The Sam Jenkins Group
James Sheehan, Broker
Valerie Sancrainte, Broker
Sam Jenkins, Founder

Conlon/Christie’s International Real Estate

More than 20 years of collective experience has set the Sam Jenkins Group apart from others in the Chicagoland market. As Jenkins explains, “We’re calm and we see the big picture, so that allows us to be proactive rather than reactive, and clients appreciate that.” His group’s strategy has yielded outstanding results: the Chicago Association of Realtors has named the group a top producer over multiple years, and their brokerage recognized them for top production in 2014 and 2015.

A former personal fitness trainer, Jenkins honed his skills for supporting clients with high expectations when working with them to achieve their health and wellness goals. “There are a lot of similarities between that profession and working as a real estate broker, as both are primarily about helping people who have specific aspirations,” he says. “How you interact with clients, and manage relationships and transactions, is critical to your success, because this is ultimately a people business.” He credits Sean Conlon and his first brokerage with teaching him how the industry works, and helping him weather the market’s ups and downs. Today, he and his team have a strong referral network, and also work closely with multiple developers. The Sam Jenkins Group oversees many new construction single-family home and condo development projects.

Valerie Sancrainte always enjoyed watching industry experts operate on HGTV, a pastime that prompted her to begin analyzing local, national, and global markets. A self-described people person, her decision to become a broker five years ago has put her in a position of working with people in the industry she loves. Her continuing education included attendance at the Illinois Realtor Capitol Conference in Spring 2016, where she participated in a Senate session and open discussion with legislators. “It was fascinating to be part of something that will affect me, my colleagues and residents across the state, so I appreciated the opportunity,” she says. Her extensive experience in a myriad of positions within CONLON/Christie’s has also proven invaluable.

James Sheehan’s 10 years working as an equity options trader gave him a solid understanding of nance before he entered the real estate industry. His experience watching his parents operate a bar in Dublin taught him the importance of managing relationships with various personalities. “I know how to connect with people and talk with them, and that’s critical in this profession,” he says. Many of those relationships are with land developers who count on James to help them locate and purchase property, but he also works with first-time buyers, investors, and commercial buyers. Analytical, personable, reliable, and straightforward, James strives to help clients make informed decisions. “Clients appreciate that I don’t push them into transactions just because it will bene t me, and that’s what makes them lifetime clients who not only refer family and friends to me, but also become friends themselves,” he explains.

Each team member says they draw inspiration from family. Sancrainte enjoys exploring the city’s arts and hotspots, while Sheehan recently took up photography with his wife and volunteers with Chicago Animal Care and Control. They say some of the happiest occasions are when they see the excitement and pride on clients’ faces. “There are certainly challenges we sometimes encounter,” Jenkins says, “but crossing the finish line to get to the closing makes the hard work worth it, and we would not have it any other way.”

 

Thanks to The Residences at New City for letting us use their beautiful location for our photo shoots.