Emily Sachs Wong is quite literally the resident expert on single-family homes in Lincoln Park, Old Town, and the Gold Coast. She should know—she and the majority of the 11 other women who make up her team live in these neighborhoods.

“I wanted to be the absolute best in one area of real estate,” says Sachs Wong.

She is uniquely qualified with her vast experience both living and working in the area for more than 20 years. Sachs Wong has a keen eye for detail and helps her clients see their house through the lens of what buyers want today. Whether that means staging the home with new furniture, coordinating maintenance updates to appeal to the market, or making sure the house holds up for inspection, it’s all part of the bandwidth of services Sachs Wong provides to her clients.

Throughout the pandemic, talk swirled that everyone was fleeing the city of Chicago, and Sachs Wong is the first to clarify, that simply was not the case. In her corner of the market, there are lots of families buying and looking for homes, particularly young families who want close private or well-rated Chicago public schools.

“A lot of people are choosing Chicago, and it’s all about living out your choices to create the life you want,” she says. Sachs Wong is really in a class of her own, set apart from other realtors by the sheer knowledge she possesses of the market and the infinite file of properties she’s sold. She knows the history not only of the homes she sells but of other properties in the neighborhood as well, so that when it comes time to sell, she can suggest changes she knows will be in demand in her market.

Five years ago, Sachs Wong saw the market flooded with more modern décor and color schemes. But today, people are craving warmth after spending more time than ever before in their homes. Gone are the cool grays and whites, instead there’s an uptick in natural woods, warm rugs, color, and plants upon plants giving even more life to today’s housing market.

“It’s really invigorating to see people putting themselves into their homes,” says Sachs Wong. “They want life to be light and not burdensome, and that’s coming across in their homes.”

Sachs Wong notes that with the pandemic, people were really living in their homes in a way they never had before. Instead of picture-perfect rooms, people are making their houses functional for their families and routines. From keeping Pelotons in the living room, to creating a space where the family can gather together and watch movies, to finding creative solutions for outdoor spaces like garage decks or side yards, people are unapologetically living and decorating their lives in unique ways that work for them and bring them joy.

Sachs Wong’s commitment to detail is unparalleled. She takes a critical eye to each property, from banishing paint chips to spots on the ceilings, she’s an expert at making a home appealing to potential buyers.

“There’s a certain skill needed to show the house in a way that keeps the buyer engaged throughout the entire showing,” she notes.

She warns buyers, however, to fall in love with the house itself, not with the seller’s style or “vibe” of the house, because that will leave when the sellers do. Similarly, she advises sellers to enter in with an open mind: just because they may not like a certain change or update to the house, doesn’t mean a buyer or the market won’t love it.

Above all Sachs Wong urges people to buy what they truly love and not to get too caught up in the transactions of the deal. She’s seen time and again people pull out of negotiations due to frustration, only to settle for something less that isn’t what they absolutely love. This year has proven that a house is an intimate reflection of you, so if you love it, don’t let it go.

Emily Sachs Wong’s @properties office is located at 1211 W. Webster in Chicago. For more information, call 312-286-0800 or visit eswchicago.com.