development has a strong reputation as a Chicago property manager. The company has received numerous positive reviews and testimonials from satisfied clients, and they have been recognized as a top property management company by several industry publications. GC R...

By Mark Ainley

Straight up Chicago investor & GC Realty & Development Helping Chicago Investors

The Straight Up Chicago Investor podcast and the GC Realty & Development blog are both valuable resources for landlords and real estate investors in Chicago. The Straight Up Chicago Investor podcast features interviews with experts in the Chicago real estate market, incl...

By Mark Ainley

City of Chicago Announces 2023 Security Deposit Interest Rate

On an annual basis, the City of Chicago Comptroller is required to evaluate and set the interest rate to be paid on security deposits for residential lease agreements. The 2023 rate is 0.01%. The Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (CRLTO) requires that the lat...

By Mark Ainley

Legal Update for Landlords: Illinois Smoke Detector Act

Updates to the Illinois Smoke Detector Act became effective on January 1st, 2023. As noted in the Act:“…the smoke detectors required in such dwelling units may be either: battery powered provided the battery is a self-contained, non-removable, long term battery&helli...

By Mark Ainley

FHA Loan Limits for 2023 (Breaking News)

Are you considering an FHA loan to purchase or refinance a home in 2023? If so, it's essential to understand the new FHA loan limits for the year. Knowing the loan limits can help you plan your finances and ensure you don't borrow more than you can comfortably repay. In t...

By Mark Ainley

The Pros and Cons of Getting a Real Estate Broker's License

If you’re interested in Chicago real estate investing as your primary or secondary career, it may be tempting to get a real estate broker’s license and start selling property right away. But what are the pros and cons of getting licensed, and what does it take ...

By Mark Ainley

HCV or Section 8: How to get help with your rent in Chicago and Surrounding Suburbs

Rent can be expensive, and you might feel like there’s no way to afford it without signing up for a housing subsidy program like HCV, or Section 8 Voucher as it is also known. If you are struggling to pay your rent and need help, this guide will show you how to find and app...

By Mark Ainley

What is Underwriting and What are Some General Underwriting Assumptions?

What is Underwriting? From a lender or investor’s perspective, underwriting is the process of determining an asset’s market value by analyzing the current operations and projecting the property’s future cash flow and net operating income (NOI). Financial project...