As we get closer to summer, Chicago lakefront condos become a hot commodity for beach-loving house hunters. These residential high-rises line the lakefront parks and public recreation spots that stretch from south to north along more than 20 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline.

Any day now the weather in Chicago should be getting warmer (hopefully!). The beaches officially open in two weeks for Memorial Day Weekend. That’s when swimming, water sports, beach volleyball and other fun-in-the-sun activities launch into full swing. From sandcastle-building and splashing in the shallows to Jetskiing over waves and sailing the deep blue, the Chicago lakefront transforms into a wildly popular hangout for visiting tourists and local residents alike.

In view of the season, Chicago condos that are situated on the lakefront become prime properties for those who want to be close to all the action. However, due to city planning laws, Chicago lakefront condos are not actually on the lake (for the most part). The majority of the city’s "coast" is designated for public parkland so residential development is pushed back from the water’s edge—allowing for plenty of scenic green space and community enjoyment of beautiful Lake Michigan.

That said, there is a wide variety of Chicago real estate that affords residents the luxury of walking out their door and across the street to the beach. These include vintage condo conversions, new construction high-rises, and buildings with rental apartments. Because they offer unobstructed views of the lake, units with east-facing windows on floors above the tree line are the most desirable properties. In neighborhoods such as the Gold Coast, those premier addresses have belonged to some of the city’s most famous homeowners (e.g. Oprah Winfrey). But you don’t have to be a celebrity to get great views of the lake from your living room.

There is a section of the city on the far North Side where buildings were constructed right on the sandy stretches of shoreline that meet the clear blue waves. Much like you’d see in an oceanfront resort town, the high-rise condominiums of Edgewater offer a rare privilege in Chicago—living right on the beach. This less common real estate is located where Lake Shore Drive and the Lakefront Bike Trail drop off. Many of the buildings have outdoor pools, giving these lakefront Chicago condos an even more vacation-like feel.