Agent Spotlight: Bari Levine

How many of us can see we’ve been doing what we love for 14+ years? Bari Levine surely can thanks to a chance encounter (some might call it fate!) with the real estate industry following her college graduation.

Whether she’s helping a buyer fulfill their dream on House Hunters, aiding a seller with staging, or finding her next spot to tumble into a handstand, it’s easy to see that Bari is full of passion. Get to know what makes her tick in this week’s @properties Agent Spotlight.

How did you land in a real estate career?
Kind of by chance as a starting off point right out of college. Luckily I choose a great company and learned from amazing mentors along the way. 14 years later I feel so lucky that I still love selling real estate, building client relationships and mentoring new agents.

Is this your first career? What was working in real estate like when you started?
This is my first! I started right after I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison – Go Badgers! I don’t even think there were 200 agents at @properties when I joined.

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?
For a buyer, it’s when I find the missing ‘puzzle piece’ that my client is searching for. I love getting a thorough understanding of what a client is hoping to find. I think I get more excited than my clients do when that ‘perfect place’ comes on the market. For a seller, I love guiding them through the process of getting their listing ready to go to market. Such small changes, upgrades, and tweaks can make a huge impact on the final sale value of a home!

What is one thing you literally could not do your job without and why?
My team! for way too many reasons to list!!

What are 3 words clients would use to describe you?
Hard-working, honest, trustworthy.

How do you start each day?
Usually with one eye barely open checking my emails in bed. Then hanging out and playing with my daughter, Dylan. I love my time with her in the early hours of the morning!

You help others find their homes for a living, but what was your first home like?
I still love the first home I ever had in Chicago. It was a cute little studio at Chicago and Michigan. I overlooked Michigan Avenue and the view was always so fun and entertaining. It was so simple and easy to maintain. Plus the building had a great rooftop pool which I still miss to this day

What do you love most about your neighborhood?
I love the Riverwalk and Montgomery Ward Park. I love that it has a quiet tree-lined neighborhood feel but is still in the heart of the city just minutes from downtown.

What is your favorite way to stay involved in your community?
I have been a board member for @ gives back since its inception. This year we have been raising money for the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation!

Give us 3 words your family would use to describe you.
Creative, determined, loyal. (I asked my sister – thanks Alissa!)

And lastly, what did you eat for breakfast today?
Oatmeal with blueberries, banana, flax seeds, and chia seeds, courtesy of my wonderful husband.