Chicago Realty News Blog
Our Brokers. Our Chicago Realty News Blog.
Navigating the Daily Difficulties of Brokerage
Two years ago Kiser Group Advisor Jack Petrando branched off working in the West Side of the city in an effort to expand the Birk | Sklar team’s market coverage. Petrando ventured off in April of 2020, specializing in Austin, Garfield Park, Lawndale, and Humboldt...
Bustling Berwyn, the Colorful Suburb You Might Not Know About
Why Berwyn? Berwyn, Illinois is a city located in Cook County, with a population of over 56,000 residents. Berwyn has a long history of attracting families, young professionals, and businesses. The city has a thriving economy and a stable job market, which has led to...
From Property Management to Brokerage
Will Cornish, an associate, works closely with Danny Mantis, focusing on the northwest communities of Chicago. He has a vast background in market research and a passion for real estate allowing him to cater to clients and best accommodate their needs. However, Cornish...
Getting The Most Rent For Your North Side Multifamily Property
Kiser Group's Advisor Katie LeGrand and Associate Jacob Price have conducted market research to gain larger scale insight regarding the drivers to a property's value. The pair has meticulously looked at comparable rental properties within a specific geographic area...
Becoming a Broker: Rashad Siam Launches Advisory Business
Previously, three of our associates- Rashad Siam, Kiera Dominguez, and Jacob Price detailed their experiences as Kiser Group associates and their plans to continue on their journeys to further their brokerage career in commercial real estate. After joining Kiser Group...
The 3 Biggest Changes I’m Seeing in Chicago’s Northside Multifamily Market
While cataloging each street of Chicago’s northside multifamily market on foot, I have seen market trends and changes firsthand. As an expert in Chicago’s Edgewater, Uptown, and Andersonville neighborhoods, I have compiled the biggest and most impactful changes and...
Transitioning Into Multifamily Investment Advisory: The First 18 Months
I have been surrounded by people involved in real estate in one way or another since I was four years old. So, when I started to consider the shift to get into real estate, I spoke and met with too many people to count or name. Through these conversations, a few...
Do Rents Justify Property’s Sale Prices? | An Analysis of Northwest Market Rents from 2019 to 2021
Anyone who has spent any time reading about Chicago real estate has heard about the path of progress and areas of the city that are becoming the next big thing for investors. From news articles to blogs, to podcasts, real estate media has shown that Albany Park and...
Bringing Momentum into Q2 2022
With a record-breaking total transaction volume of $696 million across both seller and buyer representation in 2021, Kiser Group is bringing incredible momentum into 2022. We received a Power Broker Award from CoStar last month, and with a record Q1 already in the...
The State of Chicago’s Suburbs
On March 30th I had the privilege of speaking on the Bisnow – Future of the Suburbs panel moderated by Hal Francke of MPS Law, alongside Jon Meshel of Centennial Real Estate, Richard Tucker of Tucker Development, and Kevin Kramer from the Village of Hoffman...
Becoming a Broker: An Associate’s Perspective
There isn’t only one right way to become a broker. Sometimes, people discover their passion for real estate after already establishing a career in a different field. Other times, becoming a broker begins as soon as someone receives an undergraduate degree. No matter...
Lake County, Northwest Indiana- 2021 in Review
This week is composed of a 2021 Year in Review on Lake County, Indiana where I plan to detail metrics, news, and more. From new developments, value-add opportunities, to appreciating assets – here’s what happened in Lake County, Indiana in 2021 alongside my thoughts...
The Benefits of Joining an Established Multifamily Team at Kiser Group
With a record breaking 73 buildings sold in 2021, and 45 buildings sold in the first half of 2022 alone, I knew the Birk | Sklar team at Kiser Group was the ideal place for me to get exposure to as many deals as possible. With Chicago's South Side pretty much...
TOP 10 MOST READ MULTIFAMILY BLOG POSTS IN 2021
Kiser Group’s Advisors are industry experts known for sharing market knowledge. On Kiser Group’s blog our Advisors dive into topics and conversation points they find interesting and worth further discussion. Here are our most-read blog posts from 2021: Albany Park:...
Why Whiting, Indiana Should Be on Your Multifamily Investment List By Kyle Sissell
Whiting, Indiana is a little-known community for most Chicagoland multifamily investors. Located in the Northwest Indiana market, Whiting is surrounded by speculation on the heels of continual public and private investment initiatives. From new developments, value-add...
Kiser Group Celebrates Successful Rent Assistance Program in 2021
2021 started on uncertain ground for many Americans, and Chicago was not immune to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic – lives lost, lay offs, illnesses, child care disruptions. For those already struggling, 2021 brought new, unpredictable challenges. In an effort...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – Creative Designs
Every month during 2021, Kiser Group has contributed $2,000 through its Rent Assistance Program to Chicago-area landlords or property managers for rent owed by residents. Each month, we’ve shared the program’s impact. Rent Assistance Update In the final installment...
