@dennisrodkin.bsky.social
I cover residential real estate for Crain's Chicago Business and do the "What's That Building?' segments on WBEZ.
National Association of Realtors is cutting 37 jobs at its Chicago headquarters, part of cutting 61 positions as it reorganizes in the wake of recent sexual harassment scandal, turmoil in the office and fundamental change in commission structure.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Scandal-rocked Realtors' group cutting jobs in Chicago as it looks to restructure
The cuts are part of a wider restructuring at the Chicago-based organization that includes layoffs at its Washington, D.C., office.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 28, 2025 at 5:53 PM
National Association of Realtors is cutting 37 jobs at its Chicago headquarters, part of cutting 61 positions as it reorganizes in the wake of recent sexual harassment scandal, turmoil in the office and fundamental change in commission structure.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
She bought a Wicker Park greystone in 1998 and over the years space, beauty, daylight and a prairie on the roof.
Now moving to Italy, she's asking $5.5 m for it.
www.chicagobusiness.com/it-hits-mark...
Now moving to Italy, she's asking $5.5 m for it.
www.chicagobusiness.com/it-hits-mark...
This Wicker Park home started as a greystone and grew in both size and beauty
Since buying a 19th century greystone in Wicker Park 27 years ago, Amy Lehman has added room and charm to the home, now for sale at $5.5 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 28, 2025 at 2:09 PM
She bought a Wicker Park greystone in 1998 and over the years space, beauty, daylight and a prairie on the roof.
Now moving to Italy, she's asking $5.5 m for it.
www.chicagobusiness.com/it-hits-mark...
Now moving to Italy, she's asking $5.5 m for it.
www.chicagobusiness.com/it-hits-mark...
Reposted
Trump housing officials rescinded a Biden-era rule designed to combat racial bias in home appraisals. The impact could be big in Chicago, where the racial gap in appraisals is among the largest.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Trump reversal of anti-racism tool in home appraisals could hit Chicago hard
Chicago has one of the nation's widest gaps in appraisals between homes in majority-white neighborhoods and majority-minority neighborhoods.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Trump housing officials rescinded a Biden-era rule designed to combat racial bias in home appraisals. The impact could be big in Chicago, where the racial gap in appraisals is among the largest.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Trump housing officials rescinded a Biden-era rule designed to combat racial bias in home appraisals. The impact could be big in Chicago, where the racial gap in appraisals is among the largest.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Trump reversal of anti-racism tool in home appraisals could hit Chicago hard
Chicago has one of the nation's widest gaps in appraisals between homes in majority-white neighborhoods and majority-minority neighborhoods.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Trump housing officials rescinded a Biden-era rule designed to combat racial bias in home appraisals. The impact could be big in Chicago, where the racial gap in appraisals is among the largest.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
A Bear sold this condo to a Bull, who's now selling it. Any Cubs, Sox or Blackhawks looking for a condo?
Zach LaVine, whom the Bulls traded last month to Sacramento, is asking $6.9 million, same as he paid for it.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Zach LaVine, whom the Bulls traded last month to Sacramento, is asking $6.9 million, same as he paid for it.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Ex-Bull Zach LaVine lists Gold Coast condo for the same price he paid ex-Bear Khalil Mack for it
LaVine, whom the Bulls traded to Sacramento last month, is asking $6.9 million for the condo.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 26, 2025 at 4:37 PM
A Bear sold this condo to a Bull, who's now selling it. Any Cubs, Sox or Blackhawks looking for a condo?
Zach LaVine, whom the Bulls traded last month to Sacramento, is asking $6.9 million, same as he paid for it.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Zach LaVine, whom the Bulls traded last month to Sacramento, is asking $6.9 million, same as he paid for it.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
In the first quarter of the 21st century, Chicago-area home prices a little more than doubled, new data show.
Nation's home prices more than tripled in that time, and in some coastal cities, prices quadrupled.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Nation's home prices more than tripled in that time, and in some coastal cities, prices quadrupled.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Chicago home prices are spiking. Here's how they've changed in 25 years.
Despite recent spikes, Chicago has seen some of the slowest home price growth among large U.S. cities over the last 25 years.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 26, 2025 at 2:28 PM
In the first quarter of the 21st century, Chicago-area home prices a little more than doubled, new data show.
