Chicago Agent Magazine

12/20/2025

2025 Chicago Agents' Choice Awards Social Media Influencer of the Year, Agent: Chih-Hao Yang, Fulton Grace Realty

Chih-Hao Yang is a bilingual Mandarin and English broker who works with sellers, buyers, landlords and renters. He’s been a certified EB-5 immigration investment specialist with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for almost 10 years and has an investment resume that includes both international and local clientele and over $60 million in sales. An Illinois resident since 2003, he’s witnessed the expansion of the city’s residential landscape and appreciates the evolving wants and needs of sellers, buyers and renters.

Chih-Hao Yang is a bilingual Mandarin and English broker who works with sellers, buyers, landlords and renters.

12/19/2025

The pace of home sales in Chicago suburbs tumbled on a year-over-year basis in November, while prices were mixed, Mainstreet Realtors ® said.

Detached home sales fell 7.2%, and attached homes tumbled 13.7%.
The median sale price for detached homes stayed at $400,000 for the third month in a row.
Attached home prices continued to slide, falling from $280,000 in August to $272,500 in November.

More on housing affordability and inventory in Chicago here:
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2025/12/18/home-sales-suburbs/

The pace of home sales in Chicago suburbs tumbled on a year-over-year basis in November, while prices were mixed, Mainstreet REALTORS® said.

12/19/2025

🏗️ Homebuilder confidence ticked up at the close of 2026 — but the market is still finding its footing. 🏗️

According to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, builder sentiment rose slightly in December to 39, remaining in negative territory for the year. The bright side? Future sales expectations stayed above the breakeven mark for the third straight month following the Fed’s year-end rate cut.

Builders are leaning heavily on incentives and price cuts to spark demand, while rising material costs, labor pressures and regulatory hurdles continue to weigh on new construction.

🚧The takeaway: cautious optimism ahead, but real headwinds remain as the industry heads into 2027.

👉 Want the full breakdown on builder sentiment, incentives and what it means for buyers and the market? https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2025/12/16/builder-confidence-december/

Homebuilder confidence rose modestly at the end of 2026 but remained negative, the National Association of Home Builders reported.

12/19/2025

Representing two sides of the industry — agent and association — John Gormley and Connie Vavra are united by a shared commitment to raising the bar in Chicagoland real estate. Gormley, chief executive officer of Mainstreet REALTORS®, has spent more than 25 years advancing the real estate profession nationwide. With a journalism background and leadership roles across multiple Realtor associations, he’s known for fostering collaboration, innovation and a culture of inclusivity. Since joining Mainstreet in 2017, he has built a high-performing staff, expanded strategic partnerships and helped the organization earn national recognition as a “Great Place to Work” four years in a row.

John Gormley, Chief Executive Officer
Connie CeCe Vavra, President
Mainstreet Realtors

  John Gormley, Chief Executive Officer Connie Vavra, President Representing two sides of the...

12/18/2025

🚚 With existing-home sales expected to surge 14% next year, it’s clear buyers will be on the move. But where will they choose to settle down?
Midwestern and southern metros may dominate buyer interest in 2026, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.

🔥The 2026 forecasted hot spots include:
Columbus, Ohio
Indianapolis
Minneapolis-St. Paul
and more listed in the full article:
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2025/12/10/home-buyers-hot-spots-2026/

With existing-home sales expected to surge 14% next year, it’s clear buyers will be on the move. But where will they choose to settle down?

12/18/2025

While Jeffrey Jungbauer’s path to real estate wasn’t linear, it was intentional. After building a career in procurement, marketing and sales with companies such as Central Market, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day and Whole Foods Market, he sought more human-centered opportunities to apply his strategic mindset. Real estate required a blend of business expertise and creative problem-solving, offering him the chance to help clients navigate some of life’s most meaningful transitions.

Jungbauer offers over a decade of experience to buyers, sellers and investors throughout Chicago. He specializes in single-family homes, condos and multifamily properties, focusing on Lakeview, Lincoln Park, West Loop, Roscoe Village, Andersonville and the surrounding neighborhoods. With his designation as a Certified Negotiation Expert and reputation for working with calm precision, he guides each client with a sharp eye, clear strategy and deep local knowledge.

Jeffrey Jungbauer Chicago Real Estate Broker , Broker Associate & Real Estate Advisor
Compass Chicago

While Jeffrey Jungbauer’s path to real estate wasn’t linear, it was intentional. After building...

