Patrickobrienrealtor

Patrickobrienrealtor Residential Real Estate Broker at Compass The show highlights the lifestyle, culture, people, and real estate that make Chicago a great place to live and work.

I am a full-time Residential Real Estate Broker and so excited to have been selected as a host of the Emmy-nominated TV show The American Dream, which is syndicated on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, Amazon Prime Video, and Fox Cable. I have been recognized as a Top Producing Chicago Residential Real Estate Agent, receiving awards in 2024 and 2019 from the Chicago Association of Realtors, reflecting

my dedication to buyers, sellers, and investors. If you would like your home, local business, or charity featured on an upcoming episode of The American Dream, please reach out to me! Before real estate, I owned Pilates studios for 21 years and truly believe Joe Pilates is a genius. As a business owner, I understand the importance of investing wisely, building equity, and the pride of homeownership. The philosophy I had in my Pilates studios is the same approach I bring to real estate: empowerment, knowledge, and education. I provide clients with the tools, resources, and guidance they need to make informed decisions when buying or selling. I ensure my clients understand the entire process—from contracts to negotiations to closing—while educating them with current market stats and reports. My five-star reviews reflect my work ethic, integrity, and commitment to my clients. I love Chicago and take advantage of everything the city has to offer. You'll find me biking every chance I get (except during showings!), practicing Pilates, yoga, and meditation, and training in Shotokan karate at the Japanese Karate Association-Chicago.

Chicago was making movies before Hollywood became Hollywood.One of the things I love about Chicago is discovering the hi...
09/04/2026

Chicago was making movies before Hollywood became Hollywood.

One of the things I love about Chicago is discovering the history hiding in plain sight.

This is The Aquitania at 5000 N. Marine Drive in Uptown, completed in 1923 and designed by architects Ralph C. Harris and Byron H. Jillson.

The building has a fascinating connection to Chicago’s early film industry. It was developed by George K. Spoor, co-founder of Chicago’s legendary Essanay Studios, and was originally conceived as a residential hotel that could accommodate actors and others associated with the studio.

And here’s something difficult to imagine today: when The Aquitania was built, Lake Michigan was essentially at its doorstep. Much of the parkland and lakefront we know today came later through Chicago’s expansion of the shoreline.

Its elegant red-brick façade, white terra-cotta ornamentation and beautifully curved bays still make it one of those buildings that stops me every time I pass it.

More than 100 years later, it remains a wonderful reminder of just how many layers of Chicago history surround us.

📍 The Aquitania | 5000 N. Marine Drive | Uptown

Okay, Chicago — I have a new favorite.I recently discovered Chyros Famous Halal Food, and I’m not exaggerating when I sa...
09/04/2026

Okay, Chicago — I have a new favorite.

I recently discovered Chyros Famous Halal Food, and I’m not exaggerating when I say this may have been the best gyro I’ve ever had.

It was so good that after I finished eating, I actually called the restaurant back just to tell them how much I enjoyed it. 😂

The gyro meat was incredibly flavorful, the pita was perfect, and everything tasted fresh. One of those meals where you take the first few bites and think, Where has this place been?

Chicago has an incredible food scene, and sometimes the best discoveries are the neighborhood spots you simply stumble across.

If you love a great gyro, Chyros is absolutely worth trying.

And no, this isn’t sponsored. I just had a REALLY good gyro. 😂

The Gold Coast skyline is getting a new addition.The planned tower at 7 W. Elm Street has secured $162 million in financ...
09/04/2026

The Gold Coast skyline is getting a new addition.

The planned tower at 7 W. Elm Street has secured $162 million in financing, and vertical construction is expected to begin later this fall.

The 28-story development at Elm and State is planned to include 304 residences, 24,000 square feet of retail, parking, a pool deck, fitness center and multiple terraces.

And this isn't simply another rendering of a proposed Chicago tower—foundation permits have already been approved, with completion currently targeted for spring 2028.

I always enjoy following projects like this because they show how Chicago continues to evolve—not just architecturally, but residentially.

I'll be watching this one as it rises.

Patrick O'Brien | COMPASS
Chicago Real Estate

Today’s mortgage rates | September 4, 2026Interest rates remain one of the biggest factors shaping what buyers can affor...
09/04/2026

Today’s mortgage rates | September 4, 2026

Interest rates remain one of the biggest factors shaping what buyers can afford—and what sellers can expect from today’s pool of buyers.

As of today, the rates featured in this market update include:

30-Year Fixed — 6.56%
15-Year Fixed — 5.70%
FHA 30-Year — 6.12%
VA 30-Year — 6.14%
5/1 ARM — 5.89%

A change in rate—even a relatively small one—can change monthly purchasing power, which is why I think it's important to look at financing alongside price when evaluating the market.

