{"id":149050,"date":"2026-05-20T20:11:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/choosing-the-right-deal-in-chicago-with-taka-buranda\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T20:13:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T20:13:03","slug":"choosing-the-right-deal-in-chicago-with-taka-buranda","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/05\/20\/choosing-the-right-deal-in-chicago-with-taka-buranda\/","title":{"rendered":"Choosing the Right Deal in Chicago with Taka Buranda"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"post-content\" :class=\"{ 'hidden': $store.proContent.showFullPrompt() }\">\n                            <!-- Table of contents: mobile --><\/p>\n<section class=\"px-4 relative border border-slate-200 mobile-toc lg:hidden\" x-data=\"{open:false}\">\n                    <button x-on:click=\"open = !open\" class=\"flex items-center gap-4 my-2 border-none w-full\"><br \/>\n                        <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"h-6 w-6\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\"><path stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" d=\"M4 8h16M4 16h16\"\/><\/svg><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-semibold text-slate-800 text-base m-0 js-toc-ignore\">in this article<\/p>\n<p>                    <\/button><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Investor:<\/strong> Taka Buranda, 39, Chicago<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Agent:<\/strong> Dan Nelson,<\/span><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.compass.com\/agents\/dan-nelson\/\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Compass, Chicago<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&#8220;I was looking for a multi-family building for under $600,000 as my first investment in Chicago.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Taka Buranda got serious about real estate the same way many people do: His Chicago rent kept increasing, and one day he reached his limit. (We&#8217;ve all seen that day.) But there was something more beneath it. One big, strange question he couldn&#8217;t avoid: <\/span><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What&#8217;s the point of life if you spend all your time working?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Heavy. However, realistically.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cI always have real estate on the back of my mind,\u201d Taka says. \u201cAs I&#8217;ve stabilized my life over the last year or so, I&#8217;ve finally put myself in a position where I can start pursuing it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To them stability seemed like income <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">something different<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    guidance. full time job. Two small businesses. And he founded a financial literacy initiative for young people called<\/span><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"http:\/\/www.bagtalkacademy.com\/\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Bag Talk Academy<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    (<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">which is<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    By the way, a great name). With all this working in the background, he wanted to put it to work in the foreground, specifically on a multi-family property that could offset his living expenses and start building real wealth. Its budget: $500K to $600K.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Now here&#8217;s the part where almost everyone trips. Taka, like most first-timers, wanted the perfect property. Reconstructed. Turnkey. No work, no surprises, ready to go. Looking back he calls it his \u201cpipe dream.\u201d And then, at some point, he did the thing that very few people actually do: He gave up the daydream. He began looking for buildings that needed little work but had the potential for serious profit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">his agent,<\/span><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.compass.com\/agents\/dan-nelson\/\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    dan nelson<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Clocked it immediately.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cBuying investment property in Chicago is not easy,\u201d says Dan. &#8220;But the biggest thing that holds people back is their mindset. Taka has made some big changes in its approach to discovery.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Option 1<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.compass.com\/app\/listing\/5040-W-Patterson-Ave-Chicago-IL-60641\/2034294131419461449?product_path=quick_search\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Multi-Family with Potential in Portage Park\/Dunning<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This legal two-unit offers approximately 3,000 square feet with spacious rooms, flexible floor plans, and significant value-add potential. The three-car garage provided plenty of storage, and the property&#8217;s proximity to CTA bus routes and the Kennedy Expressway made commuting easy. The surrounding neighborhood also offered many local amenities, including restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Price: $499,900<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Option 2<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-187948\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2.webp\" alt=\"Image 2\" width=\"1497\" height=\"1000\" title=\"Inside the Search: Choosing the Right Deal in Chicago with Taka Buranda 3\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2.webp 1497w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2-1024x684.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-2-768x513.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1497px) 100vw, 1497px\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.compass.com\/app\/listing\/4614-N-Springfield-Ave-Chicago-IL-60625\/2033488467177005977?product_path=quick_search\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Turnkey Multi-Family at Albany Park<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Located on a quiet tree-lined street in Albany Park, this move-in-ready property offers the kind of situation that Taka once believed was out of reach. The legal two-unit also includes a convertible in-law unit, creating the potential for three income-generating spaces.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">a unit already had a tenant <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">in place<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Providing immediate rental income and helping to offset expenses from day one.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Price: $599,000<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Option 3<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-187947\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-3.webp\" alt=\"Image 3\" width=\"1344\" height=\"1008\" title=\"Inside the Search: Choosing the Right Deal in Chicago with Taka Buranda 4\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-3.webp 1344w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-3-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-3-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-3-768x576.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1344px) 100vw, 1344px\" fetchpriority=\"low\"\/><\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.zillow.com\/homedetails\/3348-N-Albany-Ave-Chicago-IL-60618\/441012694_zpid\/\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Fixer-Upper in Avondale<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This property was the cheapest of the three, but came with notable challenges, including structural issues and water damage. The 3,125-square-foot building will require significant renovations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Still, the multi-family layout, large yard, unfinished basement, and location in the increasingly popular Avondale neighborhood <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Meaning<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Property <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">offered plenty<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    long term <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Possibility<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    For the right investor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Price: $399,900<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Which would you choose? <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. Multi-Family with Potential in Portage Park\/Dunning<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. Turnkey Multi-Family at Albany Park<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. Fixer-Upper in Avondale<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">taka&#8217;s choice<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. Turnkey Multi-Family at Albany Park<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For Taka, finding this property almost seemed like fate.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cTo be honest, it felt like divine intervention,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Unlike many of the buildings he visited, it required minimal work. He can move into one unit while renting out the other, thereby generating immediate income while reducing his own living expenses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Dan was particularly excited about the building <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">three units<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    Possibility.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cI always encourage people to buy three units instead of two if they can,\u201d says Dan. &#8220;It&#8217;s really hard to cover the mortgage with just one rental unit. That extra unit makes a huge difference.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The existing tenant taking ownership of Taka also helped ease the financial transition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Taka and Dan initially offered <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">$35,000 below asking price<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And after negotiations and inspection, the deal was finally closed. <\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">$10,000 down <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">demanding for<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    With an additional $9,700 credit<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Even now, this experience still feels surreal to him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u201cI still can&#8217;t believe this is happening. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">it<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">    \u201cThis is probably the biggest achievement of my life so far,\u201d says Taka. Teaching financial literacy has made me more intentional about my financial decisions. When you&#8217;re encouraging students to think about ownership and wealth building, you realize you have to practice what you preach.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Did you know that BiggerPockets Pro membership comes with over $5,000 in potential annual savings through Pro Perks, including discounts on property management, banking, renovation supplies and investor loans and insurance. <\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Become a Pro Today!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>in this article Investor: Taka Buranda, 39, Chicago Agent: Dan Nelson, Compass, Chicago &#8220;I was looking for a multi-family building for under $600,000 as my first investment in Chicago.&#8221; Taka Buranda got serious about real estate the same way many people do: His Chicago rent kept increasing, and one day he reached his limit. (We&#8217;ve<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":149051,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[32395,139,18496,1570,32394],"class_list":["post-149050","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-meditation","tag-buranda","tag-chicago","tag-choosing","tag-deal","tag-taka"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149050","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=149050"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149050\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":149052,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149050\/revisions\/149052"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/149051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=149050"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=149050"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=149050"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}