Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff
Karen Ranquist got her feet wet working on a few new construction projects while managing her day job as a Chicago Public Schools social worker.
“I found myself drawn to the energy and excitement of the real estate new construction industry,” says Ranquist, a broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff. After she started her first construction project in the city, she went full-time, focusing on smaller, boutique style new construction buildings in West Town.
“The largest portion of my business has been in modern, new construction, single-family homes and smaller boutique style architecturally focused projects,” says Ranquist, who serves West Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, River West, Old Town, Bucktown/Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, River North and North Center. “Over the last few years, my focus has started to shift into a more diverse property type in the resale market. I have worked with first-time homebuyers to seasoned, luxury, single-family homebuyers.” She thinks her background selling new construction sets her apart from many Realtors, because she is experienced at guiding all categories of buyers and sellers through the process from start to finish.
In the last year, she successfully closed 13 units at 1625 N. Burling, selling the vast majority of homes prior to even breaking ground. “I was involved in this fantastic project from the initial conception and worked with the developers, architects and buyers for almost 24 months, to sell all the units through closing,” she says. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was closing a new construction deal that could have fallen apart after two years of “unexpected events.”
Ranquist has been named a 2018 Most Influential Residential Real Estate Broker by Crain’s Custom Media; a 2017 Berkshire Hathaway Hall of Fame Member; a 2017 Chicago Association of Realtors Top 1 Percent and Bronze award winner; and a BHHS Platinum Award winner for a number of years. She also volunteers extensively with her children’s high school Jones College Prep.
Having mostly worked in new construction for 20 years, she is excited about adding resale to her repertoire. “Knowing that you can’t do it alone after all of these years — I have taken on a business partner and an assistant — helped me realize it’s never too late to change your business model in order to become more successful and learn how to grow in new ways.”
