After purchasing her first property at 24 and going through the loan process, Carolyn Barnes decided to become a mortgage broker. Barnes soon became the go-to person for many of her friends and family for all things real estate. Barnes’ goal is to arm her clients with the knowledge they need to sell or find their perfect home. 

Barnes enjoyed many years as a successful mortgage broker, owning her own mortgage company, before deciding to become a real estate broker. She says understanding both sides of the real estate industry allows her to serve her clients at a higher level and sets her apart from other real estate brokers. With a combined 26 years of experience in both roles, Barnes says she’s comfortable working with all types of buyers and sellers.

Now a veteran real estate broker, Barnes has received numerous awards.  She has been named a Top Producer by the Chicago Association of Realtors for the past four years.  She received Real People Realty’s Rising Star award for 2019, Platinum Top Producer for 2019 and 2020, and the Diamond Top Producer award for 2021. She also received the Homesnap Excellence in Client Service award for 2019 through 2021.  She names her background in the mortgage industry, her attention to detail and her teaching approach to her clients as some of the reasons for her success.

Specializing in residential sales in the city and southern suburbs, Barnes earned the Real Estate Negotiation Expert accreditation in 2019 and her real estate license in Indiana in 2020.  

Her continued success has given her the opportunity to start a real estate team.  Recently, Barnes started The Key Team and began mentoring new agents, teaching them how to grow their businesses. 

When Barnes isn’t growing her business, she enjoys spending time with her family. Her proudest accomplishment is her son, Bryce, who played Division I college basketball and is now living in New York and working in the sports-marketing industry.