Longtime agent Sarah Leonard has started her own brokerage, Legacy Properties, a Sarah Leonard Company, covering a broad radius of the Chicago suburbs. It’s now home to The Sarah Leonard Team, which counts 13 agents (including Leonard).

Most recently, Leonard was with RE/MAX Suburban where she founded her own team in 2014. In fact, Leonard began her real estate career at RE/MAX when she was just 15 years old, working in the office, before becoming a licensed Realtor at age 21. In total, she’s been in the industry more than 18 years.

Speaking to Chicago Agent, Leonard explained how she and her team naturally outgrew a traditional brokerage. “I had staff of my own and my own brick-and-mortar spot anyways,” Leonard said. “We’ve always had to operate [somewhat independently] because of our amount of businesses … It made sense to go out on our own to continue that journey.”

Legacy Properties already features three physical locations, in St. Charles, Schaumburg and Algonquin, and Leonard is currently signing on new agents and teams.