Chicago 3-Unit Comparison: Woodlawn New Construction vs Pilsen Rehab

Chicago 3-Unit Comparison: Woodlawn New Construction vs Pilsen Rehab

Member since 2025 · 18 posts · 17 votes

Hey everyone,

I’m comparing two 3-unit properties in Chicago and could use some insight from local investors.

Option 1 – South Side (near Woodlawn area):

  • Priced around $830K

  • Modern finishes, newer construction style

  • Current rents around $2,195, $2,000, and $2,000

  • The area has a lot of new developments and new 3-flats going up

My concern: with so many new buildings being added, there’s likely going to be more rental competition, and property taxes may jump once reassessments catch up to all the new construction.

Option 2 – Pilsen area:

  • Priced around $735K

  • Also modern updates but smaller units (two 2-beds and one 3-bed)

  • Taxes are currently low, but likely because the property hasn’t been reassessed since the recent renovations

  • The area feels more established, with strong tenant demand and character

So I’m weighing the growth potential and higher risk in the newer South Side market versus the more stable rents and potentially upcoming tax adjustments in Pilsen.

Would you lean toward the newer-construction area with possible tax jumps but longer-term appreciation upside, or the lower-tax, established neighborhood that might get hit with reassessment later?

Would love to hear how others are thinking about these trade-offs — especially from anyone holding newer 3-units in Woodlawn or rehabbed ones in Pilsen.

Thanks in advance!

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Aaron ZimmermanBusiness Member
Accountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
11mo
Personally - I’d probably take Pilsen. Close to downtown, great neighborhood, established. The appreciation might be less but you should have fewer issues
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  • Tj FlorosPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Chicago · Member since 2025 · 95 posts · 74 votes
    11mo

    I would personally go with Pilsen, south side can be very block by block. Property taxes wont jump because of a rehab, but rather the purchase price and other properties in the area. If it's assessed at 250k and you buy it for 700k odds are the property taxes will go up to or near the purchase price. You'll probably see the taxes jump more in Pilsen than Woodlawn. 

    • Member since 2025 · 18 posts · 17 votes
      11mo
      Quote from @Tj Floros:

      I would personally go with Pilsen, south side can be very block by block. Property taxes wont jump because of a rehab, but rather the purchase price and other properties in the area. If it's assessed at 250k and you buy it for 700k odds are the property taxes will go up to or near the purchase price. You'll probably see the taxes jump more in Pilsen than Woodlawn. 


       Thank you! So this is very close to CTA and the main road. It is a good block.

  • Aaron ZimmermanBusiness Member
    Accountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11mo

    What are the rents on the pilsen property? In general, Pilsen has small units.

  • Member since 2025 · 18 posts · 17 votes
    11mo

    Pilsen rents are $2100, $1300 way below market rent and $2000.

  • Denise SuppleeBusiness Member
    Realtor · Willow Grove, PA · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 663 votes
    11mo

    If you’re optimizing for growth and can stomach some short-term uncertainty, Woodlawn might win. If you prefer stability, consistent rent rolls, and fewer moving parts, Pilsen’s the safer long-term hold.

    Pilsen, is a steadier play in my opinion. Demand is strong, vacancy is low, and it has that established neighborhood stickiness that tends to hold value even during slower markets. The reassessment risk is real, but probably more predictable than in a rapidly developing area, like Woodlawn.  

    Either way, it comes down to your portfolio balance growth vs. cash flow stability.

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  • Aaron ZimmermanBusiness Member
    Accountant · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11mo
    Personally - I’d probably take Pilsen. Close to downtown, great neighborhood, established. The appreciation might be less but you should have fewer issues
  • Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    11mo

    @Anne Connor

    We would need to know the numbers and other details for a practical comparison. 

    What's the projected cash flow and cash on cash return? 

    For the Pilsen property, what's the age of the roof, mechanicals, plumbing, electrical, windows, etc? 

    Do you prefer a turnkey property or something that could use some improvements?

    Based on the information you gave, I'd probably prefer the Pilsen property.

  • Real Estate Agent · Chicago · Member since 2021 · 178 posts · 64 votes
    11mo

    Anne, great breakdown. Here’s how I’d think about it as someone who owns multiple multis across Chicago and watches taxes/neighborhood cycles pretty closely:

    Woodlawn (Option 1):
    You’re absolutely right about competition. There’s a ton of new construction 3-flats hitting the market, and when supply jumps that quickly, rents flatten because tenants have options. Taxes also tend to spike hard on newer buildings once the assessor catches up, especially in areas with rapid development. The upside is appreciation: Woodlawn has been transforming and long term you’ll likely see stronger value growth. But the hold period needs to be long and you need to underwrite higher taxes and slower rent growth early on.

    Pilsen (Option 2):
    More stable demand, more character, and—importantly—less supply risk. Even with a reassessment, you’re usually dealing with a one-time jump vs. perpetual new-construction tax resets every few years. Pilsen tenants also tend to renew longer, and vacancy is lower. The trade-off is that appreciation is more linear; it's not the same rocket ship upside Woodlawn has, but the cash flow stability tends to be better.

    How I’d personally evaluate it:

    • If I want cash flow + stability, I’d lean Pilsen.

    • If I want long-term appreciation + can stomach tax volatility, Woodlawn.

