May 23, 2023 - The Chicago Journal

Avoid Dating Horror Stories with Midwest Matchmaking

The Chicago Journal Staff on May 23, 2023

All anyone wants is to find love — they want to be loved and love another. As Nat King Cole famously said, “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”

In today’s fast-paced digital age, mobile apps and online platforms have become the norm in the dating scene, but they all too often lead to countless swipes and disappointing encounters. The endless ghosting, mismatched expectations, and awkward encounters can leave anyone feeling frustrated and disillusioned, wondering how it could be so difficult to find love when there are more options and different ways to date available.

The answer is easy — when it comes to modern dating in the digital era, there is no personalization. Even though the world is smaller thanks to social media and dating apps, people are not actually getting to know one another.

It’s for this reason and others that Courtney Quinlan, owner of Midwest Matchmaking says, “We screen everyone before we suggest a match. We make sure they’re real people looking for the same thing you are: love.”

Personalized service catered to your needs

When it comes down to today’s wide array of dating apps and websites, many have filters that users can select to help narrow down their list of potential matches. However, these don’t always work as intended, leaving people with either too many options that aren’t relevant to their interests or too few results, leaving them with slim pickings. Using a service like Midwest Matchmaking will help personalize results from all available candidates.

“We get to know you on a deeper level,” Quinlan remarks, “and we offer suggestions based on you and your preferences. We screen all of our candidates before matching them with anyone to ensure they’re real people that are genuinely searching for love and commitment.”

Midwest Matchmaking provides an extensive screening process that filters out incompatible individuals, saving you time and energy. Each potential match is carefully evaluated, ensuring they meet the criteria and standards of that particular matchmaking service. By focusing on quality matches, the firm increases the likelihood of creating lasting and meaningful connections.

Expert guidance

One of the key differences between matchmaking services and other love-finding tools such as dating apps and websites is two-fold. Not only do matchmaking services offer expert guidance, but they also often act as a kind of dating therapist.

“Some people have so much trauma when it comes to dating and finding love,” Quinlan notes, “but we’re here to help them through that. We believe everyone has their person and we’re determined on helping them find each other.”

Online dating can be overwhelming, especially for those who enter the dating scene while still carrying all the extra baggage of any past failed dating experiences. This is why matchmakers — such as those on Quinlan’s team — genuinely want to help you and guide you in the right direction.

At Midwest Matchmaking, they offer expert advice and insight into dating from the very beginning. From the initial consultation to post-date feedback, their expertise helps clients navigate the often complex world of dating and all the emotional ups and downs it can bring. Their hands-on approach and genuine commitment to their clients’ happiness set Midwest Matchmaking apart from other similar services.

Confidentiality and privacy

Privacy and confidentiality are essential when it comes to matters of the heart, which is why Midwest Matchmaking prioritizes your privacy and understands the sensitive nature of matchmaking. Unlike online dating, only a select few are able to see your profile, and only with your permission.

“All client information is treated with the utmost confidentiality, providing a safe and secure environment to explore romantic possibilities,” says Quinlan. “You can rest assured that your personal details and conversations will remain strictly private, allowing you to focus on building connections without any concerns.”

More than just setting up dates

When dating, the pressure to have one-on-one conversations can be debilitating. This is why Midwest Matchmaking frequently hosts singles events with like-minded individuals to help ease that anxiety.

“We offer singles events to help individuals on their single journey,” shares Quinlan, “from fun speed dating events to ‘mingle-and-greets.’ Each event is specifically tailored for those who are invited and we help them along the way so that they never feel alone.”

In addition, Midwest Matchmaking also offers dating coaching services to help guide candidates through anything that may come before, during, and after dating — be it good, bad, or just outright confusing. For example, Midwest Matchmaking offers one-on-one sessions, workshops, online courses, and an exciting option for immediate expert advice.

If you’re tired of living through horror story after horror story in the dating world and want to take control of your love life, a service like Midwest Matchmaking is the best option for you. They can provide you with the confidence and enthusiasm to start dating again without going into every new conversation expecting to be disappointed.

“Our team has countless years of relationship experience,” Quinlan affirms. “We have introduced thousands of people to their partners and helped them make it last.”

