In this week’s podcast there was one section where I literally couldn’t stop laughing. So, I think this is probably one of our more entertaining episodes.

We start off talking about Nissan’s foray into vehicle subscriptions with the Nissan Switch program, then have a great discussion about the Ford Escape, which is all-new for 2020 and has a hybrid version. The bulk of our discussion, however, is about the cool Toyota Motor Manufacturing Assembly Plant in Princeton, Indiana, with our guest Larry Nutson, the executive producer and Chicago Bureau Chief at The Auto Channel.

This week’s quiz was about fake trim levels. Spoiler alert: I did not win. And, we also talk about whether or not we’d “subscribe” to a vehicle program. Interesting concept, but you’ll have to listen to the podcast for my answer and my reasoning.

Be sure to let us know if you have questions or if there are any topics you’d like us to cover on future podcasts.

You can follow us on social at:

• Jill: @jillciminillo (instagram/twitter)
• Tom: @car_guy_tom (twitter)
• Damon: @DBell72333786 (twitter)
• Consumer Guide Automotive: @cgautomotive (twitter/facebook)
• Consumer Guide Car Stuff on facebook

S&P Dow Jones CoreLogic released their December home price data this morning and the Case Shiller Chicago area home price index showed faster appreciation than it did in November. On a year over year basis single family home prices rose by 1.0% vs. 0.3% in November, which was the highest rate in 4 months and also marks the 86th consecutive month of annual gains. The fact that the annual appreciation rate rose is comforting because you can see how it has been trending down in the graph below.

The only problem was that that put the Chicago area at the bottom of the list of 20 metro areas that the Case Shiller index covers. One bit of good news though: we had company at the bottom with New York which also had a mere 1.0% growth rate.

For the 20 largest metro areas they cover the average year over year gain in December was 2.9% vs. 2.5% in November. And if you look across the entire nation home prices rose by 3.8% from the previous December, also an improvement from the 3.5% one year gain in November.

But there is another fly in Chicago’s ointment in that condominium prices were flat to the previous December and that’s the first time that has happened in 86 months. The obvious concern is that they are about to start going negative. It wouldn’t surprise me since this is consistent with the rising inventories and market times of condos that I have been discussing for the last year.

Chicago area home prices have shown annual gains for 86 consecutive months but they appear to be losing steam.

Craig J. Lazzara, Managing Director and Global Head of Index Investment Strategy at S&P Dow Jones Indices, provided some historical and geographical perspective:

This marks eight consecutive years of increasing housing prices (an increase which is echoed in our 10- and 20-City Composites). At the national level, home prices are 59% above the trough reached in February 2012, and 15% above their pre-financial crisis peak. Results for 2019 were broad-based, with gains in every city in our 20-City Composite.

At a regional level, Phoenix retains the top spot for the seventh consecutive month, with a gain of 6.5% for December. Charlotte and Tampa rose by 5.3% and 5.2% respectively, leading the Southeast region. The Southeast has led all regions for the past year.

As was the case last month, after a long period of decelerating price increases, the National, 10-City, and 20-City Composites all rose at a faster rate in December than they had done in November; 12 of our 20 cities likewise saw accelerating prices. It is, of course, too soon to say whether this marks an end to the deceleration or is merely a pause in the longer-term trend.

Case Shiller Chicago Area Home Price Index By Month

The graph below shows the underlying Case Shiller Chicago index numbers by month and you can clearly see the seasonal fluctuations in the values. December is still in the season when prices decline so the single family index actually dropped by 0.1% from November while the condo index fell by 0.9%.

If you compare the graph below to what Craig Lazarra said above you can see that the Chicago real estate market really sucks compared to the rest of the country. Our single family home prices are still 14.7% below the bubble peak and condo prices are 8.4% below the peak while the rest of the country has surpassed those values. To put it in even more stark terms, single family home prices are below the levels they were from July 2004 – October 2008 and condo prices are below the levels from April 2005 – November 2008.

From the ashes of the housing bust single family home prices have recovered by 39.9% and condo prices have bounced back 51.6%, which again pales in comparison to the rest of the nation. But perhaps the saddest part of the Chicago real estate market story is captured in that red trendline in the graph below. I drew it based on home prices before the bubble. Not only are we not catching up to that trendline but we are actually falling further and further behind. Right now we lag it by 28.4%.

The Chicago real estate market still has a long way to go before catching up to bubble peak prices.

#CaseShiller #ChicagoHomePrices #HomePrices

Gary Lucido is the President of Lucid Realty, the Chicago area’s full service real estate brokerage that offers home buyer rebates and discount commissions. If you want to keep up to date on the Chicago real estate market or get an insider’s view of the seamy underbelly of the real estate industry you can Subscribe to Getting Real by Email using the form below. Please be sure to verify your email address when you receive the verification notice.

