Jennifer Williams, Influencer, Broker with Coldwell Banker Gold Coast

09/23/2026

Shopping for homeowners insurance? Here's what you need to know.

You’ve probably seen thousands of ads for Geico or Aflac on television talking about the latest savi...

09/23/2026

Buying a duplex-down or garden-level condo in Chicago? Check these 5 first.

1. Waterproofing: Ask when the lower level was waterproofed and if issues returned.
2. Drainage: Check downspouts, window wells, and any sump or drain system.
3. Natural light: Visit at the time you would actually be home.
4. Ceiling height: Notice where soffits, ducts, or beams drop the room.
5. Resale: Ask if it feels like true living space or just extra square footage.

The best lower levels feel bright, dry, and easy to live in. If you are considering one, I can help you assess it clearly.

09/22/2026

Luxury buyers aren't just asking what a home has. Increasingly, they're considering how a home allows them to live.

Mansion Global recently highlighted an interesting shift in luxury residential design: the return of the game room.

But these aren't necessarily the game rooms of years past. Think sophisticated spaces for billiards, cards, mahjong, chess and board games — beautifully designed environments created around entertaining, conversation and connection.

The trend extends beyond luxury developments into single-family homes, where designers are incorporating dedicated game rooms and more subtle game areas into libraries, formal living rooms and other gathering spaces.

For buyers, sellers and homeowners throughout Chicago and the surrounding Chicagoland market, there's an important takeaway here: thoughtful lifestyle spaces can be just as compelling as square footage.

A luxury home should do more than photograph beautifully. It should create an experience for the people who live there.

And sometimes the most luxurious amenity in the room is the opportunity to put the phone down and enjoy the people sitting across from you.

Read the Mansion Global article below.

Spaces built for billiards and cards or mahjong and popular board games are proliferating in developments across the U.S. and becoming focal points in single-family residences

09/21/2026

Seeing a Chicago condo with a higher monthly assessment and wondering if the list price can still hold?

In luxury buildings, the monthly number only makes sense when buyers see what sits behind it: amenities they will use, staffing and services that shape daily life, reserve strength, and any upcoming capital work. A practical move today is to compare total monthly ownership cost across competing buildings instead of judging assessments alone. In Chicago, I find that clear context keeps serious buyers from pricing a condo by sticker shock.

If you are weighing how to position a condo like this, I am always happy to talk it through.

09/18/2026

Not sure what to fix before you list and what to price around?

• Fix structural, leak, and safety issues first.
• Handle overdue upkeep that makes buyers expect bigger hidden problems.
• If kitchens, baths, or finishes are dated but still work, disclose it and let price reflect it.
• Spend where a repair protects appraisal, insurance, financing, or leverage.
In Chicago luxury homes, the smartest prep removes risk before it chases style.

If you want help sorting the list, I’m happy to help.

09/16/2026

Want a home with cleaner air? Try one of these air-filtering plants!

A good-looking houseplant adds pizzazz to your home. It can also be the next best thing to a live-in...

09/14/2026

Private showings are about privacy, security, and control.

1. Confirm proof of funds before appointments so access stays limited to serious buyers.
2. Set photo rules early. Decide what can be photographed, what stays off camera, and what cannot be shared.
3. Coordinate the home. Staff, residents, and building teams should know timing, entry points, and what needs to be secured.
4. After each visit, log access, secure valuables, and refresh temporary codes.

If a discreet sale is ahead, I can help you plan it before the first showing.

09/11/2026

Two Chicago luxury condos can look equally beautiful and still be very different buys.

I compare the building before I get distracted by finishes: how much money it has set aside for repairs, how well it runs day to day, what rentals are allowed, how elevator traffic works, and how often similar units resell well. Ask those five before the prettier kitchen makes the choice for you.

In Chicago, I often see similar units separate on value because the building behind them performs very differently.

If you want help comparing two buildings, I am happy to help.

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years later, we remember the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the heroes who ran toward danger to help others.

We remember the heartbreak. We remember the courage. We remember how, in the days that followed, we came together as one nation.

May we never forget September 11, 2001—and may we continue to honor every life affected by that day.

Forever in our hearts. 🇺🇸

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years later, we still remember.

The lives lost.
The heroes who answered the call.
The families forever changed.
The day that changed our nation.

September 11, 2001—forever in our hearts. We will never forget. 🇺🇸