Chicago lakefront condos offer a perfect way to beat the summer heat. Step out onto your balcony and enjoy that refreshing breeze off Lake Michigan, or throw on a swimsuit and head down to the water whenever you please… not to mention, many of those high-rise condos along Lake Shore Drive have pools where residents can take a dip and do a few laps. The rooftop swimming pools are especially nice in hot weather because you can be outside and bask in the sunshine, then jump in the water to cool off whenever the mercury levels rise.

A number of Chicago’s lakefront condo buildings are equipped with outdoor areas that range from landscaped terraces to designated doggy runs. Some condos invite residents to grill up steaks (or veggie burgers) on the barbeque and dine al fresco while taking in a view of Lake Michigan’s endless blue horizon. There aren’t many places in the world where you can take an after-meal stroll along 18 miles of unobstructed freshwater shoreline… but lucky for us, Chicago’s lakefront real estate affords that type of luxury to condo owners from the South Shore to Edgewater.

Proximity to Lake Michigan is a huge selling point for residential real estate in Chicago. For the most part, the closer you are to the lakefront the more valuable the property. Of course, not many condo buildings are technically "on the water" due to a city initiative that preserves the land for public parkland and open access to Lake Michigan. Minus a few high-rises north of where Lake Shore Drive ends, most condominiums were built west of The Drive. Still, there are plenty of housing options in Chicago that put you within a couple minutes’ walk of Lake Michigan.

The condo buildings in downtown are among the most notable. There is a relatively new development in Chicago’s New East Side neighborhood that boasts thousands of lakefront condo units. Many of these state-of-the-art skyscrapers offer amazing views, full-service amenities and a location that can’t be beat. It goes without saying the higher the floor the more spectacular the view. And those upper-floor condo units with east-facing exposures take the cake for best vistas in Chicago because it’s pristine aquamarine as far as the eye can see.

Residents of New East Side can expect to find things like exercise facilities, business centers, 24-hour doormen, valet parking, dry cleaners and common party rooms in their buildings. The high-rises surround a large park area with walkways that connect to both the Chicago Riverwalk and the Lakefront Trail. So, when the mood strikes, these Chicago condo owners have their choice of waterfronts to enjoy.

No matter what the new-fangled developments promise, there is one lakefront condo in Chicago that (literally) stands out from the rest—Lake Point Tower. It is the sleek, black building that looks like a three-leaf clover and stands alone to the east of Lake Shore Drive. This 70-story condominium is the only residential structure on the lake side of The Drive. With two pools, a rooftop restaurant, a private wooded park and incredible panoramic views, it may be just the place for anyone in search of that perfect summertime condo in Chicago.