This year, we all have a lot of reasons to be thankful. We asked our agents, colleagues and friends in the Chicagoland community to share what they are most thankful for as the holiday season approaches.

Tune in below to hear what they had to say.  Continue reading

Chicago homes are often defined by built-ins – bookcases, hutches and sideboards carefully crafted out of wood and tucked into vintage apartments and condo spaces, bungalows and even new construction homes for sale. The conundrum is how to style your mantel and still maintain storage space, especially during the holiday season.

We asked the experts, home stagers and stylists Stephanie Mandrell and Erin Szott of Style & Edit, to guide us through a mantel makeover. Continue reading

It’s no surprise the housing market slows down during the holiday season. Between all the parties, family activities and holiday vacations, many buyers and sellers set their real estate endeavors aside in lieu of other commitments.

With that in mind, sellers often ask if they should take their home off the market (or hold off on listing entirely) until spring.

The answer, of course, depends on your situation and urgency. But there are some unique advantages when it comes to listing your home during the market’s traditional off season. Here are a few things to consider:

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Find yourself laughing whenever a house-hunting couple on TV lists a mudroom as one of their must-haves? It’s my second favorite bit of ridiculousness on those shows (the first is the absolute need for a guest room when the entire viewing audience knows that no one is ever going to visit the family who just moved a $2,000 plane ride away).

The reality (not reality TV) looks a lot different.

Many city dwellers are lucky to have a coat closet or landing to stash their shoes. And those of us who live in the suburbs or somewhere without shared walls may have the space for a mudroom, but it may be overrun by laundry…or plastic kids’ vehicles…or it’s been turned into an office/gift-wrapping station/storage.

Practical Chicagoans, here are some simple and stylish alternatives for storing and organizing your winter gear.  Continue reading

Multiple offer situations can be very stressful for both buyers and sellers if not handled carefully.

What exactly does it mean to be in multiple offers?  As a buyer, it means there is at least one other buyer that has submitted an offer to purchase the same property as you.  In some cases, there might even be several buyers involved.

When it comes to this scenario, the listing broker may advise the seller to request “best and final” offers. In this case, buyers are asked to submit their strongest offer by a set date and time, at which point the seller will review all offers, compare the various terms, and choose which one to accept.

If you’ve found the perfect home, this is your time to shine!  Remember, though, every seller has different needs and goals in the sale of their home – just as you have your own needs and goals for your purchase. And this goes beyond just price Continue reading

Photo: Shred415

The weather is getting colder, which means the motivation to work out is slowly starting to dwindle. Don’t let it! There are plenty of awesome boutique workout studios across Chicagoland that welcome all fitness levels. Keep reading to learn more about a few of our favorites.

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Photo: StyleCaster and Elle Decor

If you don’t know what Millennial Pink is, let me catch you up. You’ve probably seen it on your Instagram feed, on walls, and even in your drinks. It’s the color that has been taking over our social world for the past couple years.

According to The Cut, it’s an ‘ironic pink, pink without the sugary prettiness. It’s a non-color that doesn’t commit, whose semi-ugliness is proof of its sophistication.’

But like just about every trend, Millennial Pink is already being overthrown by something new – and it’s called Gen Z Yellow. The bold, mustard color has been all over the spring and summer 2017 runways, and now all over social media. Continue reading

Winter is on its way and one of the most important things you can do when you set out to winterize your home is increase your energy efficiency.

While it’s easy to add warmth to your interiors as the seasons change, lowering your heating bill is a little more complicated.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some quick tips on how you can save money on your heating bill and be prepared for the winter months ahead. Continue reading

Photo: RM Champagne Salon

It’s that time of the week to sip away the spreadsheets, construction delays and the empty feeling left when you’ve finished a Netflix binge.

Bring on the calm in a cozy little place that serves your favorite craft beer, has an incredible wine list or introduces you to a heavenly new cocktail. Here are some of our favorite snug spots to imbibe in the city and suburbs. Continue reading

“A lot of times, people don’t know what they want until you show it to them.”

Steve Jobs famously said this in a 1998 BusinessWeek interview. His approach ultimately led to one of the most influential innovations of our time: the iPhone.

You could say residential real estate developers have a similar mindset when it comes to amenities in high-rise condominium buildings.

Take the forthcoming Michigan Avenue luxury tower 1000M, for example. A few years ago, no one would have imagined that a golf simulator or virtual meditation room would be a draw for homebuyers. But as technology and design trends evolve, and competition heats up in the new construction market, developers are taking their amenity offerings to the next level in order to create a truly unique experience for residents.   Continue reading