Chicago Agent Magazine

The brokerage landscape is changing fast and we want to hear from you. 👇

🏢 Are you with a traditional full-service brokerage?
✨ A boutique or independent firm?
☁️ A virtual or cloud-based model?

Looking ahead, which brokerage model do you think will dominate the real estate industry over the next five years?

📊 Take our quick survey and share your perspective. Your insights will help shape the conversation around important real estate topics!

Drop your thoughts in this survey to make your voice heard!
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2026/06/05/brokerage-survey/

Survey: What brokerage model do you work under? - Chicago Agent Magazine Survey What brokerage model do you work under? Traditional full-service? 100% commission? Boutique or independent? Take our survey and let us know!

Confident, polished and chic, is how Liv DeLeon, Realtor , realtor at RE/MAX 10 New Lenox, describes her real estate style.

Liv's style aligns with how she shows up in real estate and business: warm, professional and always authentically herself.

Read the full article for fashion tips and what she considers a "Fashion Don't" in our latest feature.

Liv DeLeon, RE/MAX 10, New Lenox - Chicago Agent Magazine My Style Liv DeLeon is a Realtor at RE/MAX 10, New Lenox. Her style icon is a little mix of Princess Diana and Jackie Kennedy.

For mortgage veteran Larry Steinway, making the move to a leadership position at New American Funding last year was a big step but also a natural transition in his 30-year lending career. Having been recruited into the mortgage business as a young man, he knows the industry like few others and was ready for a new challenge.

A communicator from the word “go,” Steinway values real conversations and being accessible to his clients, most of whom are referrals from the real estate agents he works with. “We never just text a few items,” he confirms. “Having a conversation to discuss their needs is mandatory.” Steinway’s communication skills extend to social media, where he regularly provides tips and industry insights on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Larry Steinway at New American Funding, Regional Manager and Vice President, Residential Lending
New American Funding, NMLS # 223579
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2025/larry-steinway-4/

🏘️ The United States housing market remained in a “holding pattern” in April, with annualized home-price growth remaining at 0.4% for the second month in a row, Cotality said in its Home Price Insights report.

The median home price rose from $409,500 in March to $417,450 in April. Looking ahead, Cotality expects home prices to rise 5.3% between April 2026 and April 2027.

💬 “Market strength suggests that some buyers remain insulated from mortgage-rate volatility and are supported by substantial home equity and stock market gains,” said Cotality Chief Economist Dr. Selma Hepp.

Tap the link to see the top 10 hottest markets in April:
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2026/06/02/cotality-us-home-price-growth/

Cotality: US home-price growth holds steady despite jump in interest rates - Chicago Agent Magazine By the Numbers The housing market remained in a "holding pattern" in April, with home-price growth of 0.4% for the second month in a row, Cotality said.

⌛ You are leaving time on the table every single day. Not because you are not working hard enough. Because you are typing when you could be talking.

Top real estate coach, global keynote speaker and international best-selling author Marki Lemons Ryhal says, "Your voice has always been your most powerful business asset. You use it on the phone. You use it in negotiations. Turn every word into income-producing output."

💡 Read the latest Innovation Insider for productivity hacks and what strategies you can implement before your next showing:
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2026/06/01/your-voice-is-four-times-faster-than-your-fingers-are-you-using-it/

Your voice is four times faster than your fingers. Are you using it? - Chicago Agent Magazine Innovation Insider Real estate is a contact sport. Your gross commission income (GCI) depends on the volume and quality of your communication.

Having cultivated a stellar reputation in her eight-year career, Nichole Veihman’s journey into real estate was fueled by a desire to provide comprehensive guidance to homebuyers, inspired by her own experience of relocating from the city to the suburbs. The Indiana native draws from her degrees in business and costume design, as well as her background in corporate marketing and community relations, to seamlessly integrate creative problem-solving strategies and market acumen into her real estate practice.

Specializing in the suburban landscape, Veihman’s expertise spans La Grange, La Grange Park, Western Springs and the broader western suburbs of Chicago. Her dedication to understanding her clients’ goals and lifestyles has made her particularly adept at assisting city dwellers transitioning to suburban life, and those seeking to upsize or downsize. She is known as “the full suburban expert and connector” among her client base, who praise Veihman for her ability to anticipate and fulfill their needs with insight and attention to detail.

Nichole Veihman, Residential Real Estate, Broker and Real Estate Agent
atproperties Christie’s International Real Estate
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2025/nichole-veihman-3/

Technology is the assistant. Authenticity is the advantage.

In today’s market, it is very easy to get caught up in automation. AI is everywhere. CRMs are smarter. Bots can write emails, create captions, draft scripts, build workflows and respond to leads before most of us have even poured a cup of coffee. Hear me out loud and clear: It cannot replace your experience, your judgment, your relationships, your voice or your ability to guide a client through one of the biggest financial decisions of their life. Whether you are a loan officer or a real estate agent, your skill set still matters. Actually, I would argue it matters more than ever. If everyone has access to the same robots, the robot is no longer the differentiator. You are.

Tap the link for this month's Top Coach advice from Tim Brigham, a 24-year veteran of the mortgage industry, a national coach, motivational speaker, founder of the Coffee Is For Closers podcast and area manager for Union Home Mortgage Corp.:
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2026/06/01/why-authenticity-is-the-currency-of-the-future/

Why authenticity is the currency of the future - Chicago Agent Magazine Top Coach Technology is the assistant. Authenticity is the advantage.In today’s market, it is very easy to get caught up in automation.

A responsive professional who leads with service, Jeffrey Marks is always eager to help and educate his clients. He previously worked in the video game industry as a producer and designer. Marks regularly dealt with attorneys in this capacity, negotiating contracts relating to the games he was helping develop. “I started practicing law as a litigator, which has helped me become a much better real estate attorney because I understand what can happen when things go wrong,” says Marks. When he decided to become an attorney himself, he aimed to do something different. An anomaly among lawyers, he offers flat rates, attends his closings in person, is available to brokers and clients day and night, and strives to bring fun and levity to his transactions.

Jeffrey S. Marks, Attorney
Busse & Busse P.C.
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2025/jeffrey-s-marks-2/

🚪 Jameson Sotheby's International Realty officially opened the doors to its new Lake Forest office May 7, welcoming advisors for an evening of connection, collaboration and celebration, as they continue their growth in the North Shore.

https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/slideshows/jameson-sothebys-international-realty-opens-lake-forest-office/

🏡 Berkshire Hathaway is acquiring Taylor Morrison Home Corp. for approximately $8.5 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026.

Taylor Morrison is a national community developer and homebuilder with over 350 communities across 21 markets in 12 states. The company also provides financial services to its customers, including mortgage, title and escrow and homeowners’ insurance.

💬 Statements from Taylor Morrison's chairman and CEO Sheryl Palmer and Greg Abel, Berkshire Hathaway’s CEO on this acquisition here:
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2026/06/02/berkshire-hathaway-to-acquire-taylor-morrison-home-corp-for-8-5b/

Berkshire Hathaway to acquire Taylor Morrison Home Corp. for $8.5B - Chicago Agent Magazine National News Berkshire Hathaway is acquiring Taylor Morrison Home Corporation for approximately $8.5 billion, with closing expected in late 2026.