From the journal

Shaun Kravat

Shaun Kravat | November 9, 2026

What Exposed Timber Beams Really Cost You

Those old warehouse ceilings in the West Loop look great in photos. Before you fall for one, here's the question I ask about every timber loft.

Shaun Kravat | November 2, 2026

The Quiet Side of Madison Street

South of Madison, around Skinner Park, the West Loop gets quieter and shorter, and a lot of buyers never look there. Here's who those blocks suit and what you give up.

Shaun Kravat | October 26, 2026

What Fulton Market at Dinnertime Tells Me

The West Loop dining scene is why a lot of people want to live here. It's also why where you buy on the block matters more than most buyers think.

Shaun Kravat | October 19, 2026

See It Again on a Tuesday Morning

Most first-time buyers fall for a West Loop condo during one quiet Sunday showing. Here's why I send my buyers back on a weekday before they write an offer.

Shaun Kravat | October 12, 2026

The Tax Bill in the Listing Is Old News

Chicago property taxes are paid a year behind, and the number printed on a West Loop listing is rarely the one an investor will actually pay. Here's how I adjust it before running the math.

Shaun Kravat | October 5, 2026

Know What Your Parking Space Actually Is

Before we talk list price, I ask every West Loop seller one question about their parking spot. About half of them can't answer it, and that answer changes the negotiation.

Shaun Kravat | September 28, 2026

Read the Minutes Before You Read the Listing

The monthly assessment is the first number every West Loop condo buyer asks about, and it tells you almost nothing. Here's where the real cost of a building shows up.

Shaun Kravat | September 26, 2026

Two West Loop Markets, One Zip Code

Right now the West Loop is really two markets. One is still moving fast, the other is sitting, and knowing which one you're in changes everything about your offer or your list price.

Shaun Kravat | September 7, 2026

The Mirror Trick That Sold a Dark Unit

A north-facing one-bedroom on Aberdeen had been sitting for weeks. One staging decision changed the whole trajectory.

Shaun Kravat | August 31, 2026

The Ceiling Height You're Probably Ignoring

Everyone obsesses over square footage. But the vertical space in a unit changes how it feels, how it photographs, and how it resells.

Shaun Kravat | August 24, 2026

The Block of Randolph Nobody Talks About

Everyone knows Restaurant Row. But the residential stretch of Randolph west of Halsted tells a completely different story, and it's one worth paying attention to.

Shaun Kravat | August 17, 2026

The Restaurant You Walk Past Every Day

There's a stretch of Randolph you think you know. You probably don't.

Shaun Kravat | August 10, 2026

You're Comparing the Wrong Units

First-time buyers in the West Loop love to compare price per square foot. That number is lying to you more than you think.

Shaun Kravat | August 3, 2026

The Rental Math That Fooled Me Once

A West Loop two-bedroom can look like a slam dunk on paper. The spreadsheet doesn't always tell the full story.

Shaun Kravat | July 27, 2026

What Your Listing Agent Should Actually Tell You

Most seller prep advice is recycled fluff. Here's what I'd tell you if we were sitting across from each other at a coffee shop on Randolph.

Shaun Kravat | July 20, 2026

The Inspection Report Nobody Reads Right

You got the inspection report back. Before you panic about that 40-page document, here's what actually matters and what doesn't.

Shaun Kravat | July 13, 2026

Inventory Just Shifted in the West Loop

The number of active listings in the West Loop quietly ticked up this spring, and that changes the math for buyers, sellers, and investors alike.

Shaun Kravat | July 6, 2026

The Kitchen Counter That Sold the Unit

A waterfall edge counter helped a West Loop condo sell in five days. Here's why one staging detail can rewrite a buyer's first impression.

Shaun Kravat | June 29, 2026

Floor-to-Ceiling Glass Isn't Always the Answer

Everyone wants the wall of windows until they actually live behind it. Here's what I tell buyers, investors, and sellers about glass in the West Loop.

Shaun Kravat | June 22, 2026

Fulton Market Street Has a Quiet Side

Everyone talks about the restaurants and the cranes. But the blocks west of Halsted tell a different story, and it matters if you're buying or selling there right now.

Shaun Kravat | June 15, 2026

The West Loop Restaurant You Walk Past

There's a stretch of Randolph Street that tells you more about a neighborhood than any listing sheet ever could.

Shaun Kravat | June 8, 2026

Your First Offer Price Is Probably Wrong

Most first-time buyers obsess over finding the right home. The real mistake happens when they sit down to write the offer.

Shaun Kravat | June 1, 2026

That West Loop Two-Flat Math Problem

I ran the numbers on a West Loop two-flat last month and the result surprised even me. Here's what investors and first-time buyers should actually know.

Shaun Kravat | May 25, 2026

What Sellers Actually Need to Know Right Now

Most seller advice online is recycled fluff. Here's what I'd tell you if we were sitting across from each other at a coffee shop in the West Loop.

Shaun Kravat | May 18, 2026

The Offer Nobody Told You About

Most buyers lose in the West Loop not because they offered too little, but because they misread the situation entirely.

Shaun Kravat | May 11, 2026

West Loop Inventory Is Finally Moving Again

After a tight start to the year, West Loop condo inventory is loosening up. Here's what that means if you're buying, selling, or holding.

Shaun Kravat | May 4, 2026

The One Detail That Sold a Loft

A small staging move in a West Loop loft changed the entire showing experience. Here's what happened and why it matters more than you'd think.

Shaun Kravat | April 27, 2026

Floor to Ceiling Glass Changes Everything

That wall of windows in a West Loop loft isn't just pretty. It's one of the biggest value drivers in luxury Chicago real estate, and most buyers don't think about it the right way.

Shaun Kravat | April 20, 2026

Jefferson Park Deserves a Closer Look

Jefferson Park doesn't get the hype of its neighbors, but that's exactly what makes it worth your attention right now.