Chicago Agent Magazine

Negotiating multimillion-dollar contracts for professional athletes as a former NBA agent provided Joe Kotoch with a natural foundation for managing high-stakes property transactions. Transitioning into the residential sector allowed him to apply his legal background and sports industry expertise in a career specializing in luxury homes, investment portfolios and ground-up urban developments.

Kotoch has spent more than a decade in Chicago real estate, leading the Joe Kotoch Group at Compass. Athletes, entertainers, executives and investors come to him for guidance on transactions that frequently cross state lines.

Bringing an international perspective to the group, Sabrina Zampa relies on an operational approach defined by professional integrity and a focus on client objectives. Her role involves identifying underlying market opportunities that standard evaluations miss, allowing her to guide buyers and investors through complex contractual hurdles to establish long-term professional relationships.

Joe kotoch, Founder
Sabrina Zampa Luxury Real Estate, Broker Associate
Joe Kotoch Group
Forest City Capital, Compass Chicago
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2026/joe-kotoch-group/

Joe Kotoch Group - Chicago Agent Magazine   Joe Kotoch, Founder Sabrina Zampa, Broker Associate Negotiating multimillion-dollar contracts for professional athletes...

360 S Prospect Ave. is an authentic mid-century home, completely reimagined for modern living while preserving the architectural character that makes it so distinctive.

Set on an expansive .38-acre property in the heart of Elmhurst, this exceptional four-bedroom residence offers 4,490 square feet of finished living space across four beautifully designed levels. Vaulted ceilings, clerestory windows, expansive walls of glass and a dramatic two-sided corner fireplace create an unforgettable first impression while filling the main living areas with natural light.

The showpiece kitchen pairs imported Italian cabinetry with a terrazzo waterfall island offering seating for five and a complete suite of Miele appliances. A dramatic custom bar with integrated w**e refrigeration adds another distinctive entertaining element. The open, sophisticated layout flows effortlessly between the kitchen, dining and living areas, making the home equally suited to everyday living and memorable gatherings.

Join us for an open house Sunday, Sept. 27th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Presented by: Yvonne Despinich Real Estate | 630.989.9500 | [email protected] | movetoelmhurst.com
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/slideshows/360-s-prospect-ave-elmhurst-il-60126/

Marjorie Allabastro’s expertise covers Chicago and the surrounding suburbs in Cook and Lake counties. Having grown up in Lake Forest and currently residing in Irving Park, she understands the diverse neighborhoods and markets she serves. “I love living in the city, with quick access to Lincoln Square, Roscoe Village, North Center and Logan Square, as well as nearby suburbs,” she shares. “I feel like I get the best of all worlds.” Having worked in both residential and corporate real estate development, she brings a unique perspective to her role as a Realtor with Baird & Warner.

A member of the Baird & Warner Founder’s Club, Allabastro consistently ranks in the top 10% of all Baird & Warner agents. “My knowledge of construction and continuously evolving markets has given me the ability to translate my clients’ needs into a physical manifestation of their dream property,” she says. “My time in real estate development helped me understand the intricacies of many different types of properties from the ground up.”

Marjorie Allabastro, Professional Real Estate Broker, Broker
Baird & Warner Lincoln Park
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2026/marjorie-allabastro-2/

For more than 24 years, mortgage professional Craig Achtzehn has helped people navigate the home financing process with discipline, clarity and care. His path to the lending industry began unexpectedly in 2000, when a mortgage company owner Achtzehn met while standing up in a wedding recruited him into the business. “That unexpected connection opened the door to what’s become a long and rewarding career,” he says.

Today, as the area sales manager for The Money Store in Chicago, Achtzehn serves homebuyers, homeowners and professional partners throughout Chicagoland and beyond. Licensed in 21 states, he works with a wide range of clients, including military veterans, first-time buyers and real estate investors. With his background in military leadership and an MBA focused in finance, Achtzehn pairs technical knowledge with a practical, people-first approach. He has been recognized as one of the nation’s top-producing mortgage originators by industry publications Scotsman Guide and Mortgage Executive Magazine.

Craig Achtzehn NMLS 320399 at The Money Store, Area Sales Manager
The Money Store NMLS # 320399
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2026/craig-achtzehn-7/

Check out this this in-ground abode in the foothills of El Dorado! 👀
Featuring original 1983 finishes and the ultimate insulation this property is charming in the front but buried in the back.

