Eastern Orthodox aestheticism goes so hard. Here's a very well produced look at Justin Marler's Youth of the Apocalypse. youtu.be/6sL7ArCWJbc?...

Chicago ADU FAQ abundanthousingillinois.org/resources/ac...

This video was just sent to me by my neighbor. She said that there was ICE activity underway at the Belmont and Kimball intersection around 1:30 p.m.

RIP Chicago Pickle

The exclusive inventory debate just got real. www.realestatenews.com/2025/09/25/w...

Making sense of what a Compass acquisition of Anywhere means to real estate professionals and consumers alike. Hint: The combined companies would become the world's largest brokerage by far. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqxX...

Michael Osanloo out as Portillo's CEO. "I am so thankful to my leadership team and all our team members whose hard work and heart make this brand iconic. Together, we achieved so much, and I will always carry immense pride in having been part of the Portillo's family." www.nrn.com/fast-casual/...

BREAKING: Compass has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire key rival Anywhere Real Estate. The merged companies will create by far the largest residential real estate brokerage in the world with 340,000 real estate professionals. www.realestatenews.com/2025/09/22/c...

Opendoor has been "in growth mode" since the beginning of the summer, Nick Boniakowski, the company's head of agent partnerships, told me back in June, adding that there was a "big opportunity for Opendoor to convert more customers" via agent partners. www.realestatenews.com/2025/09/17/o...

Living in Columbus, Indiana as a kid (especially in the mid-90s) was an incredible experience. I remember this view from Southside Elementary well.

Another disturbing reality of life in the information age www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

NEW: Compass agents are voicing their opinions on private listings. Some told me that they see value in listing off-market to test price, while others expressed concerns over trust, ethics and whether Compass' approach is at odds with a client's best interest. www.realestatenews.com/2025/09/11/i...

I had figured that the machines would take over and we'd all be sent off to human battery farms like in The Matrix at some point in the next 100 years, but I didn't realize that the end of humanity could happen as early as the next few years. youtu.be/5KVDDfAkRgc?...

Mass, Kidical Mass, jazz, The Bean and then Giordano's thin crust for dinner. It was a good day.

While Compass has been the most outspoken on pocket listings — and has focused much of its brokerage strategy around "private exclusives" — others have quietly followed suit or said they're prepared to pivot in the same direction. www.realestatenews.com/2025/08/29/h...

Interesting Q&A with Cardinal Cupich, who is celebrating his 50-year milestone as a Catholic priest. www.chicagocatholic.com/chicagoland/...

While real estate investors feel better about current conditions than those from a year ago, over half of the respondents to a recent survey from CJ Patrick Company and RCN Capital believe that the US will be in a recession by the end of the year. www.realestatenews.com/2025/08/18/i...

From Compass: "There are narratives circulating that make false accusations. By showing that we will make our exclusive inventory available to anyone who agrees not to alter or monetize the listing and keep the listing agent front and center..." www.realestatenews.com/2025/07/11/c...

As the country's top brokerages wage a war of attrition against regional firms and MLSs, local leaders are responding — and their voices are being heard on the national stage. www.realestatenews.com/2025/07/04/i...

Gotta love seeing a full bike rack of family bikes at Honey Butter Fried Chicken this evening

"I have already heard from Compass agents that competing agents are using the uncertainty surrounding the Zillow LAS to tell sellers that if they list with a Compass agent their listing could be banned from Zillow," Compass CEO Robert Reffkin said in a filing. www.realestatenews.com/2025/06/27/c...

This is interesting... ChatGPT offering specifically what it knows about me and my work — assuming that it has crawled and utilizes publicly shared/posted sources of content.

The 170-year-old Baird & Warner became the Chicago area's largest independently owned brokerage earlier this year after Compass closed on its acquisition of @properties Christie's International Real Estate, the region's market leader by sales volume. www.realestatenews.com/2025/06/26/c...

