Chicago Agent Magazine

12/13/2025

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!

12/12/2025

Real estate economist Matthew Gardner says, while it’s encouraging to see jurisdictions push zoning reforms, he believes those changes alone won’t solve our housing challenges. 🏠

🪵 Material costs remain high, construction is expensive, and adding meaningful supply to the market is harder than it looks.

The bottom line? Real solutions will take time, investment, and collaboration across the industry.

🎥 Find the full video interview for expert insights on the housing market.

12/12/2025

Combining top-tier production, strategic leadership and client service that has helped propel them into the top 1 percent of Chicago real estate teams according to the Chicago Association of Realtors, Maggie Yandel and Susan Panozzo are known as powerhouse brokers at Busby Group. With complementary strengths in training, analytics, communication and investment strategy, they are key drivers of the group’s success.

Yandel also serves as director of training, where she leads development of Busby Group’s sales strategy and communication standards. With a background in public relations and social media, she brings a polished, persuasive approach to every interaction and mentors others in the same.
Panozzo brings nearly 15 years of real estate experience and a sharp, investment-focused mindset to every transaction. She is trusted by overseas investors and local buyers for her analytical approach, data-driven insights and deep understanding of market dynamics.

Maggie Yandel, Broker & Director of Training
Susan Panozzo, Broker & Director of Portfolio
Busby Group , Compass Chicago

  Maggie Yandel, Broker & Director of Training Susan Panozzo, Broker & Director of...

12/12/2025

Prescott Kindle, realtor for atproperties Christie’s International Real Estate, shares real estate insights and how he distinguishes himself from a crowd of agents in out latest 📸

"Stay consistent, stay genuine, and relationships will build your business." — Prescott Kindle, Realtor, Christie’s International Real Estate

12/11/2025

During college, Daniel Chookaszian worked for his father in the family business, building the skills necessary to thrive in a career of his choosing. Upon completing his graduate degree, that choice became clear when his best friend from high school started a mortgage company and invited him to come aboard. “I went from spending all day studying in grad school to cold calling all day on an open floor with a group of friends,” he recalls. Nineteen years later, the lessons he learned in those early days — that success requires community, perseverance and failure —have led to top producer awards and hard-earned repeat and referral business.

Chookaszian makes the loan process easier for clients by reviewing their options, answering their questions and matching them with a mortgage that best fits their needs.

Daniel Chookaszian, Senior Home Lending Advisor II CPC
Chase, NMLS #227832

During college, Daniel Chookaszian worked for his father in the family business, building the...

12/11/2025

Chicago real estate fashion icon, Bari Mill from Coldwell Banker Realty - The Dawn Mckenna Group Lincoln Park, says she focuses on, "Timeless, staple pieces rather than fast fashion, which reflects the way I approach my work as a Realtor — intentional, hardworking and built on long-lasting value. Just like in real estate, fashion and real estate go hand in hand!"

Mill shares polished and chic style tips, what she considers a "fashion don't" and more in our latest feature.

"I like to think my style is polished and chic — a mix of sophisticated and sporty chic with a girly flair." — Bari Mill, Dawn McKenna Group

12/10/2025

✂️ The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third time in a row this year on Wednesday as inflation remains elevated, and the nation’s labor market softens.

The move was expected, but came amid increasing dissention among Fed officials, who voted for the cut nine to three — the sharpest divide among the 12-member Federal Open Market Committee since 2019. A majority of Fed members expect at least one more cut in 2026. 👀

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the third time in a row as inflation remains elevated, and the nation's labor market softens.

12/10/2025

Jan Kupiec is a seasoned Realtor with 23 years of experience selling real estate in the Chicagoland area. Kupiec began her career as a real estate paralegal at a large downtown Chicago law firm. As part of her paralegal and legal administration studies, she obtained her real estate license, which gave her a thorough understanding of the practice of real estate. She later helped open and build a very successful, large real estate law firm in downtown Chicago.

These opportunities gave her a unique perspective on the legal aspects of real estate. Eventually, she left the firm to focus on her own real estate career and has applied her extensive experience to optimize the selling and buying process for her own clients ever since.

Jan Kupiec - Baird & Warner , Realtor
Baird & Warner

Jan Kupiec is a seasoned Realtor with 23 years of experience selling real estate...

12/10/2025

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-outlo

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!

12/09/2025

2025 Chicago Agents' Choice Awards Best Brokerage Website: atproperties Christie’s International Real Estate

Christie’s International Real Estate was founded in 2000 by co-CEOs Mike Golden and Thad Wong. Since then, the firm has grown from a four-person boutique brokerage into the No. 1 brokerage firm in Chicago and the greater Chicagoland area. The company developed pl@tform™, a proprietary suite of technology tools that allows agents to digitally manage all aspects of client relationships and real estate transactions. Outside Chicagoland, the company has offices in Southeast Wisconsin, Northwest Indiana and Southwest Michigan.

Christie’s International Real Estate was founded in 2000 by co-CEOs Mike Golden and Thad Wong.

12/09/2025

There’s no templated path to real estate success. Just ask Riz Gilani. He didn’t start in real estate. He didn’t grow up in Chicago. And he definitely didn’t follow a script. He came to the city in 1994 — not to chase a career, but to build a life. And in the process, he found a calling.

After several years in the commercial real estate world, Gilani transitioned to residential sales in 2006. Now, with 20 years of industry experience, he leads the powerhouse RG Group at ALLURE Real Estate — a team of five, offering a high-touch, full-service experience grounded in trust, care and deep local expertise. The RG Group works with first-time buyers, investors and luxury clients throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Their reach may be wide, but their focus is always personal.

Riz Gilani, Broker
Allure Real Estate

There’s no templated path to real estate success. Just ask Riz Gilani. He didn’t...

12/09/2025

The average U.S. buyer’s agent commission rose significantly year over year in the third quarter after declining in the wake of the National Association of REALTORS® agreeing to change its commission rules in a March 2024 settlement, Redfin said.

The increase brought the average commission from a low of 2.36% in Q3 2024 to 2.42% last quarter. That level was down one basis point from 2.43% in the preceding quarter. The low of 2.36% occurred when NAR implemented the change in August 2024.

More on these numbers since the settlement in Sitzer/Burnett vs. NAR here:
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2025/12/08/average-buyers-agent-commission/

The average U.S. buyer's agent commission jumped year over year in the third quarter after falling in the wake of NAR's commission settlement.