Quarantine-friendly home DIY projects
Does all this time at home bring out your DIY side? As I’m checking in with friends, family and clients, I am hearing people are making different use of their time. Some are baking away their blues, or the really lucky ones spending their extra minutes working out! But, if you are in the DIY camp, we’ve brainstormed a list that you will find useful--whether you are “sprucing to sell” or for your own enjoyment. There is nothing wrong with that!
Our list of ideas capitalizes on tools/items you probably already have at home, and can tackle during your kid’s nap or your lunch hour.
Change light bulbs: This may sound ridiculous, but I can’t tell you the number of homes we enter with missing or extinguished bulbs. Also consider reallocating light, making sure there aren’t any dark corners. The extra light can also lift spirits!
Organize closets: Especially if you are considering selling, there shouldn’t be anything on the floor of a closet. Get rid of all your dry-cleaning plastic covers because they take up space and make it hard to maneuver. And, invest in felt hangers. They look so much nicer, and take up less space!
Grout: Fill in any holes or chips in bathroom grout. And if it’s discolored, scrub it down with an old toothbrush.
Caulk: After the freeze/thaw of a few winters, gaps in caulk can start emerging. It’s amazing how much fresher a space can look with a fresh coat of caulk! Plus, a simple caulk application can prevent major leaks down the road.
Clean windows: This may be longer than a few hour project, but start with the insides one day and move outside the next. Or go room by room! This is another project that makes such a difference and can lift your spirits when done also.
Power wash all the things: Your front door step, outdoor rugs, outdoor furniture, exterior walls...the list goes on and on. And you cannot beat the satisfaction of a good power wash session.
Landscaping: Refresh the look of your outdoor space by trimming your hedges, raking leaves and turning mulch. You can also order seeds and plant seeds as a project with your kids. I am one who usually utilizes a landscaping company, but this year, I am going to plant my own plants as a project with the kids and a good way to save money.
A lot of these projects are kid-friendly too, so get the whole family involved!
Songbird Academy: An amazing preschool owned by my friend!
One of my absolute favorite parts of working in real estate is meeting and working with an incredibly diverse cross section of people. It’s even better when those people become friends, as is the case with Amy Waldon. I originally met Amy when she and her husband were looking for a condo back in 2014. Fast forward to 2017 and we sold that place and then I helped them find a home in Bucktown. For the first few years I knew Amy, she was at home taking care of her daughter. But, in 2018 Amy did something amazing: she bought a business--a preschool to be exact! I will let Amy take it from here!
How did you know you wanted to get into education?While working in marketing and PR for a commercial real estate firm, I decided to get my master’s degree in education. While I was studying, I fell in love with the Reggio Emilia approach to education. I worked in Winnetka at a school that focused on the approach, and I knew that this type of education would have to be in my life somehow.
Tell us about how Songbird Academy got started!I stayed home with my daughter for five years, and when she started kindergarten I knew I wanted to get back into the professional world. We began looking at different business opportunities and found the two schools that we ended up purchasing in 2018. At the time they were both using the Montessori method, so we ended up converting both spaces. One location is in Lakeview on Belmont and one is in Ravenswood on Montrose.
Can you describe an example of the Reggio Emilia approach to learning? One of the biggest tenants of this approach is that the children have ownership over their own learning. So for instance, instead of the teachers coming up with ideas for lesson plans, children come up with ideas that interest them. Or for younger students, the teachers will gage the children’s interest and then plan accordingly.
What is different about Songbird Academy? What you will find at our schools is a very nurturing, loving, family atmosphere. Both of our locations are on the smaller side, and while we are in the process of expanding, all future locations will also be small. Another huge difference here is how we are able to retain our teachers. When we bought the business we were able to increase salaries by 40%, offer paid time off and training. So, our teachers are happier and therefore stay with us, which is important to everyone.
We also offer a lot of enrichment so that we are constantly trying something new. Right now we have yoga twice a week at Ravenswood and have theater and Spanish classes at Lakeview.
What are your goals for the future of Songbird Academy?Goal #1 is to complete the expansion of the Ravenswood location. Goal #2 is to expand! We would love to open a location in Bucktown, and maybe an additional location in Lakeview. Even with expansion we will stay with the same small, warm environment setup.
