Real estate wasn’t on Joanne DeSanctis Kirk’s radar until just over a decade ago, after buying, selling and developing properties with her husband. “My husband kept telling me that I could do it better, and those words stuck with me,” she remembers. After working in a law firm and being a stay-at-home mother, she earned her real estate license and never looked back.
Now a global real estate advisor with Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, DeSanctis Kirk has been in the industry for over 10 years. Her design and project management skills, along with her experience in renovations and construction, make her a natural fit for clients seeking an investment property. “What really drives me is my commitment to people, rather than just the transactions,” DeSanctis Kirk shares. “I’ve had the honor of becoming the trusted Realtor for entire families and groups of friends.”
DeSanctis Kirk was named a top producer by Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty in 2025, Baird & Warner in 2023 and 2024, and the Chicago Association of REALTORS® in 2021 and 2025. She donates a percentage of her commissions to charity, currently supporting the nonprofit Care for Real in the Edgewater neighborhood.
Active in the community, DeSanctis Kirk has held board positions at Humble Design Chicago, Friends of Prentice, the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Junior League of Chicago and the National Association for Law Placement. She is especially proud of mentoring and training young women in her life.
“My approach is simple: Real estate should be an authentic concierge experience,” DeSanctis Kirk explains. “Helping people navigate one of the most significant decisions of their lives is both a privilege and a passion. I love what I do, so it never really feels like work.”
