- Home
- Real Estate Trends
Real Estate Trends
Catering to Man's Best Friend
It’s no secret that Chicagoans love their dogs. In 2011, DogFriendly.com ranked Chicago the second most dog-friendly city in the United States (Portland, Oregon, ranked number 1). The criteria was based on the number of lodgings, attractions, outdoor restaurants, stores and beaches that welcome dogs. According to city statistics, it's estimated that Chicago residents own nearly three-quarters of a million dogs.
Read MoreRevisiting Reverse Mortgages
According to the most recent U.S. Census, an estimated 285,000—or roughly 10 percent—of Chicagoland's population is over the age of 65. Older Chicagoans live in all
parts of the city, both integrated into their longtime neighborhoods and in
seniors-only condo developments all along the lakefront. While not as common as
in other parts of the country, a significant portion of these residents have
reverse mortgages.
Read More
Curb Appeal
As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first
impression, and for homebuyers, that first impression is almost always the view
from the street. No matter how deluxe the accommodations inside, if the property’s exterior is less than desirable, a buyer’s mind is often made up before they enter the front door—if they even bother to go that far.
Read More
Managing Properties in Tough Times
The economy cratered—to use a term in popular parlance at that time—in September 2008, with the collapse of too-big-to-fail Lehman Brothers. While
the measures undertaken by the federal government and the Federal Reserve
averted complete financial meltdown—it never reached the point where we had to transport the necessary dollars to
buy a loaf of bread in a wheelbarrow, as happened in Italy a few decades ago—the last few years have been a litany of ominous economic indicators.
Read More
Hitting Bottom
As the economy sputters along and unemployment rates remain steady at more than
nine percent, there isn’t call for celebration. Whereas the real estate market was also lumped in with
these aforementioned Great Recession causalities, in certain regions, sales of
homes and condominiums are showing positive signs—giving hope to an industry that has been treading water for over three years. Read More
Holiday Harmony
Holidays are usually synonymous with good cheer, smiles, and a festive
atmosphere—but occasionally, they can be the cause of friction and ill will as well. When
people of various faiths and traditions all live in the same high-rise building
or HOA, rules and aesthetics for holiday decorating have to take into account
the whole community—not just those members who happen to be a part of the dominant culture. Good
boards and managers tread carefully and are mindful of their associations'
diverse residents when it comes to mapping out policy for holiday decorating in
common areas such as lobbies, garages, hallways and balconies.
Read More
Something Old into Something New...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 136 million tons
of construction and demolition waste was generated in 1996, which was the last
time these figures were made available, and those numbers have most likely
risen in the 15 years since.
Read More