Thank you, Amy! If you are interested in more information or a tour, sign up at the Songbird Academy website. Also, for parents of older children interested in Reggio Emilia, check out Bennett Day School, which starts in kindergarten.
The BG team expands: Please welcome Mara Walsh!
What did you do before starting in real estate?
I started my career out of college with NCR corporation selling computers and after one year in the Dayton area, I transferred to Chicago to be a part of the First Chicago (now Chase) account team. Initially I was nervous about moving to a much larger city where I didn’t know anyone. I still remember driving into the city for the first time on Lake Shore Drive. I saw the skyline, fell in love immediately and knew Chicago would be my home. To me Chicago is the perfect city, it has diverse neighborhoods and is a great place to make friends and raise a family.
Since moving to Chicago, I have worked as a sales executive for some of the largest technology and consulting firms in the world, including Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Intel and Capgemini. I have been fortunate to work with Fortune 500 accounts, helping to solve some of their most complex issues. I regularly exceeded my quotas and was recognized on numerous occasions as one of the top-performing global sales professionals. Working in sales has provided me with countless opportunities to develop as a professional and to meet some of the most amazing, inspiring colleagues, partners and friends. I have lived in many parts of the city and the moves I have made over the last 25 years have created a passion for home renovation and interior design, so my move into real estate was a natural transition.
You have worked in marketing and sales for some of the largest and best companies in the world. What is the secret to your success?
I have always been a driven person and believe in the benefits of hard work. However, my career in sales has also taught me the value and power of strong relationships. Strong relationships are the key to success and happiness in business and in life. Working in sales has taught me to be an active listener, to focus on the best outcome, be creative and work to exceed expectations. It’s also taught me that all good relationships are founded on trust – trust that you understand the situation and trust that you will not rest until you deliver the very best results. My goal is to bring all this experience to the Busby Group and deliver the best outcomes and experience to our clients.
Which part of your real estate career are you looking forward to the most?
Real estate gives me the opportunity to combine my experiences with my passions – it doesn’t feel like work when you enjoy what you do. I love networking and helping people find what they want. I love the city of Chicago and what all the different neighborhoods have to offer. I love working with people to reimagine how a house can become their home. I am excited to be a part of each clients’ journey, and help make the process as seamless and easy as possible.
What drew you to the BG Team?
I met Julie through one of the charities we both support and we quickly became friends. As I contemplated a career in real estate, I found myself focusing most on the type of Realtor I wanted to be. Observing how Julie did her job and meeting her team of like-minded, talented, successful women I knew this was the team I wanted to be a part of.
What has been your biggest professional ah-ha moment so far?
Trust matters. I learned through my sales career that in a competitive market, a lot of organizations have what seem like similar offerings and solutions. What really differentiates you is how much time you invest to understand your client’s needs and delivering a unique and rewarding experience—and that’s based on a foundation of trust. Once you have earned their trust, clients will come back to you for new and different opportunities, will refer you within their network and sometimes become valued friends. Ultimately people want to work with people they like and trust—so it’s not about making a quick sale, it’s about working to deliver the right outcome for your client.
What are you most excited about in the coming year?
There are so many things I am looking forward to this year—this will be my third year completing America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride” in Lake Tahoe supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and we will be celebrating my husband’s 50th birthday with our friends and family—but, I am most excited about my new career in real estate. I am looking forward to bringing my experience, passion and energy to the team and learning from all the amazing women that I will be working with at Busby Group. I cannot wait to feel the joy and excitement of helping our clients find their dream home!
Where do you live in Chicago, and what is your favorite neighborhood?
We live in the Andersonville area and I absolutely love it. We are within walking distance of great shopping, numerous restaurants, breweries, distilleries, parks for our dogs, and, of course, the Lakefront! What more could you ask for? When I first moved to the city, I lived in Lincoln Park and the Lakeview area and, while I love Andersonville, I still spend a lot of time staying up-to-date on the shops and restaurants and watching the Cubs in my old neighborhood.
