Testimonials

Very knowledgeable, great marketing, listens to the clients goals and good communication

Stephen Hnatow was a pleasure to work with on the sale of our condo, he brought professionalism and knowledge to all aspects of the process. Stephen loves the real estate industry and it shows while working with him!

Stephen was a pleasure to work with from day one. He truly does go above and beyond, and we felt in good hands while navigating the maze of home purchasing. He was very involved and available at every step in our purchase. We felt that Stephen always had our best interests in mind, and made sure our wish list was achieved, and then some. We would recommend Stephen to other purchasers in an instant. (And he gives good decorating tips!)

Stephen and his team are not only exceptional they are professional, friendly and knowledgeable on all fronts. They consistently went above an beyond to help me sell my property. The process was quick and painless, and I would recommend them to anyone in the market to buy or sell!

Stephen was great! His advice and expertise of the real estate market made for an overall exceptional experience. When working with Stephen, you get a true partner in every regard, from start to finish!

Stephen is the trusted advisor you want in a real estate transaction. He offers the wisdom of his experience in a way that guides you to your own conclusions and has the chops to get good deals closed quickly in a rapidly changing market.

Steve and his team uncovered the proverbial needle in the haystack for us. His intimate knowledge of the Lakeview market and the very specific area that we wanted to be in proved to be invaluable. He found a property before it went on the very “hot” market and got us the perfect home. He stayed with us well beyond the closing to assist with other outstanding issues, made fantastic referrals for other service providers and was always making us feel like we were his best and only client. Outstanding job!

Stephen Hnatow was an absolute pleasure to work with! This was our first home and he made the process so smooth and problem free. He was extremely attentive to what we were looking for in our home. The home we ended up purchasing was the 3rd home we saw, and he was extremely helpful in helping us realize the potential in the home and neighborhood, noting that the home was a unique find. He made my partner and I feel at ease during the entire process and was always in contact if not personally or through his very attentive team. We are extremely happy with our home and can easily say that the buying process went smoothly due to our realtor.

It took a village to sell me my first condo, but I couldn’t be happier. As a first time home-buyer, I was all over the place. I wanted to live in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Andersonville, Wicker Park, and Wrigleville ALL at the same time. Stephen and his team were more than patient with me helping me to define my requirements and narrow my search. After getting closer and closer, we found the perfect fit. I am so appreciative of their help and support. I couldn’t have done it without them.

Stephen is a great asset to have on your side when dealing with the Real Estate business. He was able help me not only sell my place in a time of housing sale struggle but also able to help me find my new place. He was able to explain pros and cons of certain places and was always looking out for my best interest.

Stephen was a great listener and worked hard to find the perfect home for us. It was a pleasure to work with someone who truly cares about finding the best outcome for clients.

Stephen was suggested to me by a mutual friend and I can say without a doubt that I am 100% happy with the work he put in helping me search for my new home. As it was my first time in the market, I was fairly nervous about the process and my prospects. Stephen took the time to help me be comfortable, never pressuring me to move on any particular property, making certain that not only did he understand what it was I might be looking for, but also that I understood what it was I wanted. It felt like he asked the right questions without ever leading me to a predetermined position, and tailored the search as we each learned more about what was out there and how my interests evolved accordingly. I would not hesitate to call Stephen again when I need the services he can provide and will absolutely recommend Stephen to anyone thinking about buying or selling. If for some reason I am unable to utilize Stephen in the future, my next agent will have an extremely difficult time living up to the expectations Stephen has set.

My wife and I were extremely unsure of what to expect as we tried to buy our first house. We were rookies in the truest sense. Stephen Hnatow understood that and took care of us like we were family. He was very informative, answered even the simplest of our questions, and did it with a smile. He is a first rate realtor, a class act, and has become a true friend. I would be happy to recommend Stephen to anyone.

Stephen [was] wonderful. He offered constructive advice in order to make our place look appealing and presentable to buyers. Plus he had very open lines of communication with us. And of course he was very friendly and outgoing. We would highly recommend him to anyone!

