Following “The Golden Rule,” Realtor Young Lee and his team at Real Broker, LLC, have become a force in the Barrington, North Shore and northwest suburban markets of Chicagoland. “We genuinely care for people and treat everyone how we want to be treated,” says Lee, who has been in the industry for 16 years. “I want clients to feel that we are completely on their side. Whatever decision they make, we fully support it, but we want to make sure they also feel fully educated.”

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Lee has lived in the Chicago area nearly his entire life. “As a lifelong Chicagoan, I am very familiar with the towns that make up Chicagoland,” he notes. “I grew up in the northwest suburbs and went to school here.” His passion for real estate grew from his belief in its power to help people build wealth. After witnessing the financial opportunities real estate offers, he made the transition from a successful career as an options trader on the floor of the Chicago Board Options Exchange. “That job really helped me analyze the market, use data such as sales prices, sale-to-list price ratios, absorption rates, etc., to determine best values for clients,” he explains. “It also helped me with my negotiating skills.” Lee likens his business style to that of an adviser role, tailoring strategies to each client’s unique situation.

In the past year, Lee was cited by the Wall Street Journal’s RealTrends as being in the top 1.5% of agents nationwide. He is also a member of the Asian Real Estate Association of America and the Top Agent Network. Outside of his real estate career, Young enjoys sports, particularly tennis and basketball, and shares his passion for basketball by coaching his son’s team.

His advice for all Realtors involved in tough negotiations? “Try to figure out what would be a win-win for all parties involved, and find common ground,” he advises. “Remember that you are not adversaries. Nobody gets paid in this business unless we get the clients to the closing table.”