Chicagoans have always known their city has a skyline that is “tops,” and now the rest of the country agrees. CNN Headline News and Travel & Leisure Magazine recently ranked Chicago as the number one skyline vista in the U.S. And while many Chicago residences provide great views, three new communities in particular give residents some of the best panoramas the city has to offer.

Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago

The scene from this new residential tower is tough to beat. Upon completion, Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago will be the world’s highest reinforced concrete building, standing 1,362 feet tall. Located on the Chicago River between Michigan and Wabash avenues, the 92-story Trump Tower (www.TrumpChicagoHotel.com) includes 486 residential condominiums with studios to four-bedroom penthouse suites, and 339 hotel condominiums. Every residence and hotel suite includes 10-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Leah Harriett, sales manager for Trump International Hotel and Tower, Chicago, said first move-ins for the hotel condominiums are happening this February, while owners of residential condos will move in later this spring.

“Our first condominium residents will be moving in just in time to use their floor-to-ceiling windows for all the summer spectacles Chicago has to offer, like gorgeous sunrises over the lake, festivals at Millennium Park and fireworks on the Fourth of July,” Harriett said. “Because of its height, Trump International Hotel and Tower offers unprecedented views of the city, no matter which direction you face.”

Harriett noted that with the recent opening of Trump Tower’s hotel and restaurant, buyers can get a preview of the views that await them in their new homes. “The views from the restaurant are amazing, and that’s only on the 16th floor. Imagine what it will be like higher up,” Harriett said.

Homes at Trump International Hotel and Tower range in price from $580,000 to over $9 million. The Clare at Water Tower

Offering a different vantage point of the lake and city skyline – one that is reserved for seniors only – is The Clare at Water Tower, downtown Chicago’s first high-rise continuing care retirement community (CCRC). Located just off the Magnificent Mile at the corner of Rush and Pearson streets, this 53-story high rise caters to the needs of an increasingly urban senior population.

Designed by renowned architects Perkins + Will, The Clare (www.TheClareAtWaterTower.com) boasts views stretching from Lake Michigan to the north and east to the city to the south. “Many of our future residents have waited all their lives to enjoy views like these,” said Jacqueline Quinn, the director of marketing for The Clare at Water Tower. “There is no other senior living community in Chicago that affords the same bird’s-eye views as The Clare. This is a revolutionary building in terms of what it offers seniors – including the views.”

The Clare at Water Tower has 258 independent-living apartment residences, offering one-, two- and three-bedroom floor plans with one to two baths.

Printers Corner

At Winthrop Properties’ Printers Corner, a contemporary 17-story high rise of all corner units in Printers Row, views have been a big selling point for buyers. The views here are set slightly south of downtown, so many of the vistas seen from the homes at Printers Corner look out toward the city to the north.

“Because of the unique corner-unit design of these residences, each buyer can take in uninterrupted views in two different directions, which is very rare,” said Bob Horner, co-principal of Winthrop Properties.

“The building’s location also gives residents a different perspective of the skyline than what many buyers are used to – but they all fall in love with it,” said Ibrahim Shihadeh, co-principal of Winthrop Properties. “And the best part is that homes are ready for immediate move-in, so perspective buyers can come in and see their actual views.”

Located on the northwest corner of Polk and Wells streets, Printers Corner (www.PrintersCorner.com) consists of 88 condominiums. Floor plans measure 769 to 1,168 square feet and include one to two bedrooms with one to two baths. Prices range from $285,000 to $487,000, and deeded parking is $36,000.

For more information on Trump International Hotel and Tower, call (312) 644-0900; for The Clare at Water Tower, call (312) 951-5690; and for Printers Corner, call (312) 880-1800.