Building codes and permits are often cited by builders as a key driver of costs that get passed onto the consumer in the form of higher rents or purchase prices. Labor, land and materials continue to be the biggest

This year is one of continued change in home design as consumers get revved up about more livable spaces and a surge in new home-centered technology. Trends are constantly changing, and this year, homeowners want design that will create

As part of our spring new construction issue, we take a look at a few of the projects attracting attention in the local real estate community.

We asked some of the smart people we know in the development and new construction industries what they thought about the state of the industry, the influence of amenities and technology and what agents can do to make new-construction

There are few clearer indicators that an agent has reached the greatest heights of the real estate profession than being recognized as a top producer. It’s both an affirmation of an agent’s success and an invaluable accolade that can

Competing with real estate’s biggest brands can be difficult, but it’s something Tamara O’Connor knows well. The broker-owner at Premier Living Properties in St. Charles managed to make our Real Data list not once but twice, personally scoring the

A robust reading list helps many agents and brokers retain balance while also learning new techniques and information. But the types of tomes on top producers’ bookshelves vary quite a bit. While some agents rely on strictly on business

  Many brokerages recognize their top producers with incentives, special trips, awards or even just by noting who’s on top at the weekly sales meeting. But what if the method of recognition also had the potential to help top

It’s been said that the presence of change is the only thing that never changes. Mergers and acquisitions are a kind of change that many agents and brokers have to face at some point in their careers, whether they

Handing over the reins of the family real estate business where you started your career could end up being even more stressful than handing over the keys to the house you grew up in. But Rich Gloor said that

Looking at the larger mergers and acquisitions landscape, it appears many expect activity to heat up significantly this year. Deloitte’s M&A Trends 2019 report, which queried executives at corporations and private equity firms about deal activity in the current

A robust seller’s market has dominated the real estate industry in recent years. Low interest rates compelled many people to buy, while scarce inventory helped push prices up in markets across the country. Those historically low interest rates have

When it comes to getting a clear view of the intersection of real estate and the economy, Lawrence Yun is perfectly suited to the task. The chief economist of the National Association of Realtors recently talked with us to

Though it may feel remote from the day-to-day pressures of running a real estate business, the overall economy plays a vital role in the local residential market. Real estate is a cyclical sector of the economy and one that’s

It’s not easy predicting the future of real estate in Chicagoland. Despite an economy that seems relatively strong, there are headwinds for the industry in 2019. Rising interest rates, uncertainty in global markets, and continuing affordability and inventory issues

While Pantone’s color of the year gets the most attention, many of the big paint companies come out with their own predictions of what colors will be hot in commercial and residential interiors in the next year. Check out