Stephen did an excellent job for us. His negotiation skills are fabulous, his research on the market is thoughtful, his marketing plans are wonderful. Further, he kept us informed and educated us regarding the entire home-sale process. He is a pleasure to work with and we will definitely recommend his services to our friends and family.

When Stephen started helping me find my dream home, I was looking at condos within a specific building. He went ABOVE AND BEYOND from day one. Stephen was able to get the Senior Leader for the Developer to show me every single(!) available unit in the building (and there were a lot!). Because of this, I got expert answers to all of my questions, and then Stephen himself asked all the questions I didn’t know to ask. Even though Stephen likely already knew the answers (b/c he’s such an expert himself), he made sure that I was informed and heard everything first-hand. Stephen handled everything for me expertly and efficiently, making sure my attorney was involved as well. He saved me many many MANY headaches and kept me sane throughout everything. Stephen was honest, realistic, and PROACTIVE. He saw signs that my closing might fall through, so he sought out other condos that he knew I’d like. Everything he showed me was right on par with price, location, and amenities. He even made sure that the parking spaces would be convenient with my large SUV! At the last minute, the deal on my original condo went through, and Stephen was even able to get me a parking space which was not originally not part of the deal! He saw me though every step of the sales process and answered all of my questions promptly with expert knowledge. He was realistic about everything, never misleading me. So now I’ve been in my condo for four months and couldn’t be happier! All because of Steve. He is hands down the best agent I could imagine. ADDED BONUS: Stephen has a fantastic home decorating sense and advice!

If it had not been for Stephen’s tenacity, my deal would not have come together. Stephen met each hurdle and navigated successfully through the hoops. His effective level of communication is why my transaction was successful.

Working with Stephen Hnatow was an amazingly easy experience. Stephen was very knowledgeable and helpful; my condo sold in less than 30 days. Not only did he sell my condo, but I also made a life-long friend.

We had another agent in the past. Stephen was incredible. He priced the property right from the start and fought for us, which in this market is difficult. He was able to bring in 2 offers quickly, and walked us through the process in great detail. Highly recommended!

Stephen offered exceptional service and beyond that went the extra mile for many little details, which at the end make a big difference. He is very professional and absolutely dependable! It shows that he loves his job!

Stephen exhibits a professionalism that benefits both the client and the client’s interests. He is diligent, knowledgeable and experienced and I am thrilled with the result of our search and the closing! Stephen is an asset to @properties!

I’m fortunate to have found Stephen to be my agent. He makes a normally stressful process as easy as possible, especially because of his willingness to find and address sticky details. His guidance and diligence made him a trusted adviser throughout, especially as we worked together from 400 miles apart.

Stephen made the process of buying our new home so simple. He was able to communicate any issue or concern, even if we did not like the answer. The day I interviewed Stephen to help us purchase our second home, I told him that I do not want to be your friend, I want you to be my Realtor. I can now say that we value his friendship and his expertise, that guy is a wealth of information. Thank you for your hard work.

I met Stephen while viewing one of the properties he had listed. I was working with another broker at the time but decided I should work with Stephen as his professionalism, attention to detail and his passion for informing /empowering the customer to find exactly what they desire during their home search. That combined with follow through post purchase has made this an enjoyable experience that I will share with friends and family and make sure to refer him to any future home purchasers I encounter.

We were introduced to Stephen by another client and mutual friend. As soon as we started working with him we understood why he has such a great reputation. We were first-time homebuyers: daunted by the process and unsure of where to start. Stephen got to know us personally, and worked with us to find common ground in our list(s) of priorities. He quickly narrowed our search to areas of the city and properties that fully met our requirements. Stephen never said never, but was realistic, candid, and optimistic about our prospects to find the right home –and he did! After showing us intriguing prospects, we circled back and bought the first condo he showed us. Stephen also referred a terrific team of people –our mortgage broker and lawyer– that exceeded our expectations while working swiftly and diligently to close on time, despite a relative lack of organization the other side of the table. Steve is a friend, a confidant, and a great business partner.

