Anik Zampini said he knows "every street, every nook and corner" of Hinsdale, where he grew up, and where he wife Maggie have chosen to raise their three daughters, ages 7, 5 and 2. (Jim Slonoff photo)
His years spent growing up in Hinsdale gave Anik Zampini an up-close knowledge of life in the village. His years spent in places around the world showed him that his hometown is a great place to be, to live and to raise a family.
Born in Hong Kong and after living in Italy, Nigeria, Thailand, Colombia and Venezuela, Zampini calls Hinsdale home. As a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty, his job is to make it home for others, too.
"It's a dream come true," Zampini said of returning to the village with his wife and their three daughters just three years ago. "There is no other community like Hinsdale."
Zampini said buyers looking for a home in Hinsdale are attracted to the town's character and diversity of architecture. Some want old-world charm and history in their home, while others want large and modern. Hinsdale, Zampini said, has both. The hard part can be finding an available property.
"It's a tough market that we're in right now," Zampini said. Low inventory, high interest rates and high prices cause doubt and confusion for buyers. He said clients question whether now is the time to buy. For those who find a home that fits their needs and wants, Zampini's answer is "yes."
Waiting for the perfect time to buy or sell is risky, because when interest rates fall, competition for the few homes on the market is likely to increase, driving prices even higher, he said.
He advises clients who find their perfect home to act now and refinance later.
"Never let the urgent eclipse the important," is advice Zampini gives his clients, and applies to his work as a real estate agent. More important than a sale is building trust in his clients, said Zampini, who works to build longterm relationships with his buyers and sellers.
Along with helping clients to find their perfect home, Zampini helps business owners find the perfect place to do business in Hinsdale, the surrounding suburbs, and even in the city.
"I do a lot of commercial real estate," Zampini said. "For buyers, this is a great time to find property at a reasonable price."
Unlike residential real estate, there is plenty of commercial space on the market, Zampini said.
Before selling his first house or leasing his first office space, Zampini's real estate focus was on finding places within the Chicago Public School District to convert into schools in neighborhoods that needed them. The job involved everything from finding the property to designing the building, hiring teachers and recruiting students, Zampini said.
"It was a great experience," he said.
"That was my foot in the door, if you will," Zampini said.
Zampini transitioned to full-time real estate in 2014, starting with a small boutique agency in Chicago before making his way back to Hinsdale. He now works with clients and properties throughout the entire Chicago area, but Hinsdale, he said, holds a special place in his personal as well as professional life.
Having grown up in the village, Zampini said he knows every neighborhood, every street and everything a prospective homebuyer needs to know about his favorite town.
- by Sandy Illian Bosch
