Chicago Agent Magazine

01/08/2026

🤝 Compass and Anywhere Real Estate are one step closer to becoming a single company. With the required votes now secured, the transaction is expected to close on Jan. 9, 2026, pending the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

As previously reported by Agent Publishing, the deal brings Anywhere’s portfolio of well-known brands, including Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, CENTURY 21, Coldwell Banker, Coldwell Banker Commercial, Corcoran, ERA, Guaranteed Rate Affinity and Sotheby’s International Realty under the Compass umbrella.

Stockholders at both Compass and Anywhere approved all merger-related proposals, backing the $1.6 billion transaction.

01/08/2026

U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley confirmed rumors that have been circulating since 2011: He’s running for Chicago mayor.

The nine-term congressman, who represents Chicago’s North Side and some of the city’s western suburbs, responded, “I am,” when asked if he was going to run for mayor in 2027 by WGN Radio host John Williams.

But first, Quigley said he’s focused on the upcoming March primary for his current seat representing Illinois’ 5th Congressional District.

“You asked me a question; I wanted to answer honestly. I’m not equivocating, I’m just prioritizing the here and now, and that is the issues of the day and the primary in March.”

The nine-term Democrat has been rumored to have his sights on City Hall for over a decade.

01/07/2026

After 31 years in the lending industry, Bill Katsoolias gets the majority of his business from a referral network of past and current clients. It’s having a network of partners and clients that helps an individual thrive in any market, he says.

Katsoolias, a Wintrust Mortgage senior mortgage planner, provides every client with a personalized experience. He doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions, and he feels this makes him different from other mortgage planners.

Bill Katsoolias Mortgage Specialist NMLS #755858 , Senior Mortgage Planner
Wintrust Mortgage

After 31 years in the lending industry, Bill Katsoolias gets the majority of his...

01/07/2026

Doug Smith, a former senior vice president of mortgage lending at CrossCountry Mortgage, has returned to Chicago-based Rate - Guaranteed Rate, where he will hold the same title.

Smith will continue to do business in both the Chicagoland and South Florida markets.

Doug Smith returned to Rate as senior vice president of mortgage lending after three years at CrossCountry Mortgage.

01/07/2026

The real estate market was largely frozen in 2025. Home sales continued to slow, as low inventory, high prices and relatively expensive mortgage rates kept many would-be homebuyers locked out of the market.

Our contributors expressed cautious optimism for 2026, while also setting realistic expectations for what might lie ahead, given the numerous opportunities for disruption that are part and parcel of today’s economy.

Find 2026 real estate predictions for mortgage lending here: https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2025/12/01/2026-mortgage-lending-predictions/

Featuring the perspectives of:
Shant Banosian at Rate - President, Rate - Guaranteed Rate
Matt Horney - Senior Lending Manager, Chase
Tim Tuz - SVP Capital Markets, Wintrust Mortgage
Neena Vlamis - CEO, A and N Mortgage Services

We thank all of them for taking the time to share their expertise with our audience.

Leaders from Chicagoland lenders Rate, A&N, Chase and Wintrust Mortgage share their mortgage-lending predictions.

01/06/2026

Chase D. Moore was looking for a meaningful career change that could positively impact people’s lives and not just earn a paycheck. He found it in mortgage lending.

Since earning a graduate degree in 2011, he has always held a role in finance. Prior to joining JP Morgan Chase in 2016 as a private client banker, he worked for other large finance firms. He believes that home ownership is one of the first steps in building family wealth. “Assisting someone who is purchasing a home is a key piece in helping them achieve financial freedom,” he says, which was pivotal in choosing his current career path.

Chase D. Moore, Senior Home Lending Advisor CPC
Chase Private Client Team, JPMorganChase, NMLS #1230309

Chase D. Moore was looking for a meaningful career change that could positively impact...

01/06/2026

2025 Chicago Agents' Choice Developer of the Year, Suburbs: M/I Homes, Inc.

M/I Homes has been building new homes of outstanding quality and superior design for more than 40 years. Founded in 1976, the company has fulfilled the dreams of over 150,000 homeowners and grown to become one of the nation’s leading homebuilders.

M/I Homes has been building new homes of outstanding quality and superior design for more than 40 years.

01/06/2026

2026 president of the National Association of REALTORS®, Kevin C. Brown navigates opportunities and challenges in 2026.

