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 Is A Personal Guarantee In Commercial Real Estate?
Real Estate

What Is A Personal Guarantee In Commercial Real Estate?

What Is A Personal Guarantee In Commercial Real Estate? As a commercial real estate broker, an essential aspect of negotiating...
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Office Space Alternative To Traditional Workspace
Industrial Space Office Space Real Estate

Office Space Alternative To Traditional Workspace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQHtIeWoWpYAs businesses adapt to changing work environments, traditional office spaces are no longer the only option available. With the rise...
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Emmanuel Lavoie – JetStream Hospitality Solutions – Real Finds Podcast #5
Real Finds Podcast

Emmanuel Lavoie – JetStream Hospitality Solutions – Real Finds Podcast #5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KA09OGLY4s   Welcome to the Real Finds Podcast, where we explore the latest and greatest in the world of real...
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Sawgrass Capital Partners – Real Finds Podcast #4
Real Finds Podcast

Sawgrass Capital Partners – Real Finds Podcast #4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux3Dzwo1l10   Welcome to episode #4 of The Real Finds Podcast, where we bring you valuable insights and expert opinions...
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Tamar Turner: WeWork & The Power Of Networking – Real Finds Podcast #3
Real Finds Podcast

Tamar Turner: WeWork & The Power Of Networking – Real Finds Podcast #3

Gordon Lamphere is joined by Tamar Turner, host of the Down 2 Business podcast, to discuss small business trends and...
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Asset Class Specialization: Putting Your Clients First
Industrial Space Office Space Real Estate

Asset Class Specialization: Putting Your Clients First

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq0VmFnHDG4   When it comes to commercial real estate agents, the services of a specialist are invaluable. With a deep...
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Real Estate Success In A High-Interest Rate Climate
Real Estate

Real Estate Success In A High-Interest Rate Climate

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQZb1aWZ9oI   As a commercial real estate investor, managing construction, leasing, and making money on deals can be challenging in...
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Heather Ewing – Real Finds Podcast #2
Real Finds Podcast

Heather Ewing – Real Finds Podcast #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tGOomBn8Uw   This week's podcast features Heather Ewing, founder and CEO of Abstract Commercial Real Estate. Heather is influential in...
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10 Steps To Reduce Office Noise
Real Estate

10 Steps To Reduce Office Noise

Noise is a common complaint in corporate office settings, particularly in open-concept seating arrangements where employees occupy a large office...
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What’s a Broker-Tenant Representation Agreement
Real Estate

What’s a Broker-Tenant Representation Agreement

Defining A Broker-Tenant Representation Agreement A broker-tenant representation agreement, also known as a tenant representation agreement, is a legal contract...
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Can Anyone Post on LoopNet?
Real Estate

Can Anyone Post on LoopNet?

Can Anyone Post on LoopNet? One question we get asked all the time by owners looking to list their properties....
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Workplace Hoteling: 5 Pros & Cons of Hot Desking
Real Estate

Workplace Hoteling: 5 Pros & Cons of Hot Desking

Workplace hoteling, also known as "hot desking" or "hoteling," is a flexible office arrangement in which employees do not have...
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“Envision Elk Grove Plan: Revitalizing Office and Industrial Growth
Elk Grove Village Industrial Space Office Space Real Estate

“Envision Elk Grove Plan: Revitalizing Office and Industrial Growth

The Envision Elk Grove Community Revitalization Master Plan, launched in 2023, represents a strategic evolution in the Village’s longstanding commitment...
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Anson Young – Real Finds Podcast #1
Industrial Space Real Finds Podcast

Anson Young – Real Finds Podcast #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMYFHbtvtdw Anson Young - Real Finds Podcast #1 We are lucky to have you on the Real Finds Podcast today,...
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Office Space: 10 Must-Have Amenities 
Real Estate

Office Space: 10 Must-Have Amenities 

For today’s employers, talent competition is fierce. As the national unemployment rate continues to hover around 4%, employers are getting...
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Robust Small Industrial Demand Despite Market Worries
Real Estate

Robust Small Industrial Demand Despite Market Worries

I get the same question multiple times a day. The stock market and economy are contracting, why aren’t small industrial...
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Antioch Retail Center and Industrial Building Sold for $3.4M in Combined Deals
Antioch Community

Antioch Retail Center and Industrial Building Sold for $3.4M in Combined Deals

Two key properties in Antioch, Illinois—a retail center and an industrial building—were recently sold for a combined total of $3.4...
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Vernon Hills Hawthorn Mall Redevelopment Transforms Local Economic Landscape
Real Estate Vernon Hills

Vernon Hills Hawthorn Mall Redevelopment Transforms Local Economic Landscape

The approval of Phase 2 of the Hawthorn Mall redevelopment in Vernon Hills represents a transformative milestone for the community,...
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