John Guzman Real Estate Broker

John Guzman Real Estate Broker Real Estate, consulting services, buying, selling and rentals.

THURSDAY TRUTH BOMB: READ THE PROPOSAL… NOT JUST THE PANIC.Ok people… I usually stay out of politics, but housing IS my ...
09/03/2026

THURSDAY TRUTH BOMB: READ THE PROPOSAL… NOT JUST THE PANIC.
Ok people… I usually stay out of politics, but housing IS my business, and I’ve had enough of the misinformation.
And yes—some of it is coming from organizations I belong to.
Chicago is debating two very different renter-protection proposals: PRO and FAIR.
I’m a Realtor. I work with landlords. I believe the guy who owns a two-flat deserves protection just as much as the tenant living upstairs.
But whenever I hear:
“THIS IS GOING TO DESTROY SMALL LANDLORDS!”
My first question is…
Define “small.” 😂
Then I do something terribly old-fashioned:
I READ THE ACTUAL PROPOSAL.
Who is exempt?
Who actually pays?
Who gains protection?
Who loses protection?
And. my personal favorite
WHO BENEFITS FINANCIALLY?
I’m not saying every tenant-protection idea is brilliant.
I’m not saying landlords are the bad guys.
And I’m definitely not saying government has never written a bad housing law. Please. We live in Chicago. 😂
I’m saying don’t let a slogan make the decision for you.
New York’s Good Cause law, for example, specifically exempts landlords owning 10 or fewer units statewide.
So before somebody tells you, “They’re coming for Grandma and her two-flat!”…
Maybe check whether Grandma is actually in the proposal.
Grandma deserves facts too.
Read PRO.
Read FAIR.
Ask who benefits.
Ask who is lobbying.
Ask who is paying.
And yes…question the organizations you normally agree with.
Even mine.
Because sometimes the most dangerous words in politics aren't left or right.
They're:
“Don’t worry. We already summarized it for you.”

BIG NEWS: Passport & Properties is going to Mexico! 🇲🇽✈️This September, we’re taking the show on the road.I’ll be spendi...
09/02/2026

BIG NEWS: Passport & Properties is going to Mexico! 🇲🇽✈️

This September, we’re taking the show on the road.

I’ll be spending time in Playa del Carmen and Mérida, checking out some very cool properties, exploring neighborhoods, hitting a few beaches, finding the local food joints…and probably eating considerably more tacos than any legitimate real estate research requires. 🌮

But this trip isn’t just about infinity pools and pretty pictures.

I want to see what people are actually buying, what different budgets get you, which areas are growing, what makes sense as an investment—and what looks great on Instagram but maybe deserves a few more questions before you pull out the checkbook.

We’ll also talk to local people, developers and real estate professionals and get a better feel for what everyday life is really like.

Because Passport & Properties has always been about more than selling you a house.

It’s about real estate, travel, food, culture and figuring out where your money—and maybe your next chapter—can take you.

First stops: Playa del Carmen + Mérida.

Mexico…here we come.

And yes, I promise to conduct a very serious investigation into the taco situation.

Passport & Properties
Exploring real estate, culture & life across borders.

Available for IMMEDIATE DELIVERY! Yes, you read that right — no waiting forever, no “coming soon,” no staring at a rende...
09/02/2026

Available for IMMEDIATE DELIVERY! Yes, you read that right — no waiting forever, no “coming soon,” no staring at a rendering for two years wondering if your house is still just a very expensive idea. 😂

These modern homes are ready to go, with different layouts to fit your style — from the efficient IMOX PLUS to the two-story NICTÉ and AKBAL models.

Modern design. Smart layouts. Tropical living.

And the best part? You pretty much just need the furniture, the Wi-Fi password, and somebody to bring the tacos. 🌴🏡

Want pricing, availability, location details, or the full property information? Message me — let’s see which model makes sense for you.

Passport & Properties
John Guzman | Kale Realty
📲 312-203-5084 | WhatsApp available

**“Can I buy a Chicago two-flat with FHA?”****“Should I wait for mortgage rates to drop?”****“How much money do I really...
09/01/2026

**“Can I buy a Chicago two-flat with FHA?”**
**“Should I wait for mortgage rates to drop?”**
**“How much money do I really need to buy?”**
**“Can rental income help me qualify?”**

Those are the conversations that matter.