In the ever-changing and often challenging world of dating, it’s crucial to find a path that leads to genuine connections and fulfilling relationships. Everyone deserves to find and be loved, and Midwest Matchmaking is the perfect fit to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Single-Family Rental Market Has ‘Substantial Legs,’ MZ Capital Partners Founder Says

The Chicago Journal Staff on May 23, 2023

Image commercially licensed from Unsplash

While the U.S. multifamily housing market still jostles with inflation and interest rates, some investors continue to sideline capital and wait for conditions to ease. Meanwhile, MZ Capital Partners has turned toward two growing markets — single-family housing rentals and Knoxville, Tennessee — to find a confluence of opportunity.

MZ Capital Partners in April announced the purchase of the Residences at Devanshire, a community of 87 single-family rental homes in West Knoxville. The community features ranch houses with three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and two-car garages. The Residences at Devanshire are in a desirable suburb 20 minutes from downtown Knoxville with the Great Smoky Mountains in view.

The purchase extends MZ Capital Partners’ footprint in the Knoxville region, where the firm has owned and operated multifamily rental properties for 20 years. Since announcing the acquisition, MZ Capital Partners has reported significant interest from potential renters in a market whose occupancy rate reached a near-record 98 percent last year.

“The number of inquiries we’ve received from prospective renters is extremely high, far higher than we’ve anticipated,” said Michael H. Zaransky, founder and managing principal of MZ Capital Partners. “There’s a robust demand for this product and extremely high demand in this market for rentals.”

Single-family rentals (or SFR) have become increasingly popular in the housing market, giving families access to homes they can’t yet, or choose not to, buy. According to the Urban Land Institute, SFR demand grew during the financial crisis of the late 2000s and accelerated further during the pandemic. People looked to smaller cities and suburbs for places to live, found for-sale listings thin or too pricey — or sought the carefree lifestyle of not owning — and turned toward rentals.

Zaransky, whose Northbrook, Illinois, firm specializes in multifamily housing, saw the investment potential for single-family rentals. The multifamily housing market has been volatile: It demonstrated exceptional demand in early 2022, fell in the fourth quarter, and re-accelerated in the first quarter of 2023.

But within that market, Zaransky said single-family housing rentals have shown significant promise, and other real estate experts agree. Brad Hunter, president of Hunter Housing Economics, told the Urban Land Institute that developers could build 132,000 homes specifically for rent this year alone. Build-to-rent construction could reach 167,000 homes by 2025, Hunter told ULI.

There are several reasons, Zaransky said. Young families want to live in single-family homes with access to highly rated schools, recreation, and lifestyle amenities. Empty-nesters, meanwhile, seek more freedom from the requirements of ownership. Those working to become homeowners, and those seeking the freedom of a professionally managed and maintained lifestyle, bridge the gap by renting.

“In general, single-family rentals and the build-to-rent market are very appealing because of the demographics and the demand,” Zaransky said. “People like the idea of living in a single-family home but, for whatever reason, aren’t ready, or choose not, to buy one and would rather rent. That caused us to take a deeper dive and explore where we would like to allocate investment dollars into this sector.”

MZ Capital Partners’ deep dive led it to Knoxville, where the firm’s existing and long-term investments provided on-the-ground insight. Knoxville is a highly desirable place to live based on its job market, cost of living, and quality of life. The region’s unemployment rate in March 2023 was 2.8 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and its cost of living index is 15 percent lower than the national average, according to Payscale.

Knoxville boasts a timeless Southern downtown, an energetic and diverse community that includes the University of Tennessee, and the breathtaking sights of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. And it’s an eclectic place. In 2023, Knoxville hosted more than 160,000 people for the most-attended edition of the Bassmaster Classic, known as the Super Bowl of bass fishing. The city also is considered among the best to live and work for people who make movies.

West Knoxville, where the Residences at Devanshire is located, is an upscale yet affordable community that also trades on the natural beauty of its surroundings, Zaransky said. It features top-rated schools and access to the nation’s leading shopping and dining brands.

“And when you sit on your back deck or walk out the front door, you have a wonderful view of the Smoky Mountains,” Zaransky said.

Following the Knoxville acquisition, Zaransky said MZ Capital Partners wants to extend its momentum in the single-family rental market through both acquisitions and ground-up development. The firm is assessing other single-family rental properties for purchase and could acquire land to develop build-to-rent communities in other U.S. locations.

“We think this has pretty substantial legs for us,” Zaransky said. “It’s an entry into the sector that we’ve been studying for a long time and the foundation of a platform that we wish to expand into a national portfolio.”