Real estate broker Tiffany Vondran joins us on The Real Estate Moguls Podcast to discuss her 14-year career in the real estate industry. Hailing from Freeport, Illinois, Tiffany has always had a love for the city and knew early on that she needed to make her way to the big city to pursue her passions.Tiffany initially began her career in the legal field, working as a paralegal for a real estate attorney. However, after realizing that the job wasn't quite what she expected, she decided to take her real estate licensing exam in order to learn more about the process.In 2008, during the economic downturn, Tiffany found herself out of a job and decided to fully dive into the world of real estate.When asked about her mindset at the time, Tiffany admits that she was scared but ultimately believes that losing her job was one of the best things to happen to her. She has found great success in the industry, citing that building a strong relationship with her clients and providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions has been key to her success.Tiffany attributes much of her growth and success to her ability to stay in touch with past clients and receive referrals and repeat business. She also mentions the importance of her database and how she has grown it organically through word of mouth.Finally, when discussing the role of social media in her career, Tiffany admits that it wasn't a big player when she first started in the industry, but over time it has become more important. She acknowledges that she still struggles with social media but recognizes its importance in reaching a wider audience and building her brand.Tiffany's 14-year career in real estate is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and ability to build strong relationships with her clients. Her story serves as inspiration for those who may be facing a difficult career transition or are just starting out in the industry. With her strong sense of community and genuine approach, Tiffany is a true real estate mogul.

Darien Veal is a real estate broker with four years of experience in the industry. However, his journey in real estate began well before that. He has been a property owner, landlord, part of a foreclosure, and even a tenant. This diverse background has given him a unique perspective on the industry and has primed him for his current role.Veal is originally from Chicago's Grand Crossing neighborhood, where he was born and raised.He worked for a Fortune 500 company for over 20 years and witnessed firsthand the transformation of neighborhoods like Lincoln Park and Cabrini Green. However, he noticed that the neighborhoods he grew up in, such as Chatham, South Shore, and Grand Crossing, remained unchanged. This motivated him to enter the real estate industry and advocate for home ownership in underrepresented communities.Veal is a broker with Exit Strategy Realty, which is located in the Bucktown-Wicker Park area of Chicago. He chose to work with this company because of its mission to help clients make informed decisions when it comes to buying and selling property. He believes that the pandemic has made real estate a more transactional business, but he is determined to continue his mission of advocating for home ownership in underrepresented communities.

Haylee Schwartz, a successful real estate broker, has had a journey filled with grit and determination. From starting her career as an assistant to a top producer in the North Shore, to working for one of the top developers in the city, Haylee has always been driven to grow and learn more.When she started her career, Haylee did not have a clear idea of what she wanted to do with her life. After studying hospitality management, she thought she would become an event planner. However, after interning for a music production company for two summers and seeing the lack of opportunities in the industry, she found herself unsure of her path. It was then that her friend's mother, a successful real estate agent, suggested she get her license and work for her. Haylee took the opportunity and was immediately drawn to the fast-paced and ever-changing nature of the industry. She moved to the city and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a broker and joining one of the top real estate companies in the city.Growing up with a single mother, Haylee was surrounded by strong women and that has played a significant role in her becoming the successful woman she is today. Her mother's strength and resilience during her parents' divorce was a major inspiration for Haylee. She was determined to not let the adversity in her life define her and that mindset has propelled her to where she is today. Haylee continues to strive for growth and success in her real estate career and hopes to be an inspiration to many.

In this episode of The Real Estate Moguls Podcast, guest and real estate broker Kimberly Offord shares her journey into entrepreneurship and real estate. Growing up, Offord was inspired by her grandmother who owned a beauty salon and worked for herself. Despite studying marketing in college, Offord found herself working in the accounting department of an advertising agency and feeling unfulfilled. It wasn't until a friend quit her job and started selling real estate that Offord became interested in the profession.Initially, Offord had misconceptions about the industry and thought of it as "slimy" sales. However, after watching her friend's success and enjoyment in the field, she decided to take the real estate license test and passed on her first try. Starting off part-time, Offord quickly fell in love with the work and was shocked at how well her background in marketing translated to the field of real estate.As she explains, "marketing is everything" in real estate, as it is crucial for both representing oneself and clients. Offord also emphasizes the importance of understanding that in real estate, the realtor is the brand, and it's crucial to market oneself effectively. Additionally, she highlights the value of her degrees from Columbia College and Northwestern University, which she didn't initially see a use for, but have proved to be perfect for her career in real estate.Offord's story showcases the unexpected paths that can lead to success in entrepreneurship and the real estate industry. Her insights on the importance of marketing and personal branding offer valuable lessons for those looking to break into the field.

Ron Granado, a Title Company Sales Manager, shared his unique story on the latest episode of The Real Estate Moguls Podcast.Born in Chicago, Granado's birth parents emigrated from Brazil in the late 1960s during a time of military dictatorship. They settled in Chicago, but Granado never fully understood why they chose that city over more common destinations for Brazilian immigrants such as Florida or California.Granado's story took a turn when his parents separated and he went to live with an aunt and uncle in Rio, Brazil. While there, he was registered as a citizen, and later returned to the US as a teenager. He grew up in Chicago and later moved to Florida for college. Yet, he struggled to find direction and purpose, and took a trip to Brazil to clear his head. Granado eventually returned to Chicago, where he met his now wife and started to get his life on track. He finished college, obtained his series and insurance licenses, and took a job in wholesale lending. However, the job was in a sector that led to the mortgage crash and the bank was taken over by the feds. Despite this setback, Granado persevered and eventually found his way into the title company sales industry where he has been successful.Throughout his journey, Granado has faced many challenges, but has remained resilient and determined to find success. His story is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, it is possible to overcome obstacles and achieve one's goals.

