Michael Kaufman

Saying that Mike knows Chicago is an understatement. Michael "Mike" Kaufman wears many different hats and can be described as the "one stop shop" to contact in residential real estate. With 28 years of experience in residential real estate brokerage, he is an industry veteran with extensive knowledge of market and economic trends and is a licensed attorney with a great understanding of the entire contractual process. Mike has brokered, developed, bought, and sold over $220,000,000 of residential real estate in his career, yet remains completely committed to personalized, detail-oriented, efficient and honest customer service. Mike received his B.A. from the University of Illinois in 1982 and his J.D. from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1985. While attending law school Mike worked in the insurance and property management division of Balcor/American Express. From 1985 to 1987 Mike worked in the marketing and private placement division of Realcorp, a residential real estate investment firm. In September 1987 Mike founded Bear Kaufman Realty, Inc., specializing in residential real estate brokerage in Chicago and the North Shore. Mike is also a member of the Chicago Association of Realtors Professional Standards Committee. Mike has won the Chicago Association of Realtors "Good Neighbor Award" twice for his own new construction developments in Chicago, including the "Skybox on Waveland," a state-of-the art, luxury three story building that offers rooftop and indoor viewing of Chicago Cubs baseball games directly across from Wrigley Field. In January 2013 Mike joined Jameson Sotheby's International Realty as Vice President of Sales. Mike wakes up every day happy and simply loves what he does. He has been known to throw fun parties for his clients at the Skybox on Waveland with its spectacular view of Chicago Cubs baseball. Mike has a strong network of reliable mortgage professionals, real estate attorneys, inspectors, movers, interior designers, handymen, plumbers and electricians he has personally vetted over the years. He is a natural connector who has driven business to his clients and has even played matchmaker by setting them up on dates (one of his fix ups led to two of his clients having a twenty year marriage with two children)! His hobbies include spending time with his family, exploring Chicago's restaurants with his wife (family motto is they will eat whatever does not eat them first), Bears games, movies, theater, creative writing and traveling.