When it comes to helping their clients buy and sell real estate on the North Shore, Stephanie Hofman and Erin Smith are a perfect pair. 

Bringing together their nearly thirty years of combined real estate experience, in addition to prior experience in sales and marketing, a deep-rooted passion for their hometown, and a shared vision of client-centric service, this dynamic duo exemplifies what it means to blend professional excellence with personal dedication.

Both Stephanie and Erin hail from Highland Park and have fond memories of growing up on the North Shore. Their personal connections to the communities they serve provide a unique and heartfelt perspective to their clients. Stephanie began her real estate career in 2009, and Erin began hers in 2011. Despite starting at different Coldwell Banker offices, their paths converged, leading to the formation of the Stephanie and Erin Team with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate.

“We met at a women’s networking group and had a potential client reach out to both of us to see if we had an interest in selling her parents’ condo,” Erin recalls. “We said, ‘Why don’t we team up to work on this?’ That was the start of our amazing partnership, and we attribute its success to the fact that it wasn’t forced; it happened very organically.”

Before embarking on their real estate journeys, Stephanie and Erin both had impressive careers in advertising and sales. Stephanie, armed with a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University, worked on high-profile consumer packaged goods accounts. She then became a sales rep for Merck Pharmaceuticals before choosing to be a stay-at-home for her two kids and volunteer for Lurie Children’s Hospital and local schools.

Erin, a University of Wisconsin journalism and advertising major, started her career in NYC, working for a national magazine. After moving back to Chicago to be closer to family in 2001, she worked in advertising sales for the Chicago Reader, then event planning for Levy Restaurants before deciding to stay home with her young daughters. During that time she founded a unique men’s t-shirt company for expectant dads called Belly Man T’s. 

For Stephanie, real estate was a lifelong passion. She was always attending open houses, fascinated by floor plans and home layouts. This passion, combined with her marketing background and love for matchmaking, made real estate the natural choice when she decided to reenter the workforce. She wanted to show her children that a mom can have a fulfilling career and financially contribute to their family. 

“I wanted them to see that hard work is worthwhile and enjoyable when you find something you’re good at and love,” she explains.

Erin’s love for design, decor, and helping people transform their spaces, combined with her sales experience, made real estate an obvious choice for her as well. Inspired by her aunt, a successful REALTOR® for over fifty years, Erin found her calling in helping others find their dream homes. 

“Erin has an innate talent for interior design and helping buyers envision their furniture in a potential new home, which is essential in the staging of our listings,” notes Stephanie.

Starting their individual careers during some of the most challenging years in real estate, Stephanie and Erin learned invaluable lessons from seasoned agents about navigating difficult markets. Their resilience and determination saw them through tough times. Their ability to balance professional demands with personal responsibilities, especially as working mothers, is a testament to their strength and dedication.

Pairing up in 2016 was a pivotal moment in their careers. They found that, together, they could offer superior service to their clients. Their personalities complement each other perfectly—Stephanie, the night owl, and Erin, the early bird, ensure that their clients have support around the clock.

“We have our clients’ best interests at heart, always,” Stephanie affirms. “We are their advocates, guides, and educators throughout the entire process and beyond.” 

Outside of real estate, Stephanie loves spending time with her husband, Alan, and their grown children, Lily and Joey. When she’s not at The Bar Method in Highland Park or taking a Peloton class, you’ll usually find her with her nose in a book. Stephanie is an avid reader who leads two book clubs and posts reviews on her #bookstagram account on Instagram. Meanwhile, Erin enjoys yoga, pickleball, and golf, as well as exercising her creativity through organizing, decluttering, designing, and re-designing. Erin and her daughters, Izzie and Ari, love exploring new shops and restaurants around town.  

In addition, both Stephanie and Erin are passionate about supporting animal shelters and various Jewish causes in their community. They believe in giving back, supporting those in need, and investing in their community.

The partners’ authentic approach and professional expertise have made them trusted and respected figures in the real estate community, and they are excited about the future. In fact, as their children grow, Stephanie and Erin see real estate playing an even larger role in their lives as they continue to help their clients find their perfect communities and homes.