Chicago Agent Magazine

12/23/2025

Marissa Stapleton knows a lot about buying, selling and relocating. She lived in about 18 cities while traveling internationally with her husband during his professional hockey career. Stapleton, a broker with Coldwell Banker Realty, specializes in Indiana lakefront properties.

Despite numerous changes in the real estate market last year, Stapleton successfully maintained the same sales volume as in the previous year. “Adapting to this new environment required a shift in how I work, staying current with market demands and developing simple explanations for complex changes, all while preserving the integrity of the situation,” she says.

Marissa Stapleton, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty

Marissa Stapleton knows a lot about buying, selling and relocating. She lived in about...

12/23/2025

2025 Chicago Agents' Choice Awards winner Loan Officer of the Year: Lisa Vaske Loans, Guaranteed Rate Affinity

Lisa Vaske knows that everyone has different financial goals, so she takes the time to fully understand each client’s situation in order to recommend the most appropriate mortgage solution. She works with homebuyers throughout the lending process as a consultant and guide, directing the activities of a dedicated team that includes loan assistants, processors, underwriters and closing specialists. She also coordinates with real estate agents and other industry professionals to ensure each transaction closes as quickly and smoothly as possible.

Lisa Vaske knows that everyone has different financial goals, so she takes the time to fully understand each client's situation.

12/23/2025

🩺 If you want a pulse on your market’s future, watch what’s happening in the urban core.

🏛️ There’s also growing potential for government involvement to help stabilize the landscape: first-time buyer incentives, down-payment assistance, and efforts to reduce supply and land costs are all on the table.

Matthew Gardner says to keep an eye on policy. Government support could play a major role in shaping homeownership opportunities in the years ahead.

🎥 Full Q3 market update video interview

12/22/2025

If you’re looking to buy or sell in today’s market, you need more than just an agent — you need a strategic advisor. Having served over 800 clients and been a consistent Top Producer since 2013, Young Lee brings the experience, negotiation power and market knowledge to help clients make smarter real estate decisions and maximize results.

Lee specializes in helping sellers earn top dollar through proven pricing, marketing and negotiation strategies — and guiding buyers to win in competitive markets without overpaying. Whether it’s a luxury listing in Barrington or an investment condo along the Chicago lakefront, he delivers tailored solutions that lead to successful outcomes.

Young Lee, Real Estate Broker and Team Lead
Real LLC

If you’re looking to buy or sell in today’s market, you need more than...

12/22/2025

atproperties Christie’s International Real Estate recently made several leadership changes to its Chicago-area team.

Paul Blackburn, who most recently served as vice president of brokerage services for the firm’s Goose Island and North Center offices, was promoted to executive vice president of agent development and culture.

Vice President of Brokerage Services Rachel Scheid, At Properties, who leads ’ Gold Coast office, will fill Blackburn’s management role at Goose Island, adding that location to her portfolio, while Rick Sobin, vice president of brokerage services for East Lincoln Park and Bronzeville, will take over Blackburn’s leadership of the North Center office.

Christie’s International Real Estate recently made several leadership changes to its Chicago-area team.

12/21/2025

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!

12/21/2025

During her senior year at the University of Michigan, Alondra Guevara broke her pinky toe and spent six months on a knee scooter. The injury forced her to slow down. During her recovery, she read her roommate’s copy of “Flipping Houses for Dummies” and became interested in real estate. By the time she recovered, she knew she wanted to follow her parents’ path and become an investor.

Guevara was born and raised in Logan Square in a large, close-knit family. Her parents invested in four-unit buildings and worked hard to create opportunities for others. After college, she returned to Logan Square and noticed how much the neighborhood had changed. She’s now in the process of buying a four-unit building of her own.

Alondra Guevara Real Estate Broker , Real Estate Broker
Fulton Grace Realty

During her senior year at the University of Michigan, Alondra Guevara broke her pinky...

12/20/2025

What began as a grassroots Zoom call between 22 attorneys during the pandemic has grown into one of the most influential legal organizations in Illinois real estate. The Chicagoland Association of Real Estate Attorneys (AREA) was founded in response to growing trends that sought to sideline the attorney’s role in residential transactions. Rather than remain passive, a group of experienced attorneys joined forces to advocate for the essential value lawyers bring to the table — and to ensure consumers continue to benefit from legal guidance during one of the most significant financial moments of their lives.

Kelli Fogarty, Founder & Past President
JMC Law Group F/N/A Law Office of Jason Chmielewski , Current President
Stephanie Carlin Cerf, Treasurer
Law Offices of Michael H. Wasserman, PC , Board Member
Namit Bammi, Board Member
Dean Fugate, Board Member
Chicagoland Association of Real Estate Attorneys (AREA)
Board of Directors

Kelli Fogarty, Founder & Past President Jason Chmielewski, Current President Stephanie Carlin Cerf, Treasurer...

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.