We purchased our first home this year. As first time home buyers, the whole process seemed intimidating. Stephen made this a fun learning experience. Many questions were asked and answered. Also, whenever we asked for his advice, his response was backed with experience and sincerity. Stephengot to know our tastes and helped us find the house we call home. The contacts he recommended to us were just as professional as he. We would definitely recommend Stephen to anyone.

Stephen was amazing. He is extremely knowledgeable, responsive, hard working, and reliable. He is the only realtor I would ever use in Chicago. We are very, very happy he was our Realtor. It’s too bad that we moved out of state, otherwise he would be our agent if we were buying in Chicago. Whenever I have friends that are looking to buy or sell, I will definitely recommend they go with Steve.

Stephen was extremely helpful and impressive throughout the entire condo searching and purchasing process. As a first time buyer, I knew very little about how the process worked and the various requirements at each step–Stephen made the entire process seamless and provided excellent insight into various other factors to be considered in choosing a condo that I wouldn’t have otherwise thought of. In addition, his thorough knowledge of my target market (Lakeview / Lincoln Park) and understanding of the pricing and trends in the area gave me confidence during the negotiating and purchasing process in understanding market prices for the area.

Stephen was awesome. With my hectic schedule, he combed through listings for me and narrowed down my options to a select few, of which I quickly found four properties that scratched my itch and finally the exact one I ended purchasing. He made the entire process simple, easy, comfortable, fun and successful and I’d recommend him to anybody in a heartbeat.

Stephen Hnatow is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and professional Realtor. He and his team made our first home buying experience exciting, stress-free, and fun.

The sale of our first home in a depressed market could have been overwhelming, but with Stephen, it was not. He provided us with a great amount of expertise and patience. He always told the truth, even when it was hard to hear. He walked us through the process with integrity and went out of his way to make sure that our place was ready to show. He worked tirelessly for us, and I know he would do the same for all of his clients.

Stephen is a very knowledgeable agent, who provided not only a lot of useful insight in locations but also in fine details that concern home quality. He matched me with a property that satisfied all of my personal tastes. In doing so, he made the experience enjoyable, professional, and he single-handedly reversed a lot of my frustrations with real estate. He is highly recommended to any home buyer.

Stephen made the buying process a lot less stressful by being as honest about properties as possible. He was very patient while we had many offers fall through and [had] to start the search all over again. Stephen was excellent and [I would] recommend him to anyone!

We would highly recommend Stephen and his team. They were extremely professional, timely, and provided expertise when we needed it. Stephen helped manage our sale amidst our search for another home, moving to New Orleans, and raising a one-year old. Stephen was excellent!

Stephen Hnatow was very professional and works with his clients to make sure they understand everything before they go to closing. The marketing of the house we sold was excellent. Was listed for 3 weeks before we had a signed contract. Amazing at this time of year. He works very hard for his clients and is very helpful and patient. Would recommend him to anyone I know that was buying or selling a home. Thank you Stephen.

I hired Stephen to sell my house because he appeared to be dedicated and one who could think outside the box which is essential in this housing market. He proved me right by selling it in three weeks at the price I was seeking. He processes all the qualities that are required in buying and selling properties in today’s economy especially impeccable customer service which is imperative in any environment and any business. Stephen has since become a genuine friend and I would never hesitate to recommend him to anyone as the most effective realtor I know.

Stephen is not only efficient and knowledgeable about his products, he guided me to make the right decsion on my property options. He also assisted me in referring me to quality service providers; such as, painters, audio/TV/internet experts.

I appreciate all that Stephen did for me throughout the search for my first home. I was incredibly lucky to fall into the hands of someone who is so hardworking, competent, trustworthy, and kind. Stephen made what could have been a stressful process fun, easy, and rewarding. Stephen should be really proud of all the work he puts in for his clients. It’s inspiring. Stephen will have my referral for life.

Working with Stephen to sell my condo can best be described as an absolute pleasure. Right off the bat I was impressed by Stephen’s depth of market knowledge and the amount of time and research he put into his recommendations. The marketing of my condo was impressive and led to a sale within four days of being listed. Stephen strives for the very best for his clients and his love for his work is apparent.