What’s Happening In Hammond, Indiana’s Multifamily Market?
hammond indiana apartment investing I last did a deep dive into Hammond, Indiana’s multifamily market about a year ago. In that blog post titled Why Hammond, Indiana Should Be On Your Multifamily Investment List, I gave a broad market overview. In this article, I will...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – Urban Alternatives
Every month during 2021, Kiser Group will contribute $2,000 through its Rent Assistance Program on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers for rent owed. Each month we will document how the money was allocated. Rent Assistance Update...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – Legacy Management Services
Each month during 2021, Kiser Group will contribute $2,000 through its Rent Assistance Program on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers for rent owed. Each month we will document how the money was allocated. Rent Assistance Update...
NBOA Survey Results & What It Means for Rogers Park Multifamily Investors
Rogers Park Multifamily Investors Kiser Group and the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance (NBOA) surveyed over 150 Chicago housing providers to determine the effect of the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program on the city’s (and surrounding MSA) rental housing...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – KMA Property Management Services Inc
Each month during 2021, Kiser Group will contribute $2,000 through its Rent Assistance Program on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers for rent owed. Each month we will document how the money was allocated. Rent Assistance Update...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – J&J Equities
Each month during 2021, Kiser Group will contribute $2,000 through its Rent Assistance Program on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers for rent owed. Each month we will document how the money was allocated. Rent Assistance Update...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – Boyd A. Jarrell & Co.
Boyd A. Jarrell & Co Each month during 2021, Kiser Group will contribute $2,000 through its Rent Assistance Program on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers for rent owed. Each month we will document how the money was allocated....
In the wake of the Miami condo collapse, should vintage condo owners consider exiting their real estate investment through a condo deconversion sale?
We all saw the devastating news of the Surfside condominium collapse in Miami, Florida. This incident has left many condo owners wondering about the safety of their building and brought a spotlight to aging condo stock. As a multifamily broker in Chicago, one...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – CLK PROPERTIES
Each month during 2021, Kiser Group will contribute $2,000 through its Rent Assistance Program on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers for rent owed. Each month we will document how the money was allocated. Rent Assistance...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – Newcastle Limited
Each month during 2021, Kiser Group will contribute $2,000 through its Rent Assistance Program on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers for rent owed. Each month we will document how the money was allocated. Rent Assistance Update...
Event Recap: Kiser Group’s Virtual Mid-Market Summit – Construction Panel
On Wednesday, May 19, Kiser Group hosted a virtual panel on construction as the third-installation of the Virtual Mid-Market Summit series. Director Matt Halper moderated the panel which included 3F Construction’s Mike Obloy, North Park Ventures’ Robert Sekula, MAVREK...
Owner-Occupied: How to evaluate an investment property if you plan to live in it
An owner-occupied investment property is a multi-unit building where the investor resides in one of the units. I’ve worked with many owner-occupier investors and generally speaking, they are also first-time homebuyers. They are are looking for a property that offers...
Event Recap: Kiser Group’s Virtual Mid-Market Summit – Technology Panel
On Wednesday, May 12th, Kiser Group hosted a virtual Technology discussion as the second installment of the Virtual Mid-Market Summit series. Partner Aaron Sklar moderated a panel with Xfinity Communities' David Lizak, Kass Management's Mark Durakovic and WPD...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – DYP Management
Each month during 2021, Kiser Group will contribute $2,000 through its Rent Assistance Program on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers to help cover rent owed. Each month we will document how the money was allocated. DYP...
Event Recap: Kiser Group’s Virtual Mid-Market Summit – Finance Panel
On Wednesday, May 5th, Kiser Group hosted a virtual Finance discussion to kick off the Virtual Mid-Market Summit series. Advisor Rick Ofman moderated a panel with Clarity Strategic Opportunities’ Matt Beary, Becovic Management Group’s Sal Becovic, Walker &...
Why Crown Point, Indiana Should Be on Your Multifamily Investment List
This month I’m highlighting Crown Point, another Northwest Indiana market surrounded by speculation on the tails of continual public and private investment initiatives. From new developments, value-add opportunities, to appreciating assets – here is why Crown Point...
Why your first investment property should be a 3-flat apartment building
First Investment Property Real estate is a great way to diversify your portfolio and build wealth. Every day I speak with people looking to make their first real estate investment. Purchasing an apartment building is a great investment because it offers an individual...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – Drexel Properties
Rent Assistance March Each month during 2021, Kiser Group will contribute $2,000 through its Rent Assistance Program on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers to help cover rent owed. Each month we will document how the money was...
30 Seconds To Determine If A Multifamily Investment Property Is Worth Your Time
“What’s the cap rate?” is the most common first question I’m asked about a new listing by potential investors. Many times (not all the time), there are investors that say they pass on or are interested in a deal based on the answer I give, whether it is 6 cap, 9 cap,...
KISER GROUP’S RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM – Icon Management
Each month during 2021, Kiser Group will pay $2,000 on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers to help cover rent owed through its Rent Assistance Program. Each month we will document how the money was allocated. Icon Property...
What is happening in Chicago’s mid-market multifamily market? – NBOA’s December Survey
In late December 2020, Kiser Group partnered with the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance (NBOA) to produce and distribute a survey for Chicagoland multifamily owners. The survey questions focus mainly on collections and occupancy. Nearly 400 Chicagoland housing...
