If you think the only reason agents engage in open houses is to appease sellers, you’re looking at the process all wrong. Smart brokers have figured out how to employ a multiplier effect to this age-old real estate technique to help power their business for the long haul.

What does the Chicagoland real estate industry look like, and where is it headed? Those are the questions we hope to answer in our annual reader survey, conducted from Feb. 16 to March 15 this year. In our Truth About Agents issue, you’ll find demographic data, but also what amounts to a finger on the pulse of the local market.

The word “disruption” has become somewhat cliche in real estate, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a real phenomenon. Lawsuits, venture capital, tech companies and shifts in consumer patterns all threaten to displace agents from the transaction. How can brokers and real estate companies prepare?

Shifts in the public perception of the planet are impacting the new-construction world in Chicagoland. For some, the solution involves green homes that utilize sustainable materials. But also, the concept of resilience has also become part of the conversation as homebuyers seek out buildings designed to withstand the stresses of environmental change.

How do solo practitioners compete without a team? We talked to successful top producers to find out what they do to stand out, and why starting a team isn’t on their to-do lists.

Welcome to our annual Real Data issue, which highlights those who made waves in the 2019 Chicagoland market. We’re excited to bring you this look back at the last year to help you both celebrate your colleagues and identify your competition as you forge ahead in 2020.

This year brings new laws about marijuana use, tenant screening and real estate licensing, and as usual, there are subtle but important changes on social media use and cybersecurity practices. Is your office ready for 2020 from a legal perspective?

Almost everyone agrees that it’s time to do something about the federal conservatorship of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and that lawmakers and regulators should handle the transition with care. But what will reform look like, when will it get done and what will it mean for lenders, real estate brokers and home buyers?

Because most brokers are independent contractors, they often have to be their own accountants, marketers, office managers and schedulers. Here are some concrete steps for real estate professionals who are ready to get serious about the shift from “agent” to business owner.

As the decade comes to a close, we’re looking ahead. We reached out to a handful of insightful real estate leaders to get their thoughts on what the next ten years might look like, and what industry professionals need to do to get ready.

What does it take to become a managing broker? We check in with three agents who recently made the transition from independent contractor to manager to learn what surprised them, the lessons they’ve learned along the way and the skills that have been most vital to their success so far.

To say Chicago is a city of neighborhoods is most certainly cliché by now, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.

Welcome to the 14th annual Agents’ Choice Awards, where we’re honoring the very best of Chicagoland real estate according to our readers.

While iBuyers aren’t an active presence in Chicago yet, brokers need to understand the competition and consider its potential impact on the local market. Does the average agent really need to fear the impact of iBuyers on their business or can they find a way to take advantage of new sales tools to get more deals done?

The interests of brokers and politicians often overlap, as both seek to promote and improve communities. But politically active agents take a more direct approach by advocating directly for changes or improvements.

Nontraditional couples have been going in on big purchases together forever. But unmarried duos going in on a property purchase together is a rapidly growing trend. What does this mean for agents?