Nation's home prices more than tripled in that time, and in some coastal cities, prices quadrupled.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Nation's home prices more than tripled in that time, and in some coastal cities, prices quadrupled.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Dick Portillo, who's not in the hot dog business anymore though his name is on the restaurants, has 3 homes he developed in Naples Fla on the market at a combined total of more than $57 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Dick Portillo, out of the hot dog business, selling $57 million in Florida homes he developed
Two of the properties are new-construction mansions and the third is a renovated high-rise penthouse. In all three cases, Portillo is an investor and developer.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Dick Portillo, who's not in the hot dog business anymore though his name is on the restaurants, has 3 homes he developed in Naples Fla on the market at a combined total of more than $57 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
A 100-story tower will be built on North Michigan Avenue and named for source of its financing, John Hancock life insuranve company, Trib reported OTD in 1965.
March 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
A 100-story tower will be built on North Michigan Avenue and named for source of its financing, John Hancock life insuranve company, Trib reported OTD in 1965.
A new block of shops at Bryn Mawr and Winthrop will have a modern style, clad in black marble and metal, Trib reported OTD in 1935.
March 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
A new block of shops at Bryn Mawr and Winthrop will have a modern style, clad in black marble and metal, Trib reported OTD in 1935.
There's now an $86 m gap betw what the Wirtz family's Ivanhoe project believes it shoud pay the elementary school district as impact fees and what the district is asking for.
School district is now exploring kicking the Wirtz land out of its boundaries.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
School district is now exploring kicking the Wirtz land out of its boundaries.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Fee dispute over Wirtz family's Ivanhoe Village project heats up
With an $86 million gap between what the Wirtzes are offering and what the school district wants, school officials are now investigating whether another local district might want the roughly 700-acre ...
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 21, 2025 at 1:17 PM
There's now an $86 m gap betw what the Wirtz family's Ivanhoe project believes it shoud pay the elementary school district as impact fees and what the district is asking for.
School district is now exploring kicking the Wirtz land out of its boundaries.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
School district is now exploring kicking the Wirtz land out of its boundaries.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Hey, if you remember this Gold Coast building that stood puzzlingly empty for decades, there's news.
Longtime owner sold it for $10 million last week to a developer who's going to finish its 8 condos and put them up for sale. No prices announced yet.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Longtime owner sold it for $10 million last week to a developer who's going to finish its 8 condos and put them up for sale. No prices announced yet.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Gold Coast’s long-vacant 'phantom building' sold to condo developer
Puzzlingly vacant or mostly vacant since 1990, the building sold last week for $10 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 19, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Hey, if you remember this Gold Coast building that stood puzzlingly empty for decades, there's news.
Longtime owner sold it for $10 million last week to a developer who's going to finish its 8 condos and put them up for sale. No prices announced yet.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Longtime owner sold it for $10 million last week to a developer who's going to finish its 8 condos and put them up for sale. No prices announced yet.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Builder’s sale of a $600,000 W Garfield Park house is 1st step in his planned ecosystem of improvement.
Lawon Williams hopes to build about 20 houses + condos on vacant lots of a block on Fifth Avenue, a block from the elementary school he attended.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Lawon Williams hopes to build about 20 houses + condos on vacant lots of a block on Fifth Avenue, a block from the elementary school he attended.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
This homebuilder wants to revitalize his West Garfield Park neighborhood. He just had his first sale.
Lawon Williams has sold the first of what he hopes will be about 22 new-construction residential units on Fifth Avenue, a long-disinvested part of the West Side.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 19, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Builder’s sale of a $600,000 W Garfield Park house is 1st step in his planned ecosystem of improvement.
Lawon Williams hopes to build about 20 houses + condos on vacant lots of a block on Fifth Avenue, a block from the elementary school he attended.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Lawon Williams hopes to build about 20 houses + condos on vacant lots of a block on Fifth Avenue, a block from the elementary school he attended.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
"A must in every teenager's life," Polk Bros proclaimed about the 48-inch, 4-stringed Polk-a-lay-lee in a Tribune ad OTD in 1965.
March 19, 2025 at 12:55 PM
"A must in every teenager's life," Polk Bros proclaimed about the 48-inch, 4-stringed Polk-a-lay-lee in a Tribune ad OTD in 1965.
Another week, another Chicagoan buying a megabucks mansion on the ocean in Florida.
