With a career that has moved from nursing into medical sales and then onto real estate, Maureen Rush has shown she isn’t afraid to take a leap.

While working in the medical field, Rush had a longtime interest in real estate, even rehabbing homes, and enjoyed interior design. When she decided to follow her passion, she initially worked with The Ames Group before joining Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty. She recently began building her own brand, Rush Realty, within Sotheby’s.

During her three years in the field, Rush has handled properties in neighborhoods all over the city, including the West Loop (where she lives with her family), the Near West Side, Ukrainian Village, West Town, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, the South Loop and Lakeshore East. A member of the Chicago Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors, she specializes in residential real estate and emphasizes customer service. She works with buyers and sellers at all price points on properties ranging from condos and townhomes to single-family homes and multi-units.

Rush enjoys seeing projects through from start to finish, as well as solving problems. She knows good customer service and communication are key, especially when starting the homebuying process. Strategizing and professionalism are two of her strengths as she helps clients through the big leap of purchasing property. “I perform a buyer consult that consists of multiple questions that help me engage with what their goals are,” she says. “I make the process fun while educating and informing, when needed, and usually turn my clients into friends.”

Much of Rush’s business comes from referrals by clients who cite her integrity and trustworthiness. They say she’s always there to lend a helping hand. For her part, Rush enjoys teaching clients about the architecture and history of Chicago neighborhoods, showing the best that the city has to offer. To support neighborhoods, she volunteers to clean local parks and serve at soup kitchens.