“When I started my real estate career, I had a fire within [me] and a motivation to ramp up as soon as possible because I had no safety net,” explains REALTOR® Laura England, team leader of the England Group. "I was very determined to succeed and be independent. Having a more fulfilling career and doing something I cared about in a city I love was a bonus.”

Before moving to Chicago, Laura grew up in Springfield, Illinois, the youngest of five kids. Laura’s family dynamic had a strong influence on her. Looking up to her brothers and sisters, Laura found herself developing her relationship-building and “sales” skills from a young age.

“I spent a lot of time trying to win them over so I could be included in their fun and cool stuff,” says Laura. “Growing up with exposure to lots of different personalities, both in my family and with other people, taught me how to pay attention and truly listen to each person I meet so I can try to find commonalities and ways to connect.”

After earning her degree in public relations from Illinois State University and working in communications sales for many years, Laura started a family and exited the workforce for about a decade. Then faced with a fork-in-the-road moment after a divorce, the once stay-at-home mom of two had to quickly jump back into the job market. Real estate was her lifeline.

“At one point in my corporate career I hit a crossroads and found I wasn't passionate about the industry I was in,” says Laura. “I had considered real estate for a while, but the lack of financial stability delayed the career switch.” 

“I went from being a stay-at-home mom of two little girls to being a single mom needing to earn a living ASAP,” she continues. “While this was terrible at the time, in hindsight, I'm grateful because I never would have realized my true potential.” 

Laura’s journey into real estate began in 2015, and from the beginning she saw it as a prime opportunity to contribute to her beloved city of Chicago in a positive way. Her mission is to spread the news about all the incredible things the city has to offer to prospective buyers, especially those who are exploring it for the first time. 

After living in Chicago for over thirty years, Laura takes pride in being the “Chicago concierge” for these and other prospective residents.

“I work with many international and domestic relocation clients who have never been to Chicago,” says Laura. “They are so impressed with the beauty, architecture, food scene, and culture that we offer, and I'm proud to be their first ‘tour guide’ to our city.”

Over her nearly ten-year career as a REALTOR®, Laura has worked with a multitude of clients with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and preferences. Although the real estate industry has changed in many ways since she started, the one thing that has remained the same, she affirms, is the need to treat everyone as individuals with their own unique priorities.

“I've met so many wonderful people from all walks of life and have made true connections,” Laura says. “It's so rewarding to be a part of something so important and earn my clients’ trust.”

In her downtime, Laura prioritizes exploring her North Center neighborhood with her daughters, Sara (19) and Brooke (22), and taking long walks with her mini bernedoodle, Bear. You’ll often find her testing new local eateries and hot spots to recommend to friends and clients. 

“I'm very passionate about our amazing city, and I am hopeful we will start to head back in the right direction where people can enjoy everything it has to offer and feel safe doing so,” she says.

As Laura continues to serve her current clients, she plans on expanding her business both on her own and with new teammates. Her daughter, Brooke, recently joined the team along with her decades-long friend, Teresa Soren. She hopes to one day add Sara to the team and potentially expand into new cities or locations, although she can’t yet decide whether that will be near the mountains, the desert, the beach, or all the above. Regardless, she doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon.

“I love that our industry values age and experience,” says Laura. “I still have a long way to go, but I'm proud of my accomplishments so far and hope that this is just the beginning."