Introducing Kiser Group’s Rent Assistance Program – A Year-Long Initiative To Help Struggling Chicagoans Pay Rent
Kiser Group is initiating a year-long campaign to help struggling Chicagoans. Each month during 2021, Kiser Group will pay $2,000 on behalf of tenants in need to Chicago-area landlords or property managers to help cover rent owed. Each month we will document how the...
Top 10 Most Read Multifamily Blog Posts In 2020
multifamily blog posts 2020 Kiser Group’s Advisors are industry experts known for sharing market knowledge. On Kiser Group’s blog our Advisors dive into topics and conversation points they find interesting and worth further discussion. With 2020 closed out, here are...
State of Chicago’s Suburban Multifamily Market
As we close out 2020, here’s my assessments of Chicago’s suburban multifamily market. Transaction volumes across the Chicagoland area have all been impacted by the pandemic differently. While multifamily transactions are happening throughout Chicagoland, there has...
The New Chicago: Development projects on the Southside that you need to know about
southside Chicago development Multifamily activity on Chicago’s Southside has exploded over the last few years. With a surge of new developments on the horizon, there is no slow down in sight. Public and private interests are turning their focus to the area resulting...
Chicago’s West Side Multifamily Market Is Heating Up – Here Are 5 Neighborhoods That Should Be On Your Investment Radar
The west side of Chicago continues to see an increase in sales velocity and appreciation. As investors get priced out of other markets, the west side offers a very similar multifamily product and investment profile to other bustling multifamily markets. Here are five...
Why Hammond, Indiana Should Be on Your Multifamily Investment List
Where should you invest in multifamily real estate? One place that should be at the top of your list is Hammond, Indiana. Hammond is another Chicagoland market surrounded by speculation on the tales of numerous public and private investment initiatives. From new...
Why Chicago’s Edgewater Neighborhood Should Be On Your 2021 Multifamily Investment Radar
Edgewater is a Chicago neighborhood that should be at the top of any real estate investor's list of places to invest in multifamily. While other neighborhoods on the North Side have dealt with crippling vacancy rates and delinquency this year, Edgewater landlords have...
Why Chicago’s Lawndale Neighborhood Should Be On Your Investment Radar
Located on the west side of the city, Lawndale is a Chicago neighborhood on the rise. This development cycle made the West Loop the premier neighborhood for office, apartments and dining. With the West Loop as a catalyst, developments have been spilling over and...
Multifamily Market Update: Logan Square
Located on the northwest side, you will find one of the most talked about up-and-coming neighborhoods - Logan Square. The neighborhood's boundaries are Diversey Avenue to the north, Pulaski Road to the west, North Avenue to the south, and Western Avenue to the east....
Narrowing my focus while expanding my options: How moving from Indiana to Chicago opened a world of possibilities
Dan Gabbard Chicago As a young kid growing up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I established two key indicators of what direction I intended on taking my life. First, was that entering the business world as an entrepreneur was what I wanted to do for a living, and second, was...
How Will The Election Impact Your Real Estate Investments?
The upcoming election is a hot topic across the country. Over the last few weeks, I've spoke with my multifamily investor clients about changes expected relative to whether Biden or Trump wins the election. The answers somewhat surprised me. None of the opinions...
Why Gary, Indiana Should Be On Your Multifamily Investment Radar
Without question, one of the most interesting Chicagoland markets is Gary in Northwest Indiana. Gary has great growth potential as it continues its long-term shift; investors continually speculate on this value-add community. From real estate taxes to value-add...
Six Chicagoland Multifamily Markets To Watch
Where should you make your next Chicagoland multifamily investment? We asked our brokers just that. In this post they share why Austin, Gary, Indiana, Logan Square, Rogers Park and Suburban Workforce Housing are markets to watch. Austin “The Austin...
Broker Sound Off: Should you sell your apartment investment before the end of the year?
Broker Sound Off: Should you sell your apartment investment before the end of the year? Our brokers are answering many calls asking if now is a good time to sell. We talked to Kyle Sissell, Danny Mantis, Matt Halper and Andy Friedman and asked their advice for...
North Side Apartments: Are you an optimist or pessimist about the market?
North Side Apartments In speaking with northside landlords over the past few months, I’ve learned a lot about the actual and perceived impact of COVID-19 on multifamily. Investors and operators typically fall into one of two groups: optimist or pessimist....
Survey Says: Mid-Market Apartments Resilient To COVID-19 Impact
High rent collection continues, minimal concessions Kiser Group received data on more than 14,325 apartment units from a recent client survey regarding COVID-19’s impact on Chicagoland multifamily. Survey questions focused on performance metrics from...
Liquidity Tsunami: Why investors aren’t going to get big discounts on apartment buildings
Four or so months into Covid-19, the commercial real estate world is still trying to make sense of what to expect in the coming months and years. In multifamily, landlords have many concerns ranging from tenants' ability to pay rent to leasing vacant units to...
5 Chicagoland Multifamily Markets Investors Need To Pay More Attention To
Where should you make your next Chicagoland multifamily investment? We asked our brokers what areas they think are under the radar and in this post they share why apartment investors should pay more attention to Forest Park, Humboldt Park, Skokie, Uptown and...
Top 10 Most Read Multifamily Blog Posts So Far In 2020
Kiser Group’s brokers are industry experts known for sharing market knowledge. On Kiser Group’s blog our brokers dive into topics and conversation points they find interesting and worth further discussion. As we reach the half-way point of 2020, here are our most-read...
