Though it comes around twice a year, I never tire of preparing for the new construction issue. There are long hours involved and tons of listings to sift through, but I get the chance to become intimately involved with all of the hottest new construction properties in the Chicagoland area.

This year we have numerous stainless steel kitchens, granite counterops and 42-inch everything, but that just reflects what the people want. Less common are mudrooms and, my favorite, dog washing areas. While I’m not currently in the market for a new place, this issue has definitely showed me what sorts of features I do and do not want in my next home, and now I know where to get it.

Daylight savings time has come and gone, and the weather has started to warm up just a bit. There might be one or two more sprinkles of snow, but we are definitely approaching spring. This is the time to get your clients out into the open and show them what’s out there for the taking. Also, with all of the new tax credits for first-time buyers, this is a great time to nab the fence sitters and reiterate what we’ve known for a long time – now is a great time to buy.

As always, we’d like to thank everyone that helped make this issue a success. We could not complete these special issues without help from our readers, and for that we appreciate everything you do. If you have comments or suggestions on how we can make this issue even better, please e-mail me at zipporah@chicago.staging312.com.

While we’re on the topic of new construction, don’t forget to attend our New Construction Event on March 31 at the Intercontinental O’Hare in Rosemont. We always have a fabulous turnout for this event, which makes it a great place for networking, as well as providing agents with a more in-depth look at the new construction projects on the market. There will also be another opportunity to win a spot on one of our upcoming covers. To RSVP, e-mail us at RSVP@chicago.staging312.com. I can’t wait to see you there!