It's a new decade!

Making New Year's resolutions is a great way to start off the New Year off right, whether they are the standard ones like "get in shape", "learn something new", "start a new business"or "spend more time with friends and family". However, there are plenty of other things that you might want to work on in 2019, from the small (such as re-arranging your home to make a more cozy living environment), to the large (buying a new piece of property whether you plan to live in it or use it as an investment).

What are your resolutions for 2020? We'll start by sharing ours. In 2020 we resolve to...

1. Keep our (and our clients') homes staging ready. The easiest way to do this is by updating your interior decor with new paint colors,

There is an incredible number of reasons why Chicago is such an amazing city, from the iconic skyline to the incredible restaurants to the world class universities and museums. What can we say? We love it here. And there's perhaps no better time to be in the Windy City than during the holiday season, and here's why...

The Lights On The Magnificent Mile. It starts with the parade,but the millions of holiday lights, and the general festive spirit make this a wonderful time to be out and about on Michigan Avenue for the entire season.

The Christkindlmarkt. This traditional German-style market at the Daley Plaza has all sorts of holiday crafts, along with the trademark mulled wine and authentic German food, European-style houses, Christmas trees,

While winter in Chicago is indeed cold and can be unforgiving, there are a lot of things to love about the city in the winter - including how amazing the holiday season is in the Windy City. Here are some of our favorite things about the holidays in Chicago...and of course, if you are interested in experiencing the holidays in the Second City for yourself as a homeowner, contact us today!

1. Christkindlmarkt in Daley Plaza and other markets in downtown Chicago and the surrounding neighborhoods are some of the most fun ways to find unique gifts and experience how other cultures celebrate the holidays - and Chicago

2. The Bulls and Blackhawks are both in season, and both teams should be excellent this year. So cheer them on and support your

Tis the season for gifts of all kinds, from the fun and somewhat frivolous stocking stuffers to the big ticket items that make the holiday season so memorable. However, there is one kind of gift that is not only wonderful to give or receive, it can be downright life changing! That's right - we're talking about a gift of Chicago real estate.

After all, a gift of real estate can be life changing - whether it is an amazing vacation spot or second home, an amazing new place to live, or an investment property, or virtually anything else. For parents, it is a way to help your kids start off adulthood or parenthood on the right foot, a way to thank your own parents for all that they've done for you,  or it can be a great gift to yourself and your partner.

Chicago winters are no joke. And with the temperatures dropping and the polar vortexes looming, if you live here you better ready to settle in for the winter. New transplant to the Windy City? Have no fear - our experienced agents are not only knowledgeable about the Chicago real estate scene, but also about living in the city itself - including how to survive our winters.

Moreover, if you are planning on moving to Chicago, don't be afraid of the cold! It's really not that bad, and if you follow the tips below, you may even surprise yourself by enjoying the winter months.

1. Stick to the Pedway. Whenever possible, simply stay out of the wintry elements during your daily routine. Residents of Lakeshore East and similar downtown condos have the

There are many reasons why we are thankful to be living and working in Chicago - probably too many to count, and definitely too many to fit into on one article here. However, it is Thanksgiving week and therefore we'd be remiss if we didn't share at least a few of the reasons why we love living in Chicago.

1. We're thankful for the stunning architecture, especially works by masters like Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies Van Der Rohe, Lucien Lagrange, and our very own Jeanne Gang.

2. We're thankful for the city's amazing parks and public gardens - Chicago's commitment to public green spaces is second to none, as evidenced by our motto Urbs in Horto, or "a city in a garden".

3. We're thankful for Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, and all the amazing

There are so many reasons we love living in downtown Chicago - and like all Windy City residents, we have a lot to be thankful for. And not just in the real estate realm (although we are thrilled about the many opportunities in the Chicago market). Here are the top eight reasons we love living in downtown Chicago.

1. The Skyline and the City Lights. Yes, we're cheating a bit by naming two things with one item, but they really go hand in hand. Chicago at night is absolutely magical, especially during the holidays when city is lit up with decorations (literally).

2. Chicago's Dining Scene. Not only do we have some of the best restaurants in the world, we are also home to some of the world's finest grocery stores and we have a wide variety of

We might be a little bit biased, but we think that Chicago is one of the best sports cities in the world. With two world class baseball teams as well as football, basketball, hockey, and soccer teams that regularly make the playoffs, we're incredibly lucky when it comes to professional sports. In fact, we're only of only ten major U.S. cities that have five major professional sports teams - the Bears, the Cubs, the White Sox, the Bulls, and the Blackhawks. Plus we have two up and coming soccer teams, the Chicago Fire and the Chicago Red Stars!

What's more, if you're a dedicated amateur or just love watching your fellow locals compete, there's everything from softball and volleyball leagues in the summer to hockey leagues in the winter, along

When you're looking for a new piece of Chicago real estate, there are many things to consider as you search - and even more questions to answer before you buy! And while certain aspects of the search and the subsequent purchase are identical no matter what type of property you are looking for, there are many nuances to consider that vary depending on whether you're searching for a long-term home, a short-term place to live, or an investment property.

A Question of Space. This might be the most important aspect of your new property to consider if you're planning on calling it home for a number of years. How much space do you really need to be comfortable - and how much space is truly ideal? This depends not only on your own preferences, but on the

Rendering of 363 East Wacker Drive #2907 (Vista)

While living in the suburbs or the outskirts of Chicago may be much more relaxing than the hustle and bustle of the city, nothing is the same as enjoying the energy of downtown and the surrounding neighborhoods - particularly if you have your own pied-à-terre or second home to enjoy it all without having to travel home to the suburbs or further.

Whether you work in Loop or nearby, or simply want a home base in the heart of the Windy City, finding a cozy pied-à-terre with amazing views of the skyline, Chicago River, and Lake Michigan can be easier said than done. Naturally, you desire all the comforts of home, but you also want the convenience of a compact condo that's near everything from the