This week it's a co-founder of SRAM, the billion-dollar bike components firm based in the West Loop. He paid over $15.6 m for the orange house in the photo.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
This week it's a co-founder of SRAM, the billion-dollar bike components firm based in the West Loop. He paid over $15.6 m for the orange house in the photo.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Co-founder of Chicago bike parts maker SRAM pays $15.6 million for Florida mansion
F.K. Day, a co-founder of the billion-dollar SRAM bike components firm based in the West Loop, bought the oceanfront home in Hillsboro Beach.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 18, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Another week, another Chicagoan buying a megabucks mansion on the ocean in Florida.
This week it's a co-founder of SRAM, the billion-dollar bike components firm based in the West Loop. He paid over $15.6 m for the orange house in the photo.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
This week it's a co-founder of SRAM, the billion-dollar bike components firm based in the West Loop. He paid over $15.6 m for the orange house in the photo.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Chicago-based National Association of Realtors is one of the least-liked players in the real estate space, accdg to a survey from ResiClub. Real estate professionals and regular people both rank it near bottom.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Chicago-based Realtors group takes a drubbing in new survey
A survey by ResiClub showed the embattled Chicago-based trade association still has ground to cover in its effort to put scandals and setbacks behind it.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Chicago-based National Association of Realtors is one of the least-liked players in the real estate space, accdg to a survey from ResiClub. Real estate professionals and regular people both rank it near bottom.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
I just walked through some new houses where from the front balcony you can see both the original + later Sears towers, and from the back balcony, former John Hancock.
That's very Chicago-y, but it's not the main reason I went to see these houses. That'll be in a story Monday.
That's very Chicago-y, but it's not the main reason I went to see these houses. That'll be in a story Monday.
March 14, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I just walked through some new houses where from the front balcony you can see both the original + later Sears towers, and from the back balcony, former John Hancock.
That's very Chicago-y, but it's not the main reason I went to see these houses. That'll be in a story Monday.
That's very Chicago-y, but it's not the main reason I went to see these houses. That'll be in a story Monday.
$400,000 price cut today on the Old Town home of Nick Kokonas, former co-owner of Alinea.
Started at $6,840,000 in October 2023 (the story I did then is below). Today's price cut, the 3rd, take it down to $5,494,000.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Started at $6,840,000 in October 2023 (the story I did then is below). Today's price cut, the 3rd, take it down to $5,494,000.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
5 months later, Alinea co-owner puts a price on his Old Town house
Alinea co-owner Nick Kokonas, who in May started his own sales effort with no agent and no asking price, has now listed his Old Town house with both.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 14, 2025 at 3:52 PM
$400,000 price cut today on the Old Town home of Nick Kokonas, former co-owner of Alinea.
Started at $6,840,000 in October 2023 (the story I did then is below). Today's price cut, the 3rd, take it down to $5,494,000.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Started at $6,840,000 in October 2023 (the story I did then is below). Today's price cut, the 3rd, take it down to $5,494,000.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
The former CEO of Ferrara Candy, makers of Lemonheads, Atomic Fireballs and so much more, has his Gold Coats condo on the market at almost $4.8 m.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Former CEO of Chicago candy industry leader Ferrara selling Gold Coast condo
Todd Siwak and his wife, Gianna Jacobson, bought the condo in 2018 for just over $4.61 million, one of the 50 highest-priced home sales that year.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 13, 2025 at 9:23 PM
The former CEO of Ferrara Candy, makers of Lemonheads, Atomic Fireballs and so much more, has his Gold Coats condo on the market at almost $4.8 m.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
This story has been corrected. The asking price is $1.9 million, not the figure I originally reported. (The incorrect information came from the real estate company.)
She built a tranquil riverside retreat in McHenry that only a new marriage could take her away from.
It's really nice, sandwiched betw the Fox River and Moraine Hills State Park, one of my favorites.
Asking $1 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com/it-hits-mark...
It's really nice, sandwiched betw the Fox River and Moraine Hills State Park, one of my favorites.
Asking $1 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com/it-hits-mark...
Outdoor living spaces abound in this Fox River retreat
The home right on the Fox River 54 miles from the Loop is only three years old. She's asking $1 million for it.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 13, 2025 at 9:10 PM
This story has been corrected. The asking price is $1.9 million, not the figure I originally reported. (The incorrect information came from the real estate company.)
