The Home Front

By Don DeBat Mayor Johnson is preparing a sweeping “Protecting Renters Ordinance” for Chicago. But while City Hall frames it as a vital tenant defense, local landlords warn new fees and a mandatory registry will drive up monthly rents by at least $100. Half of Chicago’s residents – some 600,000 people – are apartment renters, so with a slim chance of re-election in 2027, Mayor Brandon Johnson is digging for votes. Mayor Johnson, an avowed Democratic Socialist, plans to introd

By Don DeBat A massive feud between Zillow and local industry leaders erupted after Chicago’s major multiple listing service cut off the aggregator’s data access, causing thousands of local home listings to vanish from the platform overnight. In an ultimate rebellion against artificial intelligence in the lucrative business of dream homes and rental apartments, Zillow, the real estate data aggregator, now has fewer followers in Chicago and Illinois. On May 20, Zillow Group In

(Above) Sam Sianis (center) holds the 1974 tournament trophy won by the Chicago Daily News 16-inch softball team he sponsored. The legendary lineup included Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Mike Royko (top row, second from right). The photo was taken at the Hubbard Street Billy Goat Tavern next to the “VIP Room” sign. Photo provided by Don DeBat. By Don DeBat Chicago-style 16-inch softball managers might tell you losing a good sponsor is worse than losing a brother. With the

(Above) While 87,000 Cook County taxpayers remain stranded by a system-wide software backlog, Tyler Technologies Chairman John Marr celebrates corporate success by ringing the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on February 3, 2026. The Texas firm’s unresolved county tech contract has left an estimated $46 million in local refunds bottlenecked. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) By Don DeBat While tens of thousands of Chicago property owners are reeling from soaring taxes, some

(Above) Aerial view looking north from Jackson Park toward the Chicago skyline, showcasing the Woodlawn and South Shore neighborhoods. (Photo: Adobe Stock) By Don DeBat With the Obama Presidential Center approaching, a new anti-gentrification ordinance is rattling the real estate industry, pitting landlord rights against city efforts to prevent displacement in Chicago’s lakefront neighborhoods. The threat of rising apartment rents in “Obamaville” and other South Side lakefron

(Above) 2026 North Kenmore Avenue, a renovated 10-bedroom, 10-bathroom home listed at $9.995 million – currently the highest MLS listing price in Lincoln Park. It features a five-car garage and a coach house that, according to the listing agent, could be converted into a basketball court. (Photo: MRED/Chicago MLS Pro) By Don DeBat North Side single-family median home price hits $1.55M as supply evaporates While sales fell 15 percent in Q1 2026, the North Side’s dwindling supp

By Don DeBat Forget 'negotiating' a lower rent. In high-demand North Side neighborhoods like Old Town and Lincoln Park, the 2026 market has shifted to full-blown bidding wars, with some renters paying thousands over asking to secure a lease. A bidding war is underway this spring for rental apartments in sought-after lakefront neighborhoods, Realtors report. “If you are looking for an upscale rental apartment in Old Town, Lincoln Park, or Lakeview this season, you are not just

By Don DeBat Yet another beauty makeover for Soldier Field is on an architect’s drawing board as a follow-up to the Chicago Bears planned exodus to Arlington Heights or Indiana. Soldier Field would get a translucent, domed roof, 20,000 new skybox seats, and a surrounding entertainment district under an architect’s new pipe-dream proposal. Now that the Chicago Bears posted a rare winning season in 2025, fans have visions of a Super Bowl dancing in their heads. So, why not run

By Don DeBat Chicago and Cook County property owners are beaten, battered and bewildered by soaring real estate taxes. With wallets already flattened, homeowners are bracing for another big cash bite on April 1st, when the first installment of 2025 taxes are due. According to a new study released March 30th by Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, real estate taxes in Chicago and the county have grown at double the rate of inflation over the past three decades. As a result, hom

By Don DeBat Renters hunting for an affordable apartment in a nice North Side Chicago neighborhood this spring may be in for some sticker shock. Between February of 2025 and February of 2026, Chicago’s median rental prices rose more than many other major cities, according to a national survey by Axios Media, Inc. The survey is based on new leases signed each month in 54 metro areas with at least one million residents. Chicago’s median apartment rent rose 4% to $1,670 a month

President Donald J. Trump By Don DeBat Chicago home buyers are not fleeing from guided missiles, but President Donald Trump’s aerial war against Iran has had a dramatic, negative impact on the spring housing market in the Windy City. The Mideast War has pushed mortgage-interest rates sharply higher, analysts report. “Last week the rates dipped to 5.99% for the first time in 3.5 years, and everything seemed to be moving along positively,” noted veteran lender Jeremy Rose, seni

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi (left) and Sen. Javier Cervantes. By Don DeBat Cash-strapped senior citizens in Chicago and Cook County must be rattling their walkers in unison this month, and eagerly casting absentee ballots from wheelchairs and rocking chairs. All their applause and votes are directed to Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, who is joining with community groups, the clergy, and wise members of the Illinois General Assembly, calling for easier access to propert