Kelly Parker, a successful real estate broker and coach, recounts her journey to Chicago and her career in real estate. Originally from the LA area, she left for college and fell in love with the Midwest, eventually moving to Chicago with just one friend in the city. Despite studying sociology in college, Parker found her passion in understanding human behavior and how it translated to her real estate career. However, after 13 years in the industry, Parker realized she wasn't enjoying the work and took a three month sabbatical to focus on her personal well-being. Through this time, she found her true calling in coaching and mentoring others in the industry.

Caroline Chambers, a Real Estate Broker originally from the Chicagoland area, particularly Downers Grove, is our guest on this episode of "The Real Estate Moguls Podcast." Caroline has a deep love for Chicago and has been living in the city for longer than she did in the suburbs, making her a true city person. She came to the city in her twenties and fell in love with it, despite initially thinking it would be a temporary stay. Caroline believes that Chicago has a bit of a public relations problem, but emphasizes that if you live here, you realize that it's a great city and a gem.Caroline's career in real estate wasn't her first profession. After college in the nineties, when the job market wasn't great, she worked a variety of different jobs, mostly in non-for-profit work. She worked with people with disabilities in recreation therapy, taught special Olympic tennis, and did a lot of work towards inclusion for people with disabilities. She also worked as a job coach and found jobs for people with disabilities.Caroline eventually came to the city and worked for Misericordia Home, a huge non-profit on the north side of Chicago, where she was promoted to the director of volunteers and in-house. She handled a lot of their fundraisers and their candy days, which is a great organization. After working there for a while, she decided to transition into real estate, and it's been a natural fit for her. She loves the city and loves helping people find their perfect home in it.

Cherise Baggett is a real estate broker whose background is rooted in agriculture and city life. Growing up in Iowa and being raised in Chicago, she's had the unique experience of having the best of both worlds. Her family has a history in agriculture, with her father's side having farms in Oklahoma, and her upbringing in the city has given her a balance and understanding of the two worlds.Her experiences growing up and the adversity she faced have shaped her into the strong and resilient woman she is today. Even in the face of difficult times, she has become a believer in miracles and has used her experiences to fuel her passion for real estate.Interestingly, Baggett comes from a family of real estate and military professionals, with both her parents working for the Department of HUD and many of her siblings in the military. While it wasn't her calling, she has found her niche in the real estate industry and has made Chicago her home.Ragland's unique background and experiences have undoubtedly played a role in her success as a real estate broker. Her deep understanding of both the rural and urban worlds, coupled with the resilience and determination she's gained from overcoming adversity, have undoubtedly helped her excel in her field.Through her work in real estate, Baggett has been able to make a real impact in the lives of her clients, helping them to find their dream homes and shaping the communities they live in. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance, and how our experiences, both good and bad, can shape us into the individuals we are today.

On this episode of The Real Estate Moguls Podcast we’re joined by Thamar Jones, a Real Estate Broker with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty. Originally from Mississippi, Thamar has only been in Chicago for five years, but has quickly made a name for herself in the industry. When asked what brought her to Chicago, Thamar explains that she was simply looking for a better opportunity and was open to going anywhere. Chicago was the first place that presented an opportunity that made sense, so she took the chance and hasn't looked back.Thamar's move to Chicago was not without its challenges, however. When she and her mother first arrived, they only had two days to find a place for Thamar to live. Despite this, Thamar was able to find a place in just 48 hours, thanks to her background in property management and her ability to ask the right questions.When asked what drew her to the field of real estate, Thamar explains that it found her, rather than the other way around. Originally, she was leaning towards a career in marketing and PR, but a conversation with a property manager during her time as a college tutor opened her eyes to the possibilities of a career in real estate.Thamar's story is a testament to the power of determination and perseverance. Despite facing a difficult situation, she was able to find a way to make it work and set herself up for success in the competitive field of real estate. Her passion for the industry and ability to think on her feet have undoubtedly played a large role in her rapid success.Thamar's story is not only inspirational, but it also shows that if you have the will, you can find a way to make things work. Her experience is a reminder that no matter how daunting a task may seem, with the right mindset and approach, anything is possible.

