Anne Rossley (980 N Michigan) was the subject of a YoChicago post on March 25. The post details Anne Rossley’s blog post about the East Ravenswood and Lakewood Balmoral neighborhoods. To view the post, please click here.

Tomorrow night, March 27^th, will mark the 4th annual Earth Hour. The symbolic event began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and over the past few years has grown into a global phenomenon. At 8:30 pm local time, 125 countries will come together to take a stand against climate change and to pledge a commitment to planet earth by turning off their lights for one hour. Chicagoans can take part too. Even if your home is already LEED Certified this is just one more “green” activity you can do to make a difference.  Collectively, the energy saved and the participation will prove how powerful humanity can be when called to action. Written by Kate Santo

Michael Pierson recently sat down with Joe Zekas of YoChicago to discuss Prudential Rubloff’s real-time market reports called Premier Market Watch. Michael offers insight into how consumers can utilize and benefit from these free, weekly reports on any neighborhood or community in Cook, Lake or DuPage county. Premier Market Watch reports provide answers to questions such as, ‘Are home prices in my area going up or down?’; ‘What is the average number of days on the market in my area?’; ‘What are price ranges in specific zip codes?’; and ‘Are there many homes available in my price range in certain areas?’.

Recently, Joe Zekas of YoChicago sat with Michael Pierson, Chairman and President of Prudential Rubloff, to discuss the changing landscape of Chicago brokerages. Michael comments on the variety of mergers we’ve seen in the past two years, and to explain what this trend means for buyers and sellers.

Prudential Rubloff was thrilled to have close to 80 top producing agents recognized at the recent Chicago Association of REALTORS® (CAR) annual awards event. Every year CAR recognizes and honors members who have had outstanding listing and selling accomplishments. The awards give members the opportunity to celebrate their past successes in our Chicagoland area real estate market. This year the 2009 CAR Awards were held on March 11 at Café Brauer in Lincoln Park. All top producers will be featured in the April/May edition of the Chicago REALTOR® Magazine.

This past week, Prudential Real Estate held its annual conference in Austin, TX. For three days, broker owners, agents and relocation directors from Prudential affiliates throughout North America descended on the small but charming town to network, share ideas and learn the latest in the real estate industry. Keynote speakers included Scott Hamilton, Brian Buffini and Bill Rancic. Coupled with their powerful speeches, the conference’s central theme of  Make it Happen empowered all.

Chicago’s Prudential Rubloff had a strong representation in Austin with several agents and management in attendance.  During the conference’s award ceremony, Prudential Rubloff was honored with the prestigious Gibraltar Circle Award. This award is presented to the top 50 firms in the entire Prudential Real Estate Network. Prudential Rubloff moved up seven spots and was ranked 21 nationally!

After a successful event and renewed with the desire to “make it happen,” we return to Chicago and the Spring Real Estate Market.

Michael Pierson and Chris Eigel just returned from the Prudential Real Estate Affiliates Convention in Austin, Texas, where they accepted the Gibraltar Circle Award on behalf of the Prudential Rubloff agents. The Gibraltar Circle Award is presented to the top 50 firms in the entire PREA Network. Prudential Rubloff moved up seven spots and was ranked 21 nationally! As always, the credit goes to the incredible agents and staff! To read the press release on ChicagoAgentMagazine.com, please click here. To view the press release, please click here.

Do you want a five-star location in Chicago’s most desirable neighborhood? Is a stately greystone façade with all the intelligence and convenience of a new construction your style? Well, you can have it all in this Fine Homes property listed with Prudential Rubloff’s Doug Smith from our Mag Mile office.

This elegant Gold Coast renovation by Jaffe Architectural Group, Ltd, resulted in a bright and spacious light-filled 11-room home with four huge en-suite bedrooms and a total of five full baths and three half baths including a charming wood-paneled powder room with an onyx vessel sink. The stunning kitchen with butler’s pantry has elaborate woodwork and cabinetry, and Calcutta gold marble countertops, stainless steel appliances by Wolf, SubZero, and Miele. The great breakfast nook overlooks the private courtyard.

The lower level has a family room, two laundry rooms, plenty of storage and features heated limestone floors throughout. The main levels have solid walnut floors. Natural light floods this home through 10-foot high windows and three custom skylights. This three-level home has an elegant Indiana limestone façade, approximately 6,000 square feet of living space, and four outdoor spaces—a terrace, a front yard, a courtyard and a large 39’ X 22’ rooftop deck over the 3-car heated garage.

Doug Smith’s 1358 North Dearborn listing is featured in the March issue of Michigan Avenue Magazine. To see even more coverage of this unique listing you can also tune in on March 7, 2010 to NBC 5 at 11:00 am for LXTV’s Open House Chicago.

Lakeview is an expansive community whose borders extend from Lake Michigan to North Ravenswood Avenue and Diversey north to Irving Park Road. Clark Street divides the two major sections of the neighborhood, Lakeview East and West Lakeview. Lakeview incorporates the lakefront districts of Diversey and Belmont Harbor. The neighborhood thrives commercially with over 300 retail shops throughout the area. Housing in the area includes condominiums, townhomes and single-family-homes. To view a summary Premier Market Watch Report for condominiums in Lakeview, please click here. To view a detailed Lakeview condominium report, please click here. To view additional Premier Market Watch on the Lakeview neighborhood, or any neighborhood or community in Cook, Lake or DuPage County, please register here.

Transportation
Taxis, buses, the subway and elevated trains make transportation convenient within the city and to and from the surrounding suburbs. The Howard-Dan Ryan subway line stops at Addison Street and Wrigley Field. The Marine Drive and Outer Drive Express buses run to and from the Loop. The Kennedy Expressway connects with all major arteries and links the neighborhoods to surrounding suburbs.

Average Drive Times:
15 minutes to Chicago Loop
30 minutes to O’Hare Airport
40 minutes to Midway Airport

Schools
A variety of public grade schools serve the neighborhood. High schools include Lake View High School and Lane Technical High School. Private and parochial schools include St. Alphonsus, St. Andrew and St. Benedict High School, as well as Heart of Mary High School for girls and Gordon Technical High School. Northwestern University, the Goodman School of Drama, and Truman College are all located close by.

Shopping
A variety of boutiques and shops dot the streets of each neighborhood. Lakeview boasts over 300 stores and specialty shops. Just a few miles to the south, Michigan Avenue’s “Magnificent Mile” is among the most elite retail districts in the nation. The “Mile” features such exclusive shops as Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman-Marcus, Macy’s, and Bloomingdale’s.

Recreation
Wrigleyville is the home of the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field. Those lucky enough to own housing near the field enjoy rooftop seating for home games. The Lincoln Park Zoo is the largest “free” zoo in the world featuring an award-winning ape house, a real dairy farm and a conservatory. A Bird Sanctuary is found on Belmont Harbor Drive at the lakefront.

Hospitals
Local medical facilities include St. Joseph Hospital and Health Care Center which is a Catholic Non-profit facility with 497 beds and a staff of 516 medical professionals.

Places of Worship
All major denominations are represented throughout the metropolitan area.

Mario Greco was quoted in the Chicago Tribune on Sunday, February 28, in a story about the the growing number of home purchasers who are single, especially women. Click here to read the story.