KAREN ARENSON

Karen Arenson of Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore & Chicago says her career in residential real estate sales is the perfect blend of everything she loves—teaching, learning, exploring, guiding, and mentoring. “My true passion is the ‘ah ha’ moment that occurs when I have helped others achieve their potential or realize an important goal,” says Arenson, a long-time Glencoe resident and former Department Chair of Technology at New Trier High School and English teacher at Lake Forest High School. “Introducing Engel & Völkers to the North Shore has allowed me to bring together like-minded brokers who are ready to elevate their businesses and align with a company whose culture and values align with their own. The consistency and quality of this global brand is unsurpassed, and it is an honor to represent the best wherever I go!”

What do you consider the biggest challenge in the local real estate market today, and how are you addressing it?
The biggest challenge is the erosion of a collaborative environment in which all brokerages and brokers share their listings openly so that the sellers get the best exposure for their homes, and the buyers are confident that they are seeing everything that is for sale. As listing agents, our job is not to sell the home; it is to bring the buyers to the home. Knowledge is power, and in this case, the more knowledge both parties have, the better served they feel. Hiding a listing behind an “exclusive” or private veil only hurts the consumer, both buyer and seller. That is our biggest challenge, and we are addressing it by fighting to maintain clear cooperation so that our sellers get the greatest exposure for their homes.

The luxury market has its own dynamics. How do you tailor your approach when working with high-net-worth individuals or luxury properties?
Engel & Völkers was founded as a luxury brand over 50 years ago, before anyone in the U.S. even knew what that meant. I brought Engel & Völkers to the North Shore because exceeding expectations is woven into the fabric of the company worldwide. The caliber of the advisors speaks for itself, and our marketing does as well. I don’t approach high-net-worth individuals or luxury properties any differently than I would any other because we believe that luxury is an experience, not a price point.

Karen Arenson is with Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore & Chicago, 566 Chestnut Street, Unit 7, in Winnetka. For more information, call 773-501-6201, email [email protected], or visit karenarenson. evrealestate.com. You can also follow her on Facebook at KarenArensonRE; on Instagram @karenarensonev; on LinkedIn at karenarenson; or on YouTube @karenarensonev.