Our own Eric Rojas will appear on HGTV’s House Hunters on December 10 at 8pm Central Time (See local listings). The episode features a young married couple who cannot seem to agree on what style of condo they want to buy. I’ll bet most Prudential Rubloff agents can relate to this scenario. For more information on the episode, CLICK HERE.

News from faraway places can create real changes at home. Last week news that Dubai World would not be able to meet its loan obligations sent stock markets plunging worldwide. Billions were wiped off the balance sheets of banks and fears of bank failures spread jitters around the globe.  

Many Americans might be forgiven if they had to look up Dubai just to find it on a map. Dubai sits on the Persian Gulf and is part of the United Arab Emirates. It is the jewel in the crown of the Arab world and is synonymous with outlandish luxury. It became the playground of the rich and famous with the world’s tallest building The Burj al Dubai hotel, an indoor ski mountain in the desert, a mall in inspired by Ferrari, and luxury housing developments like The Palm at Jumeriah and The World. These last two are sometimes used as prime examples of the excesses of the last decade in that they are housing developments built on man made islands in the Persian Gulf. The World looks like, well, a map of the world from outer space and The Palm is made of islands that form a palm tree. Homes in these developments have been sold to uber-wealthy clients such as David Beckham. Sales fell off the chart last year and now work has stopped at both projects.

There is no getting away from the fact that what happens in far off places can now affect the economy close to home. Thankfully, the “Dubai crises” seems to be overblown and unlikely to cause a true global banking crisis that pushes us into that double dip recession everyone is worrying about. It does remind us that globalization has the power to change our corner of the world.

To the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza that is.

Inspired by the Christkindlsmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, which began in 1545.  The Christkindlmarket Chicago began in 1996 at Pioneer Court and in 1997 moved to Daley Plaza, located in The Loop, where this German and European tradition has since been held.  Christkindl is known as the bearer of gifts with a childlike spirit and is usually depicted with blond hair and angelic wings.

The Christkindlmarket is my absolute favorite part of Chicago holidays!  This fest definitely pleases the half German girl in me!  You can indulge in all things German from shopping to eating and of course drinking beer.  To be honest, I go for the food.  The Bavarian pretzels, potato pancakes, bratwurst with sauerkraut and sweet coated nuts!  Mmm…can’t wait!

So the countdown begins!  November 25th come for the first sneak peak of the market from 11am-8pm and at 4pm watch the lighting of the tree.  On the 26th come for the Thanksgiving parade and the second sneak peak of the market from 11am-4pm.  Then on the 27th the market will be officially open daily through Christmas Eve.

	Posted by: Sarah, the Prudential Rubloff marketing intern

Chicago Lifestyle 3 of 9,632

Andersonville. One of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods known for its Sweedish roots.  Also a home to many Middle-Eastern, Hispanic and GLTB (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender) businesses and residents. Andersonville limits are between Broadway and Ravenswood (east and west), and Winnemac and Elmdale (North and South).  Clark street is packed with shops, bakeries, cafes and more making this a top notch Chicago lifestyle.

If you are looking for furniture for your new home then this is the area to come to. I recently re-decorated my home and found some great pieces in Andersonville. Here are some suggestions based on “who” you want your home to be…

1. The Worldly Wanderer: Ethnically inspired, rich and exotic. Visit Cassona If you are looking for unique ethnic imports, exotic woods, lighting and upholstered furntirure (with hundreds of fabric choices) at good prices. This store claims to have something for everyone, and I agree with them.

Cassona 5241 N. Clark

2. The Fung Shui-ist: Zen, serene and proudly green. Visit Urbanest for local and international pieces that are well-priced and as environmentally sustainable as possible. They carry everything from bamboo flooring, tables, rugs, couches, pillows and art. Each month they feature an artist of the month who displays their work for sale.

Urbanest 5228 N. Clark

3. The Artsy Renaissance Man/Woman: Eclectic, vintage and colorful yet simple and clean. Scout has a mixture of antiques, flea market finds and contemporary pieces. If you like to have conversation pieces as your furniture then Scout is your place.

