To provide the best service to my clients, I regularly consult and collaborate with top high-end builders. What’s in, what’s out, what lasts forever? One of my favorite high-end builders is Andrew Bowyer of Middlefork Development, who creates dazzling homes …

Pollo con marmellata di limoni (Chicken with Lemon Marmellata) 1 whole chicken 3 lemons (cut into 8 wedges each) 6 spring onions – chopped 4 toes garlic – chopped 1/2 stick butter (cut into 2 equal pieces and softened) 1/2 …

Owls in Chicago! Can you imagine?  Fellow realtor and all around awesome guy, Josh Feeney, is a world class photographer with an eye that finds the most exquisite animals and birds to photograph.  A daily glance at his photo gallery …

My sister-in-law, Eva, makes a wonderful Bone Broth and Veggie Soup from the beef bones that are always included in our Starry Nights Beef Box. Starry Nights Farms produce 100% grass fed beef in a sustainable, humane way. Support a …

Luxe Magazine is hosting their first Annual Luxe RED Residential Excellence in Design Awards. The judging panel consists of nationally and internationally recognized leaders in the Design/Build Industry, including Holly Hunt and Paul Wiseman. Luxe is giving the Readers – …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

Nothing better than Crazy Uncle Mike whipping up something fabulous with whatever few ingredients we have on hand. Jar of Giardiniera, last of the wedge of parmesan, and a spaghetti squash that arrived from new favorite food resource, Imperfect Produce. …

Chicago has 77 interesting and diverse neighborhoods to explore; how can you possibly narrow down which neighborhood is the best fit for you? So many choices and so little time to explore!

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

In 1984 I ran around town with thick folder of papers under my arm, pens and pencils in my briefcase, a brick of a ‘cell phone’ in my black, vinyl ‘phone bag’, sending faxes and paper letters… it was the …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

Perhaps one of Chicago’s first ‘condo-hotel’ concepts, and the Grande Dame of them all. I’ve had a love affair with the Water Tower going back to early 1980, not too long after the building was constructed. The history of the …

There are some interesting real estate related apps hitting the market, all with the intention of capturing the consumer in the house hunting process before he or she connects with a real estate agent. The buzz on these apps ends …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

For the past 5 years I have had the honor and pleasure of representing Michael Miller and his fabulous team at Centaur Interiors in the purchase and sale of six condominium residences; each residence was fully renovated as part of …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

Ever go to the store and ask the guy for a gallon of white paint, only to find that it looks horrible once you put it on your walls at home? Did it end up looking pink, yellow or green, …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

Congratulations! Your home is officially ready to sell (and we’ve got a glass of Pinot with your name on it)! You’ve painted the walls, deep cleaned every surface from top to bottom, and finally cleared all that unnecessary clutter. Even …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

My friends at CityGrounds have a brand new menu to go with the newly outfitted patio! Comfy couches and chairs for coffee, breakfast and lunch alfresco. I’m hope to have the Wizard of Oz bean bag toss delivered by late …

Things I am considering as I downsize from a home to a condo Spring has finally arrived here in Chicago, and I am happy to say that I am halfway finished with a major move… my personal version of a …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

Chicago is known for her architectural history, including several stunning residential buildings designed by Benjamin Marshall and Howard Van Doren Shaw in the early 1900’s.  Many of these elegant gems are under a form of ownership known as a ‘housing …

Don’t be fooled by poor quality home staging Home staging is in vogue to help homeowners sell their homes faster and for a better price. Professional home stagers work with sellers to make their homes as attractive to potential buyers …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

Swapping out your incandescent lightbulbs for LEDs has several benefits. These include saving money on your electric bill, superior light quality, less impact on the environment and replacing bulbs once every decade or two instead of every few months. But …

With Valentines Day just around the corner, let’s get a design professional’s opinion on creating a more sexy and alluring bedroom retreat. Simple design changes can spice up the drama in your life… even if you’re single. Resist the urge …

With Spring just around the corner, you may be thinking about listing your home for sale. According to the Huffington Post, the best time of year to sell your house is between May 1 and May 15th, with home sales …

Color, paint quality, wall preparation and quality of  application all matter a great deal.  Do your homework when selecting paint finish (matte, eggshell, semi-gloss, high gloss, etc).  Same when getting estimates for the job.  Does the price include extensive wall …

Now that the holidays are over and all of the decorations are put away, you may look around at your interiors and think that they look a little sparse. Even with these gray days of late Winter, it isn’t too …

Download this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of your …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

Listen to an interview Debra gave recently to Business Innovators Radio Show host Keith Dougherty. Keith is #1 Best-Selling Author of Publish to Profit and Top Agent; founder of Authority Surge; and​ ​host of Real Estate Innovators Radio covering influencers, …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

Hot fun in the summertime! Sly and the Family Stone got it spot on. So get your groove on, enjoy Chicago at its finest and visit the super Farmer’s Markets to be found in almost every corner of the city… …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

One of Chicago’s best-known neighborhoods, Lincoln Park has some of the finest food and entertainment in the entire city. From 3-star Michelin restaurants to inexpensive burger joints, and from comedic improv at Second City to highbrow theater at the Steppenwolf …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

Flip through this data packed report for insights, trends and the general outlook on your local real estate market. If you want to dig a bit deeper give me a call to discuss how the trends impact the value of …

What are you up to this weekend? Nada? Bupkis? Reruns of Grey’s Anatomy (I love that show!)? Don’t despair! Your dance card is about to fill up! The Dobbs Team put their respective heads together to bring you this list …

Urgent call to action! If you want a last chance to get a reduction in the assessed value of your real estate please read this note and call Matt first thing Tuesday morning! Note from Matt: We had great success …

Beginning mid July my daughter picks White Christmas for our Sunday movie night selection; by mid December we’ve watched bits and pieces or the whole shebang at least a dozen times. And yet we never miss the big screen version …

November 28th is SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! Hello Neighbors, The holiday season is upon us, bringing joy and a chance to support our local shops and restaurants in the 43rd Ward. Here are some of our newest additions: Armitage / Halsted / Webster    …

Join Matt Panush and Steven Pallotto at an informal gathering where they will tell us what to do to get a reduction in assessed value, the first step to a decrease in a property tax bill.  This is an important …

“Debra Dobbs is the REALTOR all buyers and sellers dream of finding. Born and raised in one of the 77 unique communities that comprise greater Chicagoland, Debra’s intimate knowledge of each neighborhood is frankly, unparalleled. Combine her detailed knowledge of …

Greetings! What’s so special about June? For me, June brings peonies (mine are just about to bloom in my tiny sliver of a garden) and my daughter’s birthday (Kat turned 18 on the 1st). For us Chicagoans, June 1 is …

May Day, celebrated on May 1, is an ancient, Northern Hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday. Dances, singing, and cake are usually part of the celebrations that the day includes. So in honor of May Day, and the …

Spring is here! What a crazy bunch of fun April brings. From bunnies to robots to love, with a bit of madness and a dash of gastronomy thrown in for good measure. Explore Chicago with my top picks for the …

Our Shop Hop event was a whopping success! Over 60 local businesses, food vendors, and bloggers joined in creating a festive mood to celebrate the holiday season and engage with everything local. We reconnected with old friends, new friendships were …

This Thursday, your favorite shops on Armitage, Halsted, and Webster streets partner up with local food vendors and interesting bloggers for an exciting shopping party.

Chicago is hot these days! So says the Summer Moving Trends Study from national moving company United Van Lines. The report tracks the destination of moving Americans and ranks Chicago as the number one metropolitan area for this summer. Scores …