Agent Spotlight – Dan Nelson

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or an experienced real estate investor, Dan Nelson is the broker you want in your corner. 

He’s got more than 20 years of experience in the Chicagoland market, getting his start when his wife decided to rehab and flip a house, building that into a profitable business. “It feels like we are living in a real-life HGTV show with all the chaos and definitely all the fun.”

Dan knows that buying and selling real estate is a smart way to build wealth — but it pays to do your due diligence and make decisions based on facts instead of emotions. 

As someone who’s managed countless projects, his unique insights are an abundant resource for anyone looking to learn more about house hacking, flipping property, earning rental income, and becoming a serious real estate investor.

With a background in product management, marketing, and learning and development, Dan is a perfect fit with Baird & Warner Lincoln Park and our individualized approach to growth and support.

He believes that one of the most rewarding aspects of a career in this industry is forging a strong relationship with each client, truly getting to know them, and helping them achieve their dreams. Dan especially enjoys working with budding real estate investors and offers insider tips and guidance on how to create a successful strategy for receiving rental income.

One of his clients was a young house painter who dreamed of buying a rental property and using that income to build his portfolio. Dan was able to pair him with the perfect piece of real estate and now he’s making plans to acquire his second one this year. 

Naturally gregarious, Dan’s open and easy communication style makes him an expert negotiator and a wise advisor. His favorite part of being in real estate is the opportunity to listen to and share his knowledge with a diverse audience. 

His keen eye for detail and savvy perception skills also help him triumph at the poker table. Dan’s mastery of the deck was the original source of funding for his family’s emerging rehab business, and he still keeps his hand in the game.

Amongst Chicago’s historic 77 neighborhoods, he feels most at home in Andersonville, a laid-back area on the city’s North Side which is known for its architecture, Scandinavian roots, and high concentration of local and independent businesses. 

Andersonville began as a small village of Swedish immigrants in the mid-19th century and still celebrates that flavor with its annual Midsommarfest in June and the St. Lucia Festival of Lights every December. It’s also one of Chicago’s most welcoming communities and features plenty of opportunities for shopping and dining. 

Dan and his family love popping into the Taste of Lebanon on West Foster for healthy and affordable dishes like chicken shwarma, falafel, hummus, and baba ghanoush. For a thrilling night out, they adore the Chicago Magic Lounge, featuring a 107-seat cabaret theater, a speakeasy performance bar, and one of the country’s best libraries of magic literature and memorabilia. 

He loves to explore the city’s scenic Lakefront Trail bike path, which connects lush green spaces with dramatic urban views, beaches, and cultural institutions. It’s an easy and fun way to get to some of Chicago’s most iconic hangout spots like Del Campo’s Tacos, Caffè Oliva, and The Dock.

More and more consumers are looking for ways to generate additional income in nontraditional ways, and Dan has a gift for helping others choose the right property with the maximum amount of earning potential. This could be the ideal time to purchase a multi-family residence or a home with an accessory dwelling unit as a way to jumpstart your real estate portfolio.

Find out more about Dan’s love of transforming homes and inspiring his clients on his website, check out his Instagram, or reach out to him directly at [email protected].

Agent Spotlight: Dan Asher

There’s one glorious ideal that drives Dan in his chosen career with Baird & Warner Lincoln Park

And that’s to help others. He believes that there’s no better path than helping people improve their lives by finding the perfect home. 

From a young age, Dan has been fascinated by architecture, buildings, and the idea of creating beautiful spaces. 

He studied at Missouri State University, graduating with a degree from their highly respected and unique Construction Management Program. It’s one of the only programs in the country that offer incredible opportunities for onsite training and internships in this particular field.

One of the reasons that Dan loves living in the Chicago area is its reputation as the architectural capital of the world. He enjoys admiring the city’s many iconic buildings like the Tribune Tower, Willis Tower, the Rookery, the Chicago Cultural Center, and the Aqua skyscraper.

Dan and his family regularly go adventuring and take advantage of the nearly endless kid-friendly things to do and places to go that the city is known for. Some of his favorite places to spend time with his loved ones include:

Chicagoland is an exhilarating place to visit any time of the year, of course, but in the warmer months, Dan takes every opportunity for exploring the great outdoors and hiking some of the best urban trails on the planet with his partner and 2 energetic children. He also thinks this is a wonderful place to raise kids and loves helping potential homeowners find homes in Chicago’s diverse family-friendly neighborhoods.

The 1.8-mile Lakeshore Path is an especially awesome trail for both walking with the kids and admiring breathtaking beach views and cityscapes, as is the Chicago Lakefront Trail. In the summer, of course, it’s time to hit the beach — you should check out North Avenue, 63rd St Beach, and Montrose near The Dock, where you can indulge in comfort food like cheese curds, burgers, and tacos after a day in the sun.

Anyone visiting Chicagoland always gets a million suggestions for where to go and eat. Dan always has the inside scoop on sourcing gourmet grub in his favorite neighborhoods, but his absolute favorite place is Gather in Lincoln Square. Welcoming and low-key, it’s a no-frills gastropub where his family can savor decadent yet still-sort-of-healthy plates like glazed baby carrots, crispy Brussels sprouts with candied pistachios, and seared tofu with a caramel glaze.