Another interesting and poignant fact about this memorial service and record-breaking game for Ionescu, it all happened on 2/24/20. Those are the basketball jersey numbers of Gianna, Kobe and herself. Ionescu had developed a friendship with Kobe and Gianna, working out with Gianna in the summer while helping Kobe coach games. Ionescu said at the memorial service, “To do it on 2/24/20 is huge…I can’t really put that into words. I just know Kobe’s looking down and really proud of me.”

She continued at the service saying, “I still text (Kobe) even though he’s not here.” “Thank you for everything. The rest is for you. Rest easy, my guy. The last one I sent him said, ‘I miss you. May you rest in peace my dear friend.’ “The texts go through but no response. It still feels like he’s there, on the other end, that the next time I pick up my phone, he would have hit me back. Sometimes I find myself still waiting.”

Later that day after the emotional day and with a big win over Stanford, Ionescu was asked what the hardest part of her long day was by the media: “Everything,” she said. “You know, you kind of try and hide some of those emotions and so you get there in Staples Center and they all come back to you. Being able to speak was such an honor for me and being able to hear everyone speak. I tried to do everything I could to try and hold it together earlier in the day and tonight and my team helped me a lot doing that.”

Ionescu, who last year led Oregon to the Final Four and was considered the top prospect for the WNBA, opted to return to Oregon for her senior season. Once again, she’s projected to be the top pick in the WNBA draft, which is in April. Sabrina Ionescu is a collegiate sports icon and secured that hard earned title on 2/24/20 in more ways than one. She is impressive to watch and bound for greatness in the WNBA but first up – winning the NCAA Championship with two guiding spirits helping her along.

Gianna, Kobe and Sabrina (2/24/20)

Photo courtesy of Fox Sports

“You got your whole life ahead of you, don’t rush it!”

“You are only 22, you don’t need to have it all figured out.”

These are two of the numerous statements I hear from people continuously when talking about my dating life or the lack thereof it. (And let me guess, I am not the only one who hears these statements…)

And in the end, I agree with them… But not for the reason that you would think.
Yes, I have my whole life ahead of me. Yes, I don’t need to rush anything and have all of the answers. Yes, I am ‘only’ 22…. But none of these are the reasons that I am perfectly content not dating somebody.

It is simply because dating in today’s world fricken SUCKS.

If we were sitting having drinks and casually talking about this and how dating in today’s society is awful, I would probably tell you to refrain from getting me started and try to change the subject.

However, here I am… already heated and ready to go.

I HATE IT.

What is the enjoyment of having to strategically find a way to get somebody’s attention throughout whatever form of social media is not the “creepiest” because it would just be too awkward and weird to say hello? Yes… let me just like a photo of yours from a month ago at 2:45 a.m.

What is the fun of spending 45 minutes of your time crafting the most perfect response so that you portray the perfect amount of interested, but not too interested?
Oh, and good for you… because you waited 45 minutes to respond to his text message – Which was longer than the 32 minutes he took to respond – you have the upper hand. (Do I sound crazy yet?)

Do you like wondering if everybody else just got that morning snap that you just got because ‘streaks’? Or how about how the guy can so easily just act like you don’t exist anymore by simply ‘ghosting’ you?

How about the awful thoughts that go through your head after you hang out with the person and you wonder if they were thinking the same things that you were? Did they enjoy it as much as you did? Oh, but don’t get too ahead of yourself there… It was probably just nothing. (It ain’t that deep.)

Maybe I feel this way because it is just the overthinker in me, or maybe it is because I am sensitive… Or maybe, just maybe it is because all of this dating stuff is just truly messed up and awful. For the sake of my feelings and getting off on another tangent none of us have time for today, I am going to continue with the fact that it is because dating today is horrendous.

And guess what… It doesn’t have to be so complicated.

You don’t have to be so afraid to show that you care about another human.
And contrary to popular belief you don’t have to be passive-aggressive on your posts on social media to tell somebody how you are feeling.

Oh, wait, yes you do… and that is exactly why you will find me in my bed after a night out watching Vampire Diaries and eating goldfish by myself.

All of the things I described above are exactly what dating in today’s society is now, and it is exactly why I am perfectly okay agreeing with the fact that I have my whole life ahead of me because I have chosen to not play by the crazy rules, or treats others poorly.

It is all so exhausting.

If you like somebody you should be able to get to know them without all of these rules. If you want to be able to hang out with somebody, you should be able to without overthinking it. AND FOR GOODNESS SAKES, if you don’t reciprocate feelings or don’t want to continue talking to somebody be a decent human and USE YOUR WORDS. (It is OKAY, not everybody is meant to be together!)

(And no, I am not bitter… It is just my hope that in this chaotic world there is somebody out there who doesn’t think it is weird if I pick up the phone and call him instead of sending a message on Snapchat. If you are out there, please let me know!)