Chicago Real Estate Blog, Page 2

Little did we know that working from home has blended emotions of distractions and joy at the same time.  It is a constant tug between work + life. How can you balance all of this in one environment?   Navigating professional …

Your home is where your heart lives, but where do your dreams live? If you are thinking about buying a luxury home here in Chicago, or have recently closed on a listing, the answer to that question may now be …

Planning your finances with a retirement budget can significantly decrease money-related stress and allow you to fully enjoy your retirement. Budgeting is extremely important throughout all aspects of your life, but retirement planning is crucial to developing peace of mind. …

Are you getting ready to start house hunting? You may have been going over your financial documents and evaluating your personal savings. If you’ve made any financial missteps over the years, you might be worried about whether or not you’ll …

A lot of people prefer their pets to humans. They dote on their cats and dogs and don’t mind spending their hard-earned money on designer food, clothing, and bedding. These devoted owners give their pets human names and endow them …

Is your senior loved one thinking about a move to or from Chicago?  As we age, our needs change.  While physical and healthcare needs come to mind, emotional well-being is just as important. This makes it necessary for loved ones …

Aldermen narrowly approved a $94 million increase to Chicago’s property tax levy as part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s pandemic budget, bringing the total to $1.63 billion. Using 2019 tax bills, the city estimated the hike would cost the average Chicago …

91 Old Buildings Repurposed Since the 1950s Adaptive reuse focuses on rehabilitating older buildings and giving them a new purpose. Not only is this a great way of preserving historic value within communities, but it can also minimize new construction …

In November 2020, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) came out with its 2021 mortgage loan limits. The FHFA is the independent regulatory agency that supervises and oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. What …

Find A Trusted Guide You’ve worked hard, sacrificed, and saved. Now it’s your turn to be the person you want to be. Find a fee-only financial planner and experienced fiduciary, with one focus: your retirement. A quality guide works with …

When you reach a certain age, your family home may become too much to manage. It’s at that point many seniors begin thinking about moving. However, moving in your later years isn’t as simple as it was in the days …

So many Chicagoans are in need of warmth this winter – share the love and pass on your new or gently worn coats, hats, scarves, gloves, mittens (children or adult sizes!). Your donations can be delivered to the locations noted …

Your home is your castle and you should live comfortably and in your style. Then it all goes out the window when you decide to sell. If your goal is to optimize price and reduce market time, in any market …

Watch the latest episode of the Keeping It Real podcast with Debra Dobbs. DJ Paris talks with Debra about how she started her career and the move from gelato to houses; unique and targeted marketing strategies; advice to new agents; …

Lead generation, great marketing and customer service — these are the basics for any REALTOR®’s business. Having a successful business involves being proactive, just as much as it is being reactive. It’s not just implementing the basics, either; you can …

Our dear friends Alex Harris and Sandy Killion have researched some brilliant–and easy to implement– solutions to help us all be a bit more green and environmentally responsible in our everyday lives. Every little green step that we take now …

Originated in late 19th century England, this homemade lemon curd is traditionally served with bread or scones at afternoon tea as an alternative to jam, and as a filling for cakes, small pastries and tarts. Crazy Michael’s Lemon Curd RECIPE …

We hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy and sheltering in place at home.  During these trying times, it is important to remember there are so many people in our various communities not as fortunate. If you …

Selling your home means putting a lot of thought into how it looks. You’ll want to clear the clutter, give it a fresh coat of paint, or maybe even hire someone to stage it with curated furniture and artwork. Yet …

The year 2019 was a buyer’s dream for the Chicago real estate market due to falling interest rates, especially for the first seven months or so. In August, for example, the number of homes sold was down seven percent year-on-year. …

  Dear Clients, Friends, and Family, On behalf of @properties and The Dobbs Group, I would like to share our thoughts, precautions, and procedures as we navigate in these uncertain times. Our personal and professional lives have been and will …