As a youngster, Chris Puszynski remembers taking long drives with her father to historic communities such as Oak Park and Park Ridge, and being in awe of all the structures that surrounded her.

“Even as a child, I always noticed architecture and the fine details of an interesting home with turrets or stone,” recalls Puszynski, now a managing broker associate with @properties in Lake Forest. “All of the houses looked like castles to me, and I so wanted to live in one of them.”

It’s this love for architecture and style that eventually led to a career within the real estate industry, and 2018 marks Puszynski’s 40th year. What does she love the most? Puszynski says it’s the fast pace, the new technologies, and the constant changes within the business climate that always keeps her coming back for more.

“If you give real estate your all, you are never bored,” says Puszynski. “I like to learn, so whether it is new technology or learning about a new development, I am all in.”

But more than anything, she truly can’t get enough of her clients.

“I have an opportunity to meet so many people from so many different walks of life,” she says. “Many have been an inspiration to me and I have benefitted greatly from knowing them.”

Puszynski not only resides in Lake Forest, but also works there. And the opportunity to sell within the community she resides in is something that Puszynski absolutely adores.

“There is so much to offer a buyer here in Lake Forest,” says Puszynski, who moved to Lake Forest in 1995. “Our downtown area is becoming more vibrant, but there is still open space in Lake Forest. Plus, for me, the lakefront is one of my very favorite places, from the beach to the pavilions with fireplaces to the boat launch.”

Educating her clients to all of these desirable aspects within the communities she adores is something Puszynski says she feels lucky to be able to do.

“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s bittersweet when I have found the right house for a client and they have bought the home,” admits Puszynski. “You create such a relationship with a client, and all of a sudden it’s over once they sign on that dotted line. I guess that’s why I have stayed close to so many of my clients.”

Currently, Puszynski says she is looking forward to the fall season, which is often the second busiest real estate market.

“August is historically a very quiet month but it has started off very strong,” she says. “There is no predicting the real estate market these days. Buyers are doing their own research online and visiting open houses to educate themselves.”

And while the industry can be exciting, Puszynski admits that it can often become stressful not only for buyers and sellers, but also for their brokers. Puszynski says she tries to combat this stress by doing some of the things she loves the most.

“I take art classes in Lake Bluff and work in a variety of mediums,” she says. “I also attend a tap dancing class and a Tai Chi class and my husband and I own a home in Egg Harbor Wisconsin which has not only been a retreat for our family, but also for me.”

And of course, she loves to decorate her home and the homes of her clients.

“A home is where your story plays out,” she says. “And I love helping to make sure that home is as beautiful as can be.”

To contact Chris Puszynski, call 847-295-0700 or visit atproperties.com/agents/4456/chris-puszynski.