"How do we harness the potential of the new year’s opportunities while successfully addressing its challenges? The answer is simple — by being prepared. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from 47 years in real estate, it’s the importance of preparedness. If you are not looking ahead, you are already behind."

Full Association News article here:
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2026/01/05/january-2026-association-news/

"A new year brings both opportunities and challenges, and 2026 is no exception," 2026 NAR President Kevin Brown writes.

01/05/2026

Driven by a passion for learning, leadership and creating opportunities, Danielle Dowell founded the DoWell Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices of Illinois after beginning her real estate career as an assistant. Eager to master every facet of the real estate industry — including brokerage, operations, development and investing — Dowell quickly became a notable force in city, suburban and select out-of-state markets.

Danielle Dowell, Founder
Arianna Esper, Broker
Madeline Ackerlund, Transaction Coordinator & Broker
Tanner Peterson, Broker
Kim Bowman, Broker
Tom Casey, Broker
Tim Knipper, Broker
Lauren Ward, Broker
Danielle Knighton, Broker
Jeff Shandling, Broker
Farah Kothari, Broker
Ashlee Chung, Broker
Michelle Herz, Broker
The DoWell Group - Berkshire Hathaway
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices of Illinois

Danielle Dowell, Founder Arianna Esper, Broker Madeline Ackerlund, Transaction Coordinator & Broker Tanner Peterson,...

01/05/2026

The first Chicago Agent Magazine issue of 2026 is now live on our website! 💻. https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/our-current-issue/market-outlook/

At the beginning of 2026, much of the housing market remains in a holding pattern from 2024. Interest rates have decreased slightly and inventory's gone up, but prices remain relatively high, and the time homes spend on the market has increased in many locations. Experts expect 2026 to be a “recovery year” from the low volumes of the preceding years, but not significantly better than where the market was before the pandemic.

This month's cover features Jeff Lasky, CEO of North Shore-Barrington Association of Realtors® as he lays out expectations for the 2026 housing market along with expert insights by Selma Hepp, senior vice president and chief economist of Cotality and Chris Lim, chief growth officer of RE/MAX.
Other contributors of this issue include Association News by 2026 president of the National Association of REALTORS® Kevin C. Brown, Top Coach advice from president of Jameson Sotheby's International Realty Jim Miller, and positive outlooks on housing data in 2026!

Find all new features and articles from the January issue here:

01/05/2026

Every month, Chicago Agent features a message from local or national association leaders. These were the most-read Association News items in 2025. https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2025/12/26/2025s-top-5-association-news-items/

1. Will AI make real estate fairer or more biased?
2025 Illinois Realtors President Tommy Choi asks if AI is helping us eliminate bias in real estate or reinforcing it in ways we don’t even realize.

2. Realtors® in action: Serving Chicago beyond the closing table
As Realtors, community engagement isn’t just a bonus — it’s a responsibility, writes Chicago Association of REALTORS® Foundation Chair Antonia Mills Wesselink.

3. Real estate in 2025: A promising path forward
National Association of REALTORS® President Kevin Sears says the real estate industry is at a “pivotal moment.” Overall, though, he’s optimistic about 2025.

4. A 2026 market defined by change — that’s why Realtors need their associations more than ever
“In 2026, Illinois REALTORS® will double down on what agents need most: forms, education, advocacy and strong local partnerships,” writes 2026 President Jeff Kolbus, President RE/MAX Traders Unlimited.

5. Beyond the MLS: The true value of your local Realtor® association
“Local associations are the gateway to the Multiple Listing Service, but there are things of equal value that we provide,” writes North Shore-Barrington Association of Realtors CEO Jeff Lasky.

Every month, Chicago Agent features a message from local or national association leaders. These were the most-read items in 2025.

01/04/2026

Working with people has always come naturally to Ana Novakovic. Whether it was helping out in a busy office or earning a master’s degree in psychology, she’s always been drawn to roles where she could listen, support and connect. Real estate wasn’t part of the original plan, but her interest in homes and remodeling grew alongside her professional work. When she took the step into investing and remodeling properties, she found a way to bring together her passion for real estate and her love for helping others feel at home.

A Realtor with HomeSmart Connect, Novakovic serves both the western and northern suburbs of Chicago — areas where she has lived, invested and built lasting community connections.

Ana Novakovic - Real estate , Realtor
HomeSmart Connect - 10 Chicagoland Locations

Working with people has always come naturally to Ana Novakovic. Whether it was helping...