Three years ago, during one of the most challenging times in our nation’s history, Iryna Ostafiichuk began her career in real estate. The timing wasn’t exactly ideal but it taught her to quickly adapt to change. Ostafiichuck, a real estate broker with Baird & Warner, doubled her volume last year and recently landed her first luxury listing.

“I was working as a nanny when my friend suggested that I try a career in real estate,” she recalls. “I was always interested in it, so decided to take a chance. Since then, I’ve enjoyed every single day as a Realtor.”

She assists buyers, sellers and investors, from Rockford to Somonauk and the city of Chicago. Her specialty is military families on the move. Passionate about helping clients find their dream home, she takes the time to understand their wants and needs and really get to know them. Her ability to listen, pay attention to details and recognize clients’ needs better than they can leads the way to a happy ending.

Ostafiichuck was an English teacher in Ukraine before moving to the U.S. with her husband and two children nine years ago. She worked as a nanny and earned certification to become a daycare director before entering real estate–a career that gives balance to her life.

Easy to work with, fun and professional, she has fine-tuned negotiation skills and the ability to meet challenges in a creative way. A majority of Ostafiichuck’s clients come from social media, referrals and networking.

She loves being involved in the community and volunteering with organizations that support Ukraine, such as Revived Soldiers Ukraine. The non-profit helps bring wounded soldiers to the U.S. for treatment, especially those who need prosthesis or complicated surgeries in order to live a normal life. She also enjoys music, reading and nature.