Ever since Jaymi Block was a young child, she always knew she wanted to be a doctor. She  pursued and received a degree in molecular biology. Yet it’s what would happen shortly after graduation that would change the course of her career and life. She joins us to share her story of overcoming adversity, pain and hardship on her path towards success in real estate. Before her career in medicine could begin, Jaymi was hit by a drunk driver. She shares the experience that resulted in her personal injury and the financial impact it had on her ability to recover. “I was hit by a drunk driver and it pretty much changed my course. I didn't realize I didn't have health insurance, so when I went to get services I needed, like rehabilitation on my knees and things like that, I was turned away. I distinctly recall the nurses and the admin saying, ‘Honey, our doctors need to get paid.’I was young, just turned 22, and I was kind of confused, right? I didn't really realize that aspect of insurance. So I asked myself, ‘Can I really truly get into an industry where I'm able to help people and yet have to turn them away due to not having insurance or money?’”After spending some time selling insurance and working with a headhunter, Jaymi attended a one week course in real estate and shortly after was a licensed Realtor. Yet it’s her story as a single mom of four kids, overcoming domestic violence and adversity that she feels is her highest calling. “I just feel we all have our gifts and I really strongly believe one of my strongest gifts is having a strong voice……I guess major ways to help someone is helping them find resources or just being that lending ear. Saying you can do it. Being that example that it can be done.”Tune in as Jaymi shares the journey she’s been on that is full of wisdom and positivity, all while building a successful real estate business.

Jessica Martini joins us on the Real Estate Moguls Podcast.

Imran Khan, CEO of ARK Attorneys and Atlas Title, joins us on the Real Estate Moguls podcast to share how he’s reached a place in his business and life that distinguishes him from others in his industry. Big on personal and self development, Imran continues to seek self improvement despite finding success early on.Growing up on Chicago’s north side, Imran worked for Bakers Square in Wilmette selling more pies than anyone else in the company. He recalls his experience that he credits as crucial to his success. “I did really well, even on a Monday night when I’d wait tables or sell pies. I used to crush it.I’d give that credit to my communication and personal development skills. If I didn't have that opportunity, working there for eight years, I wouldn't be where I'm at.”Given the opportunity, Imran has always risen to the occasion. Yet he says he was forced to look outside his home for inspiration in the business world. Not one to be from a community of entrepreneurs, Imran shares how he gravitated towards those he hoped to emulate.“I would always surround myself with amazing people. I would always gravitate towards entrepreneurs, people that were successful, focused on health and lifestyle. As a teenager, I always observed what they did as I wasn't in that environment. I grew up in a very blessed environment, but I wasn't in an entrepreneurial or a lifestyle environment.”Now the CEO of two thriving title companies, Imran discusses what sets his companies apart from bigger brands in the industry. “There are things that I can do within my title company that you can't do with the big guys. You can tap on my shoulder and ask for an exception, certain wire requirements, certai exceptions on title; intricate stuff. You can't do that when you're with the big guys.”Tune in to hear more how Imran has built his businesses, the work he’s doing to give back and how focusing on relationships has been the key to his success.

Growing up a Blackhawks fan on Chicago’s North Shore, Danny O'Donoghue listened to many games on the radio. Inspired by Pat Foley and Dale Tallon, Danny dreamed of becoming a radio announcer. Though his career would be limited to a single experience in high school, he learned the value of storytelling and the impact it can have on others. Now a Real Estate Broker with Compass, he joins us to share his story. Being the oldest sibling and grandchild, Danny feels a sense of responsibility for others that translates into the way he takes care of his clients through real estate and outside of real estate. “I'm the oldest of my siblings. I'm the oldest grandchild on both sides of my family. I just feel an innate desire to help people get to where they're supposed to be. It's a weird way of saying ‘I feel a (sense of) responsibility.’What I realized is I always try to live by the golden rule: ‘Treat others how you'd want to be treated.’’’Another way Danny shows up for others is to openly discuss tough topics. One of those Danny recognized as needing to be talked about is mental health. As he points out, it isn’t always easy for people his age or older to bring up. “I'm definitely a person that believes that mental health is super important and is something that most people struggle with in some capacity, whether it be addiction or just general depression.I'm one of those folks that tries to be open about it. People my age, or older especially, aren't comfortable talking about feelings. So, I try to be someone that is more willing to do it and one of the ways is checking in with people.”Tune in to hear more on Danny’s story and his take on the current real estate market.

Real Estate Broker Chris Tierney hosted by Abby Torres

Real Estate Developer | Ramiro Munoz

Real Estate Broker | Zach Koran

Real Estate Broker | Maggie Power

Leigh Marcus of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate is consistently ranked amongst the top producing Realtors in Chicago. Yet, it’s his approach to business and life that distinguishes him as one of the most successful real estate brokers in Illinois.A native of Long Island, New York, Leigh planted his roots in the midwest after he was recruited to attend Indiana University. Being drawn to midwest culture and people, he made his way up to Chicago after graduating college. Yet he wouldn’t find his career in real estate, until he met his wife Lindsey.Prior to becoming a Realtor, Leigh found himself in technology sales. Lindsey had been a commercial real estate broker, before switching over to residential real estate. Deciding to make the plunge into real estate himself, he did so during the recession of ‘08. Despite the struggles, he found success and sheds light on the trajectory towards it. “The best thing about real estate is there's no easy path. There is no overnight success. Whenever you see any success in real estate, it's one of those industries where no one was given what they have. You have to earn it. You have to work hard. No matter what you see online, what image anyone presents, it is about relationships. How many people you talk to, and doing the hard work to really hone your skills.”Yet for Leigh, it’s more than just transacting on real estate. He’s also passionate about giving back to the industry that’s given so much to him. As he points out, 88% of Realtors fail within 18 months of starting their real estate careers. Also astonishing, 50% of all Realtors make $0 each year. “You are helping people, coaching people, through the largest transaction of their life when emotions are at their highest. Plus, it's their personal space. You are so intimately connected with your clients, because you're seeing what they're looking for in a home, what they're buying, what they're selling. You know the family, you know the kids' names.That's part of what we do on a daily basis. I think a lot of people, and I would probably say a lot of the ones that don't make it early on, never really anticipated how much of this is emotional. How emotional this business is, not just your own emotions, but the people that you are working with. And managing those emotions and expectations.”Tune in to hear more on Leigh’s journey in real estate, as he shares his insights to creating a successful business and brand.

