If you’ve bought or sold a home in Hinsdale, you’ve probably come across Kim Lotka’s name. “I love this business. I’m passionate about it,” says the Coldwell Banker real estate agent. “I think I know every house in town. Give me an address and I can probably describe the house to you.”

Lotka sold a house in the first weekend she was in business and has since resold the same house three times. Now she’s in the top 1 percent of all agents nationwide with NRT, the largest residential real estate brokerage company in the country, which includes Coldwell Banker in addition to numerous other top real estate firms. Again this year, she will close over 50 homes. In other words, Lotka knows this industry.

Having built over 25 homes from the ground up, Lotka not only understands the business of real estate, but also home construction. “I can look at a house and know its potential and the work necessary to achieve that potential.” As one of her many rehab projects, Lotka returned the landmark Hinsdale “Hallmark House” to its original beauty. “People come to me because I know how to build a house, or remodel it,” she says. “I know materials, and I can immediately tell the difference between quality and mediocre products,” she adds. “And I know how to get things done within the village. I’m a resource for everything. You name it, it has come up.”

Living and working in Hinsdale has been a true joy for Lotka. “There’s so much pride of ownership here,” she says. “It’s so quaint—the tree-lined streets, the fun shops and great restaurants. We have five grade schools, and you can walk to every one of them,” she adds. Having raised two children in Hinsdale, Lotka understands the importance of Hinsdale’s close-knit community. The strong family environment is also the very thing that helps her business thrive. Working almost exclusively through referrals and often representing several generations of the same family, she values most the relationships she builds with clients.

“This is often the largest purchase of their lives,” Lotka remarks, “and they come to me for guidance.” For families new to the area, she understands the importance of providing a port in the storm during the transition process. One young family even went so far as to add Lotka to their kid’s emergency contact list. Lotka is ultimately dependable and it shows in her work.

Though the real estate business is undeniably ever-evolving, the personal approach to Lotka’s work remains its hallmark. “Every day is totally different in this business, and that’s very exciting,” she says, “but what matters most is establishing a strong relationship with your client. That will never change.”

To learn more about Kim Lotka, visit her website at kimlotka.com, or call 630-533-8800.