My job isn’t to throw another generic “Now is a great time to buy!” post at you.

It’s to explain **what actually works in Chicago**, what the numbers look like, and what options you may have before you start shopping.

Because sometimes the answer is **yes**.
Sometimes it’s **not yet**.
And sometimes you have more options than you thought.

Got a real estate or mortgage question you keep Googling?

**Ask me. It may become my next post.**

John Guzman
Kale Realty
📞 312-203-5084

Chicago this weekend is ridiculous… in the best possible way.Seriously, choosing what to do might require a spreadsheet....
08/28/2026

Chicago this weekend is ridiculous… in the best possible way.

Seriously, choosing what to do might require a spreadsheet. 😂

Today alone:
🎶 Chicago House Music Festival & Conference
🇬🇷 Taste of Greektown
🎤 Edgewater Music Fest
🍻 Edison Park Fest
🐼 Panda Fest

Then Bucktown Arts Fest joins the party tomorrow, and Sunday brings Arts on Devon and Meet Me on Milwaukee.

But if I had to pick ONE story this weekend?

Chicago House Music Festival.

Because Chicago didn’t just give the world skyscrapers, deep-dish pizza, Italian beef and arguments about putting ketchup on hot dogs…

We gave the world HOUSE MUSIC. 🎧

Born right here in Chicago, house music grew out of our clubs, our neighborhoods and our communities—and eventually became a global sound.

That’s one of the things I love about this city. Sometimes you walk into a festival thinking you’re just going to hear some music…and realize you’re standing in the city where part of music history actually started.

So get out this weekend.

Eat something you probably shouldn’t.
Dance like nobody has video.
Explore a neighborhood you haven’t visited in a while.

Chicago summer isn’t finished with us yet.

💣 THURSDAY TRUTH BOMB — CHICAGO EDITION6.9% vs. 1.5%.While America was arguing about whether the housing market is slowi...
08/27/2026

💣 THURSDAY TRUTH BOMB — CHICAGO EDITION

6.9% vs. 1.5%.

While America was arguing about whether the housing market is slowing down…

Chicago apparently didn’t attend the meeting.

According to the latest Case-Shiller numbers, home prices nationally were up just 1.5% year over year through June.

Chicago? +6.9% — the strongest increase among the 20 major markets tracked.

And if you want to see why national headlines can be dangerous, take a ride over to Logan Square.

Logan Square’s recent median sale price was about $730,000 — up 9.2% from a year earlier. Homes were selling in about 36 days, compared with 42 days last year.

And these aren’t theoretical Zillow numbers. Look at some recent closings:

🏠 3410 W Shakespeare
Listed: $775,000
Sold: $835,000 — 8% OVER asking

🏠 2174 N Stave #3
Listed: $515,000
Sold: $533,000 — 3% OVER asking

🏠 3125 W Fullerton #406
Listed: $449,000
Sold: $460,000 — 2% OVER asking

But here's the important part…

🏠 2350 N Kedzie
Listed: $450,000
Sold: $440,000 — 2% UNDER asking.

That last one matters.

This is NOT me saying every Chicago property is getting 15 offers and somebody is showing up with a suitcase full of cash.

The market is much more selective than that.

The right property, in the right condition, at the right price can still create competition.

The wrong one can sit there wondering why nobody called.

And inventory is a huge part of the story. While national inventory has been growing, active inventory in the Chicago metro recently fell 7.8%, with new listings down 11.8%.

💣 THURSDAY TRUTH BOMB:

Stop asking:

“What is the housing market doing?”

Start asking:

“What is MY neighborhood doing?”

Because Seattle, Phoenix or Tampa aren't deciding what your Logan Square condo is worth.

The buyer looking at the condo two blocks away is.

Thinking about buying or selling? Let’s look at the actual neighborhood numbers before CNN, TikTok or your cousin at the barbecue tells you what your house is worth.

🌊 The seaweed is disappearing. The investment lesson shouldn’t.When buying a coastal condo, don’t run the numbers only f...
08/26/2026

🌊 The seaweed is disappearing. The investment lesson shouldn’t.