When you're starting a new business, it can be hard to find the right partner. You want someone who shares your vision, but you also want someone who brings an entirely different set of skills and experiences to the table. Meet Stephanie Pellegrino and Andrea Quinones, the two real estate moguls and partners at Platinum Partners Realtors. While they both have been working together since 2019, Stephanie and Andrea come from very different professional backgrounds.Stephanie’s journey in real estate dates back to her high school days.“I actually started in high school when I worked for a new home builder and liked it. Then I did more after I graduated from college with a developer in the city, some high rises in the south loop, Evanston, the North Shore.”Although her passion was in real estate and had very good relationships with the industry, she went to college for a different course.“I saw people making a lot of money quickly and I love working with people because I love people. And so I always liked the industry, but I went to college for marketing and communications.After graduation, Stephanie spent several years in the corporate world, working for several companies, before finding her way to Platinum Partners Realtors.Andrea on the other hand was busy with her hair business at the time, and Stephanie became her loyal client. It didn’t take long for them to realize they shared a lot in common: married at the same time, both had twins at the same time, and knew a lot of the same people. They were simply on the same page in life. One conversation led to another and then the real estate topics caught Andrea’s attention. “As my kids were growing, I was getting interested in real estate. I had friends that were lenders, also other Realtor friends, and it started to interest me. I was looking to make more money, but still stay in the hair business. Stephanie started to talk to me about it and told me Platinum Partners was offering classes and she would be willing to mentor me if I decided to go that direction.”There are so many benefits of starting a business together as a team rather than going into it all along. With Andrea and Stephanie partnering right from the beginning, it was easier for them to run their real estate business, even with their respective family responsibilities.“I think in our situation where you have a family and you're trying to balance everything, having a partner just makes everything easier for both the client and for us. So we can always accommodate the client because one of us is usually available.”To date, Stephanie and Andrea have worked with all forms of clients, including helping others rebuild their credit scores. They have experienced firsthand how bad credit is affecting the younger generation and insist that there’s a need to educate the youths about finances right from school levels.“If we could develop a program and implement it in the schools, just teaching the basics of finance and saving, I think it would go a long way. Our kids both go to private schools, so they don't necessarily have that funding for those types of classes. We're hoping somewhere down the line, when time frees up, we'd like to go into some of these schools and develop some kind of course, even if it's once per month or once per quarter.”Tune in and learn more about the real estate industry, how it can be a huge investment and source of revenue for you and more on different ways you can teach your kids about financial literacy.

Agnes Halmon is a Real Estate Broker with @properties. The Real Estate market is booming, creating incredible opportunities for those in the know. Connect with Real Estate Moguls to bring you the wisdom and expertise to help make your next real estate move a lucrative one; on the Real Estate Moguls Podcast.

As an Account Executive with Landtrust Title Services. Ania Pulit does more than just provide underwriting for real estate transactions. She really enjoys building relationships with people and being a connector. She joins us to share her story and the work she provides, behind the scenes of every real estate transaction. ‘The biggest reason why I was attracted to real estate was just not the work, but at the same time, it was the aspect of the relationships you build along the way. If you also like the industry, and you're having fun with what you're doing, then you don't work a day in your life.”Having moved to Chicago from Poland when she was 16, Ania was thrust into learning the language at an accelerated pace. While a funny story to share now, she shares how a mixup of grades placed her in an advanced english course in her first American school.“When I moved here, I had to take a placement test for my high school. One was for math and the other one was for English. I knew I did really well with math. I wasn't too sure about English. When I received my schedule, little did I understand what advanced journalism class meant. I happily went to that class expecting it was the ESL level class. The first couple of weeks were very rough. My first homework assignment was to write a 40 line poem about America. It wasn't an easy assignment. Probably made me cry the first day  um, but I thought maybe they just need me to learn English much quicker than I was used to.When my mom went to a parent teacher conference, the teacher realized that I'd been in the country for just a month; where he was under the impression I’d been there two years. So,he was pretty tough on me. Once he found out that it was just a month, he took his own time to help me out and get a kickstart with my English. He didn't want to let me go back to ESL, and I have to say that it helped me a whole lot to pick up English much quicker.’Tune in to hear more on Ania’s story and how she helps Real Estate Clients, Attorneys and Agents behind the scenes of every real estate transaction.