12/18/2025

⏰ Many buyers are sitting on the sidelines waiting for interest rates to fall. 📉
In today’s market, you’re essentially choosing between waiting for a major rate drop or hoping for meaningful price contraction. And neither is guaranteed.

Real estate economist, Matthew Gardner predicts in his Q3 market update that rates will likely hover in the high 5% to low 6% range next year, meaning the big “crash” some buyers expect may not materialize.

📣 What are your buyers waiting for — rates or prices?

12/17/2025

Publicly traded multifamily landlord Aimco agreed to sell Hyde Park Tower and six other Chicagoland apartment complexes for $455 million.

The 1,495-unit portfolio also includes Elm Creek and Eldridge Townhomes in Elmhurst, Willow Bend in Rolling Meadows, Evanston Place in Evanston, and Yorktown and 2200 Grace in Lombard.

LaTerra Capital Management and Respark Residential are the buyers.

Publicly traded multifamily landlord AIMCO agreed to sell Hyde Park Tower and six other Chicagoland apartment complexes for $455 million.

12/17/2025

What do you think will happen with the Chicagoland residential market next year? Are you concerned about how political events are affecting markets?

Your perspective matters and we want to hear it!
Take a minute to share your thoughts in our latest survey.

Tap the link, drop your insights, and let your voice shape the conversation 🏙️📊
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2025/12/09/survey-2026-outlook/

What do you think will happen with the residential market you serve next year? Take a minute and let us know in our latest survey!

12/17/2025

Many years ago, a simple break from graduate school led Stacey Roberts to discover her lifelong calling in lending. She initially took a job processing mortgages just to recharge but quickly realized that she enjoyed the challenges of the mortgage industry. After three years in processing and underwriting, she moved to Chicago to become a loan officer. Now with 27 years of experience behind her, she serves as a senior mortgage consultant at Wintrust Mortgage.

Roberts specializes in helping first-time homebuyers and guiding clients through down-payment assistance programs. Though her primary market is Chicago and its suburbs, she has closed loans in more than 25 states. Clients consistently praise her patience and willingness to walk them through the entire process — from preapproval to closing — and note her responsiveness and calming presence.

Stacey Roberts, Senior Mortgage Consultant
Wintrust Mortgage

Many years ago, a simple break from graduate school led Stacey Roberts to discover...

12/16/2025

With his trademark bow tie and an eye for detail, Marc Dumas blends professionalism, personality and passion in every deal. When he parlayed his decade of sales experience and lifelong Chicago roots into a career as a leasing agent in the early 2010s, he quickly discovered his passion for real estate. “I earned my broker’s license just a year later,” Dumas shares. “I’ve loved every minute of it.”

A broker associate and Realtor with Baird & Warner, Dumas serves a wide range of clients, including first-time homebuyers, seasoned sellers and relocation clients from the South Loop to Rogers Park. He credits his military background and experience in sales for his strong work ethic, calm demeanor and sharp negotiating skills. “I have a deep knowledge of the local market, and I am very committed to personalized service,” he says. “The best compliment I ever received came from a client who said she never had such amazing service.”

Marc Dumas Group - Real Estate powered by DreamTown, Broker Associate, Realtor
Baird & Warner

With his trademark bow tie and an eye for detail, Marc Dumas blends professionalism,...

12/16/2025

It’s not every day you come across a property that truly has it all. From the main house, which boasts over 6,000 square feet, to the in-ground pool, to the Amish-built, rough-sawn, white-oak timber-frame covered patio, to the over 4,000-square-foot outbuilding, this home is truly one-of-a-kind! You will enjoy the 17.5-acre property, which features a fenced-in pasture, horse stall, shed and treehouse with a zipline! The pole barn is heated and features four overhead doors, concrete polished floors, an office and a half bathroom.

As you enter the home, you will be greeted with a stunning, custom-built kitchen. The original kitchen was demoed and now features Amish-made cabinets, custom concrete countertops and a Thermador Dual Fuel Professional Range. The double-sided fireplace is a showstopper in the main living space. The main level also features a wood-burning stove that will stay, as well as an office.

Full details and amenities listed here:
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/slideshows/22715-e-2650th-road-chrisman-il-61924/

Presented by: Hayley Siefert: Broker at Keller Williams Realty, TREC | The Siefert Team | 217-918-0087 | [email protected] |