Expertise. Excellence. Execution. Stephen and the @properties team exceeded my expectations. Their expertise in marketing and developing strategies to market one’s home is exceptional. I really liked how Stephen and the team marketed my home through all social media outlets available but most importantly they presented my home to potential buyers as a home not just another property. One thing that really stood out to me is the timely feedback that Stephen and the team provided after each customer visit. As a seller it’s important to know what others think so their timely feedback was a great demonstration of excellence. At the end of the day, I never thought I would have an offer in less than three weeks. This truly occurred due to the commitment and execution that Stephen and the team demonstrated! I truly appreciate Stephen’s professionalism throughout the entire process.

Stephen and his team are great. If you want a highly professional team, then they should be who you call. Throughout the entire process, they listened to my needs and concerns, and they made every effort to address them. Stephen and his team responded quickly to all questions and inquiries whenever and however I posed them. They made what was a naturally stressful experience much, much easier.

Stephen and his entire team were incredible to work with. We were amazed at how many showings he generated our first (and only) weekend on the market and how quickly he sold our condo. It was all due to the hard work and great connections of our @properties team. From our initial meeting, to staging, to showings and negotiation, Stephen was professional, personable, wise and kind. He navigated us through every aspect of the sale so carefully. I felt like he was looking out for us every step of the way. Whenever we encountered any difficult decisions, he thoughtfully added valuable advice, without ever pushing his own agenda. Selling a house can be incredibly stressful, but Stephen did everything possible to guide us through the process as smoothly as can be. We would absolutely use him again and recommend him and his team wholeheartedly.

The knowledge, attention to detail and responsiveness of Stephen and his team was priceless. They were able to make the often stressful process of selling a home easy. With confidence, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a solid reality team.

Stephen was a total pleasure to work with. He’s very knowledgeable about the city and about the real estate market in Chicago. He listened to me as a buyer and developed a great sense of what I was looking for and what I would like and not like. He works incredibly hard and has a real sense of integrity. In addition to all this, he’s just a very nice guy. I will absolutely use him if a I need a broker again and would recommend him to anyone without hesitation.

Stephen Hnatow found me the perfect home, and so quickly! After giving him my long list of must-haves, my new home was the third place Stephen showed me. I really appreciated Stephen’s expertise, which was so helpful to an anxious homebuyer who felt a bit out of her element! He made himself available to me and he was very calming and very patient with my numerous questions and concerns. Stephen really advocated for me and gave me helpful advice during the negotiation process with the sellers and their agent. Stephen went above and beyond throughout the whole process, from finding me the perfect home, to advocating for me during the bid negotiation process, to recommending an outstanding mortgage broker and real estate lawyer, to guiding me through the closing. I’m so grateful to Stephen for facilitating what could have been an intimidating process. Thanks Stephen!

Stephen used some magic negotiating mojo to secure our condo for us. We were ready to walk away from our first choice, after the sellers refused to counter, but Stephen convinced us to persist, and after some mysterious late-night and early-morning conferences between agents, we got our home! We would absolutely never have succeeded on our own, nor with a less experienced or dedicated agent.

Stephen not only advocated for us to find our new home but he became a friend in the process. His work and approach is personal and always professional.

Stephen was always on top of key issues and provided continual feedback on the process in an honest, accurate, and trusted manner.

We worked primary with Stephen and Ryan for the sale of our South Loop condo and could not be happier! Stephen’s experience and understanding of the market helped us sell our condo above asking price in less than 1 week. Additionally, the entire team was very easy to work with and very accommodating to our needs. Stephen and Ryan are not only excellent realtors, but wonderful people.

Stephen is the best. Very knowledgeable, very trustworthy. He represented me in both the purchase and sale of my apartment and I’d unhesitatingly recommend him (and in fact, have).

Stephen is professional and understand the Chicago market well, thereby providing accurate and detailed feedback whether selling or buying a home (I have worked with Stephen on both). Working with Stephen has been a seamless process and I can highly recommend his work and services.