As passionate as she is about real estate, Michelle Martin is equally passionate about her roles as Fundraiser, Advocate, Educator, and Speaker for the non profit organizations she volunteers for. Focusing on mental health, with an emphasis on psychedelics as an essential option for treatment, Michelle has found the right balance to help her find success in both areas of her life. A  Real Estate Consultant & Investor with the Michelle Martin Group of @properties, she sits down with us to share her story. Michelle’s father was a big influence in her decision to pursue a career in real estate. As he was a general contractor, she recalls going to open houses with him and the lessons she learned along the way. “I grew up with him driving me to the job site. He’d hand me the broom and I'd have my tasks for the day. I cleaned toilets, you name it, So I learned hard work; but I also was able to watch him. So I got a general grasp of, okay, this is how you build a house. This is what goes into it.”Yet despite the role her father played in Michelle pursuing real estate, she acknowledges the mentors that played a critical role in her development as a broker. Wanting to pay it forward, she discusses the creation of her team and the motivations behind the Michelle Martin Group. “I love helping people. I thought about how to also take that skill I feel I honed a bit, which was being a mentor, and add that to the mix. So, I started a team. The team today is, I'd say, a little bit more of a non-traditional team.”With a heart to help people, Michelle is extremely passionate about her advocacy work in treating mental health. “When it comes to psychedelics, there is this whole world that, I mean, we haven't even tapped into yet. I remember when I was younger, someone said ‘We only use a certain percentage of our brain,’ and I automatically got so interested in the brain.Why is it so big, yet we only can access so much. I think psychedelics are going to lead us in a way where we can really access and get into areas, um, that, that we haven't explored before. And a lot of healing, a lot of healing coming.”Tune in to hear about Michelle's journey in real estate and her advocacy work focused on treating mental health with the use of psychedelics.

Managing broker, Vanessa Valterra of Amare Realty sits down on the Real Estate Moguls podcast to share her story of trusting your gut and perseverance. Immigrating from Mexico with her family when she was around eight years old, Vanessa watched both of her parents work incredibly hard. Inspired by her uncle, as a little girl she wanted to go into the medical field. “And I did go into the medical field, actually. I went into nursing and I loved it because I love helping people. I love being there and I love learning.”Her path to get there wasn’t easy but with the coaching from a guidance counselor at her high school, Vanessa not only graduated fourth in her class of 490 students, she attended college on a full ride scholarship.While Vanessa was in school and working in a clinic, she bought her first condo. She had friends that were realtors and were top producers.  “Sometimes they were like, I need help, can you come to the office and help me with it? Things that you can do without having a license. And then one of them encouraged me to get licensed. And I was like, I'm not going to do this. This is not for me.”Around this time, Vanessa was realizing how difficult it was to ever take any time off in the medical world. She decided to get licensed and try out real estate part time at first. “Then my friend is like, well, you know, when you become a realtor, you have your own hours. And I'm like, okay, let me think about this. And that's how it kind of happened.”From there, Vanessa decided to make a complete career shift and transition into real estate full time. However, her parents at first didn’t understand why she wanted to leave such a great job in the medical field. “One thing that my parents told me when I was a little kid is that when you find your path,  you're going to know it. And who cares if everything's falling apart? Who cares what everybody is telling you? You’ve got to believe in yourself and you gotta be stubborn enough to take a risk and take a chance because that's the way life is. You gotta take a risk. So I did it.”Tune in to this episode of the Real Estate Moguls Podcast to hear more about Vanessa’s story and her advice to others who are getting started on their own real estate journey.https://www.tfocb.com/real-estate/podcast/vanessa-valtierra

Anya Rivtis, Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, sits down with us on this episode of the Real Estate Moguls Podcast. Born in the Ukraine, Anya immigrated to Chicago with her family when she was about eight-years-old. Though she grew up in the Northwest Suburbs, the city was always calling her name. After school, Anya got her start in the mortgage business starting off as an assistant helping with both pre- and post-closings. Eventually she worked her way up to become a partner of her own firm in Rosemont. Then the market crash of 2008 happened. “From there on out, I worked a lot of sales and event management type of jobs and ended up working at Macon Construction for President and Senior Vice President of the company. It was wonderful. I worked on projects like the Hayden out in the West Loop and did a lot of community meetings and met with aldermen. It still wasn't exactly where I needed to be. And I felt that I needed to spread my wings and fly a little bit more. I decided that Real Estate was a passion.”Anya talks about how the biggest draw going into Real Estate was the opportunity to be her own boss and be in control. A goal of hers has always been to have a career where she doens’t have to sit in an office. She says most people like to talk about the freedom and flexibility Real Estate offers and while that’s true, “in order to succeed and in order to grow, you have to put in 200% at a time to grow that business.” Having the mortgage foundation in her career gave her the financial background to truly help her clients make the right decisions and understand what it takes to really buy a home.“I always like to educate my clients as best as I can, but also for me, being a realtor it's not just opening a door, it's allowing someone to create a home.”Anya goes on to discuss the trends she’s seen in the market as a result of the pandemic. She mentions that while in general, not much has changed in terms of their desire to own a home, the pandemic has certainly changed “how people look at homes, look at space, look at what their needs are.” For her, at the end of the day, it’s about making a personal connection with her clients and helping them find the place they could raise their kids in, have parties and entertain in, a place where “they can grow as individuals.”“When you walk into a home with your client and you see their eyes start to sparkle and that little smile comes out and you're like, this is it, we found the right one. We've hit the jackpot here.” Tune in to this episode of the Real Estate Moguls Podcast to hear more about Anya’s story, her passion behind Real Estate, and more.

