You may not know it when you first meet them, but after a while you begin to suspect, internally ponder, and question - based on their attitude, their appearance, their affect, and their general disposition.
You don’t come right out and ask - because it’s not generally acceptable. But if you wait long enough, listen to every word, and scrutinize their mannerisms, eventually they will come out. I guarantee it. Because these folks are damn proud of who they are and what they’ve done.
Of course, I’m speaking of those Chicagoans who choose to buy their home on the EL.
These are a subset of Chicago buyers - urban cowboys, the new “goodfellas,” tough guys - who can sleep through a Red Line train screeching around a curve at 1:12 in the morning like its white noise from a meditation app. And they’ll make sure you know the extent of their fortitude.
They brag, they flex, they sneer, and they blow smoke. And when it comes to the noise, their response is always the same: “you barely notice it.”
But what they don’t know (or maybe recognize deep down) is that they most likely made a terrible investment. Although there’s generally a 10-15% discount associated with living on the EL, it’s not really enough to compensate for the 95% diminished market of potential buyers who will categorically dismiss their home as an option when it comes time to sell.
A more nuanced subset of Chicago buyers are those folks who are prepared to buy on “the good side of the street,” across from the EL, who are unsure of the impact on their own home value. That’s where the expertise and experience of the Brad Lippitz Group really comes into play because there are so many factors at play here: the real proximity to the EL, the exposure of the particular home or condo, which properties actually abut the EL, the history of the particular block in question, and reasonable expectations on resale.
In contrast to our (VERY STRONG) opinions about living right ON the EL (DON’T), we are open to buying and living across the street, provided that all factors are weighed appropriately.
Those 38 feet from one side of the street to the other may seem like miles. And may just be something you can brag about.
Have a great weekend!
Best,
Brad
