Ivonne Payes was hooked on real estate from the moment she got her first taste. “When I was a paralegal, I helped negotiate hundreds of short sales, and my love for this industry blossomed instantly,” recalls Payes, broker-owner of RE/MAX American Dream. “I knew it was where I needed to be and what I needed to be doing.”

Since earning her license five years ago, Payes has concentrated on serving buyers, although during the past year, she’s expanded her team to accommodate a larger and more diverse client base. “My team handles our buyers, so I have more time to help our sellers and luxury clients,” says Payes, adding that, thanks to this shift, she was able to join the RE/MAX Titan Club. “I never thought that I would be able to structure and grow a team that could sell the amount of homes that we did.”

This year, Payes waded into unfamiliar territory, successfully flipping four houses — two with her partner, Luigui Corral. “It really brought me joy, through all the stress and headaches, to be able to see buyers fall in love with our hard work, sweat and tears,” says Payes.

Appreciated for her work ethic and honesty, Payes takes the time to get to know her clients beyond their real estate needs, ensuring that they aren’t just satisfied, but truly happy with their decisions. She’s completed RE/MAX’s Momentum training and makes a concerted effort to participate in as much developmental education as she can.

Payes serves on the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals and was chosen as the group’s president-elect for 2019. She’s previously held the roles of director, secretary and treasurer, and as the current vice president, she is the only member of the board who has served in all four positions. “I am blessed to have done so and would do it all over again,” she says. Alongside her colleagues and friends, Payes also volunteers throughout her community.

Outside of work, Payes has become an avid boater and loves spending time with her family on the water.