When buying a coastal condo, don’t run the numbers only for Christmas through March.

Ask the uglier question:
What happens to occupancy and nightly rates during the slow, messy months?

Paradise is beautiful. Your spreadsheet should survive rainy season too. 😎

🌴 PASSPORT & PROPERTIES
Real estate beyond the postcard.

📞 John Guzman | 312-203-5084

Depending on where you look, the numbers are moving around:🏠 30-year fixed rates are being reported around 6.63%–6.75%📉 ...
08/25/2026

Depending on where you look, the numbers are moving around:
🏠 30-year fixed rates are being reported around 6.63%–6.75%
📉 Freddie Mac’s latest weekly benchmark is around 6.65%
So which one is “the rate”?
The truth is… there is no single magic number.
Your actual rate depends on:
✅ Your credit score
✅ Down payment
✅ Loan program
✅ Property type
✅ Market conditions
✅ Your financial profile
But here is the bigger question buyers should be asking:
“Am I ready when the opportunity shows up?”
If you are not ready to buy right now , that’s completely fair. Life happens. Your timing matters.
But if you have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for rates to drop, remember this:
When rates finally move down, you probably won’t be the only person watching.
More buyers enter the market.
Competition increases.
Homes get more attention.
And the advantage you thought you were gaining may disappear.
The buyers who win are usually the ones who prepared BEFORE the headlines changed.
Getting pre-approved, understanding your budget, knowing neighborhoods, and having a strategy costs you nothing.
Waiting is a strategy too… just make sure it’s an intentional one.
Because when the door opens, you don’t want to still be looking for the key.
Let’s talk numbers, not headlines.
John Guzman
Real Estate Broker | Kale Realty
312-203-5084

Buyers have more negotiating power.So why can’t they find the house they actually want? Chicago real estate right now is...
08/24/2026

Buyers have more negotiating power.
So why can’t they find the house they actually want?
Chicago real estate right now is a strange game.
Yes… buyers have more room to negotiate.
Yes… bidding wars have cooled in many areas.
Yes… sellers are listening more than they were a couple years ago.
But here is the problem:
The dream house is still the dream house.
The 3-bedroom brick bungalow in the perfect neighborhood… with the finished basement, updated kitchen, garage, great schools, and a reasonable price?
Yeah… everyone is looking for that one.
Chicago doesn’t have a “housing market.”
It has 77 neighborhood stories — and every neighborhood has its own rules.
Some homes sit because they are overpriced.
Some homes sell quickly because they check all the boxes.
Some buyers are negotiating thousands off… while others are wondering why their favorite property disappeared in 48 hours.
The market is giving buyers something valuable right now:
Time. Options. And the ability to negotiate.
But it does NOT magically create more inventory.
(Chicago… believe me, some days this market makes me rethink my life choices. )
The key is having a strategy:
✅ Know what neighborhoods fit your budget
✅ Understand what is actually a good deal
✅ Be ready when the right home appears
Because waiting forever for the “perfect” house might mean watching someone else move into it.
Want to know what your buying power looks like in today’s Chicago market? Let’s talk.
John Guzman
📞 312-203-5084

🌴 **Passport & Properties: The question nobody asks about Playa del Carmen**Everyone wants the simple answer:“Is Playa b...
08/21/2026

🌴 **Passport & Properties: The question nobody asks about Playa del Carmen**

Everyone wants the simple answer:

“Is Playa booming… or is it dying?”

But real estate rarely works that way.

The better question is:

**“Why is Marriott investing while some individual condo investors are struggling?”**

Because success in a destination market is not just about having a beautiful beach view and an infinity pool. 🌊

It comes down to the details:

✅ Location
✅ Professional management
✅ Brand recognition and distribution
✅ Understanding seasonality
✅ Buying at the right price
✅ Realistic rental expectations

A beachfront lifestyle looks amazing on Instagram… but the numbers behind the investment matter even more.

The truth? Playa del Carmen can be an incredible opportunity — but every property, developer, and investment strategy needs to be analyzed.

On **Passport & Properties**, we’re going beyond the brochure photos and asking the questions that actually matter.

Because paradise is beautiful… but smart decisions make it sustainable. 🌎🏝️

Address

Chicago, IL
60614

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Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13122035084

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