Judah Duke

2 weeks ago | therealdeal.com | Judah Duke

A Canadian investor is betting on Chicago’s parking sector while others steer clear. Toronto-based Clermont has spent more than $100 million over the past four months acquiring four downtown Chicago parking garages with over 3,200 spaces, CoStar reported. The buying spree includes properties near Millennium Park and the Merchandise Mart. The purchases come as other operators are exiting the market amid remote work headwinds, rideshare disruption and looming congestion pricing policies.

2 weeks ago | therealdeal.com | Judah Duke

Chicago’s life-sciences market is still waiting for its breakout moment. It is the smallest of any major U.S. hub by square footage, yet it has a vacancy rate of 43.3 percent, more than double the average across the country’s leading biotech markets, according to CBRE. The average vacancy for the lab and research-and-development sector across the top 13 metros rose to 21.4 percent in the first quarter, with leading markets Boston, San Diego and San Francisco all hovering just above that mark.

2 weeks ago | therealdeal.com | Judah Duke

Engel & Völkers Dallas hired Bret Whitfield as director of its Park Cities office, along with six agents, from The Agency. Whitfield, who helped build The Agency’s Dallas team from three to over 50 agents, brings a track record of $300 million in sales volume last year, according to a news release, and a string of industry awards. He’ll lead recruiting and growth for Engel & Völkers, which also brought on Debbie Soriano, Jacob Wilson, Zach Bell, Kathryn Herrerias, Dakota Deal and Nora Windham.

3 weeks ago | therealdeal.com | Judah Duke

A Dallas millionaire who made his fortune in the internet’s early days sold his suburban home in a record-breaking deal, the latest signal of affluence migrating north of the city. Woot.com founder Matt Rutledge’s sprawling estate in Plano sold for $15.9 million, or $1,289 per square foot, in what brokers say is the highest-priced residential transaction ever recorded in Collin County.

1 month ago | therealdeal.com | Judah Duke

Keller Williams Realty is changing up its executive leadership amid broader shifts in the brokerage business. The Austin-based brokerage appointed a new chief financial officer and confirmed its chief operating officer. KW named Tim Dieffenbacher as CFO, while Stacie Herron was appointed COO after serving in the role on an interim basis, a news release said. Herron will continue in her position as chief legal officer, a role she has held since 2021.