There are “the first two rules in real estate” that Marla Marcus tells all her clients. The first is “location is everything.” The second is “Always listen to Marla and things will work out,” she says. And it’s true. Having been in real estate since 1987, Marla has developed a sixth sense for finding the right home for her clients. It’s like a superpower now. 

“I usually know when I have found the right house and my clients are always amazed,” she says. “I’ll call them and say, ‘Bring your checkbook. I’m standing in the house you're going to buy.’ My upper-bracket clients trust me now—they just want me to find a few houses that I think they would purchase, and I’m usually right.”

Thirty-seven years of matching people with homes will do that. Beyond her experience, however, Marla just loves helping people. She listens closely to her clients, gets to know them and what they want, and then makes it her mission to get it for them. It also helps that she has an intimate knowledge of the areas as well. 

Marla grew up in Lincolnwood, a small suburb north of Chicago, and is still very close to the people she grew up with. As a kid, she was very athletic and wanted to be a professional dancer. She always looked up to her older sisters, too. Her middle sister owned her own law practice and went on to become a judge in Maryland.   

Prior to real estate, Marla worked in sales for a telecommunications company. Similar to real estate, she would visit clients’ companies, research their telecommunication needs, and then sell them the right equipment for their different departments. She’d even work with the engineering department at her company to make customized features for clients. 

Marla decided to go into real estate when she decided to have children. She wanted the flexibility to be there for them and didn’t want anyone telling her that she couldn’t. “I’m a rebel at heart,” Marla shares. “I’ve always liked working, but if my kids had a play, a sporting event, or were sick, I wanted to be there. I guess all real estate agents have similar personalities. We are all very caring, and we like being our own boss.”

Balance has always been a key component to Marla’s life. For her, success is “being financially secure with a balance between family, friends, and self-care.” Marla balances her business life with art. She loves to paint and usually gives her paintings away as gifts—though sometimes she is commissioned to do a painting for a client. One of her favorite places to visit is the Art Institute of Chicago. 

Marla also loves music (especially Cher, for her uncensored style), reading, watching movies, playing cards, traveling, and walking her dog. She has a huge heart for dogs, as well as for people experiencing homelessness and illness. She supports Hearts4Kids, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, women’s shelters, JCFS Chicago, Orphans of the Storm animal shelter, and the Brittle Bone Society.  

Given Marla’s experience and success in real estate, as well as the life balance she’s achieved, she offers the following advice to other agents:

“Qualify your clients before doing any work. Ask a lot of questions and listen. Be true to yourself and don’t be afraid to walk away from people who are not nice or have unrealistic expectations. Don’t take rejection personally, just move on to the next prospect. Treat real estate like a business. Create professional policies and stick to them—most people in the workforce will understand and appreciate that. For example, you don’t take calls after seven o’clock in the evening unless you are negotiating.”

Blending three decades of expertise, intuition, and compassion, Marla’s journey reflects not only her professional success, but also her passion for creating meaningful connections and a balanced life filled with generosity, care, and a dash of rebellion. Her legacy in real estate goes beyond transactions, embodying the true essence of building communities and enriching lives, one home at a time.