7 minute read
Real Estate Leaders
Hinsdale Magazine’s guide to local, leading real estate professionals
BY KERRIE KENNEDY | PHOTO BY MARCO NUNEZ
Tracy Anderson
Compass Realty 630.452.3108 tracy.anderson@compass.com www.compass.com/agents/chicago/tracy-anderson
Past life.
I was a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney; then later, I served as general counsel for a company. After having three children, I got my real estate license in 2006, when my youngest was three. I think being an attorney (I still am) teaches you to think in a certain way. It allows me to see things on a bigger picture, and helps with negotiating and explaining to clients how the contracts work, and what the deadlines are. I think it also helps when talking to other attorneys working on the deal. I can’t do both, but it is a helpful thing to have.
The right stuff.
People still really like an open kitchen to family room area. They also want mudrooms, a place for a home office and a finished basement. Homes at any price point need to be staged. You need to have it look like a Restoration Hardware catalog. HGTV has ruined us.
Location, location.
People want to be able to walk to town. They want a quiet street in an area where all the elementary schools are good. Generally speaking, schools are super important, which is why people gravitate towards places with highly-rated schools, like Hinsdale, Western Springs and Clarendon Hills.
Secret menu.
The Private Listing Network, a network within the MLS that isn’t set up for the public, is a great way to premarket a property, as well as a great way for buyers to jump in early on something. It’s set up for people who are planning on putting their property on the market, but not quite ready.
Shifting styles.
The whole Marie Kondo mindset about tidying up and looking at what you have and what you really want has created a shift. People don’t necessarily want smaller houses, but they want more efficient houses. Like, “why do I need a formal living room if all I’m going to do is walk through it?” Some people don’t want a dining room; they just want more flexible space.
Up and coming.
I think Riverside and Brookfield are two places where you can get more for your money (a $500,000 house in Brookfield is probably going to be one of the most expensive homes there), but they still offer a lot. They’re close to the city, the schools are usually ranked pretty well, they have a trainline to the city, and their downtowns are becoming more of a destination.
Amy Avakian
KoenigRubloff Realty Group 312.925.5402 aavakian@koenigrubloff.com amyavakian.koenigrubloff.com
Past life.
I started out as a convertible bond salesperson, which has really translated well into real estate. I’m good at pairing people up with their needs, and obviously my negotiating skills come in handy.
Born and raised.
I grew up in Hinsdale; my family moved there when I was in first grade. Then I lived downtown for ten years, and my husband and I decided to came back to the western suburbs. We ended up in Western Springs, where we’ve been for 13 years.
Cha-cha-cha-changes.
The sizes of some of the houses have dramatically increased in Hinsdale. It started in the ‘90s and early 2000s, with all the tear-downs and people taking advantage of the bigger lots. I feel like the same trend is happening in Western Springs and La Grange. When I was growing up, I didn’t know anyone with a basketball court in their basement.
Local expert.
I focus on the western suburbs, because I think I’m in a better position to serve my clients when I actually know the neighbors, the schools and all the amenities. As an insider, I’m really able to help them navigate the various towns.
Community helper.
I’m on the school board election committee, and I started a kids camp called Safety Village. Growing up, I had a sister who passed away in a traffic accident with a bus. My other sister and I opened a second one in Western Springs. I think my involvement in the community really helps me add value as a real estate agent.
Opportunity awaits.
I think you can find great opportunities in all of our towns—Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Western Springs, La Grange, Burr Ridge, Downers Grove and Oak Brook—even if your budget is on the lower end. There’s such a variety of inventory, and there are all kinds of tiers.
Friend and neighbor.
It doesn’t end with the sale—I remain a friend and a resource after my clients move in. I like to keep in touch, let them know about activities, social clubs to join, newcomer meetings. I have a client coming from the city who’s not moving in the area until summer, and I just let her know that Little League sign-up is right now, so she wouldn’t miss it. It’s very helpful to have an internal pulse on the area.
