Chicago Agent Magazine

Violet Ostrowski, Managing Broker for Show House Chicago @ Keller Williams Thrive, shares real estate insights and her greatest accomplishments within the industry in our latest feature 📸

https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2026/10/01/violet-ostrowski/

Violet Ostrowski - Chicago Agent Magazine Agent Snapshot Violet Ostrowski was born in Poland and immigrated to the U.S. when she was 6 years old. Growing up, she wanted to be an attorney.

Congratulations to all the Compass Chicago nominees! Vote every day, once a day until October 9th!

As a boutique, women-owned and women-led brokerage, Downtown Apartment Collective (DAC) combines a strong brand identity with white-glove service to deliver an exceptional experience for renters, buyers and sellers throughout Chicago. Ericka Rios, founder and director of leasing, and Kati Baker, CEO of the firm, have worked together for 16 years. They share a passion for providing extensive coaching and support to their team of experienced agents.

Rios, a real estate veteran, leads the team through coaching, guidance and hands-on leadership. She focuses on developing agents, supporting team members and building strong property management partnerships. Before becoming CEO, Baker was responsible for building the firm’s team, handpicking many of its top agents. Today, she oversees business development, strategic initiatives and the company’s continued growth.
With a retail-style office in the River North Gallery District, DAC focuses on the downtown luxury market, covering the Gold Coast, River North, Streeterville, Loop, South Loop, West Loop, Fulton Market, Wicker Park and Lincoln Park neighborhoods.

Ericka Rios, Founder & Director of Leasing
Kati Baker, CEO
Downtown Apartment Collective
Compass Chicago
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2026/downtown-apartment-collective/

💰 U.S. household income hit a record high in 2025.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, real median household income reached $87,460, up 2.6% from 2024 and the highest level recorded since tracking began in 1967.

After taxes and credits, median household income was $76,060, up 3.1% year over year—but still below 2020 and 2021 levels.

Income growth also varied significantly across households. Since 1967, income at the 90th percentile has grown about 121%, compared with roughly 56% at both the 10th and 50th percentiles.

📲 What do these income trends mean for housing and affordability? Read the full article for the complete breakdown: https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2026/09/30/us-real-median-household-income-reaches-record-high/

US real median household income reaches record high - Chicago Agent Magazine National News U.S. real median household income hit a record $87,460 in 2025, the highest since the U.S. Census Bureau tracking began in 1967.

After 27 years as part owner of a mortgage brokerage, Jeff Schneller recently accepted the position of sales manager with Wintrust Mortgage at the Beverly Bank branch. “I built strong relationships with past clients, real estate agents, attorneys and financial planners,” he says. “I ultimately feel that I can serve my clients best by working for Wintrust Mortgage.”

Specializing in self-employed borrowers; first-time buyer programs; down payment assistance (or grants); alternative income programs; and doctor, investor and construction loans, Schneller credits his success to experience. “I’ve helped people purchase their first house, dream house and vacation house, and I’ve aided clients to consolidate debt and increase equity,” he notes. “After all of these years, I have truly become an expert and I am proud of that.” While most loans go smoothly, he says, when things go wrong, clients need an experienced lender.

Wintrust Mortgage Jeff Schneller, Sales Manager
Wintrust Mortgage NMLS # 217765
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2026/jeff-schneller/

🏎️ 💨 The pace of United States home-price growth picked up in July as geography continued to create a wide gap in performance, with prices in No. 1 Chicago outpacing those in lowest-ranked Seattle by almost 9%.

The S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index rose 1.9% year over year in July, up from a 1.6% gain in June.
S&P Dow Jones noted that although prices rose almost 2%, in real terms, they were actually down due to inflation, which registered 3.4% in July.

Once again, Chicago saw the largest year-over-year increase, with a 6.86% acceleration in price growth. Month over month, the Windy City saw a 0.51% gain.

Once again, Chicago leads nation in home appreciation - Chicago Agent Magazine By the Numbers U.S. home-price growth picked up in July as geography continued to create a wide gap in performance, S&P Cotality Case-Shiller said.

Kevin Christopher has returned to Key Mortgage Services, Inc. NMLS # 155748 as senior vice president of mortgage production, where he will focus on increasing loan officer production and expanding the company’s presence beyond Chicagoland.

An industry veteran with 34 years of experience, Christopher has spent 30 years in leadership roles, along with four years as a producing loan officer. His career includes positions with BMO Harris Bank, U.S. Bank and Prism Mortgage, as well as serving as senior vice president at Baird & Warner Financial Services, which later became Key Mortgage.

Kevin Christopher returns to Key Mortgage - Chicago Agent Magazine Making Moves Kevin Christopher, an industry veteran with 34 years of experience, has returned to Key Mortgage as senior VP of mortgage production.

🏡 Suburban home sales fell in August, but more detached homes went under contract, which could mean more sales in September and October, Mainstreet REALTORS® reports.

Detached-home sales fell 4.1% year over year in August, but homes under contract jumped 5.3%.

Meanwhile, prices continue to climb. The median detached-home price reached $450,000, up from $420,000 a year ago, while attached-home sales dropped nearly 10%.

And while many communities saw prices rise, some are experiencing notable year-to-date declines.

📲 What’s happening in your local market? Read the full article for the latest Chicago suburban housing data and trends: https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/2026/09/29/suburban-home-sales-fall-in-august-as-pending-sales-rise/

Suburban home sales fall in August as pending sales rise - Chicago Agent Magazine Current Market Data Suburban home sales fell in August, but rising pending sales could boost fall closings, Mainstreet REALTORS® reports.