On Wednesday, @properties co-founders Thad Wong and Mike Golden announced a merger with Sergio & Banks, one of Chicago’s most prominent boutique brokerage firms founded 25 years ago by Grace Sergio. At the time of the announcement, Sergio & Banks was a Top 30 brokerage in the city, averaging over $150 million in annual closed volume over the last five years. 

Sergio and her team’s new name with @properties will be The Sergio & Banks Group while also maintaining their two current office locations in Bucktown and on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Furthermore, they’ll also set up a new office within @properties’ new flagship location in the Gold Coast.

Sergio began selling real estate at age 21, beginning by focusing primarily on the Northwest Side, where she was born and raised. Soon after, she began working with developers of new construction condos and single-family homes, especially in Bucktown, around the same time and where @properties launched.

“Thad, Mike and I all started in the business around the same time,” Sergio said in a press release. “We were frequent competitors but also cooperated on dozens of transactions. We’ve always had a great rapport and a mutual respect, and I’ve always admired the @properties brand, the creativity and innovation.”