Neighborhoods to Avoid in Chicago?

[Suzette West]

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me which areas in Chicago are the high crime neighborhoods to avoid?

Thanks!

[Mark Ainley]

@Jay Y.There are good blocks in every area on the south side including Englewood.    We have bought on many bad blocks and learned hard lessons. We own homes on good blocks in Englewood as well and have owned on some of the scariest. 

The great thing about Chicago's South Side is each neighborhood has something good going for the future in almost every area.   The Obama Library coming in Washington Park/south shore, large blocks of retail being built in Englewood, UofC growing their influence in Wood Lawn, South Works development in South Chicago, and the city pushing major redevelopment on the major streets like 43rd, 47th, 51st, 61st, 63rd, & 87th. All these positive plans are years away from completion but will bring huge change to the south side.  I have been on the south side since 2008 and I can see the difference.  

@Benjamin Timmins I would say there is more safe areas than horrible areas on the south side as many pockets of bad areas give the entire south side a bad wrap. The violence on the south side is silly and as an investor it is pretty easy to avoid those specific areas but those areas can be moving not targets(no pun intended) which can provide a challenge.   As an investor as long as you are not sitting on your property's front porch at 6pm at night on a hot summer day you are all good. 

The main point is have a guy you can trust on the ground in Chicago that can advise you on location.  I have begged out of state investors from BP that have reached out for advice not to buy particular properties no matter how good the deal looks. 

It is easy to tell fellow BPers on here to avoid the west and south side of Chicsgo but those are the areas with some of the best opportunity vs the overcrowded north and northwest side which price puts investing out of reach for many beginners.