Scout 5221 N. Clark

4. The Anthropologist: Shabby chic, cozy, creative and feminine.  Visit White Attic where you can buy hand selected vintage pieces that have been refinished by their expert team. Or step up to the lamp bar where you can custom pick your vintage lamp base and shade.

White Attic 5225 N. Clark

If you’re not looking for furtiture a trip to Andersonville is still worth your while. You can stop in one of their dozens of other boutique stores such as City Olive, Chocolate Gourmet, or the Andersonville Galleria.

Then… of course there’s the great food, which is always my favorite. A few weeks ago I went with a few friends to Great Lake, the hot new pizza joint featured by GQ Magazine as America’s best pizza. I heard ahead of time that the wait may be long, but never did I imagine just how long that would be. Estimated wait time: at least an hour, but up to 3. Unfortunately (or fortunately), we opted out and walked across to Hamburger Mary’s for a no-wait juicy burger. I’m still curious about Great Lake, so if you’re more patient than I please let me know how it is! After dinner also visit the Southern Italian bakery, Pasticceria Natalina, which carries every Southern Italian cookie you can dream of.

Neighborhood Building Styles: Mix of two- and three-flats, condo conversions, single-family homes and fantastic Victorians that have been restored.

Average Price per Square Foot: $180

My Favorite Property: 1738 West Balmoral. Your very own single family home. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and 2 garage parking spots. This home is open, bright and spacious. Here you get a great urban area, tree lined streets and a spacious home…that won’t gouge your pocket!

Visit our Facebook page to vote for the next Chicago “Lifestyle” I should highlight:

• Chinatown
• Pilsen
• Printer’s Row
• Little Italy

It’s in your hands!

Posted By: Sarah, the Fabulous Prudential Rubloff Marketing Intern

The word luxury is often used to describe anything that is even remotely upscale these days; however, true luxury is more difficult to label, particularly when it comes to luxury real estate.

That said, there are some Chicago homes that are the very definition of luxury, and there are a few elements they have in common.

Prestigious Location - Location, location, location this is a term that is used constantly in the real estate industry, and for good reason. When you are searching for a Chicago luxury home, it is important that you consider your location carefully. You want to be surrounded by other beautiful homes on a prominent street such as Bellevue in the Gold Coast or Burling, Fremont and Orchard in Lincoln Park.

These streets are known for their exclusive, high-end single family Chicago homes, and their unique cachet also increases potential resale value.

Size Matters - Being located on a larger-than-usual lot makes some luxury properties even more unique. The standard Chicago lot size is 25 by 125 ft, but there are beautiful single family homes on lots that range from 30 ft wide to 187.5 ft wide, which is the equivalent of three contiguous standard lots.

You’d have plenty of room to lead the good life, and naturally a larger property has a larger resale value as well.

Personal Style - A truly luxurious Chicago home has a distinctive style.

First of all, the Chicago luxury property you choose should reflect your taste, whether you prefer sleek contemporary design or historical elegance.

Like your wardrobe, car, artwork, and interior design selections, your Chicago home should reflect your personality inside and out.

Unique Floor Plans - Chicago’s most exclusive luxury homes have unique floor plans and other special features, including higher-than-average ceilings, ensuite bathrooms for all or most of the bedrooms, extra large master bedrooms including walk-in closets (an amazing high end wardrobe and shoe collection deserves an amazing closet, after all), and master bathrooms equipped with amenities and finishes reminiscent of a high end spa.

Cozy libraries, exercise rooms, and media centers are other popular features.

Entertainment - Inviting your friends and family to experience the beauty and comfort of your home is one of the many joys of owning a Chicago luxury property.

Perhaps the most important room in the house is kitchen after all, isn’t this always where people end up gathering at any party?

Kitchens in Chicago luxury homes come equipped with high-end finishes and restaurant quality appliances, including double ovens, SubZero refrigerators, wine storage, walk-in pantries and more, making cooking a pleasure instead of a chore. Many luxury properties even include wine cellars, making them perfect for wine connoisseurs who want to keep their collection close at hand.

Special Features - Extras like beautiful guest bedrooms or suites, media centers, sunrooms, and a home office are the type of features often found in upscale Chicago properties.

