Chicago Real Estate Attorney · Serving Chicagoland(312) 809-9766 · 24-hr scheduling (872) 326-9600
Attorney Shara KamalChicagoland Attorneys, LLC
Market WatchOct. 12
Where We Work

Real Estate Attorney Serving Chicago and the Suburbs

From Rogers Park to Beverly and from Evanston to Naperville, the paperwork for a closing depends on where the property sits. Attorney Shara Kamal represents buyers and sellers throughout Chicagoland and handles the local requirements that come with each town.

Schedule a Consultation(312) 809-9766
Line drawing of the Chicago skyline

City of Chicago

Chicago closings carry city-specific steps: the seller's Full Payment Certificate for water, the city transfer tax (mostly paid by the buyer), and, for rental property, the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance. Vintage condominium buildings in neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Edgewater and Hyde Park often come with association documents, reserves and special assessments to review.

Neighborhoods served include Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Gold Coast, Streeterville, River North, West Loop, South Loop, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Bronzeville, Logan Square, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Andersonville, Edgewater, Rogers Park, Beverly, Bridgeport, Pilsen and Jefferson Park. See the transfer tax calculator and the seller representation page.

Explore the city

Chicago's 77 Community Areas

Chicago is officially divided into 77 community areas, each made up of several familiar neighborhoods. Hover over or tap the map to see each one. Gold areas have their own page with local market notes.

Rogers ParkWest RidgeUptownLincoln SquareNorth CenterLake ViewLincoln ParkNear North SideEdison ParkNorwood ParkJefferson ParkForest GlenNorth ParkAlbany ParkPortage ParkIrving ParkDunningMontclareBelmont CraginHermosaAvondaleLogan SquareHumboldt ParkWest TownAustinWest Garfield ParkEast Garfield ParkNear West SideNorth LawndaleSouth LawndaleLower West SideThe LoopNear South SideArmour SquareDouglasOaklandFuller ParkGrand BoulevardKenwoodWashington ParkHyde ParkWoodlawnSouth ShoreChathamAvalon ParkSouth ChicagoBurnsideCalumet HeightsRoselandPullmanSouth DeeringEast SideWest PullmanRiverdaleHegewischGarfield RidgeArcher HeightsBrighton ParkMcKinley ParkBridgeportNew CityWest ElsdonGage ParkClearingWest LawnChicago LawnWest EnglewoodEnglewoodGreater Grand CrossingAshburnAuburn GreshamBeverlyWashington HeightsMount GreenwoodMorgan ParkO'HareEdgewaterLoopO'HareHyde ParkSouth ShoreWest LoopRogers ParkBeverlyHegewisch
Tap an areaChicago77 community areas · 1 West Loop office
Has a local pageCommunity areaOffice, 159 N Sangamon St
List all 77 community areas by side of the city

Far North Side

  1. 1Rogers Park
  2. 2West Ridge
  3. 3Uptown
  4. 4Lincoln Square
  5. 9Edison Park
  6. 10Norwood Park
  7. 11Jefferson Park
  8. 12Forest Glen
  9. 13North Park
  10. 14Albany Park
  11. 76O'Hare
  12. 77Edgewater

North Side

  1. 5North Center
  2. 6Lake View
  3. 7Lincoln Park
  4. 21Avondale
  5. 22Logan Square

Northwest Side

  1. 15Portage Park
  2. 16Irving Park
  3. 17Dunning
  4. 18Montclare
  5. 19Belmont Cragin
  6. 20Hermosa

Central

  1. 8Near North Side
  2. 32The Loop
  3. 33Near South Side

West Side

  1. 23Humboldt Park
  2. 24West Town
  3. 25Austin
  4. 26West Garfield Park
  5. 27East Garfield Park
  6. 28Near West Side
  7. 29North Lawndale
  8. 30South Lawndale
  9. 31Lower West Side

South Side

  1. 34Armour Square
  2. 35Douglas
  3. 36Oakland
  4. 37Fuller Park
  5. 38Grand Boulevard
  6. 39Kenwood
  7. 40Washington Park
  8. 41Hyde Park
  9. 42Woodlawn
  10. 43South Shore
  11. 60Bridgeport
  12. 69Greater Grand Crossing

Southwest Side

  1. 56Garfield Ridge
  2. 57Archer Heights
  3. 58Brighton Park
  4. 59McKinley Park
  5. 61New City
  6. 62West Elsdon
  7. 63Gage Park
  8. 64Clearing
  9. 65West Lawn
  10. 66Chicago Lawn
  11. 67West Englewood
  12. 68Englewood

Far Southeast Side

  1. 44Chatham
  2. 45Avalon Park
  3. 46South Chicago
  4. 47Burnside
  5. 48Calumet Heights
  6. 49Roseland
  7. 50Pullman
  8. 51South Deering
  9. 52East Side
  10. 53West Pullman
  11. 54Riverdale
  12. 55Hegewisch

Far Southwest Side

  1. 70Ashburn
  2. 71Auburn Gresham
  3. 72Beverly
  4. 73Washington Heights
  5. 74Mount Greenwood
  6. 75Morgan Park

Boundaries: City of Chicago Data Portal, community areas dataset. Simplified for display; not a legal or survey boundary.

Your ward and alderperson

Community areas and wards are different maps. Chicago's 77 community areas are fixed neighborhoods; its 50 wards are political districts, each represented by an alderperson on the City Council. Your alderperson's office is the first stop for zoning change requests, community meetings on new development, permit and building concerns, and ward services. Ward boundaries are redrawn after each census, so look yours up by address.

Suburban Cook County

Many suburbs set their own rules for a sale. Some, such as Evanston and Oak Park, charge a municipal transfer tax; others require a water certification, a zoning letter or a pre-sale inspection before transfer stamps are issued. Suburban Cook County rental property falls under the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance rather than the Chicago ordinance.

Communities served include Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, Wilmette, Park Ridge, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Orland Park and the surrounding suburbs. Requirements change, so each town's current rules are confirmed at the start of every transaction.

DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane and McHenry Counties

Collar-county closings follow the same Multi-Board contract and attorney review period, with county recording and local municipal requirements that differ from Chicago. Property taxes are still paid in arrears, so the tax proration at closing matters just as much.

Communities served include Naperville, Oak Brook, Downers Grove, Highland Park and neighboring towns. Many closings can be handled remotely through a mail-away arrangement.

Commercial and investment property

For mixed-use buildings, small apartment buildings and commercial space anywhere in Chicagoland, see commercial real estate. Zoning, existing leases and open building violations are reviewed during due diligence.

Questions clients ask

Do you represent buyers and sellers outside the City of Chicago?

Yes. Clients throughout Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane and McHenry counties are represented, and many closings can be completed remotely.

Do suburbs have their own transfer taxes?

Some do. Evanston and Oak Park are two examples. Others require inspections or certificates before a sale. The current local requirements are confirmed for each transaction.

It pays to have good counsel.

Talk through your purchase, sale or property question with Attorney Shara Kamal. Consultations by phone, video or in person.

Schedule a Consultation(312) 809-9766

Scheduling after hours? Call our 24-hour line: (872) 326-9600

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