Elena Theodoros & Kaylin Goldstein
Realtors
The Goldstein & Theodoros Group
@properties
Kaylin Goldstein and Elena Theodoros exemplify teamwork thanks to their shared enthusiasm, commitment and dedication to the industry and their clients. Selling more than $100 million of real estate here in Chicago and nearby suburbs has resulted in being recognized as top producers by both @properties and The Chicago Association of Realtors since 2013.Their talent for achieving success through competitive sale prices for their listings has continued to help comparable home pricing in those neighborhoods, an unquestionable testament to their valuation skills. They help buyers and sellers reap the greatest return possible on their investment, all the while earning respect and loyalty throughout the process, which is why repeat and referral clientele comprise the majority of their business.
Goldstein learned early on from her business-owner parents that meeting and exceeding a client’s expectations are two different concepts, so she strives to “wow” buyers and sellers with fantastic results. Specializing in the neighborhoods of Bucktown/Wicker Park, downtown Chicago, Lakeview and Lincoln Park, she entered the industry in 2008 when she was recruited after earning a marketing degree from the University of Iowa. “I knew the state of the real estate market at that time, but I realized after weighing my other options that real estate excited me because it gave me purpose to know that I was following my passion,” she says. “The challenges that the market faced gave me the drive to work as hard as possible and to learn as much as I could to be the best in my field. I wouldn’t trade the experience of starting my real estate career during the recession because it’s shaped my outlook as a Realtor and taught me extreme patience.”
Working with a range of clients like first-time buyers, property investors and motivated sellers, Goldstein describes her team’s approach as hands-on and network-oriented. Their knowledge of market inventory enables them to be ahead of the curve so that they can advise clients about emerging trends as well as show them pocket/off-market listings before they are widely publicized. “Simply put, we get there first for our clients,” she says.
Theodoros knew she had an affinity for real estate at an early age. In Northwest Indiana, the annual Parade of Homes was something she sought out in addition to the summer job she had as a nanny for a local developer, which ultimately led to a sales position for their model homes. A real estate career proved the ideal segue once she earned her business marketing degree from Miami University of Ohio in 2009. While she initially served renters and first-time homebuyers, today she represents both buyers and sellers equally. This is because many of those first-time buyers are at the stage of expanding families or just simply deciding to upgrade. But this is something that Theodoros expected would occur, which is why she says, “I try to remind my clients, ‘I’m not going to advise you to buy a home that I can’t easily resell for you later.’”
As an avid golfer and former tennis player, competition is second nature to Theodoros, and it seems to translate well for a sales job. Still, she comments, “I am to the point that selling doesn’t feel like a job. I enjoy and have such a passion for helping all my clients that I find it very personally rewarding to overcome the challenge of helping them fulfill their real estate goals.” She adds that she lives by the credo, “Treat others the way you want to be treated,” a philosophy that dictates the relationships she builds with both clients and colleagues. This mentality has clearly proved successful as her sales skyrocketed from $3.09 million in 2012 to $13.46 million in 2013. Moreover, she has already sold and contracted over $20 million of real estate in the first six months of this year.
Goldstein and Theodoros point out that honesty and transparency characterize their client strategy, especially as they manage each transaction as if it were their own. Doing so yields optimal outcomes for everyone, and as Goldstein puts it, “When you work with us, you’ll leave with a new friend, a successful real estate transaction, and of course, a glass of champagne to toast your success!”