The 14 Best Property Management Companies in Chicago

Shore Properties Group stands out for owners whose properties need renovation as well as management. Founder Andy Andrade is a licensed general contractor in Chicago, so the same team can oversee improvement projects while managing leasing and operations. The company also offers luxury home management and seasonal oversight for second homes and vacant properties. It works from West Superior Street in River North and is a NARPM member. An owner planning a unit upgrade between tenants can coordinate both jobs through one contact.

Owners of a single condo or a small North Side building are well matched with Domain Property Management. Based on West Fullerton Avenue in Logan Square, it manages single-family homes, condos and multi-family properties in neighborhoods from Bucktown and Ukrainian Village to Rogers Park, Uptown and Evanston. Services include tenant placement, electronic rent collection with detailed financial reports and regular inspections, and it also offers condo property management. An owner renting out a former home can hand over every tenant call.

Landmark Property Management suits investors who own rentals both in the city and in the southwest suburbs. From its office on North Ashland Avenue, the firm manages properties in neighborhoods such as Lakeview, Lincoln Park and Bridgeport and in suburbs from Naperville to Frankfort and Joliet. Services cover marketing, tenant screening, rent collection, maintenance and move-in and move-out inspections, and it runs a dedicated program for physicians who invest in property. Owners comparing options can try its rent-versus-sell and ROI calculators first.

Marblestone Property Group concentrates on Chicago's South Side, which suits investors whose buildings are south of downtown. Serving owners since 2013 from an office on East 106th Street, the company handles leasing and screening, online rent collection, maintenance coordination, inspections and monthly reporting. Tenants are screened through Rent Butter and repairs are tracked in Property Meld. Its team follows the city landlord-tenant ordinance and Cook County rules closely. A free 30-minute consultation includes a look at the owner's current portfolio.

Keyrenter Chicago North appeals to landlords who dislike long contracts, since it offers month-to-month management agreements. The office on North Lincoln Avenue covers Far North Side neighborhoods such as Albany Park, Edgewater, Jefferson Park and North Park, plus suburbs including Evanston, Park Ridge and Glenview. Licensed leasing agents run showings, with video tours and remote self-showings available. If a competitively priced home is not leased within 30 days, the first month's management fee is waived. Owners keep flexibility without giving up leasing support.

Chicago Northside Realty fits owners who only need a tenant found, as well as those who want full management. Working from North Southport Avenue, it concentrates on Ravenswood, Albany Park, North Center, Lakeview, Lincoln Park and Lincoln Square. For leasing-only clients, the team takes photos, advertises the unit, screens applicants, runs background checks and prepares and signs the lease. Full management is available for single-family homes and multi-unit buildings. An owner with one apartment can choose placement alone.

Boards of older condo buildings are the audience Prairie Shores Management is built for. The company concentrates on vintage properties, has managed property for 54 years and treats each association as its own business, with steady board updates and accountability. Services include online account management, assessment collection, maintenance and administrative support. Residents can file maintenance, accounting and general requests through the website. For a board caring for an older building, attention to historic character is the main draw.

Hales Property Management suits condo boards that want smoother meetings and an easier day to day. The company was founded in 2003 to manage condominium associations, and that remains its core work from an office on West Chicago Avenue in West Town. Boards can request a proposal online, and residents use a dedicated login for payments and requests. Hales also runs a brokerage arm for owners selling or renting units. Boards weighing insurance costs can read case studies on its blog about lowering premiums.

High-rise and larger condo associations are the natural clients of First Community Management, which manages only community associations. In business since 1998, it serves condo buildings, HOAs, co-ops and single-family associations from an office on North Ogden Avenue. Services include financial management, project management, vendor certification, deed restriction enforcement and architectural control. Boards and homeowners get answers through a client portal. A large building planning a capital project gets a manager that offers project management as part of the service.

Owners of multi-family buildings are the core clients of Chicago Style Management. From its office on South Lituanica Avenue in Bridgeport, the company manages properties from Lincoln Park to the South Side, covering marketing, screening, rent collection, maintenance, accounting and evictions. Its team also produces The Housing Provider Show, a podcast for Chicago landlords. Owners get round-the-clock access to statements through an online portal. A small investor can learn the market and hand off daily operations to the same team.

Small and mid-size condo, townhome and HOA communities are the core of Chicago Property Services. The company has 25 years of hands-on experience and works from West Wrightwood Avenue in Logan Square, with pages for communities in Lincoln Park, Logan Square, the West Loop and Oak Park. Its focus is on board meetings, homeowner communication and financial oversight, supported by customized technology tools. Vendors register directly through the site. A small association gets a manager that works mainly with buildings of its size.

Paragon Property Management suits landlords who rent to Section 8 voucher holders. The company has more than a decade of experience with housing agency programs and their inspections, and it manages residential and multi-family properties only within the city of Chicago. Its base management fee starts at 7 percent of collected income, and in-house maintenance staff handle repairs. Guarantees cover rent collection, leasing and evictions, with an easy cancellation policy. Owners new to voucher programs get a manager that already knows the paperwork.

PRG Management suits owners who want flexibility, thanks to a 30-day cancellation guarantee. The company manages rentals for landlords, homeowner associations and commercial properties, and it also provides receivership and facilities management. Its team has worked for HOAs and for lenders and agencies such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and HUD. Residents and owners use AppFolio apps for payments, requests and financial reports. Based on North Milwaukee Avenue, it covers Chicago and the suburbs. An owner unhappy with the service can leave on short notice.

Forth Group suits associations that want only part of the service, since it offers financial-only HOA management alongside full management. Founded in the late 1980s and grown mainly through referrals, it manages condos, townhomes, HOAs and co-ops in the city and suburbs, and it provides services for developers handing over new associations. Homeowners use an online portal for payments and maintenance requests. The office on East Cullerton Street is on the Near South Side. A self-managed board can outsource the accounting and keep the rest in-house.