We can choose to fly in a different direction. Just ask Tina Marie Mateja. In the western suburbs, Mateja serves first-time homebuyers, luxury clients and relocating buyers. Her specialty is single-family homes, but she also handles condos and townhomes.

For the past 19 years, Mateja worked in the industry full time, while also working part time as a flight attendant. Now, her sole focus is her real estate career, and her dedication has been richly rewarded. As a certified Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Mateja is fully qualified to help seniors move. Chicago magazine listed her as a Five-Star Realtor (2011-2021). She’s also one of the top 100 Realtors in DuPage County (2021), and was featured in Top Agent Magazine and Chicago Real Producers Magazine.

Mateja’s business motto speaks volumes about her character. “If everybody doesn’t win, nobody wins,” she says. “I believe that the goal of each transaction should be for both sides to have a beneficial result.” She also believes that caring is the key to her success. “Empathy goes a long way,” she explains. “Whether the seller is stressed out about moving or the buyer is worried … a Realtor needs to be a sounding board and expert who can ease those fears, and have the knowledge to educate them or get them into the hands of someone who can help them.”

Over the years, Mateja learned what truly matters, and that helps her rise above the competition. “When you’ve been in the business as long as I have, you realize your reputation is more important than how much money you make,” she says. “If you have a reputation for being honest, forthright, levelheaded, knowledgeable and kind, people want to work with you. Not only sellers and buyers, but other brokers.” She also knows that treating clients well is crucial. “I treat my clients as if they were family,” she insists. “They get 100% effort and honesty.”