You’ve Inherited An Apartment Building, Now What?
Inheriting an apartment building is different from a single-family home. Apartment buildings are investment property requiring management and maintenance. We asked Matt Halper and Michael D'Agostino what you should do if you inherit a multifamily asset. Before...
Industry Experts: Justin Wood & Bill Sardegna, Motus Construction
Justin Wood and Bill Sardegna from Motus Construction, a Pangea Company, recently hosted a presentation for Kiser Group’s Brokers about renovations and value-add construction for Chicago apartments. Justin is a Project Manager with Motus Construction, and has been...
Cap Rates Explained: How Important Are They?
A capitalization rate, more commonly referred to as a cap rate, is a metric commercial real estate investors use to analyze properties and calculate the rate of return. The cap rate is calculated by dividing the net operating income of the property by the...
A Day In The Life Of A Multifamily Analyst
I have been an analyst supporting Kiser Group's Partner Noah Birk and Senior Director Aaron Sklar for eight months. During that time, I’ve learned a lot about multifamily real estate and the south and west sides of Chicago. If you have ever been on the phone with me,...
11 Tips For First Time Apartment Investors From Our Brokers
We asked Jimal Gilbert, Jake Parker, Marco Cesario, Aaron Sklar and Noah Birk to share their best advice for first-time apartment investors. According to our brokers, here’s what you need to consider before making your first multifamily investment: It is...
Kiser Group’s COVID-19 Mid-Market Survey Results
Kiser Group recently surveyed clients to learn more about how mid-market multifamily owners throughout Chicagoland are being impacted by COVID-19. Responses were received from a diverse cross-section of multifamily ownership profiles and a geographic spectrum of the...
Survey Results: Mid-Market Multifamily Rent Collections for March, April & May
Kiser Group recently surveyed clients to learn more about how mid-market multifamily owners throughout Chicagoland are being impacted by COVID-19. Responses were received from a diverse cross-section of multifamily ownership profiles and a geographic spectrum of the...
How investment properties in low-income neighborhoods are faring amid COVID-19
COVID-19's impact on rent collection and other hurdles varies by property type and renter base. For this blog, we asked our brokers how low income housing is faring. Kiser Group's Aaron Sklar, Jack Petrando, Danny Mantis, Michael Lacy and Jimal Gilbert weighed in on...
How are apartment owners adapting to COVID-19 related changes? Rent support, investor concerns, property management
This is the most frequent question our brokers are being asked. We've been communicating with Chicagoland apartment owners, checking in to see how they are doing and to learn more about the state of the Chicagoland mid-market apartment market. We've found many ideas...
Multifamily Brokerage Amid COVID-19 – Kiser Group’s Brokers Share What They Are Experiencing In the Market
From listing to marketing to showings to escrows to closing, multifamily brokerage is different than it was in early March. Kiser Group’s Noah Birk, Aaron Sklar, Matt Halper, Danny Mantis and Lee Kiser share insight on current activity levels versus normal, what they...
Top 10 Most Read Multifamily Blog Posts in Q1 2020
Kiser Group’s brokers are industry experts known for sharing market knowledge and mentoring new brokers. The Kiser Group blog is another place for our brokers to dive into topics and conversation points they find interesting and worth further discussion. Now that Q1...
Three West Side Neighborhoods To Consider For Your Next Multifamily Investment
While the south side of Chicago has made headlines for its sale velocity and fast building appreciation, the west side offers a very similar multifamily product and investment profile. In particular, East Garfield Park, Austin and Humboldt Park are neighborhoods that...
Why A Rent Strike Does More Harm Than Good
Most renters think their rent payment goes directly into their landlord’s pocket, so a rent strike might seem like a good idea; afterall, why should a landlord make all that money when times get tough? That’s not the way it works, though. In order to understand...
The Best North Side Neighborhoods For Real Estate Investing in Chicago
The “north side” of chicago encompasses dozens of neighborhoods, each with a unique investment profile. Below I’ve detailed five northside neighborhoods that you should have on your multifamily investment radar. Albany Park Albany Park is located on the...
Industry Expert: Mike Obloy On Multifamily Construction in Chicago
We are looking forward to our upcoming Mid-Market Summit event on Thursday, May 7 and wanted to take the time to speak with sponsor Mike Obloy of 3F Construction ahead of the event about all things construction. Kiser: How did you get your start in...
Industry Expert: Dean Huber On Getting Deals Done
We are looking forward to our upcoming Mid-Market Summit event on Thursday, May 7 and wanted to take the time to speak with sponsor Dean Huber of Walker & Dunlop ahead of the event about financing deals. Kiser: How did you get your start? Was it in lending...
Industry Expert: David Lizak On Multifamily Technology & Connectivity
We are looking forward to the upcoming Mid-Market Summit on Thursday, May 7. Xfinity Communities has been our longest-running sponsor. We wanted to take the time to speak with David Lizak, Senior Director of Commercial Development, about multifamily technology and...
Taxes & The State of Evanston’s Multifamily Market
I don’t think it’s ground-breaking to say that Evanston has been ground-zero for the new assessment methodology coming out of the Cook County Assessor’s office. Anyone reading the news on this topic has read about instances where the 2019 assessed value of real estate...
