Cory Albiani once sold maps and chocolate. Now he wants to sell your house.

Albiani served in senior marketing and sales positions at both Rand McNally and The Hershey Company, but about 15 years ago decided he wanted to create a business of his own. It turned out to be the right decision.

Since starting his real estate business, Albiani has closed more than $130 million in sales. His properties sell at an average of 98 percent of asking price, as opposed to the larger market average of 94, and his average time-on-market is 45 days, just a third of the market average.

There’s also the fact he takes after his mom, who has been in the real estate business for more than 30 years and encouraged her son to give real estate a try.

“I always had an interest in real estate and was intrigued by the opportunity to run my own business,” he says. “My mom has been a great mentor and partner.”

Albiani grew up in Highland Park and attended Highland Park High School. After graduating from the University of Iowa with a marketing degree, he launched his corporate career, which took him to Mexico and Latin America.

After meeting his wife—a native Italian—on a blind date, he decided to return to Highland Park to raise his family and launch his real estate business.

Over the years, his competitive edge remains the ability to bring his corporate marketing and sales skills to the table to get homes ready to sell and to successfully negotiate deals.

“My edge is in creating marketing and sales plans for clients,” says Albiani. “Whether it’s buying or selling, I use my corporate experience to benefit clients and close deals.”

Real estate is also not just a hobby for Albiani. It’s a full-time job. When you hire him, you hire a team of professionals and tradesmen who help prepare a house for market and ensure a swift sale.

“I think it’s very important to have the tenacity to get through difficult situations to get a deal done,” he says. “A professional approach no matter who I’m working with is very important to me.”

That professionalism doesn’t prevent him from enjoying the many amenities of the North Shore.

Albiani’s morning run to Highland Park’s Rosewood Beach to conduct his daily workout routine of pushups and situps is one of many ways in which he enjoys the amenities of the community.

“It’s a beautiful place to live filled with established neighborhoods and people who love a good get-together,” he says. “There is a sense of community here that you don’t find everywhere and a friendly spirit that never gets old. The proximity to the lake and the excellent schools are what draw young families up from the city.”

In summer, he often sits out on his back patio and listens to the sounds of Ravinia.

Albiani’s passion for his work can be found in his desire to always exceed expectations for his clients.

“I stay focused on getting the top dollar for sellers and the best value for buyers,” he says. “What keeps me excited is seeing clients and their families get the home they truly love, and what I enjoy most is the relationships and knowing that clients really appreciate the effort.”

Cory Albiani’s @properties office is located at 607 Central Avenue in Highland Park, 847-432-0700, atproperties.com/agents/CoryAlbiani.