Last year, Andre LaCount closed 175 loans totaling $51 million, and he’s hoping to increase that amount by 50% in 2020. “Seeing first-time buyers get their home and helping clients save money is very rewarding,” he says. “I was happy to help so many families out and very grateful to my support team for helping me get to my target.”
LaCount, who has been in real estate for 17 years, was recruited by Bank One straight out of college. He helped put himself through DePaul University by selling men’s suits at Nordstrom, and the skills he honed there — including customer service, active listening and relationship-building — continue to guide his client service approach to this day.
A top 1% achiever in Mortgage Executive Magazine ever since 2015, LaCount has also been featured in Chicago magazine’s Five Star Professional group since 2012 and on Chicago Agent’s Who’s Who list since 2017, all of which he attributes to his accessibility and follow-up with clients. “We are in a time-sensitive business, and you have to be responsive,” LaCount says. “Communicating with clients effectively and efficiently has helped me gain my clients’ trust, which in turn has helped my success. Once that trust is there, it’s easy to ask for those referrals, which they will be happy to give to help you out.”
Not surprisingly, the majority of LaCount’s business comes from past clients and referrals. “I do not advertise at all; it’s primarily referrals and the reputation I built by helping previous clients,” LaCount says. “This has helped my business grow year in and year out.”
A healthy work-life balance is important to LaCount, and for good reason: The proud father of four children — Collin, Connor, Colton and Cora — LaCount coaches an age-10-and-under full-time travel baseball team and volunteers at the nonprofit organization Feed My Starving Children. He also enjoys golfing, traveling and sharing as many new experiences with his family as possible.
