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Raised in Hinsdale by a real estate developer father, LISA READ grew up learning deal structures and cash flow models on Excel the way other kids were read bedtime stories or taught to ride a bike. She spent years absorbing the nuances of real estate finance, not realizing that one day, real estate would find her. Her path led from Hinsdale Central to Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, then to an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. She worked in investment banking and financial markets before taking on the most demanding, and meaningful, job of all—raising three boys. About a decade into motherhood, Read took a side step and got her real estate license, and something clicked. Real estate was not only familiar; it was her calling. She finds it captivating, complex, and creative, relationship-driven and deeply human. It requires problem-solving, intuition, strategic thinking, and heart. It’s about bringing people home—not just to a house, but to a life that fits. As a real estate broker with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, Read loves working in the community that shaped her. A proud graduate of Hinsdale Central, she has raised her own family here—Tucker, a Junior at TCU, is studying military strategy and communication in Army ROTC; William, a Sophomore at the University of Iowa, is studying business; and her youngest son Brit, just starting at Hinsdale Central this fall, is a proud Red Devil football player. Shaped by this town, Read finds joy in helping shape it back—one family, one home, one connection at a time.
What conversations are you passionate about bringing to the table? I’m passionate about increasing awareness around real estate finance—and finance more broadly—especially among women and young people.
How do you define confidence—and how have you built it? Confidence is seeking your own approval first, trusting yourself, and liking who you are. Honestly, I built it by failing, by losing a lot, and digging deep to cultivate my own strength. It’s a process, but every step has taught me to rely on myself more.
What legacy do you hope to leave behind? Ultimately, I want to do work I love that creates real value and leaves people in a stronger, more secure place.
For more information, visit lisareadrealestate.com. You may also follow her on Instagram @lisaread_realestate as well as Facebook and LinkedIn.
