Chicago REALTORS® Blog & News

Welcome to the Chicago Association of REALTORS® blog and news hub. Explore magazine articles, industry updates and more. You can filter by category or tag based on your interests.

Summer 2022: From the CEO

Forward-thinking diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives require a 360-degree view of where we’ve come from, where we are and where we’re going. We’ve been on the wrong side of history before; many of our members are products of discriminatory housing policies and still feel their effects. Our apology for our past actions, issued unanimously […]

Summer 2022: Editor’s Pick

Walk Away Empowered: Titans of Industry Women’s Conference This spring we hosted several power-packed panels of women entrepreneurs, executives and leaders during our annual Titans of Industry: Women in Real Estate conference. Check out a few quick tidbits from the sessions here, and be sure to check out the full audio recordings from the day […]

Increase Your Client’s Property Value: What To Know About Accessory Dwelling Units

If you work in real estate, the phrase ‘housing shortage’ is something you probably hear on a daily basis. Buildings are selling too quickly to keep up with the buyer demand, and the availability of affordable housing within the renter market keeps dwindling lower and lower. Even with a drought of housing stock, there is […]

Big Tech, Blockchain & 5G: Technology Trends You Need to Know in Our Global, Connected World

As REALTORS®, we need to focus on the ABCs, and by that I don’t mean “Always Be Closing;” We need to “Always Be Curious!” This is why the Global Real Estate Council focused on big technology, blockchain and their impact on our industry for our first in-person event since the pandemic began. Ironically, it was […]

Top Producers Technology Must-Haves

With so many tools, apps and websites out there, it can be hard to distinguish the useful from the useless. We asked our top producers to share the tools they use on a regular basis that have changed the way they do business. Zenlist Zenlist makes REALTOR® to REALTOR® and REALTOR® to client collaboration easier […]

Permission Denied: How to Avoid an Unauthorized Access Violation

As REALTORS®, you are looked to as a trusted resource to navigate the complexities of buying, selling, leasing or investing in real estate. Beyond the steps of the process is the trust given to you to access someone’s home. Whether you are a listing agent or cooperating broker, maintaining that trust and ensuring the security […]

Public Safety: The Mayor Addresses Your Concerns Directly

As REALTORS®, we are integral members of our communities, working together to ensure Chicago remains a vibrant place to live, work and play. We’ve heard from many of you that public safety remains top of mind. We took your concerns to City Hall, the result of which was an exclusive sit down with Mayor Lori […]

7 Steps to Generating & Converting Rental Leads

One key component to making an investment property a successful endeavor for you or your clients is finding and securing the right tenants to live there, quickly and efficiently. Long-term, low maintenance tenants are every landlord’s dream, and they are critical to the financial health of the investment property. Although generating and churning through rental […]

Welcome To Armour Square

Located three miles from the Loop on Chicago’s south side, Armour Square is a happy medium between a popular tourist location, residential hot spot and culturally authentic experience. While many tourists make their way to the area for a White Sox game or to check out the tight-knit cultural areas, many young professionals and families […]

Embrace Your Green Thumb with These Houseplants

If you’re looking to bring the outdoors in, houseplants are a great way to spruce up any room of your home. Houseplants also make great client gifts! But determining what will work best can be a difficult decision. From cold, harsh winters to warm, humid summers, Chicago’s climate can leave you wondering, “What can thrive […]

The Future of Home is Here: What You Need to Know About High-Performing Homes

Electrification is a natural evolution in how we’ve historically fueled our homes, as many homes operating on gas today were originally fueled by coal or heating oil. In the mid-1900s, most homes converted to gas as the primary fuel source, as it was cheap and relatively clean compared to coal or oil. As natural gas […]

Summer 2022: Foundation Update

Congratulations to the REALTOR® ELITE Mentorship Program Class of 2022 The REALTOR® ELITE Program matches ELITE’rs (mentees) with coaches to develop and support the next generation of industry leaders. Coaches provide ELITE’rs with knowledge, insights, tips and tools to advance their business success, while also emphasizing ethical behavior, allowing opportunities to network and developing leadership […]