Quick Tips for Chicago, IL

[Christian Leon]

Hello fellow BP enthusiast,

I am looking to invest in multifamily homes in the Chicago area. I have been been on the fence about what area to start this journey, but I know Chicago has a lot of potential and has a lot of multi's on market. What I do not know are the ins and outs of the area. I plan to do a lot of research as I have already heard its a tenant friendly state so I know we have to be diligent with leases and screening, but I was wondering what kind of insight I could get from the BP community such as areas to avoid, screening tips, things to look for when shopping, or something specific to IL homes that are not common elsewhere but make a difference. Any and all help welcome. Cheers! 

[John Warren]

@Christian Leon one thing we see a lot in the Chicago area is old galvanized plumbing. You may end up buying a building with some galvanized still in place. Over time it slowly corrodes from the inside which causes lower and lower water pressure. A lot of my buildings in Berwyn and Cicero have galvanized pipes, so I have learned a lot of tricks over the years to keep them going!