If you're considering buying or selling in Chicago, understanding the numbers is part of making a well-informed decision.

Patrick O'Brien | COMPASS
Chicago Real Estate

Rates shown are averages and may change daily. Individual rates and terms vary by borrower and lender.

09/04/2026

The typical first-time homebuyer is now 40 years old.

That stopped me.

In the 1980s, the typical first-time buyer was in their late 20s. As recently as 2010, the median was around 30. Today, it's 40.

And there's another remarkable number: first-time buyers represented only 21% of primary-residence buyers in NAR's latest annual study. Before the Great Recession, they typically represented around 40%.

The desire to own a home hasn't necessarily disappeared.

The path to getting there has become longer.

More years renting. More years saving. More time building income, credit and financial resources before making that first purchase.

And that affects more than first-time buyers. The housing market needs an entry point. When fewer households can reach that first rung, the effects can eventually move through the entire housing market.

It's a fascinating shift—and one worth watching here in Chicago.

Patrick O'Brien | COMPASS
Chicago Real Estate

09/04/2026

25.2 million young adults are living at home with their parents.

You might assume the primary reason is unemployment.

But here's what caught my attention: roughly 70% of 25–34-year-olds living at home are employed.

They have jobs. What many haven't established yet is an independent household.

That's an important distinction when we talk about today's housing market. There is an entire population of potential future renters and homeowners whose entry into the market may depend on affordability, housing costs and the ability to make that next move financially.

The original analysis put it particularly well: a paycheck can solve the employment problem without necessarily solving the housing-cost problem.

25.2 million people—and potentially millions of housing stories still to unfold.

Your home isn't just a place to live. For many homeowners, it has also become one of their most significant financial as...
09/04/2026

Your home isn't just a place to live. For many homeowners, it has also become one of their most significant financial assets.

In fact, homeowners across the country are sitting on a record $11.6 trillion in tappable home equity.

But if you want to access some of that equity, what's the difference between a home equity loan and a HELOC?

🏡 A home equity loan can make sense when you know how much you need and prefer a fixed rate and predictable payments.

🏡 A HELOC can provide more flexibility when expenses will occur over time or the final amount isn't yet known.

Of course, borrowing against your home deserves careful consideration. But knowing your options—and understanding what your home may be worth today—is valuable information.

Curious how much your Chicago property may have appreciated? Send me a message. I'm always happy to talk real estate.

September may be one of my favorite months to experience Chicago.We still have beautiful weather and long days, but ther...
09/03/2026

September may be one of my favorite months to experience Chicago.

We still have beautiful weather and long days, but there's that first hint of fall — and the city's calendar is absolutely packed.

Choose Chicago has rounded up 35+ things to do this month, with festivals, live music, food, art, cultural events and plenty of reasons to explore different neighborhoods.

It's one of the things I love about living here: you can spend years in Chicago and still discover something new.

Take a look through the list and save a few dates.

What are you looking forward to doing in Chicago this September? https://bit.ly/4cm0fAE

THIS is Chicago history.More than 150 years after the Great Chicago Fire, the O’Leary name remains one of the most recog...
09/03/2026

THIS is Chicago history.

More than 150 years after the Great Chicago Fire, the O’Leary name remains one of the most recognizable in the city’s history.

This remarkable mansion was built by James “Big Jim” O’Leary, son of Catherine O’Leary — the woman whose family was famously, and unfairly, blamed for the fire that changed Chicago forever.

Today, the future of her son’s historic home is uncertain.

I find stories like this fascinating because Chicago’s architecture tells the story of the city. Behind so many of these buildings are generations of ambition, controversy, reinvention and history.

The question now is whether this one will survive for another generation.

Would you preserve it? https://bit.ly/4qVZdkX

This is an interesting debate unfolding along the Edgewater lakefront.A proposed redevelopment of the Emanuel Congregati...
09/03/2026

This is an interesting debate unfolding along the Edgewater lakefront.

A proposed redevelopment of the Emanuel Congregation property at 5959 N. Sheridan Road could bring hundreds of new residences to the neighborhood, along with a new synagogue and public access to the lakefront.

But some Edgewater residents and Friends of the Parks are advocating for something very different: expanding Chicago’s public lakefront onto the property.

It raises a fascinating question for a city that needs both housing and accessible public space:

If you had to choose, would you prioritize new housing here — or preserve the opportunity for additional public lakefront?

I’d be interested to hear what you think. https://bit.ly/4xEtyaf

Address

2350 N Lincoln Avenue, Suite 3
Chicago, IL
60614

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+17736122352

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