Chicagoland Multifamily: Where To Invest During Tax Uncertainty
There is a growing consensus that the probability of a recession in 2020 is nearing zero percent, as building permits and existing home sales help to continue the current economic expansion. There is also continued enthusiasm in the City of Chicago and Suburban...
Kiser Group Celebrates 15 Years of Business
I’m writing this blog on our 15th anniversary of business. How did it all start? I’ve always considered myself an entrepreneur. I’ve never actually had a “real job” with a salary. After numerous big ideas, false starts, and failures, I found myself at 30 years old,...
Oak Park: Why multifamily investors are active despite unknown taxes
The multifamily market in Oak Park is active with local, out-of-state and international investors despite unknown variables like property tax. In the past eight months, I’ve closed 161 units in Oak Park. Here’s why investors are flocking to the Cook County suburb:...
State of the Market: Chicagoland Condo Deconversion in 2020
Over the last few years, the sale of an entire condominium building to one investor proliferated in Chicago. Condo Deconversions, as they are called, have been well documented in the press and have been known to cause a lot of emotions amongst condo owners. Before...
From “Resimercial” to Commercial, Why I Made the Jump to Multifamily Broker
While my path to having a career in real estate wasn't exactly linear (with stops along the way at the Art Institute because I wanted to design men’s suits and then eight years in the Army), real estate has always been part of my life. My family, dating back to my...
Kiser Group’s 15 Most Read Blogs About Apartment Investing
What multifamily topics were most interesting to readers in 2019? On Kiser Group’s blog, our brokers regularly share market insight and apartment investment advice to help investors learn more about Chicago’s neighborhoods, suburbs and market dynamics. In this...
Auburn Gresham: The Next South Shore?
Auburn Gresham is located on the far south side of Chicago, 13 miles from downtown and has quietly been gaining momentum with the multifamily investment community. With 75th Street to its north, the neighborhood spans from the train tracks east of Halsted Street to...
Yes, Vintage Edgewater Studios Can Achieve $1,000+ in Rent
In speaking with Edgewater landlords and reviewing rent rolls, I’ve noticed that vintage studio apartments are underpriced for today’s market. Many landlords have told me there is no way for them to break $1,000 per month for a studio, and I would like to detail why...
Why I switched from being a prolific single-family rental portfolio owner to brokering multifamily
Most people know me as a guy that built, managed, and sold a portfolio comprised of hundreds of single-family homes. That's true, and my experience over the last 14 years is a little more complicated than just "flipping" and renting houses. From acquisitions,...
Receive an unsolicited offer on your investment property? Here’s why you need to engage a broker
Investors frequently approach apartment owners with unsolicited offers. While it might seem enticing to take the offer, an unsolicited offer is rarely the highest price and best terms available for the current owner. If you receive an unsolicited offer, ...
How To Know If An Investment Property Is Right For You
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “don’t have all your eggs in one basket”. Having a diversified portfolio is not just owning stocks and bonds. Long-term real estate investing is the best third leg of the investing stool. Short of another crisis, real estate values...
Top Chicagoland Multifamily Markets To Make Your Next Investment
What are the top Chicagoland multifamily markets? On Kiser Group’s blog, our brokers regularly share market insight and apartment investment advice to help investors learn more about Chicago’s neighborhoods, suburbs and market dynamics. In this roundup, we compiled a...
Top Apartment Investing Advice from Lee Kiser
Over the past couple of years, I’ve contributed advice articles to the Forbes Real Estate Council about apartment investing, building a career as a multifamily broker and starting a brokerage firm. Below are my top five favorites for multifamily investors, both new...
West Ridge: The Northside Neighborhood Apartment Investors Are Sleeping On
West Ridge is located on the far northeast side of Chicago, 11 miles from downtown. With Touhy Avenue to its north, the neighborhood spans from Ridge Boulevard to the east, Peterson Avenue to the south and the Chicago River to the west. Some people refer to the area...
The Most Active Southside Neighborhoods For Apartment Investing in Chicago
We broker the most apartment buildings on the south side of Chicago each year and while many people believe Opportunity Zones are driving the surge of new investors and investment into this area of the city, there are many other fundamental reasons why these...
Brainerd: the south side neighborhood multifamily investors are overlooking
Brainerd is located on the far south side of Chicago, 13 miles from downtown and is frequently overlooked by apartment investors. With 89th Street to its north, the neighborhood spans from Robichaux (Joseph) Park to the east, U.S. Route 20 to the south and Beverly...
Why Are Real Estate Investors Interested In Condo Deconversions?
Many condo owners in Chicago are curious about why commercial real estate investors are interested in buying their units as well as their neighbors' units in a bulk sale referred to as a condo deconversion. Value, equity, risk/reward and cash flow are commercial real...
RE Journals: Best of the Best 2019
Kiser Group is honored and proud to be named one of the Midwest's Top Brokers in RE Journals Best of the Best 2019. This is possible because of our wonderful clients and Kiser Group's hard-working team. Read Article...
