A real state agent for 18 years and a Hinsdale resident for almost 30, Coldwell Banker's Cathie Callen said she enjoys working with clients and helping them find a house that meets all of their needs. (photo provided)
For Coldwell Banker agent Cathie Callen, real estate is about problem solving.
"It's like a puzzle," Callen said, the pieces of which are different for every person she helps to buy or sell a home.
An agent since 2006, Callen said she enjoys helping buyers find a home that meets their physical needs, their emotional wants and their financial means.
A mother of three, Callen was raising her children and working as a teacher when she decided to pursue a new career.
"I decided to try real estate," said Callen, who began her career with a small, local boutique agency before being recruited to Coldwell Banker.
Different agencies have different focuses, Callen said, and she's learned from each of the three agencies with which she has worked in her career. While one put an emphasis on market analysis, another focused on social media and marketing. Those experiences, she said, have made her a well-educated, well-rounded agent.
Being part of a large network like Coldwell Banker comes with valuable resources, Callen said, including experts who are familiar with communities all over the world. If a client is interested in buying or selling in an area where she's not familiar, Callen can call in an expert from the greater Coldwell Banker community.
"It opened a lot of doors," she said.
Even the timing of her new career proved to be good training for where she is today, Callen said.
"The housing market just tumbled in 2007," she said, but those challenges taught her to navigate the market changes that are an inevitable part of the job.
While markets and economies change, Callen said her commitment to honesty and her pursuit of trust with every client is unwavering. Callen said she won't hesitate to discourage a client from a transaction if she believes it's not in their best interest.
When searching for a home in a new community, Callen said she encourages clients to immerse themselves in that community prior to buying.
"Go to dinner, Go to the farmers market. See if it feels right to you," she said.
A native of Oak Park, Callen and her husband moved to Hinsdale in 1995 and raised three children in the village.
"This is home," she said.
Others who want to make Hinsdale home will find there are more buyers than sellers in today's market. While every home will find a buyer, Callen said homes that are move-in ready will go fastest and for the best price.
"You'll have more success if you've gotten the house ready," she said.
Eighteen years after entering the field, Callen said she believes she made the right move in choosing real estate.
"I love getting to know the clients," she said. "My main job and goal is to make clients feel heard and to achieve what they want to achieve."
- by Sandy Illian Bosch
