Always self-employed, Nathan and Kevin Binkley spent a long time working in the restaurant industry in California, Hawaii and Illinois. Real estate, with its entrepreneurial foundation, seemed like the next logical move.
Brothers and business partners, the two brokers with Binkley Residential at Compass assist condo re-sale investors, mostly in downtown Chicago. They also do a lot of business with a handful of investors and rehabbers, too. “We’re one of the only sibling partnerships in Chicago,” they say. “It’s not always easy working with family, but we make it work.”
Growing up in a small, idyllic Iowa town similar to the one featured in the movie “Field of Dreams” taught the brothers to always tell the truth and to be down to earth and humble about their successes.
They’ve also learned that hard work pays off. Over the past year, the brothers finished a massive remodeling project on a West Loop loft, completed a flip on a River North condo and started a condo rehab project in West Town. One major a boon for their business has been bringing their team to Compass. “It’s a great fit from a tech standpoint, and it has helped our business grow,” Kevin says, adding that many clients compliment their industry knowledge and laid-back approach to handling transactions. “We’ve learned when to push and when to sit quietly and listen, which a lot of clients appreciate.”
Ranked as top producers by Chicago Association of Realtors for the past five years, neither Kevin nor Nathan is afraid of a little hard work. “No question, you’ve got to work the shifts to be successful,” Nathan says, adding that networking is a big part of it, too. Many times, he’s run into colleagues around town who end up telling him about opportunities and showing him properties long before they go on the market. “Your brokerage has a lot to do with your network. Having a large catalog of other really good brokers you can rely on is super important in a market as competitive as Chicago.”
To give back, the team supports Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.
