Search Results for : Green

162 results

The GREEN Series

The Green Series is an ongoing series of posts, white papers, and information detailing green initiatives, technology, events and information for homeowners.  I also provide additional media content and materials from some of the events and locations that I have had the opportunity to visit. GREENBUILD 2010 @ McCormick Place […]

GREEN Designation

In the fall of 2010, many of us at @properties  took the GREEN Designation course.  Upon completion , we now lead the Chicago area with the most NAR GREEN Designees in the area. A spread in the Chicago Tribune was printed to honor all of us who passed the course.

Bedroom design

Changes for Airbnb hosts

A proposed ordinance filed this week by Aldermen Joe Moore, 49th, and Ameya Pawar, 47th, and backed by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, for anyone who rents their living space for up to 90 days a year would have to register with the city. Described as “a free and simple online process” […]

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel arrives at a town hall meeting on the city budget in Chicago

Chicago approves Emanuel’s property tax increase

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s $7.8 billion fiscal 2016 budget and a historic property tax increase to pay for public safety worker pensions easily cleared the city council on Wednesday. However, the plan for the fiscal year that begins on Jan. 1 still faces uncertainties in the Illinois Legislature and supreme […]

Chicago ARO

Navigating the New Affordable Requirements Ordinance (ARO)

The Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago (HBAGC) presented “Navigating the New ARO” on May 28th to a packed room at the Dream20 Showroom in the Merchandise Mart. The City of Chicago’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance requires residential developments that receive city financial assistance or involve city-owned land to provide a percentage […]

Rentals, REITs and Growth

Builders, landlords and investors are carefully watching the apartment sector, determining the health, and potential decline of demand and return of investment in the city. With the pace of apartment building and current supply increasing recently there are concerns that there could potentially be an oversupply. After the bust, the […]

Tax Time Tips

Homeownership carries many tax benefits, so be sure you’re taking advantage of these strategies at tax time: Mortgage Interest Deduction Interest you pay on a mortgage of up to $1 million — or $500,000 if you’re married filing separately — is deductible on Schedule A when you use the loan […]

Cost vs. Value

The newest Cost versus Value report has just been released. Leading in the midrange projects in Chicago are steel entry doors, garage door replacements, deck additions and stone veneer accents. Leading upscale projects were wood window replacements, garage door replacements and siding replacement. Unlike what television may have us believe, […]

New affordable housing fees

[Sun-Times] Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s complex solution to Chicago’s affordable housing crisis was advanced by a City Council committee Wednesday, amid concern that the costly mandates could stifle residential development. Chicago’s existing “affordable requirements ordinance” offers a choice to developers of projects with 10 or more new or rehabilitated units that […]

Illinois fracking vote postponed

On Tuesday, the Illinois legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) did not vote on proposed regulations for horizontal hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” in Illinois, making the next opportunity for a vote Nov. 6. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) had collected more than 30,000 comments from the public […]