Thanks to "Good Neighbors"

Chicago REALTORS® will have even more reasons to be proud of our city and suburbs after the C.A.R. 2010 Good Neighbor Awards presentation, May 20. Please plan to join us for the awards and cocktail reception, held at the Crystal Gardens, Navy Pier.

Of all C.A.R. events, the Good Neighbor Awards perhaps best recognize the types of properties that make our city a better place to work and live. Award-winners include both new construction and rehabbed residential, mixed-use and commercial properties that enhance their communities by adding to their economic vibrancy, giving residents more housing options, or replacing vacant, blighted or even dangerous sites with new properties that are readily embraced.

As REALTORS®, we owe a lot to the owners and developers of Good Neighbor Award-winning properties. These exceptional structures increase the beauty and stability of the communities we serve. Conversely, research shows that properties in poor shape, including vacant lots and abandoned buildings, can take heavy tolls, decreasing property values and deterring potential home buyers. According to the National Housing Institute, they can also impair local residents’ health, encourage criminal activity and raise the risk of fires.

Help us celebrate some of what’s best about Chicago. We hope to see you on May 20: http://bit.ly/aRU10T.

-- C.A.R. Communications