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.

Guides

Free, practical guides I maintain for owners, buyers, and tenants. See all eleven or search every section.

Industrial property

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, IOS—and 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

Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will—authorities, assessors, and official sources.

Property taxes on industrial real estate

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

Evaluating industrial buildings

Clear height, loading, truck court, slab, power, fire protection, access, and environmental history—what to verify and how.

Transactions, research, and terms

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

Jurisdiction, PINs, zoning, building records, and taxes—how to verify a property before comparing it with others.

Industrial & investment glossary

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

Library published October 2, 2026 · Expanded October 3, 2026.

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 — in the county hub.
• Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning — regional planning context, not property-specific verification.