To be single on Valentine’s Day is one thing. To be single on Valentine’s Day during a brutal, subzero winter is another. My heart felt as icy as unsalted porch steps. Luckily, I have you all — my real estate lovelies — to keep me warm. Our streets may be gaping with potholes, but our social calendars are freshly paved.
First off, I’ve got to highlight Danny Delgado’s recent video where he bounds and gags a Realtor partner who went with another mortgage professional. We’ve all been there, right? That’s the kind of competition we’re exploring in this month’s lending issue.
As for big events, CAR held its market outlook at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel on Feb. 3. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun spoke. “Don’t take the numbers too seriously,” Yun said, noting the inexact science of real estate predictions. Well, Yun, you don’t gotta tell me twice. The only thing I take seriously is gossip.
Speaking of gossip … the rumor mill is abuzz with news of another Compass takeover. Keep your eyes on BHHS. You didn’t hear it from me. (Even though you totally did.) Stay tuned for breaking news.
Meanwhile, the WCR Illinois held its installation gala at Venuti’s in Addison on Feb. 18. The party included lunch, drinks and the swearing-in of the new board, which, this year, is led by a man: Brett Decker of American Financial Solutions.
Other fun February happenings included Prosperity Home Mortgage’s pickleball tournament at SPF Chicago; a Keller Williams family reunion in Las Vegas, attended by Chicago agents like Meg Daday; Elmhurst’s Top 30, hosted by Rate’s John Noldan at Medina Country Club for the suburb’s top-performing agents of 2024; a brunch for BHHS Chicago’s Q4 top producers at Beatrix; IRELA’s cocktail party at Bloomingdale Golf Club; john greene Realtor’s yearly kick-off at The Farmhouse in Plainfield; and, finally, The Pagels Group’s first-ever Galentine’s Day event, highlighting women-owned businesses.
It was a big year for all Galentine’s Day. Joel and Christine Schaub sent out Galentine’s Day boxes for the girls. Gifties included a free blowout at goldplaited, perfect for prepping before a Who’s Who photoshoot… It’s times like these where you gotta be thankful for the generous lenders in our lives — without ’em, who would fund our parties and spa days? Luckily, those lenders take the front seat in this issue … And an extra set of well wishes to Joel and Christine who are expecting their first child! (That you did hear from me.)
Before we dive into all that mortgage talk, though, we have birthdays to celebrate. First, on March 6, we have Jim Psyhogios, followed by David Cieslak on March 7 and b-day twins Katrina Schmitt and Landon Harper March 10. On March 15, Sandesh Bilgi turns a year older. Then there’s a whole slew of birthdays — Tammy Hajjar Miller on March 19, Mary Summerville on March 20, Melissa Archer-Wirtz on March 21 and Michelle Bobart on March 22. On March 24, b-day triplets (and double Matts), Peter Moulton, Matt Laricy and Matt Silver, followed by Marissa Lanzito and Judy Greenberg on March 28 and Peter Olesker on March 29. Deena Zimmerman closes out the month on March 30. On April 1, we pick right back up with FIVE April Fools’ babies: Kai Schirmacher, Mike Vesole, Andrea Geller, Kim Hay Keefe and Nick Libert. Those pranksters! Cari Zweig-Driscoll takes over the party on April 2.