Chicago is home to more than 2.4 million citizens, high rises and high-powered business, but it still feels like home. "I think it has a big-city attraction with a Midwestern friendly feel to it," says Katherine Chez Malkin, a broker with Baird & Warner.

She explains that the city's real estate market is faring well compared to its coastal counterparts. "Chicago never experienced the extreme highs or extreme lows as other cites, particularly the coasts," she proclaims.

City living affords residents with all the benefits that a metropolis has to offer, along with outdoor attractions, such as Lake Michigan. "The lakefront is the most livable lakefront in the United States," says Malkin, who has been a recognized industry leader in Chicago real estate for more than 20 years.

One of Malkin's properties takes full advantage of its surroundings. A penthouse in the 50-story Fordham building neighbors Michigan Avenue and its five-star dining. Plus, the residence is just a five-minute cab ride from theaters and Millennium Park, which hosts cultural activities every summer. Despite the residence's prime location, it lives like a single-family home in the sky with the amenities of a full-service building.

Outside, the full-floor penthouse boasts panoramic views of the city skyline and five outdoor terraces. Inside, three ensuite bedrooms include a massive master suite with its private, leather-paneled den. The luxurious privae areas join a chef's kitchen, a living room, a home theater, a mahogany-clad dining room and a family room. The building itself features 24-hour door staff, a pool, a cigar and humidor club, an exercise room and room service. The residence's $7.9-million asking price includes parking for six cars.