Melding her rich multicultural background and love of hospitality, Julia Cullhaj has established a successful career as a real estate broker at Cross Street Real Estate. “My success is fueled by a magic blend of family values, an unyielding work ethic and a fierce motivation to succeed,” she explains. Fluent in Albanian, Italian, Spanish and English, Cullhaj confidently communicates and connects with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Born in Albania, Cullhaj grew up in Florence, Italy, working alongside her parents, who are generational property owners and renovators. Her experiences as a receptionist at her uncle’s resort, Borgo dei Gigli, inspired her to find a people-driven career where she could spend her time helping and interacting with others. “Hospitality is in my blood,” she says. After earning a degree in economics, she decided to follow in her family’s footsteps by pursuing real estate full time.

Now living and working in the Chicagoland area, Cullhaj serves investors and first-time homebuyers and specializes in condos, single-family homes, new-construction single-family homes and multiunit buildings. Clients find reassurance in her ability to connect them with reliable contractors and provide expert guidance throughout the building or repairing process. “I bring a unique perspective to the table,” Cullhaj says. “My hands-on experience in construction, coupled with my background as a house hacker and owner of fully renovated investment properties, allows me to offer invaluable advice.” She values communication, noting that she’s available to help her clients 24/7, and considers time management, organization and responsiveness to be her secret weapons when it comes to client interactions.

In the past year, Cullhaj achieved her long-cherished goal of becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States. She is also proud to share that she successfully completed a gut rehab of one of her investment properties and attained the status of “Superhost” for her stellar Airbnb properties.