On this episode of the Real Estate Moguls Podcast, Alexandria Ward, Managing Broker of Forward Realty sits down with us to share her story. Alexandria officially stepped into the Real Estate world in 2015. It all began around the time she watched her dad make a bad investment on an income property in 2006 right before the bubble burst and tells us she wishes she knew then what she knows now. At this time, not many people in her family owned homes and as a single mom, she wanted to take care of her kids. “It's too much to work a nine to five. I drop them off at school. I pick them up. Real Estate allows me to do everything pretty much and help people, which is my number one thing I want to help people.”When she first started her career in Real Estate in 2015, she knew she wanted to open up her own brokerage within 5 years. She officially opened Forward Realty in January of 2020 but within a few months when the pandemic hit, she was convinced it would fail. “I didn't know what COVID was. I'm a hypochondriac. I just thought I was going to die when I walk outside. It was a lot on me that some clients didn't care. They were like, look, I want to see this house and I'm like, oh my God, we're in a lockdown. But I still fought through it because for my clients I'm going to do what I can.”Alexandria’s attitude of truly helping her clients is likely what helped her see 500% growth within the first year of Forward Realty. Though, it came with a price. With the pandemic every deal would turn into three deals when things would fall through on appraisals or inspections. The around the clock work combined with the pressures of a Global pandemic led Alexandria to take a mental health break. She took a step back to focus on her and leaned into something her family has always told her she’s had a knack for since she was little, “they tell me since I've been young, I've always been very protective of my time and what I'm doing with that time.”One of the secrets to her success has not only been her selectiveness with her clientele but also her collaboration with other realtors. “I'm extremely selective about my clientele, but I still can help people. So even if I’m not taking you out looking or have a hand with the person that you're dealing with, I team up with a lot of different realtors.”Alexandria goes on to discuss what’s next for her. “When I first started real estate, even with the bigger companies, I found myself getting lost. didn't have anybody to call. I passed the test, but I didn't know how to write a contract. I didn't know what to do. What I want to do is I want to help a lot of people. I want to create a system for people who are trying to do what I'm doing. Even with my own brokers, I want to help them become sponsoring brokers if that's what they want to do.”Tune into this episode of the Real Estate Moguls Podcast to find out more about Alexandria’s story, how she started Forward Realty, and about her mission to help other realtors.

Ardit Dizdari, a realtor with @Properties sits down with us on this episode of The Real Estate Moguls Podcast.Ardit grew up in Albania during the 90s which, as he says, was a very tumultuous time “from civil war to war right next door to us.”. Leaving home at 13 to attend boarding school, he came to America in 2003 after graduating. Upon moving to America, Ardit found himself, like many immigrants, working in the restaurant industry. He shares how much he loved working with people spending 15 years in the industry. Along the way, he met his now-husband, Bobby.“We worked in the evenings and we had our days ourselves. And then at one point we decided that we wanted to pivot and switch careers. We had friends that had gone into real estate. And we both knew, or at least I knew that I really still wanted to work with people and we decided to give it a try.”They did everything together: took classes together, took the exam together, and then they signed up with @properites together as well. What they realized quickly was that they needed to find a way to work together that catered to each of their personalities. “We realized that he likes to have more of the organizational stuff, reaching out to people, he kind of runs the back of the house. He runs listings and he’s really detail oriented. I like to be in the car, driving around with clients and working with buyers mainly. Each aspect we've taken with the business kind of suits our personalities.” Despite moving into real estate shortly before the pandemic, Ardit shares how COVID didn’t actually slow them down. In fact, they had a steady stream of clients looking for a second bedroom to use as a home office or more yard space since no one was able to leave home. They leaned into their own personal brand as a team. According to Ardit, what sets them apart is how they are able to feed off of each other’s creativity as a team. “It's all about brainstorming sometimes because everyone has access to the same property, sees the same things, but at the end of the day, it's coming up with creative solutions. If there are no properties in this specific area, start throwing ideas around and you know what, I'm running out of ideas. Bobby starts coming up with ideas so you can have great and vice versa.Tune in to this episode of The Real Estate Moguls Podcast to hear more about Ardit’s journey and how he and his husband have built up a brand inspired by their time in the hospitality industry and a whole lot of teamwork. 

Stephanie Welter is not only a Real Estate Broker, but she is also a licensed Loan Originator. On this episode, Stephanie sits down with her boss and mentor, Michael Chance; Partner and Senior Mortgage Consultant at ClearPath Mortgage.Jumping right into the conversation, the two begin discussing rates and the factors around what could affect a change in current loan rates. Despite the unpredictability of the market, Michael shares some insight on what he thinks the near future holds for interest rates. “As far as what's gonna happen in the future, I mean, that's really one of those things that's impossible to predict. I'm not gonna make any assumptions as to what's going to happen, but I've been hearing that rates are going to stay somewhat about where they're at.”Beyond just interest rates, the two go on to discuss ways to help yourself when applying for a loan. Stephanie shares ways she helps her clients through the tools and resources available to her.  “One of my favorite tools to use when running a loan is the credit simulator app. You can basically look at someone's credit report, pull up what's called a simulator and say ‘if I put $35 towards my best buy card, my Equifax is gonna go up by 30 points or whatever.’” Doing so not only can improve a borrower’s score, but it can also make the difference between the type of loan one would qualify for. As Stephanie explains, simply paying the right creditors could qualify a borrower for a conventional loan versus FHA. Despite the experience and wisdom Stephanie has gained in the field, as she opens about the beginning of her career, she reveals that it didn’t come without its bumps in the road. "I embraced a lot of sleepless nights when I first started, my husband has a story where he remembers my second loan ever, where I was laying on the floor, the kitchen floor, just crying because it was the one where they reported like 50 grand or 60 grand. Then we got the taxes and it was 20 grand. We were like, oh shoot, but we saved the deal. There are a lot of emotions in it, but I think the longer you're in the game the more creative you can get with the solution.”Tune in to hear more on other ways these two help their customers achieve their home ownership and some of the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

