The Domos Report Vol. 12
THE DOMOS REPORT
The Domos Report | Twelfth Edition | 09/2026
Chicago, My Kind of Town
I was born and raised here. Apart from a brief stint away for college and another after graduate school, I have spent my entire adult life in this city — raising my family in it, selling homes in it, and watching it get unfairly maligned from the outside while quietly thriving on the inside.
Chicago has gotten a bad rap. A steady drip of misinformation has hardened into a negative narrative. The place isn't perfect — no city is — but the data tell a vastly different story. So let me give you some facts.
1. Crime is down
This is the one I lead with, because it's the one people least expect to hear. Homicides are the lowest in sixty years. Let that land.
2. No. 1 big city in the country.
Condé Nast Traveler has named Chicago the best big city in the U.S. nine years running — the longest winning streak of any city in the award's history. More than 750,000 travelers voted, citing our food, our architecture, our culture, and a hospitality that surprises people who arrive expecting a scowl.
3. Top home price appreciation in the nation.
After fifteen years of trailing the rest of the country, Chicago led the nation in home price appreciation in the third quarter, up 6.9 percent. As someone who sells real estate here, this is the stat I love most.
4. Not everyone is leaving.
Chicago had net positive migration of 22,164 people, and our population has grown three years in a row.
5. Corporate relocations.
Chicago is once again the top U.S. metropolitan area for companies looking to relocate or expand. With more than 600 corporate projects in 2025, we finished ahead of Houston, Dallas, New York, and Atlanta. I see it in my own business. This year, a quarter of my clients have been people moving here for work: doctors; professors; tech workers; and corporate executives. Chicago also ranks No. 8 in the country as a move destination overall.
6. Climate.
Chicago has been named the number one city in the world at adapting to and mitigating climate risk. We sit at a temperate latitude (though anyone who has waited for a train in January may object), with excellent access to fresh water and a low risk of hurricanes and wildfires. Our Deep Tunnel Project helps control both flooding and water pollution. One wonders whether we'll eventually find a way to monetize the Great Lakes. Who else has a body of fresh water like ours?
To the Chicago Naysayers
Our city is doing well. Next month, I'll turn to some exciting and thriving residential and commercial projects now in the works — ones that will transform neighborhoods and further fuel our growth.
And may I add: this city is simply beautiful. The lake, the parks, the buildings, the neighborhoods. Now and then, walking through Lincoln Park, the beauty takes my breath away.
Call Me
There is currently no inventory on the market — a testament to how desirable this city has become. If you are thinking of selling, please call. You will sell quickly and for top dollar. If you are thinking of buying, call me too. I have access to multiple private networks where listings are pre-marketed. And, since I have been doing this for 35 years, I have a sphere that is large and constantly on the move. I might be able to find an off-market home for you.
Suzanne Gignilliat
suzanne@suzannegignilliat.com | suzannegignilliat.com | Total Service | Results Driven
(773) 394-4717
What Her Clients Are Saying:
“Very smart, tough, ethical, empathetic and a wonderful listener. Suzanne’s creative eye helped us stage our home. Her great negotiating advice guided us during a difficult transaction to a successful outcome. She is just a pleasure and now is our good friend.”
-D.R
Lakeview