Lakeview, Chicago: A Buyer's Guide
Lakeview, officially the Lake View community area, sits on Chicago's North Side between Diversey Parkway and Irving Park Road, from Lake Michigan west to Ravenswood Avenue. It's one of the city's largest and most densely populated neighborhoods, and it includes several distinct areas, from the lakefront high-rises of East Lakeview to the blocks around Wrigley Field and the Southport Corridor. Buyers often find that the right part of Lakeview matters as much as the right home.
What types of homes are in Lakeview?
Lakeview's housing is mostly vintage. Courtyard buildings, two-flats, and three-flats converted to condos make up much of the inventory, along with greystones and frame houses on the side streets. East Lakeview, near the lake and Belmont Harbor, has mid-rise and high-rise condo buildings, including some co-ops. West of Clark Street, especially near Southport Avenue, you'll find more single-family homes, many renovated or newly built.
What's the Lakeview market doing right now?
Pricing differs between vintage condos, lakefront high-rises, and single-family homes, and between the neighborhood's sub-areas. For current numbers, see the weekly neighborhood market data, searchable by location and property type.
What is it like to live near Wrigley Field?
Living near Wrigley Field means planning around the baseball season and concerts. On night games, streets in the surrounding Zone 383 residential permit area become tow zones for cars without the right permit, and other event-day traffic and parking restrictions apply around the ballpark. Foot traffic and noise rise on game days, while the ballpark and the plaza next to it also host events in the off-season. If you're considering a home within a few blocks of the ballpark, visit on a game night before you buy.
How does parking work in Lakeview?
Most residential streets in Lakeview use permit parking, which you add to your annual City of Chicago vehicle sticker. New Chicago residents must buy a city sticker within 30 days of moving in. Many vintage condo buildings have no parking or only a few outdoor spaces, so a garage or deeded space adds real value here. When a property includes parking, confirm whether it's deeded, assigned by the association, or rented separately.
Are there restrictions on renovating a home in Lakeview?
On a few blocks, yes. Lakeview includes Chicago Landmark districts such as the Alta Vista Terrace District, a block of row houses near Wrigley Field, and the Hawthorne Place District near the lakefront. Wrigley Field itself is also a designated landmark. In a landmark district, exterior work beyond routine maintenance needs permit review by the Commission on Chicago Landmarks, so confirm a property's status before planning exterior changes.
How do you get from Lakeview to the Loop?
Most residents take the CTA. The Red Line stops at Belmont, Addison, and Sheridan, and the Brown Line stops at Belmont, Wellington, and Southport, with Purple Line Express trains adding weekday rush-hour service. Belmont is a major transfer point between lines. Buses run along the lakefront and Lake Shore Drive, which has exits at Belmont and Irving Park for drivers.
What are property taxes like in Lakeview?
Property taxes depend on each home's assessed value and the local tax rate, so budget from the actual bill for the specific property. As a benchmark, the Civic Federation estimated Chicago's effective residential tax rate at 1.69% of market value in tax year 2022. Bills for recently renovated or newly built homes can change significantly after reassessment. See our guide to property taxes and other costs when moving to Chicago.
What is there to do in Lakeview?
Lakeview borders the lakefront, with Belmont Harbor, the lakefront trail, and the northern end of Lincoln Park. Southport Avenue and Broadway are lined with shops and restaurants, Clark Street near Wrigley Field is the center of game-day activity, and the Music Box Theatre and Vic Theatre host films and live music.
Where can I research schools and public safety?
Chicago Public Schools assigns schools by address. Use the CPS School Locator to confirm the schools for a specific property. For public safety, the City of Chicago publishes crime data on its open data portal.
Every Pareto client works with the same process, strategy, and tools, whichever neighborhood they choose. More guides: Chicago Neighborhood Guides.