I’ve been told on occasion that I brag too much. In last year’s Second Homes, issue I mentioned all of the wonderful spots where I have my own second pad, and I know there are a lot of jealous folks out there so I won’t mention it again. However, I do want to report I recently purchased a new place in Barbados, and have since sold two more vacation homes to new clients in the same area.
If you’re going to be selling vacation homes, there is nothing wrong with checking out the merchandise and knowing your way around the island; it’s a tax write off just waiting to happen. As I sip my piña colada alongside the shores of the Atlantic with Rihanna down the street, I’ll share with you what’s going on in the juicy world of real estate gossip.
Bob and Anne Schiller’s Elmhurst-based Schiller Real Estate will merge with Chicago-based Koenig & Strey Real Living. The location will be referred to as the Koenig & Strey-Schiller Office. I wonder how they came up with such a brilliant name.
The Young Chicago Realtors kicked off their first event at Theory with cocktails on April 8. With the way these kids partied it’s certainly not going to be their last.
Also on April 8, Aspire held one of their big blowouts at Sound Bar with an afterparty at Manor. I really wish I had some dirt to sling here, but I went right after the YCR event and I told you how those kids party; I can’t remember a thing.
Silver Tower, now represented by Jameson, hosted their grand opening this past weekend featuring crazy reduced prices. Maybe they’ll go really crazy and sell another 12 units in two weeks!
Harris Design Build hosted a hard hat experience at Abbey Woods in Barrington Hills on April 11 where the public toured an 8,000-square-foot home and learned how smart technology works while meeting the architects and builders. I tried to sneak my hard hat home with me, but apparently that’s not the way things work in the BH.
Jenny Sepulveda of the Lincoln Park Sudler Sotheby’s hosted another fundraiser with A and N Mortgage for her campaign to become Woman of the Year for the Lymphoma Society on April 11 with a night at Bull and Bear. Guest bartenders included Lauren Mitrick of Jameson, Sue Tao of Prudential Preferred, Mike Vesole of @properties, Maria Munoz of KW and Victoria Garcia of Wells Fargo. Out of the five mentioned, I’d say two have a backup career if the whole real estate thing falls through.
NSBAR YPN will host a happy hour at Flatlander’s Brewing Company in Lincolnshire on April 15 with one of NAR’s “30 under 30” honorees Jared James. Speaking of 30 under 30, do we think Chicago’s own Lauren Mitrick will get in? We’ll find out at the end of May, but I’ve got my hunch.
American Invsco knocked about 40 percent off their units at 200 N. Dearborn, maybe next they’ll put that “e” in their name that I always think should be there.
Peter Holsten is ready to jump back into the Parkside of Oldtown with the next phase of 53 low-income homes and 20 market-rate homes. Yes, that’s the development that took the place of Cabrini Green. Apparently it was named for Frances Cabrini, an Italian-American nun who served the poor and was the first American to be canonized. Just a little tidbit to impress your friends.
Crain’s examined the formerly “best boutique, cute retail street in Chicago,” at Armitage Avenue between Halsted and Racine and determined that label doesn’t fit anymore since Damen, Rush and Southport have grown. The folks at CA are still happy to call Armitage home, and Agent X thinks someone might just be a wee bit jealous.
Congrats to Matt Garrison on selling the home next door to Obama for $1.4 million! I heard Matt threw in a pair of binoculars to seal the deal.
As usual, people have grown tired of their jobs and have decided to jump ship. Tamara Hanna has joined the Kopley Group as the vice president of sales for the real estate brokerage division, Kopley Partners. Lisa Sanders, a top-producing North and Northwest Side residential broker has ditched K&S and opted to join Baird & Warner. Brenda Tabak, formerly of Coldwell Banker, has returned from a stint in California and decided to join Jameson. Over on the commercial side, Jennifer Fitzpatrick, formerly of Zivkin Realty, has also joined Jameson.
Plenty of spring birthdays in April, which means their parents had a pretty nice fall some years back. Today, April 12, Agent X’s new best friend Lauren Mitrick will turn a number that has to be under 30. Wonder why she’s in here so often? Cash. Anne Ewasko and Dennis Dooley celebrated their big days on April 8. On April 14, Dennis Shaffer will have some cake and Sandy Marshall will wait until April 19 to enjoy the festivities. Then on April 25, Ivette Rodriguez Anderson should have a piece of cake for each of her names.
Agent X Keepin’ the “real” in real estate
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