Every city has a distinct personality. It comes from the companies and industries based there, the style of the art, fashion, and cuisine that's unique to the locale, and even the personality of it citizens. And if every city has its special characteristics, that goes doubly true for its architecture and real estate. 

The Movoto City Personality Index describes Chicago as ingenious, stimulating, quick, alert, and outspoken - and we tend to agree! Our powerful, sturdy skyscrapers certainly make a statement, and our many styles of architecture combine to make a creative and compelling blend that echoes the many cultures and backgrounds of our residents.

The city personality index also says Chicago is resourceful and good at solving new and

While it looks like we have a least a few more weeks of chilly weather, our Chicago real estate team prefers to look forward to spring and summer instead of cringing at the thought of yet another polar vortex.

So without further adieu, here are our top ten reasons the Windy City is wonderful in the spring:

10. The festival season kicks off in a big way. An added bonus? Many of them happen right next door at Grant Park and Millennium Park.

9. Cooking and dining al fresco - restaurant patios start to open up, as well as the barbeque grills on the decks at the various buildings in Lakeshore East.

8. Running, walking, and biking along the Lake and otherwise working out in the city's many beautiful parks - it is wonderful after being cooped up

Now that the winter is waning and the sun is coming back out, it's time for a refresh! Whether that means its time for an interior design update, a thorough spring cleaning, or perhaps even time to sell your place and/or look for a new one, spring means it's time to start everything fresh.

And wouldn't it be lovely to have a refreshingly new place to live for the new season? If you're not ready to buy something new, consider using a local cleaning service for a deep clean and organization - it might make your current home feel positively different, and if you're considering selling, it's a good way to get ready for the staging, open houses, and visits from potential buyers that are coming up. And perhaps it's time for a design refresh as well! New

One of the many wonderful things about living in Chicago is the fact that it is truly a city of neighborhoods, each with its unique personality and quirks. In fact, this makes the city wonderful to explore as well as allowing you to determine which neighborhood is truly the best one for you (and your family, as the case may be). Here are some of our favorite Chicago neighborhoods and why you should consider investing in real estate in each of them:

Lakeshore East - Of course, we're going to start with our real estate agency's home neighborhood of Lakeshore East, a true urban oasis featuring some of the city's most remarkable skyscrapers as well as townhomes that live like single family homes, a gorgeous park, a high grocery store, a world class

Spring flowers are popping up and the sun is starting to return to Chicago, and we're (hopefully) only weeks away from our first warm temperatures. And we're certainly looking forward to all of the many fun springtime activities that you can enjoy with your friends and family as well as how gorgeous Chicago looks in the springtime. Plus, lots of new listings and new construction come on the market around this part of the year, so it is a fantastic time to be in real estate in a thriving city

As lifelong (or near lifelong) Chicago residents, our real estate team wants to share the reasons why we deal with Chicago winters every year - we're looking forward to spring!

1.Opening Day! Whether you are a Cubs or White Sox fan, there's nothing like the

St Patrick's Day is this week, and that's a holiday that Chicago certainly does well. It's all about the parades, the celebrations of the Irish heritage, and of course, dying the Chicago River green. However, the holiday is also about the supposed luck of the Irish - but you definitely don't have to be Irish yourself to appreciate how lucky you are to live in Chicago. Here are are some of the reasons that we feel lucky that we live and work in Chicago...

The Architecture. Chicago is known for its complex and beautiful architecture that runs the gamut from classic Art Deco and Prairie School styles to Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies Van Der Rohe's creations to Lucien LaGrange's intricate details to new and inspiring eco-friendly buildings by innovative

Spring is (almost) here, the birds are chirping, the flowers will be blooming soon, and the "for sale" and "sold" signs are going up, at least figuratively. And while Chicago's many neighborhoods all possess their own charms, the most consistently popular areas are almost always the neighborhoods centered around the Loop. The heart of the city both geographically and economically, Chicago's downtown properties are pretty remarkable investments - and they can be pretty amazing to live in too!

Lakeshore East. We might be a little biased, but we think this urban oasis just east of the Loop, next to the river and the Lake might be the best location in the city. Not only do you have easy access to downtown, it's a quick trip to visit nearly any

With so many gorgeous, elegantly designed and finished luxury properties on the Chicago real estate market, it is easy to be dazzled by a stunning interior or a building with tons of amenities. However, whether you are buying a home to live in or an investment property, there are some key elements that you should look for in order to maximize the condo or town home's value. Here are the key questions that our real estate team suggests you ask the agent and yourself before you sign on the dotted line..

1. Will these amazing views stay unobstructed? Or is there construction planned nearby? After all, it would be a shame if your new place's sweeping views from a terrace, balcony, or floor to ceiling window only lasted a year or so.

2. Get the d

One of the many fantastic things about living in Chicago is the many different festivals and other international events that happen in the city - it truly is a melting pot of many different cultures and ethnicities. No matter where you are from, or what you want to explore, there is something from nearly every corner of the world.

Year Round Festivals:  Chicago's summer festivals are legendary for a reason - we have to celebrate the best season of the year! But there is much more than Lollapalooza. Nearly every nationality and neighborhood has a unique festival, from Maifest in Lincoln Square (German) to the African/Caribbean Festival Of Life to the Fiesta Del Sol to the Chinatown Summer Fair (and much more), there is something for everyone. Even

One of the many wonderful aspects of living in Chicago is the wide variety of live shows, concerts, and theater options. From the Second City improv theater, Broadway in Chicago, the Chicago Opera House, and all of the many smaller venues in addition to the sheer number of places to see live music, the Windy City might be one of America's best places to see any kind of live performance.

Second City and Improv Comedy - Often considered the birthplace of modern comedy, the Second City Improv club and the number of other improv comedy spots in Chicago mean that you can find a great place to enjoy some drinks and have a laugh any night of the week.

The Chicago Theater District - Chicago's theaters are perhaps surpassed only by Broadway itself.