Laura McGreal and Karen Schwartz

KarenLaura-full

Laura McGreal and Karen Schwartz

Co-Founders
LK Properties with Dream Town Realty

After spending 11 years in sales and management for Pulte, one of Chicagoland’s largest developers, colleagues Laura McGreal and Karen Schwartz decided to combine their talents to launch their own company, Chicago New Properties. Within months of the 2014 launch, the company quickly found success, expanding with two new Realtors and closing 54-plus transactions and nearly $20 million in sales. As of June 2016, they have partnered with Dream Town Realty to start their own group, LK Properties, and are excited to be working on selling a new luxury condo project in the West Loop.

Although they assist their clients with every aspect of residential purchases and sales, their extensive experience in working with new construction gives them a competitive edge. They excel when leveraging their skills in marketing and acquisition, property design, and pricing for best return on investment. A large share of their clients are couples and growing families looking to move from the city to the suburbs. “We sell our clients’ city residences, and introduce them to suburban communities that will fit their lifestyle,” Schwartz explains. McGreal agrees, adding that helping clients view and customize their home is highly rewarding. “It’s exciting to help buyers navigate the ins and outs of building a home to make it everything they ever dreamed it could be.” As Schwartz explains, “We’re inspired by our hard-working clients whose dream we want to fulfill, and other brokers whose passion for this industry never fails to push us to be our best.”

A communications graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Schwartz also holds an MBA from DePaul University. Her career includes sales of nearly 400 homes valued at more than $190 million, which ranked her among Pulte’s top five sales associates nationwide. McGreal earned her undergraduate degree in finance at Eastern Illinois University and, like Schwartz, sold nearly $200 million in real estate in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs for the same company. She also earned her managing broker’s license, deepening her knowledge of the industry. They have amassed numerous awards and honors over their years in the profession, including the Homebuilder Association’s Diamond, Gold, and Silver awards.

Both draw inspiration from their family and friends, with Schwartz pointing out that McGreal’s ability to balance motherhood and co-ownership of their brokerage is particularly motivating for her. Both of them regularly volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, including the organization’s “Women Build” event, for which they serve as committee members. “Success requires that you work hard, because things do not come easy in life,” Schwartz says. “You also need to take time to enjoy life with the people you love.” McGreal could not agree more. “We’re happiest when we can share what we love doing – our real estate careers – with the people we love most – our family, friends and clients – so that makes all the hard work worth it.”

 

Thanks to AtWater Apartments for letting us use their beautiful location for our photo shoots.

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