Sell your house fast in North Lawndale
Greystone two-flats in the K-Town blocks, brick three-flats near Ogden Avenue and houses along Douglas and Independence boulevards: we buy North Lawndale property in any condition for cash, and you pick the closing date.
- Cash offer within 24 hours
- No repairs, fees or commissions
- We pay normal closing costs
Your North Lawndale cash offer
No obligation. We never sell your info. Prefer to talk? Call or text (773) 825-9855.
Selling a house in North Lawndale
North Lawndale is community area 29 on the West Side, about five miles from the Loop. It runs west to the town line with Cicero, and its northern edge sits a couple of blocks south of the Eisenhower Expressway, while rail lines form its southern and eastern edges. Little Village (South Lawndale) is to the south, and the Garfield Park areas are to the north. The 2020 Census counted about 34,800 residents.
Douglass Park, 173 acres at 1401 S. Sacramento Drive, is the area’s largest green space. William Le Baron Jenney planned it in 1871 for the West Park System, and Jens Jensen later added the formal garden and Flower Hall near Ogden Avenue. Douglas Boulevard runs west from the park to Independence Square, where Independence Boulevard turns north toward Garfield Park. Ogden Avenue follows the old Southwest Plank Road from 1848, and Roosevelt Road is a long commercial corridor. The Pink Line stops at Kedzie, Central Park, Pulaski and Kostner, and the Blue Line runs along the Eisenhower to the north.
Chicago annexed the eastern part in 1869 and the rest in 1889. After the 1871 fire, builders put up fireproof brick buildings here, and the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy rail line brought more growth. Sears, Roebuck and Co. opened its headquarters and catalog complex in 1906. That complex is now Homan Square, and its tower reopened in 2015 as the Nichols Tower. North Lawndale is known for having the city’s largest concentration of greystones. The K-Town Historic District, between Cullerton, Pulaski, Cermak and Kostner, was listed on the National Register in 2010 for its buildings from 1901 to 1931.
Regional planning data shows about 61 percent of homes are in two- to four-unit buildings and over half were built before 1940. That means greystone and brick two-flats and three-flats on most blocks, with some single-family houses and larger apartment buildings. A rehabbed greystone can bring a good price through an agent. Selling to us fits better when the building is vacant, has tenants, carries a water balance or liens, or needs masonry and mechanical work you don’t want to fund.
What to expect
The first step is a phone call or the form. We set one time to see the building and send a written cash offer within 24 hours, with the repair numbers we used. Once you accept, a local title company runs the closing and pays any liens or utility balance from the proceeds. You choose the date, as soon as 2–3 weeks out, and we cover the normal closing costs.
Chicago steps for a North Lawndale closing
- Transfer tax. The city collects $3.75 per $500 (normally from the buyer) and $1.50 per $500 for the CTA (normally from the seller). The state adds $0.50 and the county $0.25 per $500. Sell to us and we pay all of these.
- Water balance. The city requires a Full Payment Certificate showing the water and sewer account is paid before it releases transfer stamps. Older balances, penalties and fees are paid from the sale at closing.
- Zoning certificate. Needed for the sale of a residential building with five or fewer units, which covers most greystone flats here. Your title company or attorney applies for it.
- Vacant building registration. A building with no lawful occupants must be registered with the Department of Buildings within 30 days of becoming vacant. After a sale, the seller has 20 days to deregister.
- Taxes and probate. Cook County taxes are paid a year behind, so the buyer gets a credit at closing. Estates are handled in probate at the Daley Center.
The title company confirms exactly what your property needs before closing.
Selling in North Lawndale: compare your options
| Sell to us | List with an agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs/updates | No repairs needed | Lenders often require them |
| Showings | One visit | Repeated showings and open houses |
| Commission | None | Usually a percentage of the price |
| Closing costs | We pay them | Seller pays |
| Timing | As soon as 2–3 weeks | Often several months |
| Certainty | Cash, no appraisal gap | Appraisal can come in low |
| Price | Below retail, priced for condition | Top price for rehabbed buildings |
| Water bill balance | Paid from proceeds at closing | Also paid at closing, but can delay listing |
Most North Lawndale buildings are greystone or brick flats built before 1940. A fully rehabbed greystone is a good candidate for listing. A building that is vacant, has a large water balance or needs masonry, roof and boiler work is where our offer usually fits.
Selling a North Lawndale greystone
Greystones are brick buildings with a limestone front, built across Chicago from about 1890 to 1940. North Lawndale has more of them than any other part of the city, many of them two- and three-flats with bay fronts and cornices.
Limestone fronts last a long time, but they need care. Common issues include cracked or spalled stone, failing mortar joints, loose cornices, rear porches past their life and original boilers. Restoring a front properly takes a mason who knows the material, and costs can add up quickly. If you would rather not take that on, we buy greystones as they are. We look at the stone, the roof and the systems, explain how each affects our number, and you choose when to close.
Three steps. You pick the closing date.
- Tell us about the house
Fill out the form or call (773) 825-9855. A few quick questions, no pressure.
- Get a fair cash offer in 24 hours
We look at the house with you and show you how we got the number. No obligation.
- Close on your date
As soon as 2–3 weeks, or take more time. We close at a local title company and pay your closing costs.
Common reasons North Lawndale owners sell
Nearby areas we buy
North Lawndale FAQ
Do you buy greystones in the K-Town Historic District?
Yes. We buy greystone flats and houses in K-Town and across North Lawndale, in any condition.
My building has a large unpaid water bill. Can I still sell?
Yes. The balance has to be cleared before the city issues transfer stamps, and it is paid out of the sale at closing.
Do you buy buildings that are vacant or boarded up?
Yes. Vacant buildings are fine. You should register a vacant building with the city, and deregister within 20 days after closing.
Who pays Chicago’s transfer tax if I sell to you?
We pay it, including the CTA portion that normally falls on the seller, plus the state and county taxes.
Can I sell a North Lawndale property that has liens on it?
Usually yes. The title company pays liens from the proceeds at closing, as long as the sale price covers them.
How fast can you close on a building near Douglass Park?
Typically in 2–3 weeks once title is clear, or on a later date that you pick.