Lightning Round:
You are actively involved in a number of charities; can you tell us a bit about each one?
I am very involved in our local community and actively work with several charities supporting and protecting children. Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (ChicagoCAC) and their partners are the front-line responders to reports of child sexual abuse, witness to violence and other serious maltreatment. ChicagoCAC is the city’s only not-for-profit organization that coordinates the efforts of child protection staff, law enforcement, family advocates, medical staff and mental health under one roof. Since the doors opened in 2001, the center has served more than 38,000 children and has helped begin their path to healing. I am on the Board and have also co-chaired Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center’s Annual Luminary Award Dinner the past two years. I also currently serve on the annual planning committee.
The past two years, I have participated in “America’s Most Beautiful Ride” around Lake Tahoe supporting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am proud to be a part of this team and to once again help raise money for research to fight cancer and find a cure for blood cancers. Last year, our team raised over $180K and the Team in Training raised over $3.6M in one day. It’s an amazing accomplishment to finish the 100-mile ride and to know the money raised is going to such an important cause. The ride and view around Lake Tahoe is spectacular and riding with supporters, survivors and family members riding for past loved ones is truly humbling and inspiring.
I am also involved with KPMG’s Family for Literacy (KFFL) mission to eradicate childhood illiteracy by putting new books into the hands of children in need and developing the next generation of young leaders through reading. Literacy is at the foundation of lifelong learning, and access to books is necessary to build strong reading skills. This unique program is particularly effective because it harnesses the energy and enthusiasm of KPMG’s extended family—not only partners and employees but also spouses, children, interns, retirees, alumni and professional golfers/KPMG Brand Ambassadors, Phil Michelson and Stacy Lewis. KFFL has distributed over 5 million new books to low-income children in 100+ communities across the US.
Your friends joke that everyone in Chicago knows you somehow, what is your number one networking tip?
Yes, I do have several circles of friends and there tends to be a lot of overlap. I love meeting new people and I love connecting people, so I open my circles and introduce different friends who have similar interests to encourage networking. Everyone is busy, so I just make the extra effort to reach out and keep everyone connected.
Favorite Chicago restaurant:
I love food, so I have so many neighborhood favorites like Hopleaf, Budlong Chicken and Roots Pizza to some of my favorite steak restaurants including Maple & Ash and Joe’s Steak and Seafood. Let me tell you that Joe’s has the best bone-in ribeye in the city and of course, I love their stone crab!
Happy one year with BG, Liza!
Happy one year with Busby Group, Liza! I love to celebrate these milestones because they are a great reminder of just how much we’ve grown over the past few years. In fact, last year our team nearly doubled when we added Liza, Susan and Ali to the team. And, we didn’t add just anybody to the team. Liza is truly one of the best real estate brokers I know. Between her background as an attorney and her natural intelligence and way with people, she is the full package and then some.
Today’s announcement is extra special because we are also introducing baby Cody to the world. Cody joined the family almost three months ago and is the sweetest baby ever! Liza has a few more days back at home and then will be returning to work in full force.
Here’s to many more great years together, Liza! I asked Liza to tell us a bit more about her background and why she loves working with BG:
You were an attorney prior to working in real estate. How did you know real estate was your ultimate calling?
Yep, I call myself a “recovering litigation attorney!” While the courtroom was exciting, I found myself wanting to be more proactive in preventing problems rather than arguing about them. I became the Director of Real Estate for the Board of Education, and at the time the City was selling a large portfolio of real estate. I really enjoyed the process of navigating the transactions, and when I transitioned into residential real estate, I found that it’s so rewarding to help someone find their dream home.
What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
That it’s such a relationship-focused business. I like getting to know my clients - understanding what’s important to them, how they live their lives, and what they’re looking for in their next chapter. It’s also important to have good relationships with other agents and people in the industry. It can really make a difference when you’re looking for an off-market opportunity or trying to put a deal together and need to collaborate with a contractor or lender.
What does your typical day entail?
Usually a combination of showings, touching base with clients, market research, team collaboration, and some type of appointment - like an inspection, closing or meeting a contractor. Also Starbucks. Every morning includes coffee!