Condo Deconversions: Why They Won’t Pick Up On Chicago’s South Side
I’m frequently asked which neighborhoods I think are best suited for condominium deconversions, and why. Perhaps as interesting are areas that generally won’t work well, and neighborhoods throughout the south side of Chicago are a great example of this. At first...
Wrigleyville’s Development Impact on Vintage Apartments
Known for being the home of Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs, Wrigleyville has experienced a surge of real estate development from residential to hotel to retail in the last few years. Recent Developments Since the purchase of the Chicago Cubs in 2009,...
REITs, Crowdfunding or Direct Ownership: What is the best way to invest in real estate?
There are more ways than ever to become a real estate investor. The most common ways to invest are buying a share of a REIT, giving a crowdfund more money than a share of stock to purchase property or going directly in owning an apartment. The most prevalent barriers...
Why Long-Term Investors Should Look At Apartments On The West Side Of Chicago
Let’s rewind 10 years ago when the market crashed. Buildings on the south side of Chicago were trading for less than a used car. Today, these same units - even the unrenovated ones are selling for $50,000 to $90,000+ per unit. The recovering economy and the hype of...
Interest Rates Dropped: What it means for the multifamily market
The Federal Reserve announced yesterday that interest rates had been lowered. There has been an anticipation of the Fed dropping rates, and the market was expecting a 25 basis point reduction. What does it mean for multifamily investors? Stronger Cash-On-Cash...
Value-Add Mistake: Not “Delivering” On Resident Package Solutions
The benefits and ease of receiving so many of life’s essentials through the mail have been great for society and also a big headache for residential property management teams. Developers and property managers have made many notable missteps in handling the increasing...
I Wish I Knew This Before Buying My First Investment Property
I started investing in apartment buildings in 2014. Today, I own 140 units across seven buildings, have successfully flipped several homes, and there are a few things I wish I knew before investing. A first-time real estate investor can find success by hiring property...
Why You Should Invest In Berwyn & Cicero Multifamily Properties
Berwyn and Cicero are western suburbs of Chicago that are closely situated near hotbeds of multifamily activity. Oak Park, which is north of both Berwyn and Cicero, continues to develop more multifamily properties and be one of the most desired suburbs for city...
Catch Up On Our Most Read Multifamily Blog Posts
Kiser Group’s brokers are industry experts known for sharing market knowledge and mentoring new brokers. The Kiser Group blog is another place for our brokers to dive into topics and conversation points they find interesting and worth further discussion. Now that Q2...
Condo Deconversion: Just a trend or here to stay?
The shifting balance between apartment values and condo values will dictate the frequency of deconversions, but the appreciation potential for the majority of low-priced condominiums is very limited. In addition, there will always be condominium properties that fall so far behind on their maintenance that a deconversion becomes the only viable exit option for current owners.
Albany Park: Why this Chicago neighborhood should be on your multifamily investment radar
Albany Park is a northwest side neighborhood of Chicago and is located nine miles from downtown. With Foster Avenue to its north, the neighborhood spans from the Chicago River to the east, Montrose Avenue to the south and Elston Avenue to the west. Over the past few...
The Good, Bad & Ugly of Investing in Chicago Multifamily
I’ve been hearing hesitancy from investment groups regarding investing in Chicago. Every day I’m talking with clients about anything from headlines to taxes to pension problems so I thought I would dig into the good, bad and ugly of investing in Chicago’s multifamily market.
Will The Uptown & Edgewater Red Line Closures Impact Your Multifamily Investment?
I recently spoke with The Real Deal about this exact question and wanted to dive deeper into the topic. The CTA Red Line reconstruction at the Lawrence and Berwyn stations will likely take three years to complete. The stations and tracks in these neighborhoods are in...
Why Commercial Real Estate Developers Need to Embrace A “UX” Mindset
In the website design world, UX stands for “user experience” and describes the process of creating meaningful and memorable experiences for its users. Real estate developers would be wise to take a closer look at the user experiences of their buildings and to make...
Big Bank or Local Bank: Which lender should you use for your multifamily investment
Each type of lender has a different role to play in the market. Capital is currently readily available from both large banks as well as smaller local and regional banks. So - which type of bank should you use? It depends on the deal and your investor profile. ...
Event Recap: The Mid-Market Summit
On Thursday, May 9, Kiser Group hosted our annual Mid-Market Summit event. The exclusive event open only to Principals and Investors in multifamily real estate, featured two industry panels addressing current topics facing Chicago’s industry. This year’s discussion...
Successful Value-Add Investing Is More Than A Quick Renovation
Many investors pursue opportunities in commercial real estate to complement their traditional stocks and bonds portfolios. Newer investors would be wise to stick with lower risk property types. In commercial real estate, these properties are referred to as core and...
How To Identify An Armchair Real Estate Investment
Whether you are looking to diversify your portfolio for retirement or looking for a long-term investment outside of the stock market, acquiring an apartment building can be a great investment option. So - how do you find the right apartment building to invest in? If...
Q2 Outlook: Multifamily Remains Attractive Both Locally and Nationally
From tax plans to opportunity zones, going into the second quarter of 2019, the U.S. commercial real estate sector remains attractive to global and local investors alike, seeking yield and low volatility late in this cycle. Healthy supply/demand fundamentals are...
What Multifamily Events Should Be On Your Radar in Chicago?
