Chicago Property Management Blog

I am super excited to report that GC Realty & Development, LLC has made the INC 5000 list for the 4th year in a row. Special thanks to all those that help us achieve so many great growth years including our clients, vendors, residents, collaborators, Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast family, and most of all, OUR EMPLOYEES. Thank you!Inc. released the Inc. 5000 2022 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies. ...

Do you own a rental property?If so, then you understand that dealing with the day-to-day operation of keeping everything running efficiently can be stressful. This is especially true when you have problems collecting rental payments from tenants.Keep in mind that you won't stay profitable if tenants don't pay when their rent is due. So what's the best way to handle this uncomfortable situation? This article can help. Here we...

When we begin working with new clients, they often ask if they should allow pets, or they tell us they don’t want to allow pets at their rental property in Chicagoland. We always advise our clients to keep an open mind. You have a large part of the population with at least one pet, and they’re looking for rentals that will accommodate them and their family. It’s becoming more common for homes to allow pets. Proper...

In recognition of the growing use of service and assistance animals, our Property Management Team is trained on the topic of service and assistance animal laws according to Federally regulated Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Guidelines. We are pleased to share a summary of what we learned with you so that landlords, tenants, and followers can stay informed about these important rules, especially as a growing number of ...

According to BankRate.com, real estate remains the most popular long-term investment. Roughly 28% of Americans claim that this is their preferred investment. Many property investors become landlords because it helps them pay off their investments. However, there are requirements for this. Landlords need tenants who will preserve the property's condition so it can accumulate value. This need raises a crucial question. How c...

Hi my name Mark Ainley from GC Realty and Development. I am an investor, but also founding partner of this property management company.I want to talk to you about a leasing.I hate having empty houses ever.There's so much stuff that you would obviously lose in your money. You're still paying expenses, and at the same time, there's risk. You know vacant house, get broken into pipes, break in vacant houses. So, we are big on tr...

We're not the right Property Management company for everyone.We have many inquiries about our property management services each day from people who want to learn more about them.As it turns out,  we aren't good fits for most - a large majority, in fact - of these inquiries. Even if you have the right property in the right location, we totally understand that we may not be the best fit for you. In reality, there...

In 2021, all-cash property purchases accounted for 30.4% of sales in the US. This is a 6-year high and shows there are many investors adding to their portfolios or starting them right now. If you're one of these new property investors, are you finding that it's taking up more of your time than you anticipated?Being a landlord can be a great way to generate a passive income, but the secret is professional property management.Let&...

The housing market crash that sent the world’s economy into the Great Recession in 2008 was partly caused by mortgage lenders who encouraged people to take out loans they couldn’t afford in order to purchase real estate they couldn’t realistically hope to afford. Now, it seems, the same thing is happening all over again. Is the housing market crash upon us? We’re going to look at some signs that suggest maybe it ...

You've saved and looked and now you own a great rental property to strengthen your financial portfolio. The house is clean, the appliances are in, and you're ready to start on the landscape. Before you spend thousands of dollars on a brand-new landscape, remember that landscaping for a rental property isn't the same as for your own home. Your tenants aren't the gardeners. It's okay to expect them to mow the lawn...