517-521 East 38th Street, Chicago
technical data · neighborhood and transit
Quick answers
- Does 517-521 East 38th Street have open permits or code violations?
- Chicago Department of Buildings lists 2 permits, all closed, and 0 violations.
- What is the 2026 conforming loan limit in Cook County?
- $832,750 for a single-unit home, per FHFA. Larger loans are jumbo loans.
- Is radon a problem here?
- EPA radon zone 2, moderate potential.
- What natural disasters is 517-521 East 38th Street at risk for?
- FEMA's National Risk Index rates the area relatively low overall, with elevated cold wave risk.
Permits and code violations
Every permit on file is closed out.
- Permit - new construction Mar 2009Complete
Oakwood shores development phase iib (building type j) erect (3) story, multi-family building. green permit program, chicago green homes project. certificate of occupancy required. prototype based on oakwood shores phase 2a permit #100213939.
- Permit - new construction Mar 2009Complete
Oakwood shores development phase iib (building type g) erect (3) story, multi-family building. green permit program, chicago green homes project. certificate of occupancy required. prototype based on oakwood shores phase 2a permit #100213935.
Chicago Department of Buildings
Safety and environment
FEMA natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Highest for this area: cold wave. These drive insurance cost here.
FEMA National Risk Index, census tract
Leaking fuel tanks
1 within 1,650 ft
Nearest: Chicago Housing Authority, 712-726 East Pershing Road (1,350 ft), open. 1 still open. Ask whether groundwater or soil vapor testing was done.
EPA UST Finder, leaking underground storage tank releases
Brownfield site
1,850 ft
Bronzeville. Former industrial land in EPA's cleanup and reuse program.
EPA ACRES Brownfields
Radon potential
Moderate
Average indoor levels of 2 to 4 pCi/L. EPA still suggests testing ground-floor and basement units.
EPA and USGS Geologic Radon Potential Map
Nearest public schools
1,600 ft
Univ of Chicago Chtr-Donoghue (1,600 ft), Phillips Academy High School (1,800 ft), Wells Preparatory Elem Academy (1,800 ft). Confirm the assigned school with the district.
U.S. Department of Education, NCES
Major airport
7.6 mi
Chicago Midway (MDW). Aircraft may be audible under approach paths.
FAA large-hub airports
Sinkhole-prone ground
Limestone karst
The bedrock here (dolostone (dolomite), Silurian) can dissolve and open sinkholes. Ask for a geotechnical report and check whether sinkhole coverage is in the insurance policy.
USGS Karst in the United States (OFR 2014-1156)
Conforming loan limit 2026
$832,750
Cook County. Mortgages up to this amount qualify for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pricing. Above it, the loan is a jumbo with stricter terms.
FHFA Conforming Loan Limit Values, one-unit
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Who lives and works in Chicago
Trading floors, logistics and the deepest architecture stock in America
Chicago carries a full corporate economy at a price the coasts do not match. Neighborhoods are distinct and walkable, two and three flats are everywhere, and the Loop still sets the commute for finance, law and consulting.
- $71,673
- median household income
- 18.9%
- residents aged 25 to 34
- 45%
- households that own their home
What pays the bills
- Finance and trading
- Logistics and rail
- Law and consulting
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
Who anchors the economy
CME Group · Boeing suppliers · University of Chicago · Northwestern Medicine · United Airlines
The market is shaped around
- Young professionals
- Families buying space
- Two and three flat owners
More on East 38th Street
All addressesViewing recommendations
What's worth checking in person before deciding.
- Test water pressure and temperature at the tap, in the bathroom and kitchen, for at least a minute.
- Semi-detached or row house: the shared wall matters. Listen from the room adjoining the neighbor's side and ask whether any structural work has been done there.
- This is a house, not an apartment. Check the lot boundaries, car access, and how water drains from the yard after rain, including whether the neighboring lot sits higher and could send water toward the property.
- Check the condition of the fence, yard, and sidewalk out front: who is responsible for upkeep, and whether there are any boundary disputes with neighbors.
- Check the roof, gutters, and downspouts for signs of leaks or recent repairs, especially if it has rained recently.
- Check exactly where you'd park: a spot in the yard or garage, or street parking, and how crowded the street gets in the evening.
- Ask what heating system is in place (own boiler, wood, gas) and request the last winter month's bills.
Neighborhood recommendations are derived from public OpenStreetMap data and may be incomplete. Checking in person is still what matters most.