Amy Duong Kim
Duong Kim Global 773.295.4387 amy.duongkim@compass.com www.duongkimglobal.com
A little bit city, a little bit country.
I’ve been a top producer for 15 years now; seven of those years have been in the city. At Compass, I work in both the western suburbs and in the city; I really enjoy them both.
Livin’ the Hinsdale life.
I’ve lived in Hinsdale for six years now. I have two kids, and I’m now pregnant with my third. I’m a member of the Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club, and I love it; I’ve met so many fantastic people through that. I think it’s important in my job to be an active member of the community.
Sweet spot.
I would say anything under $1.3 million is moving very fast in the Hinsdale area. I think people are being cautious with not over-spending on their homes. Everybody wants new construction, but that comes with a price. I personally love doing rehabs, and I have clients who do too. They’re totally open with doing work. Turnkey always does really well, but also location plays a huge part. People want to be within walking distance to a train.
Millennial madness.
Millennials are the largest pet-owning generation, and they’re initially buying, because they want a house for their pet. Eventually comes the kids, and then the conflicting ideas of what to do. Should we move? Do we want to stay in the city? All the pros and cons. I can help them either way. It’s cool to be part of that initial conversation, and deciding the game-plan for the client.
Matchmaker, Matchmaker.
I really am kind of a matchmaker for my buyers. Every buyer is unique (last year, 30 percent of my buyers came from other countries), and I try to figure out what is the right place for them. A lot of my clients of different ethnic descents like to have a first-floor guest bedroom, because they have older relatives who come to visit for extended stays, and can’t do the stairs. It’s all about figuring out who your buyer is, and then matching them with the right location and the right home.
Marketing master.
We do amazing marketing for our properties, virtual tours, target marketing on social media and even drone hubs. I have a listing in Burr Ridge that sits on ten acres, and we used a drone hub to take an aerial video.
Geri McCafferty
Baird & Warner, Chairman’s Club 708.431.6635 geri.mccafferty@bairdwarner.com gerimccafferty.bairdwarner.com
Past life.
I started selling real estate in 2005, but before that, I was in the relocation business. My clients were major companies like Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Kentucky Fried Chicken. I helped their employees move from place to place, and it really gave me an expertise that comes in handy now.
Transplant pro.
I work with a lot of transferees who come from all over the country. They chose this area because of the schools and convenient location to the city and airports. Depending on where they’re coming from, sometimes it’s sticker-shock (Texas), and sometimes they find they get a lot more house than what they’re used to (California). Either way, I enjoy helping acquaint them to the area, and helping them find what they need.
Setting the stage.
I’m a certified staging consultant, so I know how to help sellers get their homes in top condition. It starts with removing a lot of furniture and packing things away. You have to make it easy for buyers to walk through and visualize themselves in your home. You don’t necessarily have to change the cabinets and countertops, but it’s important to make it as clean and fresh as possible. Look at the competition so you know what’s moving. The pictures have to be perfect. A pillow cannot be out of place.
It’s a match.
One of my favorite aspects of the job is helping buyers find the right home in the right area. I like to take my buyers to different towns and explain what each town has to offer, so they can start focusing on an area that meets their needs. It’s a very individual thing. You really have to know how to read people and ask questions if you’re going to help them find the right fit. Is it important to be near the train? The airports? Certain school districts? Parks? You really have to listen.
From renter to buyer.
I’ve noticed lately there are a lot of buyers who came to the area as renters, and now that they’re comfortable in the community, want to settle in and be buyers. They’re usually at the starting price-points, and that really starts driving the market. People who sold at $600,000 would then move up to $800,000 or $900,000.
Senior set.
Empty-nesters represent another chunk of buyers. Most of them want to downsize, but they don’t necessarily want to leave their towns and neighborhoods—they’re looking for townhomes and ranch-style homes in the area. I have one buyer looking for a ranch-style with a first-floor laundry, and it doesn’t matter if it has a basement or not, because they probably won’t use it.
