It’s that time of year. Pumpkin spice and apple flavors are everywhere. As summer heat fades, crisp autumn air arrives and so do fall colors.
Fall in Chicago is magical, like a breath of fresh air. But before too long, fall and all its splendor will be a distant memory. So, if you’re hoping to truly savor the colors and beauty of autumn in the Midwest, here’s a roundup of great – and sometimes unexpected – places to see fall foliage in the city and suburbs.
Love is the heart and soul of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate. It defines our people, our culture, our celebrations, and our conversations. It’s who we are and where we are, because @properties wouldn’t be @properties without Chicago – the city that we’ve proudly called home for the past 23 years. From Chicago and the surrounding suburbs to Southwest Michigan, Northwest Indiana, and Southeast Wisconsin, love is in the communities that give us life and make us who we are today.
This notion carries on with Love Letters – a new endeavor that lets our communities know just how much we love and appreciate them. In good times and challenging times, through thick and thin, it all comes down to LOVE.
Love came into the @properties lexicon years ago with our Love Where You Live ad series, which soon morphed into Love Where You Work. Then in 2015, we commissioned Chicago-based artist Matthew Hoffman to paint a mural adorning our office in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood. The mural featured the word “love” in Hoffman’s signature script font and quickly became a popular backdrop for Instagram pictures, holiday cards, and engagement photos. Today the “love” script can be found everywhere from murals to apparel to bumper magnets that have been spotted all over the country.
“Love is what everyone desires in a home and a community. It’s the most powerful force in the world, and it enriches our lives in so many ways. The idea was to spread love, and it snowballed from there,” said @properties Christie’s International Real Estate co-founder and co-CEO Thad Wong.
Look out for Love Letters in local print publications, social media, postcards, email, and more, and watch our tribute to Chicago here.
What do you love about your neighborhood or town? We want to know! Share with us on social media using the hashtag #atloveletters and be sure to tag @atproperties.
There are over 100 villages and towns spanning 10,286 square miles in Chicagoland. While many of them offer an environment one would expect of a typical Midwestern suburb, there are plenty of communities around Chicago with much more urban amenities. No longer are highly-rated restaurants, chic boutiques, transit options, and a vibrant local culture confined to the city limits. These five suburbs prove it.
In the wake of the pandemic, supply chain issues and labor shortages resulted in a historic inventory squeeze on new construction. However, as those constraints begin to ease, the number of new homes on the market is stabilizing, slowly returning to normal levels. According to Cyndy Salgado, executive vice president with @properties Development Group, which handles sales and marketing for residential developments nationwide, the stage is currently set for more new construction to hit the market, with a healthy pipeline of projects that will continue to deliver into 2023 and beyond. Here is a window into new homes currently on the market in Chicagoland.
Historically, the last few weeks of the year aren’t the most active on the real estate calendar. But the spring market, which can begin as early as mid-January, brings a spike in activity from both buyers and sellers. Changing market conditions will make this coming spring market much different from the last one, so the time to start strategizing is now, real estate experts say. If you’re selling your home next year, here are some tips to start preparing.
According to Natasha O’Connor, managing broker in @properties Christie’s International Real Estate’s Northbrook and Glenview offices, “Now is a great time to think about hiring a contractor for updates and repairs.” Not only do many pre-sale renovation projects take several weeks, but contractors are usually less busy at this time of year. That means you not only should be able to get on their schedule; you might also be able to negotiate better pricing.
With Hispanic Heritage Month underway, @properties Christie’s International Real Estate is proud to observe this cultural tradition in our hometown of Chicago and beyond. Join us as we highlight six local artists who use their mediums to pay homage to the Hispanic community.
A Chicago native, Ruben Aguirre uses his talents on what he calls “underutilized infrastructure,” producing murals in the Chicago area, across the U.S., and abroad. His compositions aim to reference the socio-historical background of each site location while re-imagining public space, patterns, and color fields. In addition to exhibits at the Chicago Cultural Center and Hyde Park Art Center, his works have been commissioned for clients including Google and Adidas.
