Let that holiday lethargy grab hold of you and RELAX!

Let that holiday lethargy grab hold of you and RELAX!
Regular readers might know I’m winding down a hella-challenging year.  I’m not out of the woods yet but I’m sooo close that I actually feel comfortable to start decompressing.  I spent most of this year (and a lot of the last one) in full out crisis mode.  Now that I’ve gotten to a point where... Read more »
By Rooted in Chicago,
December 21, 2017 at 4:23 pm • 

Drunk hippies, raw eggs, police chases, Harry Potter, pole dancing, eviction court and a landlady’s knickers

Full title: Drunk hippies, raw eggs, police chases, Harry Potter, pole dancing, eviction court and a landlady’s knickers: my two years of blogging for Chicago Now   I’m celebrating my second anniversary as a Chicago Now blogger and I mean “celebrating” in the truest sense of the word.  Someone should have told me years ago... Read more »
By Rooted in Chicago,
November 30, 2017 at 2:16 pm • 

Meeting everyday heroes can change the trajectory of your life

Meeting everyday heroes can change the trajectory of your life
  I blogged in the past about how the idea of the Cook County Land Bank Authority gets me all charged up about the possibility of growing my holdings as a landlord.  This week I had the exciting opportunity to see how it works with a real-life example. Up close and personal.  I attended an... Read more »
By Rooted in Chicago,
November 22, 2017 at 2:01 pm • 
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The Condo Expo is not what you think

It’s that time of year again.  The semi-annual condo expo is happening tomorrow at Navy Pier–but it’s not what you think.  It’s so much more.  And if you have the time and the inclination I would highly recommend taking a peek. When I first heard about the expo from a friend a few years ago,... Read more »
By Rooted in Chicago,
November 14, 2017 at 8:22 am • 

Raw egg yolks are NOT gravy!

Raw egg yolks are NOT gravy!
  Gravy comes in a jar.  Or a packet.  Or if you’re old school, you can stir it up in a pan.  GRAVY DOES NOT COME IN A SHELL!!! Egads, are we barbarians?  I thought this was a civilized society. I tend to write about serious issues, but just like everyone else, I have my... Read more »
By Rooted in Chicago,
November 8, 2017 at 10:18 am • 

When abuse hits home: how landlords can protect victims

Reading the headlines recently about issues of sexual harassment and abuse is just boggling my mind.  No sensible person would doubt that these situations happen but I don’t think anyone realized how widespread they are.  It makes me think of all the ways people are unable to feel safe, in their workplaces, in public and... Read more »
By Rooted in Chicago,
October 31, 2017 at 2:07 pm • 
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Rescuing black homeownership to build wealth and stabilize communities

Rescuing black homeownership to build wealth and stabilize communities
There’s a big word that’s floating around Chicago these days that excites some and scares others.  It all depends on which side of the fence you’re on.  People who are against it says it’s detrimental to certain communities, particularly for residents of color.  People who are for it say it’s “not the great evil” it’s... Read more »
By Rooted in Chicago,
October 27, 2017 at 9:17 am • 

My sense of humor in 600 words or less

My sense of humor in 600 words or less
Dear Reader, This is the email that was just sent out to Chicago Now bloggers who expressed an interest in this monthly exercise: “Welcome to ChicagoNow’s Blogapalooz-Hour!  Your challenge, if you choose to accept it, is to publish a post in one hour. Here is tonight’s challenge:  Write about and describe your sense of humor.... Read more »
By Rooted in Chicago,
October 25, 2017 at 10:14 pm • 

Did budgetary shell games cause a crisis? I smell a rat & I hope it’s a dead one

Did budgetary shell games cause a crisis? I smell a rat & I hope it’s a dead one
Chicago made the top of Orkin Pest Control’s “Top Rattiest Cities List” in both 2014 and 2016 (our moms must be so proud).  This is old information to anyone who has been living here for a while.  The rodent epidemic is not a new problem.  But not only does it NOT seem to be getting... Read more »
By Rooted in Chicago,
October 24, 2017 at 11:16 pm • 
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Quit the hobby, don't quit the business

I loved this article I found from Bigger Pockets, “Hobby vs. Business: Do You Have the Right Mindset as a Landlord?“  Bigger Pockets bills itself as a type of social network for real estate investing.  The article paints a picture of what many people assume landlording looks like.  An expensive, stressful, time-consuming, soul-crushing hobby.  Trust... Read more »
By Rooted in Chicago,
October 17, 2017 at 11:52 pm •