As one of Chicagoland’s top real estate brokers, Dan simply loves what he does. He sees immense value in Baird & Warner’s people-centric approach to growing a real estate firm sustainably as well as their cutting-edge technology and organizational knowledge.

There are countless brokerages in the Chicago area, but Baird & Warner Lincoln Park offers an incredibly unique mix of elite office management, mentorship, training, and a warm, inclusive company culture. 

He’s excited about mentoring new agents as the Assistant Managing Broker and has some valuable insights to help those just starting out. His most crucial piece of advice for anyone entering this industry is to be consistent and focus on building strong daily habits.

Dan knows that your true worth is based on how much you give to others. He recommends reading The Go-Giver and its follow-ups, a series of enlightening tales by Bob Burg and John David Mann. These thought-provoking works inspire him to give to others, provide support, and add value to every aspect of his life. 

His active, family-oriented lifestyle means he’s always on the move, but you can reach Dan on LinkedIn or at [email protected]

Agent Spotlight: Jeff Nobleza

Chicagoland native and massive Cubs fan Jeff Nobleza had no idea that his path would lead him to a career in real estate. 

After graduating from DePaul University with a degree in Accounting (and a few bruises from playing rugby), he thrived as an accountant and business analyst, sitting for the CPA exam and starting to build his personal investment strategy.

Jeff decided to purchase his first home in 2006 as an optimistic and successful young professional. Unfortunately, the US housing market at that time was at the apex of the bubble which resulted in the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007-2008 and laid the groundwork for the Great Recession. 

His experiences during this time inspired him to pivot to the real estate industry, determined to help hopeful first-time buyers and families who want to establish a true home for their children and build generational wealth.

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Agent Spotlight – Mark Kowalik

Triathlete Mark Kowalik pivoted to a career in the real estate world after years of excelling in the hotel and travel industry. These experiences helped shape his dedication to providing the concierge customer service that’s launched him into the top 1% of sales of brokers at Baird & Warner. 

Mark is a graduate of Colorado State University, with a degree in recreation and tourism that encompassed marketing, business development, entrepreneurship, and the necessity of building strong client relationships.

He joined Baird & Warner in 2015 after serving as the General Manager of one of the city’s most popular travel companies. Within his first 12 months as a broker, he won the prestigious “Rookie of the Year” award from the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.

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How New Brokers Can Overcome Impostor Syndrome

Impostor syndrome is a psychological phenomenon that causes high-achieving individuals to doubt their accomplishments and abilities. It’s common among new real estate brokers, and it can be a major roadblock to reaching your goals. 

The feeling of not belonging or not being good enough can be overwhelming, and it can prevent those just entering the industry from reaching their full potential

However, with the right strategies and support, you can overcome this mindset and become a real estate superstar. Here are a few insider tips for gaining the confidence you need to succeed from our experienced management team.

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Agent Spotlight Molly Marino

Molly Marino is not your cookie-cutter real estate agent, and she delivers a uniquely rewarding and holistic experience for each of her clients. 

After receiving her MBA from the prestigious Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, Molly believed that she was on the corporate track and destined to be a high-powered marketing executive. 

But like so many passionate entrepreneurs, she yearned for more freedom and decided to make the decision to forge a new future for herself. 

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Agent Spotlight: Kenan Kreso

With an MBA in International Business and 15 years of experience in the energy consulting field, Kenan Kreso is a uniquely qualified real estate agent.

While his grade school classmates were splashing their way through pool parties and having fun, Kenny was spending his summers getting valuable life experience in renovation and the realities of rental management by working for his family’s property company. 

After graduating from the University of Arizona in 2005, he moved to beautiful and historic Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and his father’s birthplace. Already proficient in Spanish, he strove to learn the local languages (Bosnian, Serbian, and Croatian) while starting his career and pursuing his MBA.

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Agent Spotlight: Michael Hall

Like many real estate brokers, Michael Hall’s path to success took some twists and turns along the way. Michael didn’t start out wanting to be in real estate, in fact, he pursued an academic road, teaching at the University level and pursuing a PhD when he decided to start a business while still teaching. In an early indicator of Michael’s entrepreneurial spirit and future success, his business took off, opening multiple locations and causing Michael to rethink his pursuit of academia. 

A conversation with his grandfather, a real estate investor, helped him to make the decision to pivot to a career in the real estate business. Michael’s grandfather pointed out his sales skills and entrepreneurial inclinations, and identified the industry as one where Michael might find success and satisfaction. 

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Agent Spotlight: Hunter Andre

From the television industry to real estate, Director of Agent Development Hunter Andre’s unique experience gives his clients a distinct advantage.

An alumnus of Chicago’s prestigious DePaul University, Hunter received his degree in media and began his career as an assistant at the Food Network. After more than a decade as a producer, writer, and director with communication giants like Comcast, he wanted to pivot to something completely different.

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