Chicagoland Industrial Investment Sales

Where to start

• Thinking about selling? The selling guide covers who buys buildings in this size range, how they underwrite, what to assemble, and how a sale runs.
• Buying for your business or as an investment? Pair the building checklist with the purchase-diligence guide; suitability and value are separate questions.
• Leasing space? Compare total occupancy cost on the same basis, not advertised rent.
• Researching a specific county? The nine-county hub links each county’s planning, zoning, parcel, and assessment offices.

Choosing the best industrial real estate broker in Chicagoland

Match a broker to your property type, size, location and sale goals. Ask any broker, including Pavlo Rospopa:

How do I find the best commercial real estate broker in Chicago?

Look for regular sales of your property type, size and county. Request recent comparable closings and buyer types, not career volume. Verify Illinois licensing with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

What makes the best broker for selling an industrial building?

• Industrial investment sales focus. Selling a building to an investor or owner-user is different work from leasing space.
• Buyer reach. Access to private investors, 1031 exchange buyers, and owner-users who buy buildings of your size.
• Pricing you can check. A recommended price supported by comparable sales, rent analysis, and the way buyers will underwrite the building.
• A written process. A marketing plan, confidentiality steps for tenants and employees, and regular reporting on activity and offers.

What should I ask a commercial real estate broker before signing a listing agreement?

• Which similar buildings have you sold in the last few years, at what prices, and to which kinds of buyers?
• How did you arrive at the recommended price, and what would change it?
• Who will market the property, and how will you protect confidentiality?
• What are the fee, term, and exclusions in the listing agreement?

Do I need an investment sales broker or a leasing broker?

An investment sales broker prices and markets leased or vacant buildings. A leasing or tenant-representation broker fills vacancies or finds business space. Vacant buildings may attract investors and owner-users; ask how the broker reaches both.

How does Pavlo Rospopa work with industrial owners?

At Marcus & Millichap, Pavlo Rospopa sells 10,000 to 100,000 square foot industrial investments in Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. The first confidential conversation covers your building, leases and timing. Prepare with the selling guide.

Guides

Pavlo Rospopa maintains these free owner, buyer and tenant guides. Browse all guides or search every section.

Industrial property

Industrial real estate FAQ: 100 questions

Direct answers to the most common questions about warehouses, leases, cap rates, selling, diligence, Illinois taxes and zoning, and the Chicago market.

Investor Q&A

What experienced industrial buyers ask about pricing, functionality, tenants, diligence, Illinois taxes, debt, and exit, answered without hype.

Selling an industrial property

Buyer types, underwriting, what drives value, the document checklist, pricing, and the sale process from preparation to closing.

Building types & specifications

Warehouse, light industrial, manufacturing, flex, cold storage, truck terminals, and IOS, plus what each specification means.

Industrial due diligence

Environmental and physical assessments, title and survey, zoning and permits, utilities, and turning findings into price or repairs.

Submarkets & logistics corridors

O’Hare, I-55, I-80/Joliet, I-88, I-90, North and South Cook, the city’s corridors, and the outer counties.

Nine Illinois counties

Authorities, assessors, and official sources for Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will.

Property taxes on industrial real estate

Assessment, equalization, levies, appeals, Cook County incentive classes, and how taxes enter underwriting and leases.

Evaluating industrial buildings

How to verify clear height, loading, truck court, slab, power, fire protection, access, and environmental history.

Transactions, research, and terms

Retirement planning with commercial real estate

Compare property income and retirement accounts, understand IRA and Solo 401(k) restrictions, and plan liquidity, taxes, a sale or exchange, and succession.

CRE taxes, passive exchanges and inheritance

Lazy 1031 and DST strategies, passive loss offsets, depreciation, cost segregation, recapture and federal and Illinois estate rules, with 35 retiree questions.

BESS: battery energy storage for industrial owners

How storage works, kW versus kWh, demand savings, solar, backup power, safety, Illinois approvals and land leases. Includes a storage installation photograph and 20 questions.

Investment & purchase diligence

Income, expenses, financing, downside cases, and the reviews before closing, with cap-rate and debt-service calculators.

Comparing commercial leases

Gross vs. net terms, total occupancy cost over the term, a lease-review checklist, and a credible move-in schedule.

Researching Chicago commercial property

How to verify jurisdiction, PINs, zoning, building records, and taxes before comparing a property with others.

Industrial & investment glossary

Plain-English definitions of building, lease, underwriting, and Illinois records terms, with a live filter.

Common questions

• What is industrial real estate?
• What is a triple-net (NNN) lease?
• What is a good cap rate for industrial property?
• How long does it take to sell an industrial property?
• What is the Cook County Class 6b incentive?
• Why is Chicago a major industrial and logistics hub?
• See all 100 questions
• Compare forum and industry voices with Pavlo's take
• Use the free commercial property DCF calculator

Official starting points

• City of Chicago zoning map and Department of Buildings: city zoning, permits, and inspections.
• Cook County Assessor and Cook County Treasurer: assessment and tax-bill research serve different purposes.
• Assessment offices for all nine counties, listed in the county hub.
• Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning: regional planning context, not property-specific verification.

Owner questions: income, costs and risk

Review operating statements, waste, capital budgets, taxes and insurance before leasing, refinancing or selling.