Your Home Partners for Life

Modern living room with brown leather sofa, wall-mounted TV, and wooden media console. Neutral decor includes a blue chair, indoor plant, and minimalist wall art. Glass coffee table and textured rug on hardwood floor.

From Your First Home to Your Retirement Home

Whether you're buying or selling, we want you to enjoy the process, but above all, we want you make informed decisions. We will guide you every step of the way, offering trusted advice, and recommending vendors we've vetted when you need their services.

We work with all budgets, in all areas of Chicago, from the far North Side to the Far South Side and the suburbs. From your first home to your retirement home, we love working with clients in all stages of their lives.

High-rise glass and concrete building in Chicago, with adjacent brick structure and trees in the foreground under a clear blue sky.

What to Expect as a Buyer

Buying a home is a uniquely personal endeavor. We take a fresh approach to your search: we start with a personal interview, discovering what you want and what you need (what’s a must have and what’s a nice to have?). 

@properties has access to the largest number of pre-market properties in Chicago. In a marketplace that is moving as quickly as ours is, this is crucial to possibly finding that perfect for you home BEFORE it hits the MLS, Zillow, etc.

An Easy 8 Step Process

  • 1.

    We start with a personal interview, identifying your wants, needs and the locations that interest you.

  • 2.

    Direct you to a qualified lender to get pre-approved, determining your purchasing power.

  • 3.

    You’ll receive properties as they are listed (or before from our pre-market networks), and select the ones you’d like to see in person.

  • 4.

    The fun part - showings! We’ll tour properties (generally about 15-20 or less) until you find one you’re ready to call home.

  • 5.

    When you've selected a home that meets your criteria and a contract is signed, the next step is to hire a home inspector to make sure there aren’t any unwanted surprises awaiting you!

  • 6.

    The attorney review period allows both the buyers and sellers attorneys to review the contract and resolve any issues that may have been discovered during the inspection.

  • 7.

    Your lender will process your mortgage.

  • 8.

    The final step is closing - where you get to pick up the keys for your new home!

Modern kitchen with gray cabinets, stainless steel appliances, and hardwood flooring next to a dining room with a table, chairs, and a sideboard with coffee equipment.

What to Expect as a Seller

As our record demonstrates, we will sell your home for the most amount of money in the shortest period of time, with the least inconvenience to your life. Our methods and strategies are tried and true.

Our approach is inherently different from the rest of the market: the day your house goes on the market is, for all intents and purposes, the day you move out - if not physically, but mentally. This will help you remain focused to make solid decisions (not reactions) throughout the process.

The 7 Steps to Sell

  • 1.

    Together, we will refine the range to choose a listing price.

  • 2.

    We will then start to implement our market strategy tailored to you, including any assistance in prepping your home.

  • 3.

    Before the your home is listed on the MLS, we’ll do a round of pre-marketing, so agents with active buyers looking for a home like yours have an opportunity to.

  • 4.

    We'll handle all showings, communicating with you however you prefer (text, email, phone call) and aim to market your home so it sells quickly, and with as little inconvenience to you as possible.

  • 5.

    Once we have a contract in place, the buyers will have a home inspection.

  • 6.

    The attorney review period allows both the buyers and sellers attorneys to review the contract and make any needed changes.

  • 7.

    The final step is the closing!

Philip Schwartz, leading Chicago real estate agent and partner in an independent brokerage.

About Philip

Philip Schwartz is a top-producing real estate broker with @properties, celebrating 10 years with the firm and 20 years of experience buying and selling homes in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. His dedication to client success is evident in his 15 consecutive years as a top producer. Prior to real estate, Philip spent 15 years in building materials sales, working closely with architects, builders, and engineers, providing him with a unique perspective on construction and property value. He specializes in educating, informing, and empowering his clients, assisting them in creating investment property portfolios and providing detailed ROI information. Philip's extensive network of trusted lenders, attorneys, inspectors, and contractors ensures his clients have access to the best resources. Whether preparing you to maximize your return on a sale or strategizing to find the perfect home within your budget and preferred location, Philip is committed to achieving your real estate goals. He encourages potential clients to "see past the flash and evaluate the substance" he brings to every transaction.

Let’s Work Together