What is your favorite part of working at BG and what was your big ah-ha moment on the team this year?
It was during one of our weekly team meetings where we touch base on our clients, listings, etc. Each one of us had positive developments to report and we also welcomed strategic input from one another. I remember thinking: Wow, not only is each one of us killing it out there for our clients, but there is not one ego in this room. Everyone is thriving, everyone is good at what they do, and each time we collaborate it elevates the whole team and means we can support our clients even more.
What are you most excited about in the coming year?
Spring! The city feels like it’s coming back to life after the winter, and the real estate market in Chicago really revs up. I like to be warm, and I like to be busy!
What is your favorite:
Building: The Palmolive. It’s iconic. I’m a sucker for vintage gems.
Neighborhood: For me, it’s a tie between Lincoln Park and the Gold Coast. As a mom, I love how kid and family-friendly Lincoln Park is - very walkable, close to the lake, and it’s full of neighborhood amenities like the zoo, Notebaert nature museum, the conservatory and amazing parks. The Gold Coast is also up there for me because it was the first neighborhood I came to know as a child visiting Chicago. Very classic, quintessential Chicago. (…Can I pick three neighborhoods?? Bucktown is pretty amazing, too, with every kind of hip restaurant/bar/boutique you can imagine. I think it’s fair to say I just love Chicago!)
Street: West Division Street in Wicker Park is my new favorite. Lately it’s become my go-to spot for dinners and shopping - everything at Clever Rabbit is delish and I just got this amazing mid-century credenza from Velvet Underground.
LIGHTNING ROUND FROM THE TEAM:
Ali:
What is your favorite part of working with Liza? She is a team player and always offering ways to help.
What is one thing Liza’s clients don't know about her? She’s from Wisconsin!
One word to describe Liza: Genuine
Jane:
What is your favorite part of working with Liza? She is very committed to her clients! She will go the extra mile to be sure they have everything they need.
What is one thing Liza’s clients don't know about her? She loves to ride horses.
One word to describe Liza: Detailed
Julie:
What is your favorite part of working with Liza? I love working with another Mom on the team. Our daughters are similar ages, so it is fun comparing notes and being a support for each other! Being a working mom requires a village!
What is one funny thing Liza’s clients don't know about her? Oh man, where do I begin?! Just kidding….I don’t know if this is funny but two things that stand out about Liza – 1) She is a big equestrian! She grew up riding horses and is now teaching her daughter. 2) She married her high school sweetheart, Brian! I LOVE that! They are an amazing couple!
One word to describe Liza: Polished
Kenya:
What is your favorite part of working with Liza? She is always positive and I can always count on her!
What is one funny thing Liza’s clients don't know about her? Not necessarily funny but INSANE! She was able to keep the sex of her newborn a secret from everyone including her husband and daughter! I would have let it slip!
One word to describe Liza: Graceful
Maggie:
Favorite part about working with Liza? She’s always positive!
What is your favorite part of working with Liza? Liza is also an attorney.
One word to describe Liza: Thoughtful
Susan:
What is your favorite part of working with Liza? Liza is always positive and happy. She is a joy to be around!
What is one thing Liza’s clients don't know about her? Liza was an attorney before getting into real estate.
One word to describe Liza: Compassionate
An amazing new resource: Metta Baby
If you know me, then you know that one of my favorite things to do is connect people. Right now it seems like my whole network is either having babies or have babies on the brain, so I am always on the lookout for baby-centric resources. And I must say that I have delivered with the resource I am sharing today! I recently chatted with my old friend Rachel Curran, who has just opened the most amazing studio.
Rachel is a NICU nurse by trade, having worked at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and then later as a traveling in-home private nurse. She’s worked all throughout Europe, and during her time there she kept running into infant wellness studios for the practice of infant massage and floating. As a nurse, she became very intrigued by the popularity of this idea, and knew she wanted to know more.
