Born and raised on the North Side of Chicago, I’ve always felt a deep connection to the vibrant neighborhoods, diverse communities, and rich history that make Chicagoland so special. That lifelong familiarity, combined with my background as a high school Social Studies teacher, gives me a unique lens through which I help my clients navigate one of life’s biggest decisions—buying or selling a home. As a teacher, I learned the power of clear communication, thoughtful guidance, and the ability to anticipate needs—skills that have proven invaluable in real estate.
As a wife and mother, I understand how personal and emotional the real estate journey can be. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a growing family, or preparing for a downsize, I approach every client relationship with empathy, patience, and purpose. Backed by one of the region’s most trusted real estate firms, I bring local expertise, strong negotiation skills, and genuine care to every transaction—helping you move forward with clarity and confidence.
Elaine was an absolute pleasure to work with while trying to sell two houses simultaneously and in different cities. If you are looking for someone who is always upbeat, displays effective communication, and pays attention to client needs throughout the entire realty process, Elaine is the realtor for you. She does her research on the area in which the home is located and does a brilliant job at marketing the property to get a fair price according to the going rate. I have known Elaine for several years and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a knowledgeable realtor you can trust emphatically.
Elaine made selling our house and buying a new one effortless. From our first meeting to our closing, she was responsive to our needs and helped us secure the best offer for our house. When we were looking for a new home, she worked tirelessly to help us navigate a difficult market. We never worried about the process because we knew Elaine was there for us.
Elaine Marinakos really made purchasing our current house as easy as it could be during the beginning of the COVID pandemic. She was knowledgeable and up-to-date on current offerings in the area we were looking, and had creative ideas about where to expand our search. She responded to our changes easily and kept showing us houses, even when we had to go in one at a time, with masks and gloves on! I would highly recommend Elaine to anyone looking to purchase a home, she is a great realtor who truly cares about her clients!
Elaine Marinakos made the process of buying my first condo the smoothest and stress free process ever. She knew what type of condo I was looking for and gave her honest opinion on the places and locations in relation to what I would want to live in. She would respond to all messages at a very fast rate and answered all of my questions clearly. She had great recommendations for real estate lawyers or home inspectors and was able to find me people to work with when I needed it. I would definitely buy and sell again with Elaine because of how smooth of a process she made it to be.