Stephen made the selling process very easy. We have small children and he was very considerate of our schedules and made every effort to minimize any impact on our family. His team was very attentive and anticipated all needed items needed for closing so that we didn’t have to worry about these issues in addition to packing. We highly recommend Stephen’s services.

Stephen & Ryan worked so efficiently with me, I was moving in before I knew it into a place that fit my needs to a T. I can’t recommend them more highly.

Stephen+Ryan were an absolute pleasure to work with! So incredibly knowledgeable, professional and completely organized on every front. They made expert recommendations but always made me feel like the ultimate decision was mine to make, no pressure at all. During my sale, there were some tricky moments dealing with my condo board, the inspector, buyer’s attorney, buyer’s financing/move in date, etc., and they dealt with each situation swiftly and gracefully. So well in fact, as to shield me from nearly all of the stress and mess of it all! Ryan called me at every turn to walk me through things and make sure I understood every bit of the process. Furthermore, the team of professionals they recommended to me–from the stager and painter to the real estate attorney were top-notch. Ultimately, they turned the process of selling–something that I thought would be a HUGE stress–into a blip on the radar of my daily life! Minimizing disruption by handling things beautifully–that’s the mark of a stellar realtor team! Biggest thanks for a successful sale!

It was a pleasure working with Stephen, Ryan and Andy, they are outstanding at what they do; extremely helpful, responsive, and professional. I really appreciated their patience and support throughout my 1st selling process, I learned a lot and was pleased with the outcome. I would gladly recommend your team to anyone looking to buy or sell in the future.

I highly recommend Stephen and Ryan. The buying process from the initial search to closing went very smoothly and the entire team was consistently a pleasure to work with.

Stephen and Ryan are quite the duo. We had a short window to find a new home and the two of them worked seamlessly to get us exactly what we needed. Outstanding work!

Stephen & Ryan, and their team, are top notch professionals. It was my first time selling a home, so their guidance and support helped me through the unfamiliar process. No transaction like selling a home is smooth, but I can’t imagine the level of stress Stephen & Ryan, and their team, elimated for me through this sale. I would absolutely recommend them!

Stephen and Ryan get it done! Their expertise and knowledge from beginning to end, closed a sale where others had failed in the past. Why waste time with “B” Teams? Call Stephen & Ryan from the beginning. Thanks guys!

We predominantly worked with Ryan Wells on the purchase of our new home, although Stephen filled in a couple time when Ryan was unavailable. I simply cannot say enough good things about our experience with this team. We feel so lucky to have snagged up the home we bought, which was pre-market, and in high demand. I honestly believe we would not have gotten our place if we had any other realtor in Chicago. Super dedicated, always helpful no matter the hour, and very detail oriented. A++++ rating!

Stephen was fantastic. I didn’t know the area very well and after a couple times meeting up with him he really helped me get a feel for what I was looking for. He also took me on a few places one day that I wasn’t interested in necessarily so I was slightly confused. However, he did it to show me value for the area and pricing which helped out tremendously! Many times we were looking at homes and he would point out things I didn’t know to look for being a first time home buyer, it was reassuring to know he had such experience. He is a true professional and I would recommend him to anyone. Also when Stephen had to be out of town for the inspection his partner Ryan jumped in and was very pleasant the day I met him as well.

Couldn’t possibly have been more pleased! Stephen and team were professional, personable and quite talented! Wouldn’t buy or sell with anyone else

I can’t say enough great things about Stephen and his team! I was very discouraged with my previous broker. Stephen was very forthright in advising me what the true value of the property., ideas for staging, etc. That was very refreshing as the previous broker was not familiar at all with the area, staging ideas and the price point value of my condo. Within 2 business days, I had multiple offers on the property. If it had not been for Stephen’s knowledge and creative ideas, my property most likely would remain for sale as of this date. I will recommend Stephen and his team to anyone who is looking to buy or sell any real estate in Chicago. He is truly the best!

Our experience with Stephen + Ryan was amazing. They made the process of selling our condo simple and stress-free. If we decide to buy / sell in Chicago again we’ll absolutely use them!

Very patient and helpful for first time buyer.