About water movement
Fast forward five years, and Metta Baby opened its doors in a great central Bucktown location (on Damen, just south of Armitage). Metta Baby primarily focuses on infant water movement and massage, though Rachel has even bigger plans for the studio in the future. Babies can start the water movement as early as two weeks, or once their umbilical cord has fallen off. The benefits of water movement for babies are literally endless. First, it is deeply relaxing for an infant because it feels like they are back in the womb. Metta Baby uses a special air-filled ring that rests just under the baby’s chin, so they feel totally weightless in the water.
The babies quickly realize they can move weightlessly, and the resistance of the water provides a gentle form of exercise. Muscle tension is relieved and babies can also explore their motor skills in a way they wouldn’t be able to outside the water. All of this movement aids in digestion and increasing appetite. It is also a great precursor to learning to swim.
About infant massage
Infant massage is a practice that has been around for hundreds of years, but is just making its way here. Metta Baby teaches parents how to massage their babies so they can work it into their at-home routine. And here too there are so many benefits including aiding in longer and deeper sleep patterns, gas and constipation relief, decreasing cortisol levels, stimulating brain development, and one-on-one bonding. Studies have also shown that moms who regularly massage their infants saw relief from the baby blues, and it also helped with lactation. And the best part is that many of the benefits appear nearly immediately!
About Metta Baby
One of Rachel’s other big goals with Metta Baby is to provide a support network for new parents. As a nurse she saw so many moms isolate themselves inside all day, so she wanted to create a safe space for new families to come to socialize and create a network.
Lastly, I asked Rachel what Metta meant, and she said this: it is practicing benevolence and loving kindness, giving out universal love and not expecting anything in return. Thank you, Rachel, for giving back in such a profound way to the community! We are so lucky to have you and Metta Baby!
For more information on Metta Baby and to book an appointment, visit their website.
The charities we love and support the most
One of the best parts of leading Busby Group is that we are one passionate group of women! And one of our biggest passions, and the biggest reason we are in real estate, is that at the end of the day, what we love most is helping people--all people. For each of us, this translates into some sort of charitable work. It is so easy to get caught up in the minutiae of the day, and helping others is the best way to step outside of that box and remember what is really important.
I am so proud of how passionately and openly our team gives back, and also the different causes each of us support. Take a look at what each team member had to say about their charity.
Ali
Park Community Church
The main “charity” I support is my church group. It’s Park Community/Near North, and I participate in several groups there. I am a helper in the Alpha Program, which meets every Tuesday evening. I also plan on competing in the Chicago 2020 Triathlon with Renew Chicago and Park Community.
Jane
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
I have supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for the past few years and now that we have a baby girl of our own, my family supports St. Jude now more than ever. St. Jude works to battle and treat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases to children. These donations go toward the research of these diseases, plus it allows families who are going through this to never receive a bill for travel, housing, food or treatment. We donate to them multiple times each year, and there is no better feeling than getting a thank you card in the mail from a family or child that benefitted.
Julie
Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center
An important charitable cause to me is abused and battered children. I used to volunteer at Becky’s House in San Diego (an undisclosed safe home for abused and battered children/women). I would grow a close connection with those children and made the commitment that I would always work to help support children in need. When I moved to Chicago, I wanted to find a similar organization. I was introduced to Chicago Children’s Advocacy (CCAC) and have been blown away by their services. I have served on the board and volunteered with CCAC throughout the years. This incredible organization supports abused children in Chicago. CCAC is a front-line responder in Chicago to reports of child sexual abuse. They also respond to reports of child physical abuse, witness to violence, and other serious maltreatment. Since opening their doors in 2001, they have served more than 38,000 children.
Kenya
Crime Stoppers
I am a big supporter of Crime Stoppers. My sister has worked for the foundation for a number of years and my brother in law is a police officer so I am very connected to the cause and creating a safer community for all of us. Apart from being a hotline that you can report tips to about a crime anonymously, Crime Stoppers also has other initiatives which include promoting awareness for child and sex trafficking as well as animal abuse and school safety. I have had the pleasure of volunteering at numerous events that serve these causes and am grateful to have such a wonderful foundation driving towards a better community!
Liza
Trio Animal Foundation
One of the organizations I love is Trio Animal Foundation. I’m a huge animal lover, and have always been a big dog person. This organization works with Animal Control to rehabilitate animals in need, and has a very successful adoption program. It’s really amazing what they do!
