Chicago Lofts and Condos

A true loft for Chicago (or "hard" loft) is a conversion of a vintage factory or warehouse, having a harder edge of either concrete construction, or "mill" construction of exposed brick and original wood posts, beams and floors. Ceilings should be over ten feet high at least. This is increasingly very important for loft purchasers, as developers are now building condos with slightly higher ceilings than in the past. It is the height that helps give a loft the feeling of air and space. Larger windows and open concept layouts also help. Ceilings are unfinished and pipes and heating ducts are exposed. Do not expect to find a 1,000 square foot loft divided up into two bedrooms and a den. It will much more likely have a kitchen and a bathroom with the rest of the space left as one large open room, which you can work with and use according to your own functions and needs. Some people think a loft means you have a second mezzanine level overlooking the floor below, but this is simply one style of loft.

Beware of another type of loft -- the newly constructed loft (or "soft lofts"), which are for the most part "Condos With High Ceilings", and are examples of Chicago condo developers trying to cash in on the popularity of lofts. They are still great units, just not "true" lofts.

Chicago lofts are found mostly in the downtown Chicago areas. The average price for Chicago lofts is about $300,000. Though Chicago lofts can vary in price ranging from $190K - $1.5 million.