Since I’m sure you read last month’s issue cover to cover you know exactly what to expect in 2022. But do you know the details of what went on last year? Didn’t think so.

We did it! We made it to 2022. I’m still working through a NYE sugar hangover (and maybe a bit of something else), so let’s get right to the gossip and carry on with the year.

It’s prediction time! The cover story will give you fancy tips on how to get ready for 2022, and my column will get you into the holiday spirit with a healthy helping of gossip.

Here we are at our annual Agents’ Choice Awards! If you don’t see your name in the cover story, better luck next year.

When I heard about the topic of this issue, I was hoping our fearless publishers would simply listing every Chicagoland brokerage with an assigned grade. I even phoned them up to provide a few recommendations!

What better way to prepare for new construction than to get in a good sweat sesh? Another way is to read all the latest goss, so here we go!

I hope you already have some idea, because you can’t really be in this industry if you’re not keeping track of what’s going on in the big, wide world of real estate.

Take who you are, flip it upside down, enhance it a bit and boom! You’ve got your brand. Some people pay me a lot of money for that advice, so use it wisely.

My fair readers know me pretty well by now, and I’m not afraid to share (yet again) that I have no interest in learning about technology.

“I’ve been waxing poetic about luxury in these pages for a number of years now, and it never gets old. From opulent imported marble kitchens to practical basement bowling alleys and solid gold bathtubs, there’s no such thing as over the top.” — Agent X

As far as this issue goes, I’m not as interested in who works where, but I do like to know who makes the most dough and what makes people want to jump ship.

“The only thing hot out there these days is the housing market, now that interest rates are lower than the low end of a scale.” — Agent X

“Inside the cover story you’ll get a chance to dive into all of that boring data and hear from top producers in Chicagoland. Truly a content match made in heaven, so on behalf of all of us at CA I’d like to say: you’re welcome.” — Agent X

“We did it, everyone! We made it to 2021. Things may look a little different, so let me break down what’s new.” — Agent X

There’s a really good chance we’ll all need to be wearing real pants again at some point, so that’s something to look forward to (or not, if you’re really digging the loungewear).

“As we drift into the end of the year, let’s focus on happy stuff — like managing brokers!” — Agent X