Maggie
Special Olympics
When I was in middle school, I started babysitting for a family friend with special needs. At the time, the little boy’s dad had mentioned that he would be braving the cold water of Lake Michigan to raise money for the Special Olympics, and suggested that I participate in the friends and family jump. As someone who played as many sports as one could imagine as a child, and basketball throughout college, hearing each athlete speak about their experience with the Special Olympics and the profound ways it had affected each of them that day was a life changing experience that I will never forget. Ever since, I have loved being involved with the athletes and community. Most recently, I also joined the Special Olympics Associate board and love the opportunity to give back!
Pamela
Anti-Cruelty Society
I support the Anti-Cruelty Society by donating and volunteering my time. I was raised with animals including cats, dogs, rabbits, hermit crabs, fish, a guinea pig and a family duck! So you can certainly say I am an animal lover! My current dog, a Dogue de Bordeaux named Rubie, was an owner surrender to the Anti-Cruelty Society and I was lucky to rescue her in 2013.
About the Anti-Cruelty Society:
The Anti-Cruelty Society has been on the forefront of animal welfare and humane education since it was founded in 1899. Its focus is to provide the following:
Compassionate care for any animal in need
An attempt to find a home for every healthy or rehabilitatable dog and cat
Intervention to prevent cruelty to animals
Community education on animal issues to inspire compassion and respect; and
Low or no cost spaying or neutering
Susan
Special Olympics
I am a proud supporter of the Special Olympics. My sister has been a Special Olympics athlete for over 30 years, my dad devotes a large amount of his time to coaching her team. I have seen firsthand the amazing benefits this organization provides to athletes and their families. To show my support, I put together a team to do the Polar Plunge here in Chicago every year. In the past five years we have raised almost $40,000 to support this amazing organization. I look forward to putting a team together again in March, and making it the best year yet!
From $135K to $2MM, and everything in between
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Part of the wonder of the season for me is the opportunity to look back and give thanks for all the wonderful people and experiences from the past 365 days--and there was so much goodness this past year! We added new team members, our families grew, and we exceeded every goal we set out for ourselves.
For me and the rest of the team though, our business and outward success come from a place inside. It’s a drive to help others and to not just exceed goals, but instead exceed expectations. Yes we have a deep set and innate desire to succeed, but more than anything else, it is our desire to help Chicagoans--ALL Chicagoans. While some teams focus on the luxury sector or first time buyers, we don’t look at the playing field this way. Our view is where can we be of service? And let me tell you, that leads to one diverse portfolio! This year alone we worked on a $135,000 condo up to a $2M single family home--and everything in between! We worked as far west as Oak Park/Park Ridge, as far north as Edgewater and as far south as South Loop. And really, we enjoyed every minute of it.
One story I always think about that reflects our mentality, is from clients who initially bought a $1MM property with me. We got it for almost $500K off list price, so I think I was on a little bit of a pedestal in their minds! After their purchase, I got a call that their son was looking for a place, so next I helped him find a $400K condo in a multiple bid situation. Later, the family needed to sell the grandmother’s $40K property outside the city and they wanted our help. We were able to sell it in record time and at a record price for the tier. This meant a lot to me, as we were able to help every generation in this family and we were truly hands on for every transaction for this family creating a rewarding outcome for each family member.
I share this story not to toot my own horn (this is actually my worst nightmare!), but to try to shed some light on how differently we see this industry than most. We see ourselves as facilitators of change. As my mom always used to say, attitude is everything! On that note, I asked the team to share what we are most thankful for this year, and this is always one of my favorite blog posts!
Ali:
I am thankful to have found the Busby Group at Compass where we support each other in a competitive market. I am also thankful for my family and friends who keep me positive and true to who I am.
Jane:
I am thankful for my amazing and supportive family. I wouldn’t be who I am today without them, and I feel so blessed to have them in my life as my biggest supporters!
Julie:
Where do I begin? I have a lot to be thankful for this year! I am so thankful for my family and this precious time to watch my girls grow. I am also beyond thankful for the BRG team. We are so lucky to have each other! We have created a supportive and collaborative team, which is hard to find in this industry. Plus, by growing our team, I have been able to have more of a work-life balance for the first time in my 18 year career!
