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.
How the East Coast Port Strike Could Impact the Chicago Industrial Real Estate Market
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNDRjgQPHrw As discussion around a potential East Coast port strike continues, businesses across the U.S. are preparing for the...
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Class B Industrial with Matthew Rossman – RFP 43
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZN5osUpG6U Insights on Class B Industrial Spaces and the Future of California's Inland Empire In this podcast episode, Gordon...
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Amazon’s 5 Day Return To Office Policy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnJGtKcX63Y Amazon’s 5-Day Return Policy: The Future of Work & Office Market Amazon's recent decision to mandate a return...
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The Chicagoland Office Market – Sep 18, 2024
The Chicago office market is experiencing significant shifts, marked by changing dynamics in leasing, sales, and tenant strategies. A key...
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Consumer-Driven Future of Office Space With Joe Brady – RFP 42
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Npv_jdE_nvw In the latest episode of The Real Finds Podcast, host Gordon Lamphere sits down with Joe Brady, former...
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Analyzing Office Income Potential and Maintenance Costs
https://youtu.be/EQgi0YTsgJ0 Analyzing the income potential and maintenance costs of office properties is crucial for making informed investment decisions. This...
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Lake Zurich Approves New Housing Development on Old Rand Road
The recent approval of a new housing development on Old Rand Road by the Lake Zurich Mayor and Board of...
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10 Things Commercial Real Estate Sellers Can Learn from Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan’s name is synonymous with greatness, but his Highland Park mansion tells a different story. On the market since...
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AI Is Revolutionizing the Property Managment Industry
The Future of Commercial Property Management and AI The commercial real estate industry is on the brink of a technological...
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Summer Concert Series in Arlington Heights
The Sounds of Summer Concert Series in Arlington Heights is a beloved event that exemplifies the community’s commitment to creating...
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Conducting Market Research for Office Space: A Beginner’s Guide
https://youtu.be/CETKYrbeRE4 Choosing the right office space is more than just a real estate decision, it’s a strategic business move. Your...
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“Antioch Theatre Celebrates 100 Years of Community and Cinema
The Antioch Theatre, a longstanding symbol of community and entertainment in downtown Antioch, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Since its...
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Commercial Property Management for Office Investment Properties
https://youtu.be/uTnDP7Q1Gps The Complete Guide to Managing Office Investment Properties Effective commercial property management is the backbone of successful office investment...
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Understanding Building Infrastructure And Systems
https://youtu.be/-4h1Qtp02rI How to Evaluate Building Infrastructure and Systems in Commercial Real Estate Investments When evaluating an office, industrial, or medical...
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The Jewelers Building Sale: What It Means for Chicago’s Office Market
The recent sale of the iconic Jewelers Building at 35 E Wacker Drive in Chicago’s Loop has captured the attention...
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Aloha Lodge Sell For $21.85 million
Aloha Lodge: A Historic Jewel and Testament to Lake Geneva’s Prestige Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, has once again made headlines with...
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Lake Geneva’s Market Price Cuts Signal Opportunity
Lake Geneva’s Real Estate Market: Early Price Cuts Signal Opportunity Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, continues to be a prime destination for...
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Energy Efficiency Improvements for Industrial Properties
Energy efficiency is a critical consideration for industrial property owners and managers. Implementing energy-efficient improvements can lead to significant cost...
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