For Baird & Warner Real Estate agent and Nicole Flores Group Team Lead Nicole Flores, it still feels wild to say that she has spent 20 years in real estate. “So much has changed, but what’s stayed the same is why I do this: I truly care about people,” she says. “It’s never been just about houses — it’s about showing up, listening and helping clients through a major life moment with heart and clarity.”

Flores became an agent two decades ago, after she and her husband endured a difficult experience while buying their first single-family home. “The agent didn’t take the time to understand who we were or what we were capable of,” she recalls.

Looking back on that experience, Flores remembers how her husband turned to her and said, “You’d be a great agent. You care so much, and you have a banking background.” This led Flores to think more about her skills and all she could offer to potential buyers and sellers. She has a deep knowledge of the city, coupled with strong negation, problem-solving and communication skills, and an attention to detail. She transitioned into real estate and never looked back.

Flores has built a business almost entirely through referrals and repeat clients. She’s helped everyone from first-time buyers to multimillion-dollar buyers and sellers, and she’s proud to be a consistent top producer in Edgebrook, the rest of Chicago and the suburbs.

In leading her team at Baird & Warner, Flores is passionate about mentoring new agents — including her son and son-in-law — as the family business continues to grow.

“I love what I do,” Flores shares. “Twenty years in, and I still wake up excited to work. That’s how I know I’m in the right place.”