2023 Chicagoland Real Estate Market Outlook

While many news outlets have a pretty gloomy take on what 2023 holds for the real estate industry, those in the know still see rays of sunshine. 

Since the pandemic, the national real estate market has been on fire, seeing an unprecedented feeding frenzy that resulted in the two busiest years anyone can remember. Now that things are normalizing, it only seems like a foreboding and dramatic shift. 

While the Chicagoland market might be a bit less competitive in the coming year, home prices should remain steady, property values should continue to appreciate (or hold steady), and it’s an ideal time for clients who were sidelined by the dread of a bidding war to start exploring their options. 

Let’s take a deeper dive into conventional wisdom, maverick predictions, and what you can do to ensure your real estate business weathers the storm and continues to thrive. 

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Agent Spotlight Molly Marino

Molly Marino is not your cookie-cutter real estate agent, and she delivers a uniquely rewarding and holistic experience for each of her clients. 

After receiving her MBA from the prestigious Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, Molly believed that she was on the corporate track and destined to be a high-powered marketing executive. 

But like so many passionate entrepreneurs, she yearned for more freedom and decided to make the decision to forge a new future for herself. 

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Content Marketing: Pro Tips for Real Estate Agents

They say “content is king,” which might be a bit of hyperbole, but there’s no denying that creative and relevant content is a guaranteed way to drive traffic to your real estate business website, outshine your competition, and generate solid leads. 

Content, in this context, can and should include video, photography, and written content, and leaves the door open for other current and emerging elements, like infographics and renderings. 

Many agents are good, and getting better, at preparing visual content (think video and images on social media), but where they’re missing loads of opportunity is in written content. 

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Baird & Warner Lincoln Park and Good Will Works

At Baird & Warner, giving back to our vibrant Chicagoland neighborhoods is an essential part of who we are. We launched Good Will Works to partner with local organizations that focus on fair housing, animal welfare, financial empowerment, arts education, racial equity, and more. 

In 2021, our company was proud to donate over $175,000 to charitable causes throughout the city, and we’ve given nearly $3 million to date to regional nonprofits.

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Business Planning for the New Year: How to Set Your Self Up for Success in 2023

As we sail through the final quarter of 2022, it’s crucial to get your business plan in place for the New Year. 

While Chicagoland is a highly unique market that’s not always subject to the same trends as the rest of the country, it’s best to be prepared for whatever comes your way by creating a flexible strategy for the coming year.

At the Baird & Warner Lincoln Park office, brokers receive a tailored template guiding every step of the process and invaluable mentorship on how to build a plan that truly works. While rising interest rates and other challenges facing prospective new homeowners signal a shifting real estate landscape — you can come out on top by building a strong foundation of proactive practices and healthy habits.

Let’s dive into some insider tips for your 2023 plan and how to set yourself up for success.  

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Agent Spotlight: Kenan Kreso

With an MBA in International Business and 15 years of experience in the energy consulting field, Kenan Kreso is a uniquely qualified real estate agent.

While his grade school classmates were splashing their way through pool parties and having fun, Kenny was spending his summers getting valuable life experience in renovation and the realities of rental management by working for his family’s property company. 

After graduating from the University of Arizona in 2005, he moved to beautiful and historic Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and his father’s birthplace. Already proficient in Spanish, he strove to learn the local languages (Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian) while starting his career and pursuing his MBA.

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Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Started My Real Estate Career

Life as a successful real estate professional can be exciting and fulfilling — but there are also certain challenges that aren’t covered during your 75-hour pre-licensing course.  

While the managing broker who sponsors your license application will serve as an invaluable teacher, it never hurts to be as prepared as possible. 

If you’re thinking about transitioning to the real estate world from another career, you might not be aware of these insider tips, so we’ve put together this handy compendium of advice for you from experienced industry pros.

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Transitioning to Real Estate from a Full-Time Job

Making the leap from a full-time job into the exciting landscape of the real estate industry is exhilarating and could lead to the financial freedom you’ve always wanted.

But like any massive decision, it’s best to learn as much as you can about what awaits before you dive in.

That’s why we’ve put together some insightful advice to ensure you’re as prepared as possible to transition from a regular worker to a highly motivated and independent business professional. 

If you have a specific question that’s not addressed below, please feel free to reach out to us directly and start a conversation. 

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The “Best” Mistakes to Make as A New Real Estate Agent

As a new real estate agent, you’re bound to make a few missteps when you first embark on this exciting journey. But it’s always smart to be proactive. 

It’s human nature to make mistakes, but they present a beneficial opportunity to learn and grow. It’s even better to learn from the mistakes of others before you waste valuable time and energy. 

That’s why we’ve put together this crucial list of lessons from industry thought leaders which will serve as a road map to success so you can avoid these common pitfalls and thrive in your chosen career

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Negotiations: Best Practices for Real Estate Agents

Effective negotiators are not born, they’re made. Even if you feel this isn’t one of your strongest skillsets, you can learn and improve your strategies and techniques to better serve your clients.

Coming to the table prepared and ready to bargain in good faith will not only result in satisfied clients, and help agents to land future referral business, negotiation skills are a top priority for home buyers. In NAR’s annual Survey of Home Buyers and Sellers for 2022, 83% of buyers listed negotiation skills as “very important” to their agent selection. It’s incumbent that agents become great negotiators! 

Let’s dive into the best practices and some top tips for perfecting your real estate negotiation approach.

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