Additional treasures within this partially underground property include a cozy sunroom, an open-concept living area and a secret room hidden behind a bookshelf.

Emily Jordan of RE/MAX Foothill Properties is managing the $640,000 listing.

Partially underground in El Dorado - Chicago Agent Magazine Real Estrange Featuring original finishes and the ultimate insulation, this in-ground abode in El Dorado is charming in the front but buried in the back.

When Gretchen Gullo entered the real estate industry over 30 years ago, her longtime interest in homes and properties inspired her career transition. Yet the endless opportunity to help others, especially families, in Chicago’s northwest suburbs is what kept her in real estate. “My background was in child development and family studies, and I had been executive director for two nonprofit agencies that cared for children,” she reflects. “My love of working with parents as well as loving real estate made me take the plunge and never look back.”

Clients appreciate Gullo’s faith, candor and expertise, but they also value her integrity and willingness to listen. “I work hard to understand what they really want and stay on their page, not mine,” she explains.

Gretchen Gullo At Properties Park Ridge, Founding Broker
Park Ridge, atproperties Christie’s International Real Estate
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2026/gretchen-gullo-6/

🏠 Pending home sales ticked up in August as some buyers got off the sidelines in the face of high prices and mortgage rates, the National Association of REALTORS® reported. Despite the bump, contract signings were still below last year’s levels.

Specifically, pending sales inched up 0.3% from July but lagged August 2025 by 4.7%.

Regionally, pending home sales increased month over month in the South and West but declined in the Northeast and Midwest. Year over year, pending sales were down across the board.

Find the top 10 markets for year-over-year gains in pending sales:

NAR: Pending home sales post gain in August - Chicago Agent Magazine By the Numbers Pending home sales ticked up in August as some buyers got off the sidelines in the face of high prices and mortgage rates, NAR said.

Empathy isn’t a soft skill in mortgage lending. For Shimmy Braun and Tom Fishwick, it’s the operating principle behind more than five decades of combined experience at CrossCountry Mortgage, where each holds the title of senior vice president of mortgage lending. Both were drawn to the industry by the belief that guiding clients through the largest purchase of their lives calls for the same care they’d want for themselves.

That philosophy shapes everything. Neither Braun nor Fishwick hands clients off to an assistant or junior loan officer at first contact. Instead, every borrower speaks directly with one of them from the start, and their availability extends well beyond business hours. Before any loan moves forward, clients go through what the duo calls “Mortgage 101,” which includes a walkthrough of the full process, complete with a written summary, ensuring clients have a reference point as things progress.

Shimmy Braun & Tom Fishwick The Shimmy & Tom Team at CCM, Senior Vice Presidents of Mortgage Lending
CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC NMLS # 112849, NMLS # 224365
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2026/shimmy-braun-tom-fishwick-2/

Chanan Dozier, principal agent and licensed managing broker at The ElevaRE Collective Powered by Compass, genuinely cares about her clients’ goals.

Dozier brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across the legal, financial, private and nonprofit sectors to deals in metro Chicago and its suburbs, as well as Northwest Indiana and the Indianapolis areas.

“I have seen nearly every scenario this business can present, and I know how to navigate it,” says Dozier, a top-producing agent.
Dozier approaches every deal not just as an agent, but as someone who understands every side of the table, a perspective that gives clients a distinct advantage. She approaches every transaction prepared to be resource far beyond closing day.

Chanan Dozier, Principal Agent, Licensed Managing Broker
The ElevaRE Collective, Powered by Compass Chicago
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2026/chanan-dozier/

A lifelong student of patterns and people, Beth Repta found her footing in real estate nearly two decades ago at the intersection of strategy, numbers and human connection. What started as a career became a platform for helping clients build wealth, navigate major life transitions and create stability for their families.

A Northern Chicagoland native, Repta draws on her deep roots across McHenry, Lake, Kane and Cook counties. She has particular expertise in Cary, Crystal Lake, Algonquin, Fox River Grove and Barrington.

As the founder, CEO and lead broker of Repta Residential, powered by LPT Realty, Repta leads a growing team that serves move-up buyers, sellers, luxury clients and first-time buyers across single-family homes, townhomes, waterfront properties and land. Her approach blends data-driven decision-making with direct communication and a process-oriented structure designed to eliminate surprises.

Beth Repta, Founder, CEO, Lead Broker
Repta Residential, LPT Realty
https://chicagoagentmagazine.com/whos-who-2026/beth-repta-4/