This week, I had the honor of co-hosting the annual retreat for Compass’ Sports & Entertainment Division here in Chicago.
The Sports & Entertainment Division is Compass’ hand-picked nationwide network of 170 agents who work with high-profile clients — professional athletes, actors, musicians, broadcasters, executives, and people whose assistants have assistants.
Often these clients are traded, need 2nd - or 5th- homes, or just move for personal reasons. And the 170 of us in “S&E” have a built-in trusted referral network which works for our client base.
We all gather once a year to swap ideas, share insights, and tell stories that make your average open-house anecdote sound painfully unremarkable.
And this year, Chicago played host.
As one of the local hosts, I got to spend time with agents from Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Nashville, Aspen — places where the phrase “starter condo” occasionally means $4.8 million.
But with 4 days of non-stop Brad Lippitz treatment, they all fell in love with Chicago and discovered the city that is probably the country’s best-kept secret.
Although some attendees couldn’t resist name-dropping (especially those clients who are known only by their first name), most of the agents are like me. I go to great lengths to protect our clients’ privacy, NDA or not. First-name entertainers or not. Celebrity or not.
Now that the retreat is over, the main takeaway for me is this: beneath the headlines, the luxury, and the occasional private jet story, real estate is still about trust. It’s still human - it’s about ensuring buyers and sellers get the best representation, consistent with their own goals.
And that’s the kind of treatment the Brad Lippitz Group dishes out here in Chicago…and ensures our clients receive should they relocate. I have 169 folks who will take great care of you. Even if you’ve never won the Heisman trophy.
Have a great holiday weekend!
Best,
Brad
