@properties, the largest residential brokerage firm in the city of Chicago and the largest independent real estate firm in Illinois, is continuing its rapid expansion throughout Chicagoland with the opening of an office in Barrington. This marks the firm’s third new suburban office location within the last year.

Located at 508 S. Northwest Hwy, the 3,800-square-foot office is just south of Main Street and within walking distance of the Barrington Metra station.

Chicago-based Convexity Properties recently held the groundbreaking for 4 East Elm, the first new condominium high-rise to begin construction on Chicago’s North Side in five years and the first in the Gold Coast since 2007. The development offers 35 half- and full-floor condominiums ranging in price from $2.2 million to $7.2 million. Sales began this summer.

The groundbreaking ceremony included Donald R. Wilson, chairman of Convexity Properties and DRW Holdings; Chicago Deputy Mayor Steven Koch; and 2nd Ward Alderman Robert Fioretti. Also on hand were representatives from @properties, which is conducting sales for 4 East Elm; general contractor Leopardo Construction; project architect Solomon Cordwell Buenz; interior design firm Gary Lee Partners; and construction manager Daccord LLC, all based in Chicago.

With Chicago’s new-construction condominium market starting to percolate after nearly a decade of dormancy, @properties, the city’s No. 1 residential brokerage firm by market share, has hired Cyndy Salgado to bolster its development sales and marketing division. Company co-founders Michael Golden and Thaddeus Wong made the announcement.

Salgado, 50, has more than 20 years of experience directing the sales and marketing efforts for large-scale condominium and townhome developments in Chicago. At @properties, she will hold the title of executive vice president of development sales and marketing, reporting directly to Golden and Wong.

@properties, the No. 1 residential broker in the city of Chicago and the largest independent brokerage firm in Illinois, announced today that John D’Ambrogio has joined the company as executive vice president of relocation and corporate services. Company co-founders Thaddeus Wong and Michael Golden said D’Ambrogio will play a central role in growing @properties’ relocation and referral business as the firm continues its expansion throughout Chicagoland.

@properties, the No. 1 residential brokerage firm in the city of Chicago and the largest independently-owned brokerage firm in Illinois, announced today that Rick Sobin has joined the company as vice president of brokerage services.

@properties co-founders Michael Golden and Thaddeus Wong said Sobin, 46, will be stationed in @properties’ new East Lincoln Park office, which is opening this fall in the Webster Square mixed-use development at Lincoln and Webster avenues. He will oversee broker training and marketing and assist in the office’s daily operations.

Welcome to the @properties Monthly Newsletter – Training Camp Edition.

While one Chicago team is breaking camp in final preparations for the regular season, your @properties team is also game-planning for what promises to be a very interesting fall market.

Director Rob Reiner, a.k.a. Meathead, recently stopped by The Legacy at Millennium Park while in town promoting his new movie “And So It Goes,” starring Michael Douglas as a real estate agent. Read what happened when @properties broker Tony Madonia took Reiner up to a 52^nd floor unit for an interview with Chicago Tribune entertainment reporter Chris Borrelli.

Despite a slow start, 2014 is proving to be an eventful year for housing. Here at @properties, we’ve been keeping a close watch on local market conditions, and all signs point to a very busy second half of the year. Let’s take a closer look at some first half highlights and what to expect this summer and fall:

At @properties, innovation has long been the key to our success. That’s why we’re teaming up with Chicago-based PointDrive, an innovative sales application that allows our agents to create and share custom presentations without email attachments. Read more about the new partnership here.

Crain’s Chicago Business reporter Dennis Rodkin writes that Old Irving Park is emerging as a “new hot spot for homebuilders” as residential construction and renovation activity picks up steam in the neighborhood. Rodkin reports that at least a dozen homes are under construction or in the process of being rehabbed in the area, including the home of Ted Squires and Ranya Verson. Squires and Verson’s broker, @properties’ own Derek Disera, weighs in on the flurry of activity he’s seeing in the area. Click here to read the article.