John Grafft is a Real Estate Broker with Compass

Stephanie Welter, a realtor with Keller Williams Realty, sits down with Scott Sanders and Jarrett Svensen of Bright Leaf Homes on this episode of The Real Estate Moguls Podcast. Scott started Bright Leaf Homes, a custom home building and remodeling company, back in 2008 after working in production home building. He didn’t like the cookie cutter style that he saw and knew he wanted to create something different. Over a decade later, Bright Leaf now has 16 employees and has developed an effective business model:“As we grew as a company, we realized what we wanted. Take the home building experience and package it all together to be sort of a one-stop shop. Part of that is having somebody who can help clients find a piece of property, help clients find a home to renovate or a piece of land to build on, help clients sell their existing property, help clients do mortgage financing, all of it.”Jarrett saw what Bright Leaf was doing from the side lines and knew he needed to be a part of it. A Science Teacher turned real estate agent, Jarrett lived in an area that Bright Leaf started developing heavily in. What drew him in was the scientific approach to what they were doing.“So I started lingering. I started stalking them a little bit and then one day I reached out to Scott directly and I'm like, I don't know what I can do for you, but I know I can do something for you.”That led to Jarrett starting and becoming the managing broker of Bright Leaf Realty.Together, along with the other 14 members of the Bright Leaf family, they are not only selling custom home builds and renovations, they are investing in educating their clients on every step of the process. “We're not really selling people on what we are building. We're educating people on what we're building.”Listen to this episode of The Real Estate Moguls podcast to learn more about Scott’s journey to building Bright Leaf, how they’ve created their success, a breakdown of what the process of wanting to build a house really looks like, and more.

Boyan Salha joins us on this episode of the Real Estate Moguls Podcast. From Bulgaria to Chicago, Boyan shares his journey from Computer Scientist to Real Estate extraordinaire. Graduating from college in 2004, Boyan didn’t know yet what he wanted to do with his life. However, at the time, computer science was a newer thing in Bulgaria and a lot of people were seeing a good future. With that in mind, Boyan graduated with a degree in engineering. Around that time, an uncle who was a watchmaker would have Boyan help during school breaks. This led to him pursuing watch repair as a profession.“I decided to go to Switzerland and go to the best watchmaking school to learn the trade. Back in the day I don't think there was another watchmaker in Bulgaria who went to Switzerland to have an actual watchmaking education.”However, after graduating from school in Switzerland and moving back to Bulgaria, Boyan realized there wasn’t a future for him in his home country; he wanted more. He had visited the United States during a student exchange program and knew this country was the place for him. In 2005 he found himself Chicago’s newest resident. “So I came here. I decided to stay and started working in downtown Chicago for a watchmaking company. For a couple of years I was always working. It took me a while to realize that I came here for a reason and the reason wasn't watchmaking.”After reading “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki, Boyan was inspired by the philosophy and caught the bug to get into real estate. That coupled with meeting his wife in 2012 and both agreeing that they should buy a two-flat and rent the other unit catapulted him into industry. “I was very inspired by that book and I'm like, I want to do real estate. Do you want to sign up for some classes? And magically, somehow, within a week we received an email from an organization offering real estate state classes. The name of the organization was Rich Dad. I'm like, whoa, my goodness, this is not happening.”Tune in to this special episode of the Real Estate Moguls Podcast to hear more about Boyan’s story, the culture shift he experienced to get to where he is today, and his fresh perspective on how to be successful in the Real Estate Industry.

On this episode of the Real Estate Moguls Podcast, TJ Rubin, President and Founder of Fulton Grace Realty, sits down with us to tell us more about his interesting trajectory into the market.An attorney by trade, TJ moved to Chicago from Nashville, TN in 2005. After practicing law for a few years here, he saved up to buy his first small apartment building. Attorney by day and landlord by night, he gained a lot of experience in renting very quickly from dealing with renters themselves to HVAC and plumbing. After losing his day job in law in 2008, he decided to follow his hobby of being a landlord full time. It went from renting his own units to helping others rent theirs to eventually working with developers. A passion for entrepreneurship was born.“There was a fire that started burning after I started renting some apartments on my own and I realized that I really liked this business and I liked doing it.”Now at his own firm, Fulton Grace, he works with his team to, in his words, “build something beautiful and blaze our own trail.”TJ discusses what it’s like to start your own business in the Real Estate industry, especially when you’ve never worked at another firm before, unlike many of his current team members. For TJ, though, it’s all about the people behind the name and the brand. “I think we've really developed the brand and the name and did something special, but it has to do with the people behind it. The name doesn't make the company, it's the other way around.” Listen in on this episode of the Real Estate Moguls Podcast to get into the mind of the brains behind a successful Chicago Real Estate operation. TJ shares his story, his insights, and advice on navigating the complexities and dynamics of the real estate space.https://www.tfocb.com/real-estate/podcast/profile/tj-rubin

