Latest news with #DreamTown
Chicago Tribune
16 hours ago
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Local real estate firms Baird & Warner and Dream Town to merge
Two of the Chicago region's largest independent real estate firms announced Thursday that they will merge operations, forming what company leaders say will be the second largest brokerage in Chicagoland, based on 2024 sales volume. The acquisition of Dream Town by Baird & Warner will result in a combined organization with nearly 3,000 agents, loan officers and other staff and a total of 30 offices throughout the city and suburbs. Dream Town CEO Yuval Degani said combining forces will ensure agents have access to the best technology, including AI, and allow them to stay independent and locally owned. 'Every major brokerage in town is now run by Wall Street or a hedge fund,' Degani said. The combination of Dream Town and Baird & Warner will create 'an even more competitive, locally committed and powerful independent alternative for agents.' The combined firm will operate under the Baird & Warner brand, and Degani will join company leadership as president of brokerage services. Dream Town agents will also have access to Baird & Warner's other businesses, including Key Mortgage and Baird & Warner Title Services. 'Throughout our 170-year history, we have sought to make bold moves that sharpen our competitive edge and enhance the value we bring to our agents and their clients,' Baird & Warner CEO Steve Baird said. The constant demand from real estate brokers for more advanced technology has helped lead many other firms, including local and national brands, to combine their efforts. New York-based Compass in January acquired Chicago-based @properties Christie's International Real Estate for $444 million. @properties had acquired Christie's International Real Estate, a global network in about 50 countries, in 2021. Recent litigation has also greatly changed how buyers acquire new homes. The Chicago-based National Association of Realtors and real estate brokerages nationwide agreed in 2024 to settle massive class-action antitrust lawsuits filed by home sellers who argued they were forced to pay inflated commissions to real estate brokers. The NAR agreed to pay out $418 million, and make commissions more transparent, requiring potential homebuyers to sign written agreements stating how their agents will be paid. 'Being small is almost impossible today because of technology and because of the needs of the agent — whether it be technology or marketing or training and coaching,' @properties co-founder Mike Golden told the Tribune in March. 'You're going to continue to see more consolidation, especially with the stuff that's happened with the litigation in our industry.'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Russians destroy Nova Poshta postal service's depot and office in Izium, Kharkiv Oblast
A Russian UAV has severely damaged a Nova Poshta postal office and depot in the city of Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, leading to possible delivery delays. [Nova Poshta is the largest private postal operator in Ukraine – ed.] Source: press service for Nova Poshta on Telegram Details: "Last night, a Russian UAV struck a Nova Poshta office and depot in Izium, Kharkiv Oblast. The attack caused a large-scale fire," the company reported. The aftermath of the Russian attack Photo: Nova Poshta The fire resulted in the destruction of customer parcels, and the company has promised to reimburse their value. There were no people at the scene at the time of the strike, so no casualties were reported. The aftermath of the Russian attack Photo: Nova Poshta Nova Poshta stated that deliveries to Izium and nearby settlements could be delayed throughout the week. Background: A Russian strike damaged the Dream Town shopping centre in the Obolonskyi district of Kyiv on the night of 3-4 May. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
4 killed, 30 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day
At least four people were killed and 30 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, regional authorities reported on May 4. Russia launched 165 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones, according to Ukraine's Air Force. Air defenses shot down 69 drones, while 80 vanished from radars — likely used as decoys to overwhelm Ukraine's defenses. The assault was countered with electronic warfare units, aviation, anti-aircraft missile systems, and mobile fire groups. In Kyiv, 11 people, including two children, were injured, Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said. The Dream Town shopping mall, at least seven cars, and the upper floors of a high-rise caught fire from strikes. In Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces killed two residents in Komar and one in Myrnohrad, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Two others were injured. A man was killed and four women injured in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Four localities in the region came under attack. Nine people were injured in Kherson Oblast after Russian troops hit residential areas and critical infrastructure, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Two apartment buildings, nine houses, and other infrastructure were damaged. Two police officers were injured in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast during a Russian drone attack, Governor Serhii Lysak said. Three businesses, two apartment buildings, and several houses were damaged. At least two people were also injured in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Governor Ivan Fedorov said. "The Russians are calling for a ceasefire on May 9 while striking Ukraine every single day. This is top-level cynicism," President Volodymyr Zelensky said, commenting on the attacks. "A real ceasefire is necessary. Ukraine is ready for silence to begin on any day — but for no less than a month, to bring the war to an end. If there's silence, it must be every day." The attacks come amid Moscow's continued rejection of a complete ceasefire agreement and follow an escalation of strikes targeting civilian areas across Ukraine. Read also: If authoritarians are scared of journalists, we must be doing something right We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Russian forces attack Dream Town shopping centre in Kyiv
A Russian strike damaged the Dream Town shopping centre in the Obolonskyi district of Kyiv on the night of 3-4 May. Source: Head of Obolonskyi District State Administration in Kyiv Details: Russian drones struck Kyiv's Obolonskyi district, damaging the facade of the Dream Berry shopping centre (the purple section of Dream Town). The centre's owner, Harik Korohodskyi, said none of the employees had been injured. Photos released by Ukraine's National Police show damaged cars outside the centre and a partially destroyed facade. Dream Town stated that Dream Berry will remain open, though only a few shops are currently operating. Silpo, COMFY, JYSK, Foxtrot and Sport Life are open, with updates on other shops to follow. The neighbouring Dream Yellow shopping centre is operating as usual. Background: Fires broke out in Kyiv as a result of the fall of Russian drone debris, injuring two children and three women. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Russian drone attack on Kyiv injures 2 children, damages shopping mall
Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated. A wave of explosions was heard in Kyiv overnight on May 4 as Russia launched a drone attack against the capital, according to local authorities. Two children aged 14 and 17 were injured in the attack, Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko said via his official Telegram channel. Debris from the drones damaged several houses and vehicles in various parts of the city, including the Shevchenkivskyi, Obolonskyi, and Svyatoshynskyi districts. In the Obolonskyi district, the Dream Town shopping mall was damaged, and at least seven cars and the top floors of a high-rise caught fire. First responders have been dispatched to the sites of attack. Russia stepped up its attacks against Ukrainian civilians in the past weeks, resulting in numerous casualties reported in Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a three-day ceasefire for Russia's Victory Day commemorations between May 7 and 9 — a proposal that President Volodymyr Zelensky has called a "theatrical performance," designed to ease Russia's international isolation and create a favorable atmosphere for Moscow. Read also: Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian fighter jet in 'world-first' strike, intelligence says We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
