“I want to be a beacon of representation for other REALTORS® who look like me and come from where I come from,” says Melanie Miller of the EU|ME Group at Keller Williams ONEChicago.

“A young-ish Black woman from the South Side isn't always a person that you would imagine to be featured with other top-producing REALTORS®,” she adds. “However, I hope that my willingness to share my story will inspire other REALTORS® and industry partners to do so.”

Melanie’s journey into real estate is a compelling story of resilience, ambition, and an unyielding desire to help others. Melanie’s parents divorced when she was just eight years old, leaving her mother to raise Melanie and her siblings with the support of extended family. Melanie’s grandfather played a significant role in her upbringing. 

“He and I had similar interests and traits, including athletics and an entrepreneurial spirit,” Melanie recalls. “I always looked up to him in the way he was able to set goals for himself, the way he carried himself, and the ways he provided for his family despite his humble beginnings.”

After graduating from high school, Melanie played collegiate volleyball at Western Illinois University where she juggled the rigor of sports with academic and other responsibilities.  When the team was reorganized five semesters later, she decided to move back and complete her degree in applied psychology at the University of Illinois Chicago. While there, Melanie worked in retail sales, where she fell in love with meeting new people, cultivating old relationships, and helping people. Then, at the age of just twenty-three, she purchased her first multi-unit investment property. 

She and her now husband, Raymond, were having a baby and wanted to buy a home before their daughter arrived. Unfortunately, they found it difficult to find a relatable and knowledgeable agent or team when it came to buying. All the difficulties and frustrations involved motivated Melanie to earn her real estate license, which she did in 2020. 

“I knew I wanted to continue to invest, so I got my license primarily for myself,” she explains. “But soon, other millennials I knew were reaching out to me for help with multi-unit investment properties and homes.”

Melanie’s transition into real estate was not without its challenges. Navigating the early days of her career, she had to balance learning the intricacies of the industry with building a client base during the onset of the pandemic, no less. She took a creative approach to social media and grew her business, niching in multi-family property investing. Her determination and genuine passion for helping people was evident. “I always find that when you do something out of genuine passion, the power of your words and actions shine through all the more,” says Melanie. 

“The most rewarding part of my business has been working with first-time buyers and investors who originally didn’t think ownership was a possibility,” she shares. “Watching them get their keys is always an amazing moment.”

A pivotal event in Melanie’s career was when she and Eunique Gill became partners and formed the EU|ME Group in late 2022. By blending their unique strengths and backgrounds, they’ve become a dynamic real estate team. Their combined talents and diverse experiences enable them to serve a wide range of clients effectively. Notably, the EU|ME Group won CAR’s Bronze Top Producer Award in 2023, and Melanie was named a member of REALTOR® Magazine’s 30 Under 30 class of 2024.1,2 

The partners pride themselves on their service and market expertise. “Eunique specializes in suburban, single-family home sales and condos, while I focus on multi-units in the inner city. This allows us to offer our clients unique perspectives on ownership and buying and selling,” Melanie explains. 

“We are like yin and yang, and complement each other perfectly,” she continues. While they have different personalities, both women are energetic leaders and family-focused, active moms who have a passion for service and envision continued growth for the EU|ME Group. 

“We want to bring on more agents who are looking to grow their business and provide excellent service across Chicagoland,” Melanie explains. “We have some exciting things planned.”

 

Melanie also aspires to get involved in the political and development sides of real estate, as well as continue her journey as an investor and landlord. Beyond her professional life, she cherishes time with her family, traveling with her children, exploring new places, and engaging in cultural activities. 

She also loves to shop, and her flair for fashion hasn’t gone unnoticed: after appearing in Chicago Agent Magazine’s My Style segment in September 2023, Melanie was nominated one of Chicago’s Best Dressed REALTORS® that year.

Beyond her achievements, Melanie’s story is about the impact she aims to make. 

“Right now, I am extremely passionate about teaching people about multi-family investing and the benefits it provides,” states Melanie. “As a ‘house hacker’ myself, I feel like it is the ‘cheat code’ to real estate investing as it allows you to leverage your initial investment. Many who think they can’t afford real estate likely just don’t know what they should be investing in.”

Melanie, who works primarily in the South and West Sides and with disenfranchised communities, is determined to provide the “top-producer experience” she wanted with her first purchase. “I want to work hard for our communities and show them that anything is possible,” she adds. Clearly, she’s on her way to doing just that.

1 “2023 Sales Awards Directory,” Chicago Association of REALTORS®, accessed June 17, 2024, https://chicagorealtor.com/membership/awards/sales-awards/2023-sales-awards-directories/.

2 “Dynamic and Driven: Meet the 2024 Class of 30 Under 30,” REALTOR® Magazine, April 15, 2024, https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/30-under-30/dynamic-and-driven-meet-the-2024-class-of-30-under-30.