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.
Mastering Manufactured Home Investing With Jefferson Lilly – RFP #31
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lROhyBL-6js In our 31st podcast episode, we delve into the intriguing yet often overlooked niche of commercial real estate...
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Optimizing Real Estate: Applying Alex Hormozi’s Strategies With Tim Calise – RFP #32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsWpYnnBgTQ Welcome to episode #32 of the Real Finds Podcast! In this installment, we're excited to discuss how the...
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Nuveen Acquires Oaks of Vernon Hills Apartments for $103M
Nuveen’s recent $103 million acquisition of the Oaks of Vernon Hills apartment complex underscores the continued strength and appeal of...
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Are Property Management Companies Worth It?
Are Property Management Companies Worth It? When managing your rental property, you have two options: you can manage it yourself...
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Navigating the Hybrid Return to Office: The Future of Work Informed by Habits and Flexibility
In the wake of a global pandemic, organizations are challenged with facing multiple ongoing changes. However, no change is more...
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How Can I Minimize My Risks As A Landlord?
How Can I Minimize My Risks As A Landlord? As a commercial landlord, minimizing risks is essential for your property's...
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Can Commercial Property Be Converted To Residential
Can Commercial Property Be Converted To Residential Understanding the Potential of Commercial-to-Residential Conversions In recent years, the question, "Can a...
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Lone Star Success: Dallas’ Top Office Spaces With Hanna Henley – Real Finds Podcast #30
https://youtu.be/Z65WofoK7wA URL: https://youtu.be/Z65WofoK7wA Episode Summary: Welcome to the latest episode of "The Real Finds Podcast" - your comprehensive source for...
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Protecting Tenant’s From Landlord Office Defaults With Vinny Di Meglio – Real Finds Podcast #29
https://youtu.be/JkUce7g7Yok URL: https://youtu.be/JkUce7g7Yok Episode Summary: Welcome to Episode #29 of "The Real Finds Podcast," where we traverse the fascinating world...
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Hub And Spoke Office Model
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfmnjnt5kUw As the modern workforce evolves and changes, businesses are rethinking traditional office space and looking for more flexible...
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Finding Office Space In A Post Pandemic Market
Finding The Right Office Space As businesses navigate the post-pandemic environment, finding the right office space fit is essential to...
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Artificial Intelligence, Abundance & The Future Of Work With Jason Cochran – Real Finds Podcast #28
https://youtu.be/6wb5bictzEM URL: https://youtu.be/6wb5bictzEM Welcome to Episode #28 of "The Real Finds Podcast," where we embark on a journey into the...
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Can Commercial Real Estate Agents Sell Residential?
As a commercial real estate broker, I am often asked whether or not I can sell residential properties. While the...
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The Comedy Of Climate Anxiety With Ethan Brown – Real Finds Podcast #27
https://youtu.be/7uEony6P3dQ URL: https://youtu.be/7uEony6P3dQ Summary: Welcome to the 27th episode of "The Real Finds Podcast," where we venture into the humorous...
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Developing Geneva Lake’s George Williams College Campus?
Could Major Developments Transform Geneva Lake’s George Williams College Campus? The George Williams College campus on Geneva Lake in Williams...
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Are Loopnet And Costar The Same?
If you're in the market for commercial real estate, you've likely heard of LoopNet and CoStar. These two platforms are...
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Antioch Breaks Ground on Downtown Open Space Redevelopment Project
The Village of Antioch recently marked a major milestone in its ongoing efforts to revitalize its downtown area with a...
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Antioch Breaks Ground on Downtown Open Space Redevelopment Project
The Village of Antioch recently marked a major milestone in its ongoing efforts to revitalize its downtown area with a...
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