Benefits of Investing in Industrial Real Estate Near O’Hare Airport

Industrial real estate investing is fundamentally about location, access, and efficiency. Few locations in the United States combine those elements as effectively as the area surrounding O’Hare International Airport.

For decades, the O’Hare submarket has served as one of the country’s most important logistics and distribution hubs. Today, industrial real estate near O’Hare continues to attract tenants and investors due to unmatched transportation connectivity, deep labor access, and limited supply of functional space.

Understanding why this area performs so consistently requires looking beyond airport passenger traffic and focusing on freight movement, supply chains, and operating efficiency.

O’Hare Is a National Logistics Hub, Not Just an Airport

O’Hare International Airport is one of the busiest air cargo airports in the United States. More importantly, it sits at the center of a dense multimodal transportation network that includes:

  • Immediate access to I-90, I-294, and I-290

  • Direct connectivity to national freight rail systems

  • Proximity to regional and national distribution corridors

This combination allows companies operating near O’Hare to reach a significant portion of the U.S. population within one to two days by truck. For many industrial tenants, that efficiency directly impacts costs, delivery reliability, and customer service.

Industrial real estate near O’Hare benefits from this infrastructure every day, regardless of broader market conditions.

Strong and Diverse Tenant Demand

The O’Hare industrial ring supports a wide range of tenants, including:

  • Logistics and distribution firms

  • Light manufacturers

  • Service and trade businesses

  • Food, packaging, and medical suppliers

This tenant diversity reduces reliance on any single industry. During economic shifts, demand may change in composition, but it rarely disappears.

Small and mid-sized industrial buildings near O’Hare are especially attractive to tenants that need proximity rather than scale. These tenants often value location over newer construction, which supports long-term occupancy.How Returns Are Generated

Returns in an industrial real estate syndication typically come from two sources: ongoing cash flow and long-term value growth.

Cash flow is generated from rental income after operating expenses are paid. Long-term value growth occurs as rents increase, properties stabilize, and equity builds through ownership and, when applicable, debt paydown. Over time, these components work together to support total returns.

Industrial cash flow tends to be relatively straightforward. Tenants pay rent, operating expenses are deducted, and the resulting net operating income is distributed to investors based on the partnership structure.

Because industrial buildings generally have fewer moving parts than other property types, cash flow can be easier to forecast and manage when assets are conservatively underwritten. This predictability is one reason many passive investors favor industrial assets for income-oriented strategies.

While annual rent increases may appear modest, their impact compounds over long holding periods. As rents escalate, net operating income grows, distributions increase, and the underlying value of the property rises.

This compounding effect is a key driver of long-term investor outcomes. It also reinforces the importance of patience, as meaningful value creation often occurs gradually rather than through rapid turnover.

Limited New Supply Creates Long-Term Value

Industrial tenants care deeply about reliability. A location that consistently saves time and reduces routing complexity can materially impact operating margins.

Properties near O’Hare offer:

  • Faster access to interstate highways

  • Fewer local-road bottlenecks

  • More predictable travel times for drivers and employees

These advantages translate into tenant stickiness. When a location works operationally, tenants are more likely to renew leases rather than incur relocation costs.

Tenant retention is one of the most underrated drivers of long-term investment success.

Labor Access Matters More Than Ever

The O’Hare area sits near dense residential populations across multiple suburbs and neighborhoods. That proximity supports labor access across a wide range of skill levels.

For industrial tenants, the ability to attract and retain workers is as important as transportation access. Locations that reduce commute times and expand labor pools tend to outperform over time.

Industrial real estate near O’Hare benefits from both workforce availability and transportation efficiency, a combination that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.

Infrastructure Investment Continues to Strengthen the Market

Ongoing infrastructure projects such as the I-490 and IL-390 expansions are further enhancing connectivity around O’Hare. These improvements reduce friction between industrial parks and the interstate system.

As infrastructure improves, the value of well-located industrial assets often increases without requiring changes to the buildings themselves. Investors benefit from public investment that strengthens private real estate fundamentals.

Why Investors Focus on This Submarket

For long-term investors, industrial real estate near O’Hare offers several compelling advantages:

  • Durable tenant demand

  • Strong transportation connectivity

  • Limited new supply

  • Long-term infrastructure investment

  • Operational relevance in national supply chains

These factors support consistent income and gradual value growth rather than speculative appreciation.

Start a Conversation With Our Team

If you are interested in learning more about investing in our industrial real estate syndication opportunities, we invite you to complete our investor inquiry form.

Once submitted, Joel, Eric, or a member of our team will reach out to discuss our current and upcoming investments, walk through our approach, and answer any questions you may have.

👉 Fill out the investor inquiry form to get started:
https://www.britproperties.com/contact-us

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