When it comes to buying second homes, Chicagoland residents often gravitate to southern Wisconsin, Southwest Michigan, Florida’s Gulf Coast or Arizona. See the results of this month’s agent survey for further confirmation. Each locale offers something different, and I have been fortunate to spend significant time in three of those spots (I’ll get there eventually, Arizona).

While I know those three spots well, I’m in no way a local, and if I were in the market to buy a second home, an agent with on-the-ground experience and knowledge would be essential. Buying, selling or securing a mortgage for a second home is not the same as a transaction on a primary home, and in this month’s cover package we lean on experts to explain the differences.

Those experts include Dawn McKenna of The Dawn McKenna Group, Laura Ann Mitrick from COMPASS, Brandie Malay Siavelis of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate and, with the lending perspective, Richard Honquest, vice president of mortgage lending with Preferred Rate. I think you’ll find their perspectives enlightening. If you are active in the Lake Geneva or Southwest Michigan/Northwest Indiana second-home markets, check out our special issues, Who’s Who in Lake Geneva or Who’s Who in Southest Michigan & Northwest Indiana. To be part of the 2025 editions, reach out to marci@agentpublishing.com.

Meanwhile, I know many of you have Aug. 17 circled on your calendar. That’s the date when the rule changes negotiated by the National Association of REALTORS® kick in. Are you ready? Check out real estate coach Jonathan H. Lack’s column to find out.

Also in this issue, JJ Devore shares the latest from the Illinois REALTORS® Young Professionals Network, and we have the next installment of Real Data, featuring the top agents and offices from the second quarter of the year. Congrats to every agent and office that made those lists.