Real estate is the only career Ray Morandi has ever known. Broker-owner of Morandi Properties Inc., he grew up attending showings and closings with his father, a racehorse veterinarian who invested in real estate. “I started in the business at a young age to help him,” Morandi says. “It’s all I really ever knew. And it really just evolved from there.”

Take a look at Morandi’s active listings, and you will see single-family homes, condos, townhomes and land in the southwest suburbs. “I may be working with a first-time homebuyer one day and a high-end seller the next,” he says. “It keeps things exciting.” In addition, he works with multiple builders of high-end custom products and local banks selling their properties. Truth be told, he also enjoys taking over listings that were marketed poorly, approaching it right and getting it sold. About 1 1/2 years ago, he took over a struggling new construction subdivision that had 20 units left to sell. In July, he sold the last unit and closed out the neighborhood.

With more than 16 years of experience in the industry, Morandi says his business is 90% referral based. “I am always trying to think of fresh ideas and stay up on the latest technology,” he says. “If I think something will be effective, I try to be one of the first in the area to do it.” He recently started producing Morandi Properties Videos. Inspired by MTV Cribs, MPV features engaging video walk-throughs of listings and client testimonials.

Named among Chicago Agent magazine’s Top 10 Agents in Will County in 2019 based on production, Morandi was disappointed to see many agents accept that it would be a slow year because of the pandemic. “I saw it a different way, and that resulted in one of the most productive spring markets I have had,” he says. Morandi theorized the shelter-in-place order would inspire people to either improve their homes or decide to move, and that is exactly what happened.