Steve and his team are amazing! I couldn’t imagine trusting anyone else with such a major important decision as buying and selling. Thanks to the entire team!

This is my second time working with Stephen this year and he has been so great to work with. He’s gone above and beyond for me both times. Highly recommended!

Stephen & Ryan made the whole process of selling my condo as seamless and easy as possible! I loved working with them. I had a lot of balls in the air (a toddler, preparing to move across the country) and they were so understanding and really worked with me. They are responsive, and accommodating, and I felt so confident in their knowledge and expertise. Most importantly, they sold my home in the window I needed, for a good price, and served as an excellent advocate for me all the way through. Can’t recommend them highly enough!

Stephen, Ryan & Andy truly functioned as a team – a phenomenal team! They exuded professionalism in their communication, negotiations, pricing strategy, and just about everything! They were very responsive, always on the ball, and attended to every last detail. They gave us advice while still leaving the ultimate decision completely in our hands without any judgment. And most importantly, they got us the result we wanted and they got it done fast!

I have worked with Stephen in the past and intend to do so again in the future. The entire team is professional, courteous and prompt. Stephen and Ryan are top notch and I will recommend them to all in need of a broker in the future.

Stephen Hnatow did what two previous agents failed to do — sell our home. After having our condo on the market for almost two years, we had almost given up. But, we decided to meet with Stephen and we are so happy that we did. He listened to our experiences and came up with a new approach to the sale. He carefully explained his ideas and convinced us to do a little bit of updating and re-staging. After we went back on the market, we had a contract in less than a month. Stephen and his amazing team handled every aspect of the process with diligence and care. He provided excellent recommendations for a variety of different service providers (attorney, painter, floor refinisher, mover, cleaning service) and each of the recommended providers impressed us with their skills and responsiveness.

We interviewed several brokers before deciding to list with Stephen Hnatow. His sincere, thoughtful and very professional manner won us over immediately! Another key factor in our decision was the quick reply to our inquiry. The stream of communication allowed us to be fully informed at all times during the six-day sale and showing process. We felt fully confident that we were simply in the best position to sell with Stephen, and the quick sale proved that our instincts were correct! The entire team worked seamlessly so that we felt like we were the most important clients on the list. Everything and everyone was wonderful!

I have to admit that my husband and I were intimidated by the idea of selling our old home and buying a new home together for the first time. We had a lot of ideas for what we wanted in a new home, but we really weren’t sure where to start. For the sale of our old home, we knew demand was picking up in the housing market, but was it really time to sell? Enter Stephen + Ryan. From day one, they took the time to understand our wants and needs, but also helped us sort through and prioritize what we really wanted and needed so that we could sell our old home and find a new home. They are consummate professionals, but also made us feel like we were a part of their family too. I felt completely at ease in their care, and I never felt bullied or strong-armed into making a hasty decision. I truly felt that they wanted to keep us informed of all options so that we could confidently make our own decisions. In the end, we sold our old home in six days, and we are now living in a beautiful new property that felt like “home” from the first minute we stepped inside. We would (and do!) recommend Stephen + Ryan to anyone. Love those guys 🙂

Working with Stephen & Ryan made selling my property a very smooth experience. They offered valuable advice and recommendations though each stage of the process. I felt as though I was working with a very experienced and honest team. Every piece of advice and direction they offered went a long way towards achieving our goal of selling the property for the highest possible value. I recommend their services highly!

Stephen and Ryan continue to impress and exceed all of our expectations. We sold one condo and purchased two single-family homes (one of which was a tear-down) with them over the past year. Their attention to detail, knowledge of the Lakeview/Bucktown real estate markets and responsiveness are unparalleled. We have no reservations about recommending them to our friends and family (which we’ve done!).

Ryan and his colleagues of Stephen+Ryan were a welcome delight to work with during the sale of my home. Ryan’s dedication to his work and his expert advice undoubtedly made the sale of my home a reality. He was always responsive, proactive and honest as an agent through to the close of the sale. I could not have asked for better service or an agent with more integrity, knowledge and concern for my home. I would not hesitate to recommend Ryan and his colleagues to my friends and family. Thank you!