Upping my cargo dad game

The Northeast and Midwest — which have seen consistent demand and home price growth — are the markets where sellers still have leverage. Florida, Texas, the Southwest and parts of California have a more balanced or "supply-heavy" market, the report noted. www.realestatenews.com/2025/06/25/a...

Opendoor has announced the rollout and expansion of its seller referral program, which the company sees as an opportunity to tap into an underutilized revenue stream. The announcement comes just weeks after the company's stock was at risk of being delisted. www.realestatenews.com/2025/06/24/o...

Remembering my mom on this day, the tenth anniversary of her passing. I just visited South Carolina this month to celebrate Father's Day and to visit the cemetery with my daughter. I wish my mom could have met my daughter. I know that she would have adored and loved her. Rest easy, mom.

The big news here is that the updated disclosure form spells out risks to sellers who don't go to the public market. Instead, an exclusive listing could reduce "the number of potential buyers who can learn about the property," "the number of offers" and "the final sale price for the property."

My colleague @daverealestatenews.bsky.social has been crushing it on court coverage and frequently catches and reports on new developments in important industry cases before other real estate trade publications. He deserves all of the kudos for his hard work. www.realestatenews.com/2025/05/29/a...

NEW: Compass is introducing an “enhanced” disclosure form for its delayed marketing strategy. The form lays out the potential benefits — and risks — of listing off the MLS as the brokerage continues to tout its 3-phased marketing strategy to home sellers. www.realestatenews.com/2025/05/28/c...

Just finished up another trash-to-treasure bike restomod. I completely disassembled this old Specialized StreetStomper, cleaned everything, re-greased the bottom bracket, headset, and wheel bearings and put on new shifters, new tires, new pedals, new grips, new tires and a front rack.

The majority of MLS and association executive respondents (54%) to a new survey disapproved of NAR's handling of the Clear Cooperation Policy and its March decision to add a delayed marketing option, while only 20.7% approved of the move. www.realestatenews.com/2025/05/20/m...

Helmut’s terrazzo

“When I first met Father Mike, honestly, I just thought he was another white priest in the hood just trying to help the Black people,” said Joseph Saunders, a parishioner since 1996. “But once you get to know the man … you cannot help but love the man.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/16/c...

Storm damage on School Street in Avondale

The California Association of Realtors said that it "would support a modification to NAR's Clear Cooperation Policy to remove the office exclusives carve-out," specifically out of concern for "fair housing principles and full transparency for consumers" www.realestatenews.com/2025/05/15/c...

How Catholics in the southwest suburbs of Chicago celebrate the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. (I did not actually get this, but maybe next time.)

"I was sitting next to Cardinal Prevost. So when he was breathing — slightly deeper, probably nervous — I asked him, 'Do you want candy?' Cardinal Prevost says 'Yes, give me some.' So I say, 'There, that is my first act of charity to the new Holy Father.'" youtu.be/-k1Mmx3Zxpk?...

Cardinal Blase Cupich on Face the Nation this morning. "We'll take pride in the fact that it all started in Chicago." youtu.be/xgp7mGPIazY?...

Adding another notable retweet, this one from 2018 and the height of family separation under Trump 1.0.

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month in Illinois — a time to reflect on how far we’ve come and recommit to the work ahead. Whether it's strengthening the 988 call center services or launching a centralized care portal, we're making sure Illinoisans have the care they need.

We take our adoration of the papacy seriously in Chicago.

The new pope is from Chicago — how incredible! Pray for us, Pope Leo XIV 🙏

A bill in Illinois would require licensed real estate agents to make their listings public within one calendar day, putting an end to the fight over private exclusives. www.realestatenews.com/2025/05/07/a...

Compass is going retro and bringing back physical listing books. But in announcing the new listings books, Compass also responded to claims that the brokerage is leaning into private listings as a way to capture both sides of a transaction. www.realestatenews.com/2025/05/01/c...