She built a tranquil riverside retreat in McHenry that only a new marriage could take her away from.
It's really nice, sandwiched betw the Fox River and Moraine Hills State Park, one of my favorites.
Asking $1 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com/it-hits-mark...
It's really nice, sandwiched betw the Fox River and Moraine Hills State Park, one of my favorites.
Asking $1 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com/it-hits-mark...
Outdoor living spaces abound in this Fox River retreat
The home right on the Fox River 54 miles from the Loop is only three years old. She's asking $1 million for it.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 13, 2025 at 6:05 PM
She built a tranquil riverside retreat in McHenry that only a new marriage could take her away from.
It's really nice, sandwiched betw the Fox River and Moraine Hills State Park, one of my favorites.
Asking $1 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com/it-hits-mark...
It's really nice, sandwiched betw the Fox River and Moraine Hills State Park, one of my favorites.
Asking $1 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com/it-hits-mark...
First 2 houses on this site I wrote about in December hit the market today. One, on Paulina, is $4.1 m, the other, on Hermitage, is <$2.7 m.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Multimillion-dollar houses coming to a Wicker Park site, each with a pool
The four homes, with prices starting at $3.8 million, will go on a contiguous set of six lots near the Division Street nightlife hub.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 13, 2025 at 3:03 PM
First 2 houses on this site I wrote about in December hit the market today. One, on Paulina, is $4.1 m, the other, on Hermitage, is <$2.7 m.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
A Frank Lloyd Wright house in Kankakee sold for the first time since 1976.
The buyer, a Chicagoan, plans extensive renovations, incl replacing a long-lost terrace along south side of the house.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
The buyer, a Chicagoan, plans extensive renovations, incl replacing a long-lost terrace along south side of the house.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Frank Lloyd Wright house in Kankakee sold for first time since 1976
The buyer, a Chicagoan, plans extensive restorations of the house, built in 1900 on the bank of the Kankakee River.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
A Frank Lloyd Wright house in Kankakee sold for the first time since 1976.
The buyer, a Chicagoan, plans extensive renovations, incl replacing a long-lost terrace along south side of the house.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
The buyer, a Chicagoan, plans extensive renovations, incl replacing a long-lost terrace along south side of the house.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
You know those billboards and Super Bowl commercials for WeatherTech floormats for cars?
Founder and CEO of that firm, based in Bolingbrook, is spending $94 million to assemble an oceanfront estate in Florida.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Founder and CEO of that firm, based in Bolingbrook, is spending $94 million to assemble an oceanfront estate in Florida.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
CEO of Bolingbrook’s WeatherTech assembling $94 million Florida estate
David MacNeil, whose suburban firm makes floor mats for cars, is buying a $55.5 million property in Malanapan next door to one he bought last year for $38.5 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM
You know those billboards and Super Bowl commercials for WeatherTech floormats for cars?
Founder and CEO of that firm, based in Bolingbrook, is spending $94 million to assemble an oceanfront estate in Florida.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Founder and CEO of that firm, based in Bolingbrook, is spending $94 million to assemble an oceanfront estate in Florida.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
This Lincoln Park mansion sold for more than $2 million off its 2022 price. www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Lincoln Park mansion sells for $2.3 million off its 2022 price
Designed by architect Dirk Lohan with a clever tribute to his grandfather, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, the house sold for $5.8 million.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 11, 2025 at 11:25 PM
This Lincoln Park mansion sold for more than $2 million off its 2022 price. www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Pay property taxes on the same home for 30 years and you're done, is what a downstate legislator is proposing.
Like paying off a 30-year mortgage, you'd be free and clear of property taxes when you hit that benchmark.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Like paying off a 30-year mortgage, you'd be free and clear of property taxes when you hit that benchmark.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Legislator proposes '30 years and you’re done' property tax law
Longtime homeowners would be exempt from paying property taxes when they reach that benchmark under a bill introduced in Springfield last month.
www.chicagobusiness.com
March 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Pay property taxes on the same home for 30 years and you're done, is what a downstate legislator is proposing.
Like paying off a 30-year mortgage, you'd be free and clear of property taxes when you hit that benchmark.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...
Like paying off a 30-year mortgage, you'd be free and clear of property taxes when you hit that benchmark.
www.chicagobusiness.com/residential-...