Here are the events Kiser Group will be attending and participating in this summer: April 25 - Join Kiser Group’s Noah Birk at State of the South Side RE Market. What’s in it for you? Hear from south side market experts, curated by The South Side Community...
What Owners Should Consider Before Selling Their Apartment Building
Before listing your building, it is vital to assess its current health and physical condition. Perception is everything when touring a building, so you may also consider making repairs to minor flaws that may deter a potential buyer from being interested in making an...
Things you need to know, but probably don’t, when looking at vintage condominiums
Before buying a “starter” condo, we need to explore the history of the building and how that impacts your investment. The housing bubble in the mid-2000s created a massive amount of “new” condominiums in Chicago. Developers purchased vintage (pre-1929 construction)...
Stop Overlooking Englewood Apartment Investments
The Englewood neighborhood in Chicago continues to be overlooked by the commercial real estate industry, particularly apartment investors. While people have cited crime and a challenging renter base as reasons they don’t invest in the neighborhood, there are three key investment parameters that are being overlooked. From cash flow to Opportunity Zones to new neighborhood development, Englewood is heating up.
The Best Amenities For Mid-Market Apartments
You’ve seen the headlines or read an article about elaborate amenities being added to Class A apartment buildings. Luxury apartment developers are increasingly competing in the “amenity wars.” From coworking spaces to doggy daycare to bocce ball, many of these...
Austin: Why this Chicago neighborhood should be on your multifamily investment radar
Austin is a unique Chicago neighborhood located on the West Side of the city and seven miles from the Loop. Austin was created as a suburb and became part of Chicago in 1899. While this happened over 100 years ago, I personally think that this area still considers...
You Want to Sell Apartment Buildings? Read This First.
I often get asked, “Should I get into real estate brokerage?” I usually tell them “No”, mostly because I don’t want any extra competition…but I always tell them that it’s an incredibly risky business to get into with extremely high rates of failure. It’s important for...
Loyola’s Positive Impact on Roger’s Park Multifamily Investments
By Kiser Group Loyola University Chicago is a key economic driver for the Roger’s Park neighborhood and multifamily. The main campus is a hub for 11,919 undergraduate students of which 2,774 are freshman students. As you go west of campus, rents begin an average...
Five Commercial Real Estate Trends I’m Paying Attention To In 2019
By Andy Friedman, Kiser Group It already feels like 2018 is a distant memory as we enter the second month of the new year. Reflecting on last year, I thought I’d share some ideas on topics I find relevant and interesting and share why they are still on my radar for...
Opportunity Zones: What to know before investing in the latest real estate trend
By Aaron Sklar, Kiser Group As a multifamily broker focused on the South Side of Chicago, it’s safe to say that demand for multifamily product is insane. Aside from the area already being hot, buildings are appreciating and cash flowing better than other areas in...
I’ve Inherited An Apartment Building. Should I Sell It?
By Matt Halper, Kiser Group Real estate is a common asset a person can inherit. While most people may think of a house, it can even be an apartment building. An investment property such as a multifamily asset is not necessarily an armchair investment, and tenant...
Rent Control in Chicago: It’s Already Impacting Multifamily Investment
By Danny Mantis, Kiser Group For those of us in the Illinois real estate industry, rent control is something that we’ve been hearing more about lately. As a broker, I’ve been asked about rent control several times from prospective out-of-state buyers looking to...
Uptown’s Entertainment Renaissance and Its Effect on Multifamily Property Values
By Rick Ofman, Kiser Group We’ve all read the news. Or more likely, we’ve heard the chatter about the various entertainment venues that are coming or coming back to Uptown. The largest of these, both physically and metaphorically, is the 4,381-seat Uptown...
The Condominium Conversion-Deconversion Pendulum
As we continuously examine the deconversion trend at Kiser Group, we look for as much information as we can to try to understand how much longer it will last. We recently looked at our historical data to see how many of each year’s sales were conversions or deconversions out of our total multifamily sales, and we produced the chart below.
Kiser Group Named One of 2018’s Best of the Best by Midwest Real Estate News
Kiser Group was recently named a Top Broker in Midwest Real Estate News "Best of the Best 2018." The rankings are based on the number of investment transactions across 13 states. "We are grateful to our clients and their confidence in us to...
Cash-On-Cash: The real measure of rate of return
By Andy Friedman Real estate investors are always drawn to cap rate as their go-to measure for potential investments. Cap rates are flawed. (More about that in a previous post.) Your return is not the cap rate, it is the cash-on-cash return, especially since the...
Kiser Group Named One of National Real Estate Investor’s 2018 Top Brokers
Kiser Group is very proud to be named one of National Real Estate Investor's 2018 Top Brokers, an award based on total global transaction volume in 2017. This award would not be possible without the continuous hard work, determination, and perseverance of each person...
Cap Rates: A Highly Misunderstood and Imperfect Metric
By Andy Friedman If I had a nickel for every time I’ve been told by a real estate investor that they will only consider a property with X cap rate or above, well, I’d have a boatload of nickels. There are several problems with using cap rates as your main...
5 Considerations for REO Managers Before they Choose a Brokerage to Market their Assets
By Matt Halper Have you ever needed work done in your home and asked a contractor if they can do the work? Have they ever said they were not qualified or not the best person for the job? Perhaps that was their response if they were super busy. More often than not,...