In addition, rooftop decks or terraces, sidewalks equipped with heaters (to melt the winter snow), and high tech security systems and intercoms are common elements of Chicago luxury homes.

Multiple Car Garages  – If your cars are your pride and joy, you need a home with a spacious multi-car garage. After all, if you have invested in something like a Bugatti Veyron, an Astin Martin Vanquish, the Pagani Zonda C12 F, or another exotic vehicle, you need a luxurious place to keep it.

All of these elements come together to make for Chicago homes that are luxurious in every sense of the word.

However, the truest sense of luxury comes from the feeling that one of these properties gives you the minute you step foot inside  that feeling of ultimate comfort combined with exclusivity and distinctive style that simply says that you’ve arrived.

Please check out www.sheldonchicago.com for more information on luxury Chicago homes.

Posted By: Sheldon Salnick.

CHICAGO, November 16, 2009–Lincoln Park 2520 was recognized as “Favorite Overall New Development – City” by Chicago Agent Magazine’s Agent Choice Awards. John Murphy, Principal and Charles Riess, Project Manager accepted the award for Ricker-Murphy Development.

“We are especially gratified that our building was selected by the real estate agents of Chicago as their favorite development”, stated John Murphy, “We are glad that the real estate community recognizes the unique qualities of Lincoln Park 2520.”

The event was held at Smartrooms: A Spaces and Views Showroom in the Merchandise Mart. Over 150 guests were in attendance, representing each of the nominated companies and projects.

The Agents’ Choice Awards winners were selected through an online poll where Realtors were asked to select their favorites in a number of categories. The nominees represent the top vote earners in each category, and the winners received the most votes overall. Thousands of responses were received from agents across the Chicagoland area to determine the results.

Winners will be featured in the Nov. 9 issue of Chicago Agent, and also will receive an award with their company name or project name engraved. Photos of each winner were captured as they accepted their awards, and will appear in the Nov. 9 issue as well. The names of the nominees will also be recognized in the Agents’ Choice Awards issue.

When completed, Lincoln Park 2520 will be one of Chicago’s pre-eminent residential buildings. It is located at 2520 N. Lakeview, across from one of the world’s greatest parks with stunning lake and city views. Designed by Lucien Lagrange, this 33 story building has 198 well appointed condominiums from 906 square feet to over 9,000 square feet. A fully decorated Sales Center is located at The John Hancock Center. For more information call 773.549.8888 or visit the website at www.lincolnpark2520.com.

Join in the conversation!

This is an interesting question, similar to the chicken or the egg.

First I am posing this question to my fellow Realtors?: How do you determine luxury in today’s market?

When we as Realtors talk about luxury living, is it all about the high end price points of $1,000,000 or more?

Or is it the size, the high-end appliances and systems, the neighborhood?

If you are looking at condos, is it the views, the amenities of the building, or does it boil down to the finishes?

Now if we turn this question to the consumers: Does price make a difference in the luxury finishes?

Isn’t what describes luxury in today’s real estate market completely in the eyes of the buyer? This may be the bottom line here.

What is it that entices a buyer to buy? And how do luxury buyers define luxury? My opinion is that today most buyers expect current updated condition of all properties, no matter the price or the size, and especially in the higher price brackets. I see most of the young professional buyers today looking for homes at all price points and want to have the space decorated for them when they walk in the door.

Since the boom of the real estate market all over the country, new construction set the standards for all properties it seems. Even if you were selling a turn-of-the-century Victorian, it better have granite and stainless appliances.

So now that we are returning to a market that will be driven more by re-sales than new construction, how will this view of luxury change?

I really want to hear from you; the consumers directly.

Let’s hear what you have to say!

Posted By: Maria Sabatini.

If you are spending the last few weeks of autumn in downtown Chicago along the Magnificent Mile, thinking how much you love this city this time of year, you should consider stopping in the John Hancock building. Why? To check out the Lincoln Park 2520 Sales Center on the 39th floor and look into enjoying more Chicago autumns.

