From her first job in commercial real estate, Elise Rinaldi moved into corporate relocation, helping Fortune 500 companies transfer executives across the country. When she landed in Chicago and observed the local residential market, she was not impressed. She knew she could do better.
Twenty-one years later, Rinaldi is a North Shore real estate expert with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, working across Glencoe, Winnetka, Wilmette, Northbrook, Glenview, Deerfield and Highland Park. She specializes in trade-up and rightsizing clients, as well as city-to-suburb moves. Her business is almost entirely referral-driven. Clients get Rinaldi — no team, no assistant.
Her joining @properties in 2010 coincided with the firm’s initial push into the North Shore, where mentorship from co-founder Thad Wong helped solidify Rinaldi’s approach to local sales. Those early foundations show up clearly in her recent production metrics, which include ranking as the top individual broker in Glencoe for 2025 transactions, according to MRED data. Additionally, her sales volume has placed her in the top 5% of the North Shore-Barrington Association of REALTORS® consecutively since 2019, alongside 15 years as an @properties top producer.
Much of Rinaldi’s focus over the last year has centered on guiding people through personal transitions, such as managing sales prompted by illness, divorce or a death in the family. These situations require a balance of logistical management and emotional intelligence. For her, true real estate expertise is defined by helping clients move forward comfortably, well beyond simply finalizing a contract.
Rinaldi prepares a premarketing plan specific to each property’s needs. She advises on repairs, improvements, paint, decor and staging, all aimed at maximum value before the photo shoot. She’s often inspired by the transformation she brings to clients and keeps a running improvement list for her own home. Rinaldi sees every home through a buyer’s lens.
