HOME BASE

Luxury Property Specialist Donna Mercier has spent more than three decades helping families find homes—and renovating one of her own in the process.

Chaos lives here. Ten grandchildren. Laughter bouncing from room to room.

Plates passed across the table. Another story. Another smile.

Donna Mercier wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m half-Italian,” the longtime Lake Forest resident says, smiling. “I’m all about family—food and family.”

That outlook doesn’t disappear when she leaves home. It follows her to work.

For more than 30 years, Mercier has helped families navigate one of life’s biggest decisions as a Luxury Property Specialist with the MercFoss Team at Coldwell Banker Realty in Lake Forest. Alongside daughter Donielle Foss Crimmins and son Chris Foss, she has built a family business rooted in trust, patience, and relationships.

The houses matter. The people matter more.

“I love what I’m doing,” Mercier says. “People put their trust in me, and I’m doing a service for them. I help people find houses, but they’re more than structures—they’re homes. You’re establishing a lifestyle when you turn a house into your home. Whether it’s small or large, nothing is more important than feeling comfortable where you live.”

It’s a philosophy she’s embraced since entering real estate in 1991.

Raised in Skokie, Mercier attended Regina Dominican High School in Wilmette and St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. Before launching her real estate career, she worked for Andy Frain Services, helping negotiate the company’s security contract for the Democratic National Convention in Chicago at age 19 before becoming a Pan American World Airways flight attendant and later an airline manager.

Adventure followed.

At 22, she spent a month in Africa evaluating flight-service operations, recruiting personnel, and even squeezing in a safari.

“I love to work,” she says.

She also loves to learn.

Mercier belongs to a book club that has met for about two decades, a reflection of the curiosity she still brings to her profession.

“I want to educate home buyers, because they don’t always know what they want or need in a house,” she says.

She still remembers reassuring one of her first clients in 1991, who worried about buying a ranch home with only one bathroom.

“Life is a series of compromises.”

Another lesson has stayed with her just as long. Nobody succeeds alone.

“I depend on many other people in this profession,” Mercier says. “You have to, because real estate is competitive.”

Over the years, she has built a trusted network of plumbers, electricians, designers, and other professionals she confidently recommends to clients.

That collaborative approach extends to her own team.

Chris Foss and Donielle have been integral members of the MercFoss Team for 23 and 18 years, respectively. Together, they combine decades of real estate experience with extensive market knowledge, strategic expertise, and a client-first approach. Chris’ deep understanding of the local market paired with Donielle’s passion for helping clients achieve their real estate goals, enhances the team’s ability to provide exceptional guidance, personalized service, and outstanding results for buyers and sellers.

“Some like working with women; others like working with men,” Mercier says. “Having different generations helps, too.”

Working with family in a 24-hour profession occasionally requires juggling calendars.

“When all of us are required to be at a family gathering, we want to be sure we’ve got our professional obligations covered at the same time,” Mercier says.

“That can be a challenge in a 24/7 industry like ours, but we make it work.”

That balancing act feels familiar.

One minute she’s showing a home to a young couple and their 5-month-old baby.

“I’d be happy to show it to you as long as you bring your child with you,” she recalls telling them.

The next minute she’s hosting another lively gathering with children and grandchildren.

Chaos. The good kind.

Mercier has called Lake Forest home for 38 years, and she still lights up when talking about the community.

“People here treasure its architecture,” she says.

Then she shifts her attention to another favorite destination.

“Lake Forest Beach is beautiful. It’s comparable to what you see in Monaco.”

Those surroundings have introduced her to remarkable clients and remarkable homes, including Mettawa’s nationally recognized “Spaceship House,” a striking circular residence featured by The Wall Street Journal and Crain’s Chicago Business.

“People are in awe when they see it for the first time,” Mercier says. “The finishes are high-end quality.”

Yet even extraordinary homes don’t change her perspective.

They’re still places where life unfolds.

Mercier also enjoys mentoring younger agents and embracing the changes that come with an ever-evolving profession.

“I love learning,” she says. “I’ve learned so much from many of my clients. We never stop learning. You can’t fear picking up new things or adapting to the times.”

Ask what she’s proudest of, and the answer comes without hesitation.

“My family.”

Some answers don’t require elaboration.

After all, Donna Mercier has spent more than three decades helping other families find places to call home.

She found hers a long time ago.

MercFoss Team Coldwell Banker Realty, 675 Forest Ave., Lake Forest. Visit mercfossteam.com or call 847-757-6538 for more information.