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The kitchen has long been considered the heart of any home. It's where we come together to cook and share meals; it's a natural entertaining space during parties; and it often pulls double-duty as a homework station, craft studio, and Zoom classroom on busy weekdays — especially in the last year. And while kitchens conjure up warm memories and lots of cozy nostalgia, they are also flexible spaces that are constantly evolving to keep up with the times. Beyond seasonal or yearly trends, the kitchen often seems to be the room of the home that is most in conversation with how we're living, and what we truly want out of our most-used spaces. For instance, kitchens are often listed as one of the most important rooms to stage when getting a home ready to sell; kitchen remodels are often among the house projects that tend to generate the highest ROI.  After a year like 2020, we've all gained a new appreciation for home and all its four walls hold — and that includes the kitchen. In a pandemic-era poll conducted by Realtor.com, a significant number of people ranked the kitchen as the most important room in their home — and said that an updated kitchen was one of their top wants in a new space.  So, what does the future hold for this important everyday space? Let's dig into what's bubbling in store for the kitchen in the months and years to come: 

Real estate isn't just about having somewhere to live in the present — it's also about investing in your financial future. In fact, it's been said that owning your own home is one of the biggest steps you can take to start building wealth.  When it comes to building wealth through real estate, one of the most important concepts to understand is home equity. Let's explore the crucial topic of equity — what it means, how you can build it, and what kind of advantages it offers homeowners in the long-term.

07When the amount of available housing inventory for sale is lower, real estate analysts and experts generally say that this creates a market that is favorable to sellers — leading to higher sales prices, less time spent on market, and more competition among buyers for available homes.  This situation is largely reflective of the market conditions that we are experiencing right now. According to data from the National Association of REALTORS® March 2021 Existing-Home Sales Report, nationwide inventory levels continue to sit near record lows, with roughly a 2.1-month supply of unsold inventory at the current sales pace — down from 3.3 months at the same period a year earlier, and far below the 6-7 month benchmark that has historically signified a balanced or neutral market. As a result, homes are spending less time on the market on the average, generating more multiple-offer scenarios, and fetching higher sales prices — with the nationwide median sales price up by 17.2 percent year over year, as of March 2021. This snapshot suggests that now is an attractive time for sellers who have been considering making their move to act. With that said, even in a favorable market, sellers should still do everything in their power to make the selling process easier, faster, and more lucrative — particularly bringing on the services of a local real estate expert. 

With more time at home in 2020, people here in Chicagoland and across the country got busy working on their lawns and gardens. With the rise in gardening has come a renewed interest in sustainable gardening practices — which can provide you with the lush, invigorating, and relaxing outdoor oasis of your dreams, while minimizing any negative impacts on the environment.  Sustainable and eco-friendly gardening can mean adopting any number of practices, from avoiding chemicals that contribute to pollution, to opting for manual lawnmowers rather than gas-powered models. Broadly speaking, sustainable gardening really means adopting a mindful mindset and choosing methods, materials, and resources that can lessen your impact — and even benefit the local ecosystem. Feeling inspired to create a garden that gives back to the amazing natural world we call home? Here are seven simple sustainable gardening ideas to try out in your Chicagoland home this summer:

Each June, people across Chicagoland come together for Pride month, a weeks-long event dedicated to celebrating, advocating, and advancing the LGBTQIA+ community.  Originally started as an annual commemoration of the Stonewall Riots in New York City, Pride has grown into a huge event in Chicagoland, with parties, rallies, concerts, street festivals, educational opportunities, donation drives, and more events popping up each June. While last year's celebrations and activities were muted by COVID-19 restrictions, live Pride events are returning throughout the city and suburbs in summer 2021 — along with virtual and self-guided events perfect for those wanting to celebrate, reflect, and learn from home.  Interested in what you can do to observe Pride month in Chicagoland? Here are a few events and opportunities to get involved in the city and suburbs: 
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