Clients of Sara O’Connor’s respect her diligence in making sure deals close. O’Connor, vice president for residential and commercial sales with Greater Illinois Title Company, cherishes the relationships she’s built with the attorneys, commercial and residential lenders, developers and builders who form the foundation of her business.
“If we are on the same page, we are in great shape for success,” says O’Connor, who has over 20 years of experience in the industry. “I believe in building genuine, long-lasting relationships and connecting my referral partners to others to help them with their businesses. That is my passion.”
With every transaction, she partners with real estate professionals to help them navigate the process smoothly. She understands that every transaction is different and strives to make the process as stress-free as possible. Without a doubt, managing the refinance business, which was very robust during Covid, was quite challenging. Still, she succeeded in closing deals for her lender customers on time and safely by following Covid protocols, which included curbside, front-porch and backyard closings. Now that the mask mandate has been lifted, she is thrilled to return to face-to-face communication with clients.
“Being able to meet clients in person deters distractions, allows me to focus on my clients’ desires and get feedback from them, which they may be hesitant to give if they didn’t see me personally,” she says.
O’Connor knows that real estate closings are sometimes arduous, and situations may come up that disrupt the closing process, such as past liens, unpaid taxes, court proceedings or even the parties to the transaction. But she always moves forward with determination, personally engaging her spectacular team of underwriters, examiners and closing personnel to assist in reaching the finish line.
Outside of work, O’Connor is an associate board member of the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation, which supports cancer research and education, and co-chair of Eisenopoly, its signature event.
