Ivonne Payes
Broker Associate
RE/MAX United
Ivonne Payes’ experiences working for a law firm handling real estate closings eventually led her to launch a career in real estate. “I am passionate about helping people achieve the American Dream,” she says. “I love seeing joy on the faces of first-time home buyers.”
Payes completed her first full year as a broker in 2016 with 75 closings, placing her in the elite Platinum RE/MAX Club in Northern Illinois. As a RE/MAX United agent, her markets include northern Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. Her efforts earned her the RE/MAX Northern Illinois Rising Star Award in 2015. She was also inducted into the 2015 RE/MAX 100 Percent Club.
Payes works relentlessly for her clients, who praise her negotiation skills. “I make sure my clients’ needs are my priority, and I won’t give up until we have achieved our goal and closed the deal,” she says. “I deliver what is promised upfront, and my clients appreciate that.”
With listings in Gurnee, Lake Villa, Crystal Lake, Round Lake and Wheeling, Payes’ successful first year kept her so busy that she hired an assistant to help grow the business out of her Round Lake Beach office. “Hiring Nancy really helped make me more available for my clients,” she says. “I like to create lifelong friendships with all of my clients; I don’t treat them like they are just customers.”
Payes specializes in first-time buyers, sellers and distressed properties. She is passionate about helping homeowners avoid foreclosure and has closed hundreds of short sales. She is also passionate about educating the Hispanic community about homeownership. Payes speaks Spanish and is active with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, where she serves on the board of the Chicago chapter.
When she isn’t working, Payes enjoys spending time with her family and shopping. “I am an avid shoe collector,” she says. “The higher the heel, the closer to God!”
“No words can explain how grateful I am to God for being able to do what I love,” she says. “There are no shortcuts to success. Just dedication, commitment and many long hours.”