Industry-leading online real estate company, Dream Town Realty, announced the addition of several new REALTORS over the summer. Among the August recruits are Mike Ryan, Shannon Harrigan, Karen Gilbert, Val Petkov and Neeti Arndt. All five agents offer home listing and purchasing services in the Chicago area.
Mike Ryan
Mike Ryan is a certified broker who joined Dream Town in early August. He has been in the real estate business for over five years, working in both the mortgage and home building industries before becoming a licensed REALTOR. With his previous experience in lending and new construction, Mr. Ryan offers clients a well-rounded understanding of real estate that goes beyond the standard buyer or seller representation.
“Between Dream Town’s technology and my background, I am better able to service my clients,” says Mr. Ryan of his move to DreamTown. “The company’s automated systems make it easier for me to do my job and therefore have even more time to spend selling listings and going out with buyers to find that dream home.”
Shannon Harrigan
Shannon Harrigan is a Chicago native who specializes in North Side real estate. For the past six years she has worked with countless buyers, sellers and investors in neighborhoods such as Wicker Park, Bucktown, Gold Coast, River North, Lakeview and Lincoln Park. “No matter where most of my business is concentrated, I follow the housing markets in every part of Chicago,” Ms. Harrigan says. “That way I can always negotiate the best deal for my clients and give them expert guidance in any transaction.”
Karen Gilbert is a staple of the Chicago real estate scene who has worked for a number of agencies before coming to Dream Town in mid-August. As an established member of The Rizzo Group and a longtime Chicago-area resident, Ms. Gilbert is very knowledgeable about the city’s micro-markets and has extensive experience in all sorts of economic situations.
Karen Gilbert
“I’ve been through high interest rate times, low interest rate times, I’ve seen the markets hot, I’ve seen them cold,” Ms. Gilbert reflects, “And through it all I strive to show my clients the big picture, helping them to look beyond the immediate purchase and understand the long-term benefit of a good property.”
Neeti Arndt is an experienced short sale and foreclosures expert with a focus on Chicago’s North Side neighborhoods. Her introduction to real estate began at a very young age growing up in a family of real estate professionals, including developers, general contractors and investors. Ms. Arndt comes to Dream Town with a largely referral-based clientele and a solid real estate portfolio of her own.
Neeti Arndt
“My choice to join Dream Town was greatly influenced by the company’s presence in the local community and how it will help me navigate the ever-changing housing conditions in Chicago,” says Ms. Arndt. “One week I’m working on a foreclosure deal and the next week I’m working with first-time buyers. Dream Town has the support staff and online technology to handle every situation like a true pro.”
Val Petkov has been in real estate since 2002 and was welcomed to Dream Town at the end of August. He has assisted many investors to buy properties throughout the country and successfully managed the purchase, renovation and resale of several properties of his own. Mr. Petkov works with a wide range of clients, including first-time buyers, vacation home purchasers, sellers and investors. He also spent a time in the financial services industry during his career which, Mr. Petkov says, allowed him to develop a strong understanding of customers’ economic situations and how to overcome related challenges in achieving their goals.
Val Petkov
“In addition to my professional experience, I’ve lived all over the city and suburbs,” says Mr. Petkov of his familiarity of Chicago real estate markets. “If there’s a place someone is looking to buy, chances are I’ve called it home at one point or another, too. So I can provide both an expert stance and personal account of the area.”
Mike Ryan has a B.A. in Public Relations from Marquette University and lives in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Learn more about Mr. Ryan. Shannon Harrigan double majored at the University of Wisconsin in International Relations and Political Science (and minored in French). Learn more about Ms. Harrigan. Karen Gilbert has a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University and a master’s from University of Houston. Learn more about Ms. Gilbert. Neeti Arndt is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. Learn more about Ms. Arndt. Val Petkov has a bachelor’s of Business Administration in Marketing from Roosevelt University. He speaks Bulgarian and several other European languages. Learn more about Mr. Petkov.
Dream Town is largely recognized as the leader in online Chicago real estate. Its top-ranked website receives tens of thousands of unique visitors weekly. The company also has a new home construction and renovation branch called Dream Town Builders and Remodeling.