Erik Boyd is a Real Estate Broker with Keller Williams

Jonathan Klem, from Quality Builders, sits down on this episode of the Real Estate Moguls podcast to share his expertise and provide value to our listeners around the investor side of real estate. Tune in to learn more about how Jonathan works with his investors, what he’s looking for in an investor profile, and more advice on how to be successful in the Chicago real estate market.

Yolanda Jeffries shares her own unique journey into Real Estate on this episode of The Real Estate Moguls Podcast.Hear more about this boss-lady’s story, her tips and tricks to success in the industry, and her winning attitude that attracts success to her on this episode of the Real Estate Moguls Podcast.

Stephanie Welter from Keller Williams joins us on this episode of the Real Estate Mogul Podcast. Originally from Jackson Park, Stephanie first fell in love with real estate when she and her husband were searching for their own house. At the time, working for a non-profit, Stephanie asked the Real Estate Broker they worked with about switching careers. At the time, though, it didn’t make sense and the numbers showed that 80% of realtors fail in their first year. She goes on to tell us the winding story riddled with unsuccessful interviews that eventually led her back to real estate. Overcoming the fear she had based on a statistic of failure wasn’t easy. Stephanie shares how her brother, a Chicago Police Officer with a loan office side hustle, helped her reach an epiphany:“I'm like, okay, I can't afford to live on a realtor starting salary. So they say. I also can't afford to live on the loan officer license because my brother said, ‘this is a side gig.’And so I was like, why don't I do both?”The first step was to make sure that was legal in illinois. Could Stephanie be both a realtor and a loan officer? The legal answer was yes but it took her some time to find a brokerage that agreed. Tune in on this episode to hear more about Stephanie’s journey in real estate and learn what it’s like to be both a Loan Officer and Real Estate Broker.

Michaela Gordon is a Real Estate Broker with @properties.

Mark Ainley is the host of the Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast and founding partner of GC Realty & Development. Though GC Realty & Development is a full service Chicago property management company, Mark works closely with “small portfolio” investors looking to buy investment properties without the headache that comes with managing them. Though originally started as a commercial brokerage firm, their first listing was a “million dollar house,” representing both the sellers and the buyers. With their first commission bringing in $55,000, they decided they were in the luxury real estate market. Ironically, that would be the last luxury listing they’d get. From there it was fate that would bring them into the business of property management. However, the path to building a successful firm would start a little rough for Mark. “The first investment property I ever bought, before I got my real estate license, I did everything wrong. I put a bad tenant in there. I gave her a second chance. I didn't collect the full deposit upfront. I was driving over to the house collecting like $17 to $25 at a time. I did everything wrong and ended up having to file for eviction. I said at that point I am never managing a property again.”It wasn’t until he was at the closing table, as a broker, for his client (who also happens to be an attorney) asked Mark to manage that very property. “I said, Paul, you helped me get out of the worst thing I've ever done, why would you ask me? He said ‘I know you're smart enough that you're not going to do that again.’ I said, ‘Paul, I don't even know what to charge you.’ He's like, ‘I'll give you 50 bucks a month.’ ‘Paul, you're an attorney. You're gonna want a contract. So, at that point, GC property management was born. He (Paul) is still our first client. He still owns that one condo and we still use a modified version of that same management agreement.”Mark’s typical investor client profile consists of one to six door properties and one to six total properties in their portfolio. Tune in as Mark shares real estate investor insights…

Broker Profile: Andis Combi

Jennifer Hernandez hosts the Real Estate Mogul podcasts joined by guests Daphne Pinkney from the Pinkney Team Royalty and Frank Montro with Keller Williams Preferred. Frank, who’s been in the industry for 38 years, tells us how he convinced investors to bring the North Side look to the South Side, spending more money to replace the “cheap Home Depot look.” After a video of what he was accomplishing went viral, he was officially dubbed “King of the South Side.”Jennifer goes on to dub Daphne, mother of six, the Queen of the Buyer’s side. Like Frank, Daphne and her husband wanted to give back to another underserved community in our city, the West Side. Taking a page out of Frank’s book, they too have been investing in bringing quality living to West Side Chicago. They go on to discuss the power and challenges in persuading investors to put their money in areas that need help to thrive and for Frank, how he’s seen other people copy what he started so long ago. “It kinda caught on, then now, you know, I look at other people and they're out there doing some cool stuff. So then I'm learning from them.”They go on to discuss the current state of affairs in real estate (the supply is low and the demand is high) and how things have fluctuated throughout the last few decades. Each shares their opinions and observations, weaving in their own advice and tidbits for anyone listening who’s in the market on either side. Whether you’re in the market yourself or you’re curious to hear about the ins and outs of real estate, from three insightful experts, tune in to the Real Estate Moguls podcast!