Maureen Moran, Lincoln Park REALTOR® Since 1995
Maureen Moran has called Lincoln Park home since 1995, when she first earned her license and started walking blocks she’d go on to know as well as her own front step. What began as building a career turned into building relationships that outlasted any single transaction. Many of her clients became friends, then repeat clients, then referral sources who sent their own children and parents her way. She still gets a genuine kick out of matching a family to the right building on the right block. And she still tells clients the truth about a price, even when it isn’t what they hoped to hear. Three decades in, her approach hasn’t changed much: listen first, negotiate hard, and treat every deal like it’s the only one that matters. Because to the person living it, it is.
How do I choose a Realtor I can actually trust?
Start with tenure and specificity. I’ve represented buyers and sellers exclusively on Chicago’s Near North Side since 1995, helping nearly 500 families through a purchase or sale, so I’m not learning your neighborhood while handling your transaction. I hold five NAR-accredited designations (below), and I’ll tell you what a property is actually worth even when it’s not what you want to hear. That’s the short answer. Here’s the rest.
Who I work with
Most of my clients are moving through one of a few life transitions: buying their first home, moving up as a family grows, downsizing out of a home that no longer fits, or relocating into or within Chicago. A growing number are adult children helping a parent sell a longtime family home, which comes with its own timeline, emotions, and paperwork. That’s a specialty of mine, not an afterthought I squeeze in around other business.
Where I work
I specialize in single-family homes, townhomes, and condominiums across Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Bucktown, Wicker Park, the Gold Coast, River North, West Loop, and the South Loop to North Center corridor. If you’re weighing Lincoln Park against Lakeview, or trying to figure out which pocket of the Near North Side fits your budget and life stage, that comparison is exactly the conversation I have with clients every week, so reach out and I’ll walk you through it.
Credentials, and what they actually mean for you
I hold five NAR-accredited designations: SRS (Seller Representative Specialist), ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist), RSPS (Resort and Second Home Property Specialist), and LHC (Luxury Home Certified). In practice, that means specialized training for first-time buyers, move-up families, retirement and downsizing transitions, second-home and resort property purchases, and higher-end listings. It isn’t just a general license and good intentions. Every designation requires NAR-accredited coursework and adherence to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
How I work
I negotiate on your behalf, not on the market’s. That means active listening before advice, honest pricing over flattering pricing, and staying current on the market trends, property values, and Illinois real estate law that affect your specific transaction, not generic national headlines. When you work with me, you’re working with an agent who is required to prioritize your interests, disclosed in writing, throughout the process. See how that representation actually works in the “Who’s Really in Your Corner” guide.
Helping a family sell a parent’s home
If you’re an adult child helping a parent downsize or sell a longtime family home, that process comes with its own timeline, emotions, and paperwork, and it’s one of the transitions I work through most often. My downsizing guide walks through where to start.
Lincoln Park, and Lake Geneva.
I’ve lived and worked in Lincoln Park since 1995 and I’m also a homeowner in Fontana on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. A lot of my Chicago clients split time there or eventually move that direction, and I understand the pull. If you’re buying or selling in the Lake Geneva area, I can help.
Outside the office
Running, cooking, golfing, and skiing, most of it outdoors and most of it with family and friends. It’s part of why I understand what my clients are actually buying when they buy a home here: a life, not just a property.
Let’s talk
If you’re weighing a move, whether that’s buying your first place, moving up, downsizing, or helping a parent sell a family home, I’d rather give you a straight answer than a sales pitch. Reach out at 312-953-7811 or through the contact page, and let’s figure out your next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a Realtor I can actually trust in Lincoln Park?
Look for someone with a long, specific track record in your exact neighborhood, a designation that matches your situation (buyer, seller, downsizer, luxury), and a willingness to tell you the market reality even when it’s not what you want to hear. Ask what they’d price your home at and why, before you ask anything else.
How do I choose between Lincoln Park and Lakeview?
It depends on your budget, whether you want single-family homes or condo/townhome inventory, and how much you value walkability to the lakefront versus proximity to the Southport Corridor and Wrigleyville nightlife. This is a conversation worth having with an agent who works both neighborhoods regularly, not a generic comparison. Reach out and I’ll walk through the tradeoffs for your specific priorities.
What should I ask a Realtor before signing a listing or buyer agreement?
Ask how they’ll price the home and what data backs that number, what their marketing plan actually includes beyond the MLS, how they handle multiple offers or a slow market, and whether they’re a full-time agent with a current, verifiable track record in your neighborhood.
Do you still work in Wisconsin?
Not as of 2027. I’m not renewing my Wisconsin real estate license. I still know the Lake Geneva area well as a homeowner in Fontana, and I can refer you to a trusted, licensed Wisconsin agent if you’re buying or selling there.
What designations does Maureen Moran hold?
SRS (Seller Representative Specialist), ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist), RSPS (Resort and Second Home Property Specialist), and LHC (Luxury Home Certified), all NAR-accredited designations.