I recently made a visit to the John Hancock building to preview the sales center and model for my clients and was very impressed with the new parkfront towers and townhomes by architect Lucien Lagrange. With gorgeous views of Lake Michigan from the sales center, you begin to get an understanding of the similar views you would have from the Lincoln Park 2520 tower. In addition to the fabulous views, you couldn’t ask to be in a better Lincoln Park location.This is the first building to be built along Lakeview on the park in a very long time.

Not only do you have the benefits of the location, but I was extremely impressed with the one-acre landscaped garden that is being built on the property that will include paths, sitting areas, fountains, a tot-lot and a dog run. This time of year in Chicago you can really appreciate how wonderful the garden amenities would be to enjoy in the summer and fall.

The building replica makes it easy to figure out what the physical location of each residence will be within the building and the interactive viewing room allows you to see the actual view from various units. As a Realtor, I appreciate the effort that has gone into making buying pre-construction as easy as possible for the buyer with these tools. Often my clients have a difficult time envisioning what they will be buying without physically seeing the space and, in my opinion, the Lincoln Park 2520 project helps to eliminate that problem.

I was equally impressed with the luxury finishes that come standard in Lincoln Park 2520 residences. The model home at the project is inviting and luxurious and gives a good representation of what is to come. From the fine European cabinetry, Sub Zero, Wolf and Miele kitchen to the stone tile bathrooms with Waterworks faucets; every detail is equally impressive. It was refreshing to see a development that is being marketed as a luxury residence that is actually delivering on what they are promising. So often I am unimpressed with the standard finishes in developments being marketed as luxurious and am happy to report that this is not the case with the Lincoln Park 2520 project.

So, if you are considering moving to Chicago, looking for a fabulous in-town or second home or just looking to upgrade your home, you should definitely check out Lincoln Park 2520.

Posted By: Ramie Robbins.

Prudential Rubloff Properties is pleased to announce the promotion of Kate Santo to the position of Vice President and Director of Relocation Services.  Kate had been the Relocation Manager for Rubloff before the September 9 merger of Prudential Preferred Properties and Rubloff. Under Kate’s leadership, we will continue to provide the excellent relocation service for which we have become known.  Kate is a graduate of Loyola Academy in Wilmette and Marquette University in Milwaukee. 

“This is a great opportunity for me because Prudential Rubloff Properties is already a proven leader in relocation,” states Santo, “and I look forward to promoting the continued success of our relocation department.”

Jenny Pistell and Brent Williams will continue in their positions as Relocation Manager and Relocation Coordinator in the Relocation Department, respectively.  Following is her contact information:

Kate Santo, Vice President and Director of Relocation Services

ksanto@rubloff.com

312.849.4054

CHICAGO, IL – November 9, 2009 – Prudential Rubloff Properties is pleased to announce that they have expanded their presence into Hinsdale, Illinois. This state-of-the-art facility is located in the heart of down Hinsdale at 35 South Washington, at the corner of Washington Street and Hinsdale Avenue. 

“Prudential Rubloff Properties will bring a wealth of new real estate services to Hinsdale,” said Chris Eigel, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Rubloff Properties. “Because the Prudential name was already well-established in Hinsdale, it made sense for us to open an office in Hinsdale. At this time many of our competitors are contracting, making this a bold move.

In fact, we have the highest average sales price and the lowest days on market among the top real estate firms in Cook and Lake Counties. We are pleased to offer our clients a Hinsdale location from which to serve them better.”

To reach the Prudential Rubloff Properties Hinsdale office, please call 630-325-7500.

About Prudential Rubloff Properties

Prudential Rubloff Properties has 17 sales offices with nearly 900 sales professionals and staff in Chicago’s Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview and South Loop, as well as Evanston, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Northbrook, Winnetka and Michigan’s Harbor Country. Prudential Rubloff Properties is the exclusive provider of Premier Market Watch Reports, a consumer trend and analysis tool for neighborhoods and communities in Chicagoland’s Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties. For additional information, please visit PruPref.com/MarketWatch. Prudential Rubloff Properties is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, a full-service residential and commercial real estate network with nearly 1,940 franchise offices and more than 62,000 sales professionals in the franchise network in the United States and Canada.

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