    • Run both pro formas with the future tax number, not what's listed. For Woodlawn I’d assume $14–18K taxes. For a renovated Pilsen 3-flat, somewhere $10–13K.

    • Also check rent comps for new construction Woodlawn: if more buildings deliver, you may be competing through concessions or slower lease-ups.

    If it were me and I wanted a smoother first few years, I’d choose Pilsen unless the Woodlawn building is truly special or priced with enough cushion.

    Happy to run the numbers with you if you want to stress-test both deals, Chicago is all about underwriting the next tax bill, not the current one.

  • Jonathan KlemmBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Contractor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    11mo

    First, off you've got tons of great advice above!

    My personally....I like Woodlawn more than Pilsen @Anne Connor!  I am not sure either Chicago neighborhood is better than the other...

    I just think that the longer-term upside is higher and will happen with a bit more vertical line-up in appreciation.  

    Also, Pilsen is notorious for being lower in elevation, and sometimes some of those basement units have water issues....so double check to make sure the building is water-tight.

  • Eudith VacioPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Chicago & NWI · Member since 2015 · 860 posts · 521 votes
    11mo

    Hey @Anne Connor

    Yikes, thats a hard one! 😮‍💨


    Woodlawn and Pilsen are strong rental markets — so the real deciding factor is going to be your numbers and your strategy.

    One thing to consider is that with newer construction, you’ll typically see lower insurance costs, fewer maintenance issues, and far fewer future headaches. On the flipside, a fully rehabbed building in a high-demand area like Pilsen can offer strong appreciation and solid rents.. Are you planning to run it as long-term rentals or are you considering Airbnb/short-term?

  • Member since 2025 · 18 posts · 17 votes
    11mo

    Thank you! I am considering for long term rentals. 

  • Eudith VacioPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Chicago & NWI · Member since 2015 · 860 posts · 521 votes
    11mo

    Got it! @Anne Connor, honestly I would almost take a newer build over an older home, but then Pilsen's location is better. Thats a hard decision! 

    Let us know what you end up doing! 

  • Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    10mo

    Pilsen 100% 

  • Mayo GilfurtPro Member
    Real Estate Consultant · Connecticut Ct · Member since 2026 · 163 posts · 35 votes
    8mo

    Anne — solid comparison. One way I'd frame it is durability of NOI vs upside narrative.

    In Cook County, I assume taxes will go up on both — the real question is which asset can absorb that increase without compressing DSCR or forcing rent assumptions.

    Newer construction in emerging areas can look great on paper, but added supply and reassessment often hit around the same time. If rent growth stalls, the margin for error gets thin.

    Established neighborhoods like Pilsen tend to offer a deeper renter pool and more stable leasing during softer cycles, even if taxes eventually reset higher.

    If this is a long-term hold, I usually lean toward the asset with proven rent durability over speculative appreciation — especially in Chicago’s tax environment.

  • Jonathan KlemmBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Contractor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8mo

    Wow great post @Anne Connor!  Sounds like you have two great Chicago opportunities!

    I think it boils down to your particular situation.  If you are in a position to wait on the appreciation, I personally like Woodlawn over Pilsen, but that's just my personal preference.  I think that the Woodlawn area is just going to continue on the up and up and be an extension of the Kenwood / Hydepark area.

    I am still a Pilsen fan, but I have also noticed that some of the construction on the buildings is not quite the same quality.  Are both buildings brick or wood-framed?  

  • Josh ReighardBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Des Moines IA/Chicago, IL · Member since 2017 · 34 posts · 22 votes
    8mo
    Quote from @Anne Connor:

    Hey everyone,

    I’m comparing two 3-unit properties in Chicago and could use some insight from local investors.

    Option 1 – South Side (near Woodlawn area):

    • Priced around $830K

    • Modern finishes, newer construction style

    • Current rents around $2,195, $2,000, and $2,000

    • The area has a lot of new developments and new 3-flats going up

    My concern: with so many new buildings being added, there’s likely going to be more rental competition, and property taxes may jump once reassessments catch up to all the new construction.

    Option 2 – Pilsen area:

    • Priced around $735K

    • Also modern updates but smaller units (two 2-beds and one 3-bed)

    • Taxes are currently low, but likely because the property hasn’t been reassessed since the recent renovations

    • The area feels more established, with strong tenant demand and character

    So I’m weighing the growth potential and higher risk in the newer South Side market versus the more stable rents and potentially upcoming tax adjustments in Pilsen.

    Would you lean toward the newer-construction area with possible tax jumps but longer-term appreciation upside, or the lower-tax, established neighborhood that might get hit with reassessment later?

    Would love to hear how others are thinking about these trade-offs — especially from anyone holding newer 3-units in Woodlawn or rehabbed ones in Pilsen.

    Thanks in advance!


     Hi Anne, 

    Some great info in this thread. I specialize in Pilsen. Was one of the first to jump in around 11 years ago building a single family home near Thalia Hall. I had a lot of push back from friends and family when I made the move. It paid off tremendously. I run a team and am still based out of Pilsen. If you ever want to pick my brain about the neighborhood feel free to DM me. I have sold quite a few 2-4 units in the neighborhood and have helped clients with different strategies including short and mid term rentals, etc. 

    I also have some experience in Woodlawn. Some exciting development down there. I see some solid long term potential there with short term pains. 

    Congrats either way! 

    Josh


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