Melissa Govedarica

Sergio and Banks Real Estate

In her 27 years of experience, Melissa Govedarica has made quite a name for herself in the Greater Chicago real estate business. She’s been a six-time Good Neighbor Award Recipient, a Chicago Association of Realtors 1 Percent Top Producer for over a decade, and met Gold Level volume standard for individuals achieving $50 million in residential sales. Govedarica specializes in new construction and finding off-market land for residential development, though she also does plenty of “regular” sales with resale clients and referrals.

One doesn’t make it almost three decades in the industry unless they’re able to cultivate loyal, long-term relationships with clients and contractors. “I believe I have established very long, trustful relationships with my clients which drives my referral business,” she says. Part of what has helped Govedarica foster such trusting relationships is her awareness that real estate is as much about people as it is property. “Residential real estate is an emotional transaction for most sellers and buyers. Most of the time it is the largest asset people have or will acquire,” she tells us. “I recognize that and treat the process with respect, no matter what the price point is.”

Govedarica also prides herself on being truthful and forthright. “I am a straight shooter,” she says. “A client may not always hear what they want to hear but in the end I gain their respect and credibility and their referral business!” Just this past year alone, she sold several off-market land acquisitions for residential developments that will likely lead to over $50 million in resale business for the 2018 pipeline.

When she isn’t selling properties or working on new developments, Govedarica loves to golf and spend time outdoors. “Nature is my zen,” she says. “I love flowers and gardening, the ocean and mountains.” She’s also a proud mother of four, and her youngest child, Theadora, graduated college and landed a great job this year, an accomplishment as important to Govedarica as any real estate transaction could be. “I guess you can say my proudest personal accomplishment is getting everyone off the payroll!” she says.