@properties Christie’s International Real Estate has always been on the cutting edge of the brokerage industry, and winning “Brokerage of the Year” at this summer’s Inman Innovator Awards only affirms the company’s status as a trailblazer more than 20 years since its founding. Innovation has taken many forms during @properties Christie’s International Real Estate’s journey to becoming the #1 real estate brokerage in Chicago and a top 10 firm in the country. Following are ten innovations that @properties’ co-founders and co-CEOs Mike Golden and Thad Wong consider the most important in the company’s history:
According to Wong, the name “@properties” was meant to position the firm as a forward-thinking company founded on the cusp of the internet age. The name came to Wong as he rode a department store escalator past a Christmas tree adorned with ornaments bearing the “@” symbol.
To kick off Hispanic Heritage Month, @Loves Local is partnering with La Borra Café’s Oak Park location, serving up your choice of a free 16oz beverage or pastry. Join us at this neighborhood favorite on Thursday, September 15 from 9-11 a.m. at 1100 Lake Street as we begin the month-long cultural celebration!
Established in Mexico in 2012, La Borra Café has since grown to include over 70 stores in its native country. But even better, their extensive menu of Mexican-sourced artisanal coffee blends can be enjoyed at six Chicagoland locations. They are also well-known for their authentic sweet pastries and savory tortas.
We talked to franchise owner Dine Unlu to hear more about the La Borra Café story:
@properties Christie’s International Real Estate: How was La Borra Café created?
La Borra Café: Our CEO, Leon Reffreger was working on his thesis for his master’s degree and ended up creating an international coffee shop business. He named the shops after a book titled “La Borra del Café,” and the rest is history.
@properties Christie’s International Real Estate: What is your favorite treat at your La Borra location?
La Borra Café: I really enjoy our new chicken quesadilla, it’s so good and filling! According to Unlu, La Borra Café is committed to providing the best food and drink experience around – and it is even available for pick up by ordering online or via their app.
@properties Christie’s International Real Estate: What is your favorite part of owning La Borra Café?
La Borra Café: Meeting new people! Getting their day started and inspiring them through our customer service and specialized menu is important.
La Borra Café made its Oak Park debut in July 2021. Each location is specifically designed to reflect the surrounding neighborhood while functioning as a social gathering place or remote workspace. The company currently has locations in Berwyn, Naperville, Chicago, and Texas and plans to open more spots in California.
Visit La Borra Café on Thursday, September 15 from 9-11 a.m. to get a free 16oz beverage or pastry of your choice on the @tab (paid for by @properties Christie’s International Real Estate and ProperRate). 1100 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301
Best sure to follow @atproperties and @laborracafe.usa on Instagram and use our hashtag #AtLovesLocal when you visit.
*Limit one beverage or pastry of your choice per person.
The days may be getting shorter, but don’t let that fool you into thinking there aren’t plenty of activities to fill your fall calendar. Between brews and boos, you’ll have no trouble staying busy whether you’re on the North Shore or heading to the city. Here are some events to check out this fall.
Craft brews have exploded in popularity over the last few years, and Chicago has embraced the trend with a variety of festivals. One of the largest is the Chicago Beer Festival, which will be held inside the Field Museum on October 8th from 7 to 11 p.m. Not only will the event feature over 65 breweries showcasing fall seasonal beers, but some of the museum’s exhibits will be open for viewing as you enjoy your favorite ale.
We hope you’ll join us for an especially meaningful event as @ Loves Local comes to Highland Park to support the community and local business. On July 20th between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., stop by Michael’s and enjoy a free hot dog along with the community spirit Highland Park is known for.
@properties Christie’s International Real Estate and Proper Rate are proud to be a part of such a strong and welcoming community, and we will continue to share our love and support with those that call Highland Park home.
Keep reading for @ Loves Local event details and to see what Michael’s general manager Adam Porte had to say about the restaurant’s backstory:
