2nd City Developers Short Term Real Estate Investments
Chicago residential investment

Hire a seasoned
operator.
Or invest
with one.

Find the value. Do the work. See it through.
Acquisition experience, rehab management and a clear plan for the property.

Completed rear exterior and deck at 1550 Highridge Parkway 1550 Highridge Pkwy / completed / sold 2023
20+ yearsIn residential real estate
1,000+ residential unitsAcquisition and rehab experience
behind 2nd City Developers
Chicago focusedResidential property expertise
01 / Ways to work together

Your property. Or a property-specific investment.

Start with the role you want us to play. The scope, fees and responsibilities are set out before you commit.

Hire our team

Acquire and improve
a property you own.

We lead acquisition diligence, plan the renovation and manage the work through rent-ready delivery. Licensed contractors perform the construction. Your property manager handles leasing and ongoing operations.

Acquisition & Delivery
Acquisition services start at $20,000 per property.
Rehab management: 20% of the construction budget.
Hire Our Team
Invest with us

Evaluate a defined
property opportunity.

Review the property, budget, operator responsibilities, risks and exit plan. Choose a structure that fits the opportunity and your role.

Auction capital · Joint ventures · Property-specific lending
Eligibility, compensation, decision rights and investor protections are established in separate written documents.
Invest With Our Team

Explore our investment options, with guidance for medical professionals and international investors.

Auction capital

Disciplined underwriting for Chicago auction opportunities.

We identify residential properties with a defined acquisition thesis and exit strategy. Qualified investors receive the available property information, underwriting assumptions, identified risks and proposed transaction structure before deciding whether to participate.

Compensation, decision rights and exit provisions are established in the property specific offering documents.

Participation is limited to verified accredited investors.

Property specific Evaluation before participation
Defined period Terms established in separate written documents
Who qualifies as an accredited investor?

Under current SEC standards, an individual generally qualifies by having net worth over $1 million, excluding a primary residence, individually or with a spouse or partner; or income over $200,000 individually, or $300,000 with a spouse or partner, in each of the prior two years with a reasonable expectation of the same income in the current year.

Certain holders in good standing of Series 7, Series 65, or Series 82 licenses may also qualify. Eligibility is verified before participation. Review the SEC criteria ↗

Short Term Dispositions ↗

Joint venture

A property-level partnership, start to finish.

The capital partner funds the approved property costs. We contribute the sourcing, underwriting, construction direction, project communication and disposition work required to execute the plan.

Each property has its own written agreement defining ownership, responsibilities, project costs, decision rights and distributions.

Explore documented projects ↗
Written terms Invested capital is returned according to the property agreement before remaining net proceeds are distributed between the parties.
Acquisition & delivery

A value-add rental, delivered ready to rent.

For investors who want a value-add rental building sourced through off-market channels, acquired and renovated for them. We lead acquisition diligence, define the renovation plan, and manage the work through rent-ready delivery. Licensed contractors perform the construction. Your property manager handles leasing and ongoing operations.

Starting at$20,000Per property acquisition
20%Of the construction budget for rehab management
Property specific lending

Lend against a specific Chicago investment property.

Qualified lenders may evaluate business purpose loans secured by an identified non owner occupied investment property. The lender reviews the proposed acquisition, project budget, collateral, leverage and intended repayment strategy before making a decision.

Loan amount, interest rate, term, payment schedule and lender protections are established for each property.

Discuss lending opportunities ↗
First lienRecorded mortgage and lender's title policy
Direct reviewProperty specific underwriting and attorney prepared documents

This website describes the experience and capabilities of 2nd City Developers. It is not an offer to sell securities or a solicitation to purchase an investment. Opportunities, when available, are presented through separate property specific documents to eligible participants. Real estate involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past property results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Investor diligence

See how the evidence and risks are evaluated.

Review the classification of project figures, the property level risk framework and the path to focused diligence before a commitment. Explore our investor insights for practical questions to consider before choosing a property or operator.

Review the diligence process
Completed Highridge sunroom with wraparound windows and green feature wall
1550 Highridge Pkwy / completed / sold 2023
Completed Highridge kitchen and living area with green feature wall
1550 Highridge Pkwy / completed / sold 2023
Principal, 2nd City Developers

Mike Baker.

I began working in real estate in 2005 and founded 2nd City Developers in 2014. I learned the business from the ground up, handling direct-mail campaigns down to stamping envelopes while learning to find opportunities, negotiate with owners, and close off-market deals. I built my own wholesaling business and grew it into a development operation, acquiring and renovating houses and apartment buildings.

Our experience includes acquisition and rehab work across more than 1,000 residential units and building teams in Florida and Georgia. Today, our focus is Chicago. Since February 2025, 2nd City Developers has managed rehabs using licensed contractors, following years of running construction directly.

20+ years In residential real estate
1,000+ residential units Acquisition and rehab experience behind 2nd City Developers
Established 20142nd City Developers
Client perspectives

What people say.

View documented Chicago projects

After several deals over five years, Mike kept his word, lent a hand, and put others first.

Tom Shallcross Recommended À LA CARTE REI on Facebook · 2022 Read more ↓ Close ↑

Tom worked with Mike on multiple deals over roughly five years. He describes Mike as dependable, willing to lend a hand, and someone who puts other people’s needs ahead of his own.

Read Tom’s original review on Facebook ↗

Mike helped me purchase and rehab a three-unit property through unexpected setbacks. His transparency and problem solving gave me confidence throughout.

Carolina Da Valle Selva Recommended À LA CARTE REI on Facebook · 2022 Read more ↓ Close ↑

Carolina came into real estate with little experience and understandable doubts about whom to trust. Mike’s openness helped her gain confidence in him and in her own decisions. Their three-unit purchase and renovation brought a series of unexpected problems, including a fire. She says Mike found solutions at every turn and helped calm her anxiety through the process. She looked forward to working with him again and also praised his writing about real estate.

Read Carolina’s original review on Facebook ↗

Mike’s deal analysis helped clarify the numbers for a newer real estate investor.

Tongcheng Li Recommended 2nd City Developers on Facebook · 2020 Read more ↓ Close ↑

As someone new to construction and real estate, Tongcheng valued Mike’s detailed analysis of the numbers for individual investment opportunities. The review calls that specific, careful work especially helpful.

Read Tongcheng’s original review on Facebook ↗

Professional to work with and followed through on what was promised.

Chuck Falco Recommended 2nd City Developers on Facebook · 2015 Read more ↓ Close ↑

Chuck recommends Mike and his crew as professional people to do business with. He says they delivered the work as promised and gives them a strong recommendation.

Read Chuck’s original review on Facebook ↗

Knowledgeable, helpful consulting that felt well worth the price.

Ben Sussman Recommended À LA CARTE REI on Facebook · 2023 Read more ↓ Close ↑

Ben strongly recommends À LA CARTE REI. He describes Mike as exceptionally knowledgeable and helpful, and says the value of the guidance was well worth what he paid.

Read Ben’s original review on Facebook ↗

Strong project management and property sourcing for fix and flip or rental investments.

Michael Kevorkian Recommended À LA CARTE REI on Facebook · 2022 Read more ↓ Close ↑

Michael recommends Mike’s project management and ability to find properties. He says Mike can help investors who want to be closely involved or prefer a more hands-off experience, whether they are pursuing a flip or a rental.

Read Michael’s original review on Facebook ↗

Review highlights and expanded summaries are paraphrased. Read the original recommendations on 2nd City Developers and À LA CARTE REI.

Google Google Business Profile 2nd City Developers Read reviews ↗ Better Business Bureau BBB Business Profile 2nd City Developers, LLC · View rating ↗ A+

BBB rating shown on the linked business profile. 2nd City Developers, LLC is not BBB Accredited.

A direct conversation

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