With nearly two decades of combined experience, Mike Kelly and Jenny Derrickson love working with first-time homebuyers as much as they love working with luxury buyers and sellers.
It wasn’t until going through the homebuying process herself that Jenny Derrickson was inspired to pursue a career change to real estate — and she hasn’t looked back since.
“When going through the process when my husband and I purchased our first condo, we had an amazing experience with our team of Realtors who were extremely professional, smart, approachable, patient, not salesy at all while also extremely successful — which helped me see all the important attributes I valued from them and was the final push I needed.”
Kelly fell in love with the architecture and energy of the city after college graduation. Interested in real estate investment, he began meeting with folks in the industry when a family friend with a small real estate brokerage encouraged him to get his license and start working with him.
“Once I got my license, I really enjoyed helping my clients navigate the buying and selling process,” he says. “Having the opportunity to help people buy and sell real estate is a privilege that I take very seriously.”
Together they have grown a successful team using the strength of their experiences to continue to evolve in the ever-changing market. Both are members of the Chicago Association of Realtors. Kelly received the organization’s Top Producer Award in 2015-2021.
Derrickson, who is also a Real Estate Negotiation Expert, began her career in public accounting and finds the fast-paced nature of her accounting roles similarly important when entering a real estate transaction. She attributes her success to being a proactive problem solver.
Kelly’s clients find him to be friendly and approachable, delivering a very professional experience. He views his role as his clients’ partner and advisor, having in-depth knowledge of the market and is a strong negotiator.
Outside of work, Derrickson, a two-time Chicago Marathon finisher, loves spending time with her husband Alex and their English bulldog Emma. Kelly enjoys spending time with his children Maeve (6) and Reid (4).
