ACHIEVING OPTIMAL OUTCOMES
By Contributor
PRODUCED BY KEMMIE RYAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATRINA WITTKAMP
STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA
HAIR & MAKEUP BY LEANNA ERNEST AND DORIA DEBARTOLO
WARDROBE PROVIDED BY NEIMAN MARCUS AND SWEET WILLIAM
By Contributor
PRODUCED BY KEMMIE RYAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATRINA WITTKAMP
STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA
HAIR & MAKEUP BY LEANNA ERNEST AND DORIA DEBARTOLO
WARDROBE PROVIDED BY NEIMAN MARCUS AND SWEET WILLIAM
With a distinguished background as a former corporate attorney and a passion for real estate, MELISSA LIVELY brings a unique blend of legal acumen and marketing expertise to the Hinsdale real estate market. A Certified Expert Listing Agent with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate’s Hinsdale office, she provides a thorough and insightful approach to real estate transactions, ensuring each detail is managed with precision and care. With the collaboration of her team of experts, Lively is committed to delivering exceptional end-to-end service experiences and achieving optimal outcomes for her clients.
What excites you most about the future of your industry? Listing agents across the U.S. are increasingly pushing back against one-size-fits-all marketing of consumer-facing real estate platforms. In today’s evolving market, customized marketing is essential. As inventory rises and buyer behavior shifts, one-size-fits-all strategies just don’t cut it—especially when homes are sitting longer on the market. What appeals to a luxury buyer in Hinsdale is totally different from what attracts a first-time buyer in the city. Marketing must reflect location, price point, lifestyle, and buyer expectations. Every seller has a unique need, and the market is constantly changing. As a listing agent, I am an advocate for my client and will market their home to maximize their return on investment, not to drive up clicks on a real estate website.
What conversations are you passionate about bringing to the table? Zillow doesn’t know the improvements you have made to your home. Redfin doesn’t have the opportunity to walk into your home and feel the vibe. I do. Your home isn’t just square footage. It has a story. Let’s tell it in a way that makes buyers fall in love.
What’s a trend you’re embracing—or challenging? One of the most interesting dynamics of the 2025 real estate market is the luxury market continues to outperform and set new records, while the non-luxury market has quickly become a buyer’s market. We will continue to see this trend in the spring of 2026 where luxury markets will continue to have low inventory and upward pressure on pricing, while the non-luxury market pricing will continue to decrease with increasing inventory.
For more information, visit atproperties.com/agents/25124/melissa-lively. You may also follow her on Instagram @Melissa_Lively_Realtor or on Facebook at MelissaLivelyRE.
Sign Up for the JWC Media Email