“My two daughters are my ‘why’ for everything I do,” explains Leticia Andrade. The real estate advisor for Fulton Grace Realty is breaking generational patterns by empowering her daughters and her clients to own homes and fight for financial independence. Andrade began her career as a loan processor. She decided to earn her real estate license in 2005 while working as a loan processor at Countrywide Home Loans. She became adept at leveraging mortgages and negotiating grants and was even called the “bond girl” because of the sheer number of city bond loans she handled during the 2008 recession. She worked feverishly in this position and simultaneously as a waitress and bartender before finally taking a leap of faith to pursue real estate full time.

Now Andrade has achieved Bronze Sales Top Producer status at Fulton Grace and was named the No. 8 Individual Sales Top Producer last year. Clients describe her as energetic, fun and collaborative. She prioritizes personal interaction with clients and understands the importance of assessing their unique situations. “I have had entire families at my office meeting so everyone involved is on the same page,” she says. “Communication is key, and trust is also very important as this is a family-changing event.”

Andrade loves the flexibility that comes with the real estate business. She uses her free time to stay involved in the lives of her daughters, supporting their lifelong goals and celebrating their academic achievements. Andrade contributes to her community by running a monthly homeless outreach event serving our Friends on the Street and teaching free financial literacy events for children and teens at the McGaw YMCA in Evanston and other Chicago communities. “I want to motivate all, but especially single mothers,” she shares. “I want to be a positive role model and support their efforts in changing their family legacy so each generation to come is better than the last.”