I've been doing this since 1998. That's a pretty decent amount of time. Certainly enough to have gone through the dot-com tech bubble; the great recession and back; shoddy construction phases; white kitchens before they went completely out of style before coming back into style; white walls, bright-colored walls, beige walls, & grey walls; closed-off kitchens to open layouts; and a lot of other trends. Is that important? Yeah it is because it gives me a certain amount of perspective on cycles and what tends to be more important through the years beyond just the trends. And that experience means hundreds of negotiated deals too, giving me experience in so many different situations that is beneficial to anyone making such a large decision. It's definitely not my first rodeo.
In those years, I have consistently been a top producing agent in the Chicago real estate market, representing the purchases & sales of homes in the luxury real estate market, new developments, working with relocation clients, and helping first-time buyers and sellers. Starting in 1998 with another firm, I rose quickly in the ranks and was a member of their elite President's Club every year (recognizing sales from 2002 through 2014). Early in 2015, I joined @properties Christie's International Real Estate and have been the #1 agent in my office for several of the years there, including in 2022 and 2023.
Ultimately though, this is all about you. I want to be there for you to lean on and trust. I want you to know that I am going to be your advocate and hopefully your friend through this process and beyond. I don't go away when the check comes at the end because it isn't all about the check. I need that to eat for sure, but when I originally chose to stay in this business, it was because I discovered that despite being an introvert, I really really really loved being with all kinds of different people. I loved learning about them (even though I'm rarely good at small talk) and being a part of their lives for a time. I loved being a part of their family and I especially loved getting to a point with them that I didn't consider them clients, but rather friends. (Not everyone of course, but sure heck of a lot of them.) What I do is to help you achieve what you want to achieve but what it's mostly about for me is the relationships I form doing that.
I'm Not There for the Quick Sale. I can't underscore this enough. I'm just not. I am there for as long as it takes to find the right place and to make sure you are comfortable, or to get your home sold for the right price & terms for you. Sometimes that's immediate and sometimes, not even within the realm of immediate. Ultimately it doesn't matter. What matters is that we find the one place that you can call your home, or sell your home to help you achieve your next goal.
I have many accolades & awards, but my highest honor is the trust of my clients, the referrals they send me, and the way I've been invited into their social circles once they've worked with me. The wedding invitations and birth announcements I have received are more precious to me than all the professional titles and awards.
I was born and raised in New Buffalo, Michigan and attended Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. Before settling into my current life in Chicago in 1992, I spent some time in Paris, France broadening my perspective, then came here to work in the TV commercial production industry. I love this city and its architecture and different neighborhoods more than anywhere else. I can bore anyone for hours spouting various random city trivia or talk endlessly on with insights into our buildings and areas. I have knowledge & perspective of the public schools as well, having had two children go through the public school system. I de-stress & gossip at the gym, and enjoy movies, theater, continuously exploring the city, and traveling with family and friends. After having lived in many neighborhoods, I have resided in Edgewater Glen since 2012 with my partner and a beautiful rescue dog named Ernie, with one grown child living in Lincoln Square and the other in Florida.
Achievements (Self Gratification Boring Stuff…)
Total Sales in Excess of $630M (MLS data 01/01/1998 - 11/1/2024)
2022 Sales in Excess $34M (MLS data 01/01/2022 - 12/31/2022)
More than 25 years of Experience
Member of Gay Alliance, Chicago Area of REALTORS®, Illinois Association of REALTORS®, & National Association of REALTORS®
Featured on HGTV's "House Hunters" TV show.
Featured in Metro Chicago Agent Magazine's "40 under 40" 2007 edition
Featured as the cover story for Real Estate Executive Magazine
