Although Sheila Rugege Dantzler may have joined the real estate industry by chance, even after 13 years, she’s never regretted her leap of faith. “I worked in technology sales before entering real estate and bought my first new-construction condo a year before it was ready,” says Dantzler, a broker with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty. “I would often visit the sales center on weekends to check on the progress, and one of the sales associates told me that I should get my real estate license.”
Throughout her tenure, Dantzler has served a wide variety of buyers, sellers, renters, investors and developers, working with clients of all experience levels, income brackets and backgrounds. Specializing in the Downtown, South Loop, West Loop, Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Woodlawn and Bridgeport markets, Dantzler provides a local’s perspective, always sharing her honest opinion to ensure her clients are making informed decisions. “Even in the most difficult transactions, I remind myself how lucky I am to do this work that I love and what a blessing it is to assist someone in the next chapter of their lives,” she says.
In 2016, Dantzler and her husband were selected to participate in the 3rd Ward Parade of Homes, a city of Chicago initiative to revitalize Bronzeville through the creation of 42 single-family homes. They were responsible for nine homes in the project, with Dantzler managing the design and finishes while her husband handled the construction process. One of the homes was recognized in Modern Luxury’s Michigan Avenue magazine. “How I did that project and still managed to be a Chicago Association of Realtors Top Producer for the third year in a row still baffles me,” she says.
Dantzler has a degree in computer science, an e-Pro designation, and the Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource certification. She is a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, Real Estate Negotiation Expert and Accredited Buyer’s Representative.
Dantzler is a member of Jack and Jill of America Inc. and serves on the Chicago Association of Realtors’ Professional Standards Committee. She is a devoted mom to her 8-year-old daughter and a former Miss Black USA winner.
