Welcome To The Real Finds Blog: Commercial Real Estate Insights for Chicago and the Midwest
Welcome to The Real Finds Blog, your daily briefing on commercial real estate trends across Chicagoland and the Midwest. Published by Gordon Lamphere, a fourth-generation commercial real estate broker at Van Vlissingen & Co., this blog delivers sharp, actionable insights for CRE professionals navigating a changing market. Every article connects macro trends—interest rates, automation, supply chains, policy shifts—to local real estate strategy across high-demand submarkets, including:
- Downtown Chicago – office space, adaptive reuse, capital markets
- Elk Grove & O’Hare – industrial leasing, logistics infrastructure
- Kenosha & SE Wisconsin – warehouse development and distribution hubs
- Oak Brook & Schaumburg – suburban office leasing and reinvestment
- Naperville & the I-88 Corridor – flex space, R&D, life sciences
- Bolingbrook & the I-55 Corridor – fulfillment centers and industrial site selection
- Lake, DuPage, Will, Kane, and McHenry Counties – land use, entitlements, development opportunities, and tenant migration
From daily blog posts to in-depth strategy guides and transcribed podcast interviews, Real Finds turns global uncertainty into hyper-local market intelligence for investors, landlords, tenants, developers, and brokers New posts are published every weekday.
What the Fed’s Downgraded Outlook Means for Chicagoland’s Industrial Market
Last week, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, but the real headline was hidden deeper in the details: for...
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What the Fed’s Revised Forecast Means for Chicago’s Office Market
The Federal Reserve just signaled that economic momentum is slowing. Its most recent meeting left interest rates unchanged but revised U.S. GDP...
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Another Big Win for the Revitalized Merchandise Mart
The comeback of Chicago’s Merchandise Mart just added another headline name to its tenant roster. Berlin Packaging, a global supplier...
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Why Electronics Supply Chains Are Reshaping U.S. Commercial Real Estate Markets
In the race to reshore manufacturing and secure America's industrial base, one sector continues to pose outsized challenges: electronics. While...
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What Manufacturers Gets Wrong About Supply Chain Risk With Phillip Gulley – RFP 66
In episode 67 of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Phillip Gulley, co-founder of Cofactr, to...
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The Science of High-Trust Teams: Why Truly Exceptional Teams Require In-Person Work
In today’s digital-first workplace, the idea that we can build high-functioning teams entirely over Zoom and Slack has gained traction....
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A Regional Model for Resilience: Lake County’s New Operations and Communications Facility in Libertyville
I recently had the privilege of touring the new Lake County Regional Operations and Communications Facility in Libertyville with Lake...
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Ares Management Doubles Down on Aurora
In a market where headlines focus on rising vacancy and softened leasing momentum, Ares Management’s $58 million acquisition of 400...
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America’s Construction Crisis: Why Projects Go Over Budget — Barry LePatner on RFP 65
In this episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Barry LePatner, a construction attorney, author,...
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Is There A Massive Shadow Supply In Chicago’s Industrial Market
Shadow Supply in Chicago’s Industrial Market: What Investors and Occupiers Should Be Watching Closely The Chicago industrial market has long...
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Is Bradford Allen Betting on the Bears or on Arlington Heights?
Betting on the Bears or Arlington Heights? In early June 2025, Bradford Allen made headlines with yet another land acquisition...
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Building Class A Offices Right: Lessons from Soho’s Best
What does it take to build office space that tenants don’t just tolerate, but love? According to Rod Kritsberg of...
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Key Aurora Developments in 2025
Aurora, Illinois — the second-largest city in the state, continues to emerge as a vital growth hub for developers and...
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Key Addison Developments in 2025
How Emerging Land Projects Are Shaping the Market for Investors and Occupiers Tucked in the heart of DuPage County and...
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Key Naperville Developments in 2025
How Strategic Land Sites Are Reshaping the Market for Investors and Occupiers Naperville has long been one of the premier...
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Key Hoffman Estates Developments in 2025
Hoffman Estates continues to evolve into one of the most dynamic commercial markets in Chicago’s northwest suburbs, balancing Class A...
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Chicagoland Office Market Update – June 5, 2025
Demolitions and Conversions Now Outpace New Office Development for the First Time in Decades For the first time in nearly...
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Key Rolling Meadows Developments in 2025
Rolling Meadows, located in the heart of the Schaumburg-area submarket, is drawing increased attention in 2025 from office, flex, and...
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