Matt Silver, Partner
Chris Vernald, Partner
Kelly Smith, Partner
Urban Real Estate
These familiar faces to Chicago real estate are featured in their new roles as partners at Urban Real Estate this year.
Matt Silver this fall becomes president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, bringing his downtown Chicago and North Shore experience to his volunteering and professional endeavors. A long-time champion of REALTOR® designations and education, Silver believes the industry’s finest should raise the bar when it comes to education, integrity, and professionalism. Known for his success working with high-profile VIPs including major league sports figures, media celebrities, and CEOs, Matt maintains the strictest confidentiality and privacy possible on their behalf while often negotiating news-making deals. With his team at Urban, Matt takes pride in offering clients a concierge, one-on-one service, that is unparalleled in the industry. Knowing what to ask while guiding a client through the deal results in a strategic purchase or sale that exceeds his clients’ expectations.
Chris Vernald’s sales portfolio is as lengthy as his list of real estate credentials. Consistently ranked as an industry top producer, Vernald has made it his business to learn the intricacies of the transaction in order to better anticipate the needs of his clients. “Often, buyers can be intimidated by lending criteria, managing to afford the home that may seem out of reach, and understanding their own buying power,” Vernald notes. “Our job is to work with trusted lenders to find creative, sustainable financing methods that work for each buyer within their unique situation.”
Kelly Smith is an avid investor and rehab enthusiast who brings his know-how to clients seeking the big picture in even the most unappealing property situation. “It takes a strong stomach and a sincere commitment to want to make a property better,” Smith says. “Time, money, and quality contractors make or break the purchase, and determine how you consult your client to proceed. Agents must understand what is at hand – and ultimately, help their client determine if the investment is worth it. At Urban, we work with our brokers to guide them through all the moving parts early on in the negotiation, lending good counsel to our clients after closing, during the rehab process, and often through rental and move-in.”
Joining the leadership team of Matt Farrell and Michael Emery, the new partners bring their vast perspective to ensure Urban’s brokers have the resources and support they need to offer a first-rate client experience like no other, and further grow their own business.