About this episode

Tommy Choi discusses the Chicago real estate market, migration trends, and the impact of technology on home buying.

Jeff Malec kicks off “Chicago Month” on The Derivative with Chicago real estate powerhouse Tommy Choi of Weinberg Choi. Tommy lays out what really makes Chicago compelling as a place to live and invest—world-class food, underrated beaches, iconic bungalows, and relative affordability, while tackling the tough stuff around crime headlines, taxes, and politics. He breaks down post-pandemic migration, why inventory is so tight, how boomers with 2–3% mortgages and “Bank of Mom and Dad” shape the market, and why millennials are choosing flexibility and crypto over owning. Jeff and Tommy hit on stubbornly high rates, surging rents, condo special assessments, aging buildings, the limits of Loop office-to-resi conversions, and how AI and blockchain might (and might not) change the game. They wrap with a very Chicago detour into best burgers, dive bars, Wrigley in summer, and a few local hacks for seeing the city like a native. If you care about real estate as an asset class, Chicago as a case study in big-city risk and reward, or just want some elite burger intel, this one’s for you. Chapters: 00:00-01:00=Intro 01:01–03:47 = Selling Chicago: Food, Beaches, Weather, Taxes, and Crime…

People in this episode

Host: Jeff Malec

Guest: Tommy Choi

Topics covered

• Chicago real estate
• housing market
• migration trends
• millennials
• investment strategies
• technology in real estate

Keywords

• Chicago real estate
• housing
• migration
• millennials
• investment
• AI
• blockchain
• rents
• condos

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Weinberg Choi

Places: Chicago, Loop

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