Clients find Stephanie Spenner’s guidance most valuable because she worked in luxury buildings for many years and has lived in different neighborhoods throughout Chicago.

Spenner, team lead and real estate broker with Maven at Compass, specializes in luxury rentals, helping turn renters into first-time homebuyers and investors in the city, from Uptown to the South Loop and Streeterville to Logan Square.

“I have been my client,” Spenner says. “I have been the staff working in the buildings, so I understand the full picture of the transaction.” Spenner can send a client one option from a list of more than 20 choices and know that it was the perfect option for them, because she listens to their needs first.

Spenner’s team was recognized within its brokerage for handling the largest number of rentals in 2020 and for the best marketing video series, LiveChi TV. “I am most proud of the success of LiveChi TV,” she shares. “It’s a lead generator for myself and my team, as well as adds value to my clients’ lives by sharing knowledge of the market in a fun way.” She believes being part of a team allows everyone to be more successful, to learn from one another’s experiences, answer questions, brainstorm and problem-solve together.

Spenner knew at a young age that she would have a career in real estate. “I randomly applied to be a leasing agent when I was 18,” she says, noting that she did more sales as a part-time leasing agent than her co-workers did full-time. “I was lucky to learn my passion right then and there.” Still, she earned a business degree, which gave her an understanding of differences in business culture.

Her favorite thing to do is bike around Chicago’s different neighborhoods, learning more and more about history, hidden gems and the real estate market. She also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity.