It’s good work if you can get it. That’s the story we hear time and again from Chicagoland brokers eager to graduate to the world of luxury real estate. But how do you get there from here, and in today’s uncertain market, what’s happening at the higher end of the commission spectrum?

This month’s issue digs deeper into the luxury market with tips from some of the Chicago area’s most successful players in the field. They tell us what the last year has been like for luxury brokers, how those deals look in the city compared to the suburbs, what they anticipate moving forward and much more.

But learning what’s happening with top luxury brokers is only part of the equation; the bigger question is how does a broker break into the world of luxury real estate? There’s no simple answer to that question — if there were, everyone would be doing it, right? — but our luxury issue aims to provide a framework for how to get started.

Check out our story about luxury real estate coach Michael LaFido and his Luxury Listing Specialist (LUXE) certification program. Not ready to take the plunge quite yet? LaFido offers an abundance of free tips and information to get your feet wet.

Take your exploration into the luxury market a step further with our monthly “Technically Speaking” tech column that gives the scoop on a tool that can give you an edge on high-end listings.

Still looking for more? Head over to our “Association News” feature penned by Jeff Lasky, CEO at the North Shore-Barrington Association of Realtors (NSBAR). As the suburban association that works closely with luxury buyers and sellers, NSBAR knows a thing or two about the luxury market.

While we’ve gone out of our way to find some of the biggest names in the luxury market, it goes without saying that our best source for information comes from our readers. So, we would be remiss in not inviting you to share your stories with us at Tim.Inklebarger@agentpublishing.com. Tell us anything and everything you think we should know about high-end sales. To us, your insight is worth its weight in gold.