Kenya:
I am thankful for everyone and everything that makes up my life! I am beyond grateful to have a loving and supportive husband, three little fur babies and a house that we’ve turned into a home. Having our family close by and being able to spend time with them is special after all the moving around we have done.
Liza:
I’m most thankful for my family. We just welcomed our son, Cody, into the world and he is a perfect, happy and healthy little boy. His big sister, Mila, is so sweet with him. It really doesn’t get any better than this!
Maggie:
I’m thankful for being in good health, and my family all being able to spend the holidays together!
Pamela:
I'm thankful for my loving and supportive friends and family. I so blessed to have such amazing people in my life!
Susan:
I am thankful that this year I get to spend the holidays with my entire family and close friends. It’s been a number of years since we have all been able to be together for the holidays. I am looking forward to catching up and eating all of the holiday goodies!
So here’s to what matters the most: time spent with family and friends in celebration of a great 2019!
Is the West Loop market in a bubble?
What is it about the West Loop? I mean I know what it is, but it is truly amazing how so many people can have so much love for a small Chicago neighborhood. The city’s best restaurants, gorgeous historical loft-style architecture, and now some of the world’s best companies all within just a few square blocks. I get it. The West Loop is all around cool.
It also has a very rags-to-riches Cinderella story history. Fifteen years ago, the West Loop had next to no residential housing and was the hub of the city’s meatpacking industry (thus all of the historical loft-style architecture!). Once the restaurants started flooding in, lots of Chicago’s food-loving folk started buying property and it pretty much snowballed from there. The growth has been intense for the West Loop, and I talk to people constantly about this tiny micro-market and what lays ahead.
I definitely know the West Loop market, but not like my good friend Christine Lutz, whom I met at Coldwell Banker years ago. Christine is a real estate expert, having worked in the industry for 30 years and closed $1.6 billion in sales all across the country. Christine currently works at On Collaborative, a full-service national development marketing and sales firm integrated with Coldwell Banker branded operations. Many of Christine’s developments have been in the West Loop, including 1400 W Monroe, which will deliver in 2020. I asked Christine to tell us about what is going on with the West Loop market now, and what she anticipates for the future:
Where are we with the West Loop market--the beginning, middle or end of a bubble?
The West Loop market has neutralized a bit from where it was a few years ago. Right now we are approaching the winter market with well over 20% additional inventory than what we had last year. Deals have also declined. As of the end of Q3, here are a few specific stats:
Active units: 124
Pending units: 37
Closed units in last 12 months: 330
Average days on market: 56
56 new construction projects:
Office: 25
Hotel: 7
Rental: 17
Condo: 7
The West Loop is very constrained area with bounds south of Lake, west of Halsted, east of Ogden and north of 290. Because it is such a small footprint, there is a finite amount of competition so as of now we don’t see a bubble for the West Loop.
What does the future look like for the West Loop market?
One of the biggest reasons there aren’t more deals happening in the West Loop has to do with zoning. Currently, the city has a very high mark in place for affordable housing that new construction has to hit in order to be approved. Basically, if a new residential building is approved, a certain percent of the units must be devoted to affordable housing. The requirements are so high that many developers are unable to work in the area. The issue will get resolved, but as of now, zoning is a big deterrent to residential new construction in the West Loop.
On the flip side, I also anticipate an additional flood of interest in the area given all of the new companies moving into office space. All of the suburban companies will have a good amount of employees looking for housing closer to the office. Right now, there isn’t enough new construction to keep up with that demand.
What advice should buyers keep in mind?
A few things. First, if you are looking for a deal, be prepared to do some work. Next, prepare to buy before you start shopping around because when you find the property you want, you will need to jump right away.
What advice should sellers keep in mind?
Buyers in this market are very picky, so if you want to sell your property, you must make the improvements that buyers want.
Thank you for your time, Christine! We appreciate it as always.
