I’m not going to lie, 2009 hasn’t started off on the best note. I’ve had a cough for two weeks straight, who knows when I’ll be able to dig my car out of its parking spot and there seems

I have to be honest, our Who’s Who issue is one of the most difficult to compile. Each year, the entire Chicago Agent staff works together tirelessly to create flattering photographs matched with compelling paragraphs to capture the essence

Every year in our Neighborhoods to Watch issue, I proclaim my love for my own neighborhood. Well, since last year’s issue, I’ve moved into a new condo. I know what you’re thinking, “how could she leave her beloved Roscoe

The beauty of the luxury market, and the real estate market in general, is that there will always be gorgeous homes to see. As a Realtor, do you ever stop for a moment and take in a listing and

I’ve never met a person who doesn’t love a great deal. I don’t just mean right now in our “difficult” economy, I’m talking about all the time. When you compliment friends on their new shirt, do they ever brag

The Second Homes issue is one of my favorites for a variety of reasons. First of all, who doesn’t dream of one day having another home to whisk away to when things in Chicago get a little hectic, or

I have to admit, I was skeptical about social networking when it first emerged. Many many many years ago in the dark ages of social media, I — like everyone else — had a Friendster profile. In fact, that

View more in our 2010 Spring New Construction Digital Edition If you listen to the chatter, you’ll hear that the industry is picking up. Agents have told me that they’re extremely busy lately, and things are moving faster than

Some might think that during a difficult market it’s harder to be a top producer, but actually, the opposite can be true. Recently, a lender told me that last month he had the best numbers he’d seen in five

When the market is slow and houses aren’t flying off the “shelves,” agents often forget that real estate can actually be fun. In fact, when times are tough, many don’t take the time to stop and think about the

Before I address the mortgage industry, I’d like to point out Chicago Agent’s brand new design. Take a second to flip to the front cover and really look at what our art director Kevin has done to give CA

As usual, last year flew by at lightning speeds. I remember pinning my brand new 2009 calendar on the wall as if it were yesterday, only to toss it in the trash to make room for 2010. Time continues

Here we are at the official end of 2009, and this has been a doozy of a year. This is the last issue of Chicago Agent for 2009, and we’ve covered the ups and downs of the industry every

Aside from the fact that I work for a great publication and I get to write and edit interesting stories every day, there are many additional reasons I like where I work. First of all, I work with great

For me, ethnicity is not necessarily something you can spot from afar, but rather something else that follows me at all times: my name. If you were to see me on the street, you might think I’m Irish, thanks

There is nothing better than being recognized for a job well done. In times like these, it is more important than ever to highlight those in the industry that are working hard and making things happen. 

Somehow, I turned