Chicago, Illinois

Corcoran Urban Living

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

BY PAIGE AIGRET

From the original deep-dish pizza and worldfamous hot dogs to the Cubs, White Sox and Bears, Chicago’s big city appeal is much owed to its classic food dishes and committed sports fans.

But Corcoran Urban’s managing partner, Matt Farrell, has experienced all that and more as a Chicagoan.

Among a handful of the largest cities in America, the 234-square-mile city of Chicago houses 77 neighborhoods, and “each one is filled with its own unique culture and rich history,” said Farrell. “You can travel a mile in either direction and feel as though you’ve traveled to a different city.”

And the city makes the most of its large footprint, with several famed skyscrapers offering some of the nation’s most iconic architecture. The Willis Tower, formerly and famously known as the Sears Tower, offers views like no other in the city from the tower’s skydeck at 1,353 feet up.

Other notable Chicagoan architectural edifices include the John Hancock Tower, the Wrigley Building and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower.

“Chicago is a big city, but it has one of the most livable downtowns in the world, with massive shoreline access and parks throughout,” said Farrell. “We also have really lovely seasons.”

With 600 parks scattered throughout the city, it’s easy to forget the concrete jungle of steel-tower trees for a day amongst nature.

Farrell said the city has a fair mix of luxury high-rise living downtown, single-family homes within the city and larger estates in the surrounding suburbs. But as he’s noted, trends are leaning away from the “McMansions,” as he calls them.

The pandemic spurred an interest in the city’s suburban markets, too, and Farrell said that a “continued stream of people into the city is led by a very strong tech hub in Chicago.”

While McMansions are out, small-scale luxury is still in demand in the city. And Farrell said that “luxury here is truly more affordable than in markets like New York or Los Angeles.”

“Many of our international clients have chosen Chicago as their second home because we can offer stable investment, an easy lifestyle and accessible luxury.”

The Magnificent Mile, with upscale shopping and fashion outlets, trendy hotels and posh restaurants, attracts luxury buyers from all over.

And, he said that “unnecessary size and maintenance don’t have the appeal that proximity to restaurants, theaters, sporting venues all offer. Our market is much more about access to experiences and lifestyles than a ‘bigger is better’ mentality.”

And the city is teeming with such experiences.

Chicago boasts around 70 different museums. The Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art are among some of the most notable in the city.

You can catch your favorite musical at Broadway in Chicago, enjoy the beauty of ballet at the internationally renowned Joffrey Ballet company or settle in for some laughs at The Second City comedy club.

And the city is home to a vibrant music culture. Keep it classical and experience the 1891-founded Chicago Symphony Orchestra, or enjoy some of the city’s modern culture with popular music festivals like Lollapalooza and Riot Fest. Plus, you can almost always catch a free concert at Millennium Park.

Conveniently, Corcoran Urban holds a strong real estate presence for buyers and sellers of the area, serving downtown Chicago while also catering to those looking outside the skyscraper city to the surrounding neighborhoods and suburbs.

“Other companies like to talk only about luxury and exclusivity, but at Corcoran, we like to talk about inclusivity and serving all of our clients,” said Farrell. “I love working for a company that has strong boutique roots and still operates that way.” 