Our favorite fall activities in Chicago
I never want to live in a world without October! The changing leaves, cozy weather and fun fall activities make October such a magical month, am I right? We just got back from our annual apple picking trip and had the best time! My girls loved picking apples, and of course the apple cider doughnuts! I asked the rest of the team what their favorite fall traditions are, and created a quick roundup. Take a peek!
Ali:
My favorite Fall activity is the 15k Hot Chocolate Run because you get tons of free chocolate and the swag sweatshirt they give out is warm for winter running. I also like cooking with Fall vegetables…butternut squash soup, pumpkin pancakes and eggplant lasagna. So yummy.
Jane:
I love visiting the farmers markets in all the different neighborhoods of Chicago! I do this all summer as well, but visiting them in the fall is my favorite. It’s prime time for the best apples, squash and a warm cup of cider!
Julie:
We love going to an apple orchard as a family. We usually try a different one every year, as every one has something different to offer. One of our favorites is All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock. We love this one as it has over 30 activities for the kiddos including a corn maze, petting zoo, pony rides, zip line, magic shows, pig races, bouncy houses, and big slides (to name a few).
Another family favorite is going to the Lincoln Park Zoo Fall Fest. This is always great as they have rides, corn mazes, fall foods and more – PLUS, you get to see the animals all on the same day (plus it’s a quicker ride than going to an apple orchard). We are members of the zoo, so we get free parking and discounted tickets for the rides. This is a great Chicago tradition and something easy to do even for an afternoon after school!
Liza:
With kiddos, a fall festival is a must: we usually hit a few, like the pumpkin fest at Wrigley/Gallagher Way, trick-or-treating at the shops on Southport, and Lincoln Square’s Apple Fest. We also love farmers markets this time of year. We always visit the Lincoln Park market to get a basket of apples, and then make a “picnic” at home with apples and caramel sauce... and s’mores toasted in our fireplace!
Maggie:
My favorite fall activities are making s’mores by a bonfire, and walking around Lincoln Park. The tree lined streets are so pretty when the leaves start to change!
Pamela:
I love going to the Green City and the Logan Square farmer’s markets for fall treats!
Susan:
My favorite fall tradition is visiting Edwards Apple Orchard with my family. We pick apples, stock up on apple cider donuts, and finish our trip with a visit to the cellar for a slice of apple pie with cheese—yes cheese. It’s amazing!
Three reasons why you shouldn’t wait for the spring market
For some buyers and sellers around the country, the fall and winter are like a giant, months-long waiting room for the spring market. They hunker down, biding their time for when the market starts heading up in March. People, this is a giant, months-long mistake! For both buyers and sellers, this is a waste of precious time and opportunity.
I see it happen every year. Every holiday season I end up negotiating relocation deals for families who have to move to Chicago for work. And every year the deal is one of the easiest and fastest. This isn’t a coincidence. Today I’m sharing three reasons why you shouldn’t wait for the spring market for both buyers and sellers. Listen up!
Buyers:
You know what you’re getting: There’s no telling where rates will be this spring and right now they are low, low low!
Less competition: Not all of Chicagoland’s buyers will heed my advice and shop around during the fall and winter, so there will inevitably be less competition. Less competition for you manifests in a number of positive ways, most importantly is that there is less likelihood of a multiple offer situation--which drives down price and stress.
More room to negotiate: With less buyers to choose from, sellers may be more willing to negotiate to make a deal work. For example, during the spring market, a home sale contingency might weaken an offer. In the winter, with potentially fewer offers on the table, sellers may try harder to make it work.
Sellers:
Election year drama: One of the biggest effects of an election on the real estate market is that it tends to make the spring market shorter and weaker. Political uncertainty is almost always a negative when it comes to the real estate market, so there is no sense in waiting!
Motivated/serious buyers: Anyone spending their holidays looking for a home is a motivated buyer, so you waste less time with look-a-loos, and cut straight to the chase! Remember: it only takes ONE buyer.
Less inventory: Again, not every Chicagoan is going to listen to me about not waiting, so there will be fewer listings on the market--which means less competition! Always a good thing.
I really do believe that there is tons of missed opportunity every fall and winter. If the timing makes sense for you and your situation, I highly encourage you to take advantage of the quieter months.