Liquidity: An Often-Ignored Component of Real Estate
By Andy Friedman When most people evaluate a real estate investment, there is a small set of initial questions that they look to get answered: What is the cap rate? What is the vacancy rate? How are rents or lease rates trending in that area? What is the condition of...
What HOA Members Should Know About Condo Deconversions
Condominium deconversions are a hot topic in commercial real estate today, and I don’t think it’s just the latest trend. As condominium stock built in the 70s and older continues to age and need updates, modernization and capital improvements, owners continue to spend...
What to do when your condo association receives an unsolicited offer for a condo deconversion
By Andy Friedman The current condominium deconversion trend in Chicago is still relatively new. The wave of apartment-to-condo conversions in the mid-2000’s has begun unwinding as condominium units are now often worth more as apartments, and as many HOAs now find...
Kiser Group’s Mid-Market Summit 2018 Recap
By Lee Kiser Kiser Group’s inaugural Mid-Market Summit was May 9 at City Winery in the West Loop. In way of recap, the Mid-Market Summit is an invitation-only event for Kiser Group clients: Chicagoland’s apartment owners and investors. The panel discussion topics...
Kiser Group Receives 2017 Power Broker-Top Firm Award
We're so proud to receive the 2017 Power Broker – Top Firm award from CoStar consecutive years in a row. This accomplishment would not be possible without the continuous efforts and hard work from our brokers and the team of staff members that support them. ...
Four Reasons to Invest in the Chicago Suburbs
By Matt Halper If you’re considering getting into real estate investment or looking to diversify your apartment portfolio, the Chicago Suburbs are a great market. Here are a few reasons why you should consider investing in the suburbs: 1. Steady Stream of...
What Makes a Good Mid-Market Broker?
By Michael D'Agostino Commercial real estate brokerage is a skillful balance of art and science. The middle market encompasses many personas and investment needs. Being able to appeal, present and understand the investor profile of each persona is the art of the deal,...
Three Reasons Why to Purchase a Real Estate Investment Property on the West Side of Chicago
By Kiser Group A lot of people are going to pretend that they know something about the West Side of Chicago, and the first thing they’ll mention is the crime stats. They’ll lean back and get all blustery about a headline that’s meant to keep money out of your pockets....
Chicago South Side Neighborhoods to Keep Your Eye On: Woodlawn and Washington Park
By Kiser Group For those of you who haven't joined the party, there is a surge of investment activity going on in the South Side of Chicago. While its reputation may cause skepticism, there is plenty of upside to South Side apartment investment and tremendous room for...
Three Reasons Chicago’s South Side Apartment Investment is Booming
By Noah Birk For new and existing apartment investors, Chicago’s South Side is a unique opportunity. Between the cash on cash returns, appreciation potential and economic development in these neighborhoods, investors should take a closer look at the South Side....
Three Reasons to Invest in Lake County Right Now
Lake County… I get it. The real estate taxes are high. That’s the singular thing that any investor brings up when I suggest the idea of looking at apartment buildings in Lake County. While I get why that’s intimidating to investors, I don’t think that should disqualify investors from considering investments.
From Teacher to Commercial Real Estate Broker: How I Made a Successful Career Change
By Rick Ofman Teaching and brokerage are similar in many ways, and success, in both careers, can be achieved in a variety of styles. After twenty-three years as a student and seven years teaching and coaching, I decided to leave the world of education and...
A Day in the Life of a Multifamily Analyst
By: Jake Parker As a commercial real estate analyst, it can be hard to set a schedule when you first start. There are seemingly endless phone calls and emails to be made, clients to see, and plenty of market research to do. Here is a snapshot of my...
How Much Money Are You Leaving on the Table by Not Hiring A Broker?
By Kiser Group A wise old broker once told me, “If you cannot provide value to a client beyond what they can do themselves, you have no right being there.” As a commercial real estate broker, our primary responsibility is to guide and serve our clients’...
Four Reasons Why to Invest in Bronzeville Multifamily Right Now
By: Danny Logarakis Bronzeville is a Chicago neighborhood spanning from 25th Street to 51st Street with Lake Michigan to its East and I-90 to its West. 1. South Loop & McCormick Square Expansion As the South Loop and McCormick Square continue...
Three Reasons Why Cap Rates Aren’t The Only Criteria That Matters
By: Kiser Group A cap rate, or net operating income divided by the sale price, is often perceived as the most important metric to investors when evaluating a property. The truth is that cap rates, especially in a marketing package, are often unreliable for determining...
The New Logo is Here!
What Kiser Group Team Members Think About the New Logo
A change is gonna come, oh yes it will...and we are thrilled! A few of our team members talk about what they think about the new logo and what it means for Kiser Group. Lee Kiser, Principal & Managing Director Michael D’Agostino, Director...
Why a New Logo?
The short answer? We created a new logo to represent the new Kiser Group: a collaborative team that blends the traditional and the modern, merging classic practices with advanced real estate technology for in depth market knowledge – all to benefit our clients....
Exciting News!
That's right, we got a fresh new haircut. Stay tuned this week for the official release of our new logo on the Kiser Group blog and social media pages!