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What are your specialties?
Specialties: Lots of new construction- I worked at Royal Ridge in Northbrook, a high end gated community for a year and learned a ton about new construction. I was on site every day so I learned from the ground up. Then I had a lot of projects in Fort Sheridan, town houses and single family-just like Royal Ridge. I worked with many builders on new single family homes and rehabbers. I love to work with young families, either moving out of Chicago, or moving up to the next level of home, etc.
I wouldnt say I specialize in any particular suburb, it usually tell people I work from Chicago north to the Gurnee area (Grayslake, Lindenhurst, etc) and as far west as Schaumburg. I will really go anywhere if a client wants it.
When did you get into real estate?
I got my salesperson license in 96 and my brokers license in 98.
What about your background before real estate?
I grew up in northern California in a small beach community and then came to Chicago to run a home of foster kids. I did that and ended up running the business of the institute that was a part of the foster kids organization.
After that I worked for a commercial photographer as a rep and production manager. I was in and out of all the ad agencies in Chicago and all over the country. The ad work paid the bills but we also shot lots of magazine covers for Esquire and plenty of other publications.
It was a very involved job which included bidding out jobs, and overseeing everyone working on the job to make sure it got done. I had put policemen on horses on Michigan Ave and you cannot imagine how hard it is to shut off a city street and stage it with extras- but I did it! So needless to say this was an incredible learning experience for me. It taught me lots about esthetics and style.
How did you get started in real estate?
Then I met my husband and had two kids and stayed home or took little jobs to make a little extra money. My husband is a real estate attorney and I also did his books for his business. In the course of working with him I often talked to brokers, and some were not very qualified or caring, so I thought maybe I could do it and help my family by making a little extra money.
I took the test and got my license and went to work at Kahn which became Coldwell Banker. I took tons of floor time, I was always at the office so I just would always take it and I got a lot (all) of my business from it. I still have many of those clients today and have sold some 4 or 5 properties!
How did you get involved in new construction?
When I started at Kahn, we had a new construction project in the office-Royal Ridge. Because I took so much floor time, lots of people called about the project. When they called, I would get their address and go right to their house with a brochure and followed up with them. I think I sold 4 or 5 places there. Then the lead agent on the project wanted to just work directly for the builder (her dad). She asked me to go with her, so I did for a year. I learned building from the ground up. It was an awesome experience. | 
