Karen Arenson

Providing Luxury Service to Chicago North Shore's discerning clientele....

What do Clients Say?

There are not enough accolades to describe Karen's supreme contributions to the Chicago area and North Shore real estate market. She is truly outstanding in her professional and creative approach for sellers and buyers, but most importantly, how she manages and balances her relationships with all involved. She consistently goes the extra mile with loyalty, diligence, and confident expertise every step of the way. I met Karen at an open house in the search for a new home on the North Shore and it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Not only did she assist in one transaction for us, but an additional three real estate purchases in nearly 15 years as both the listing agent and buyer's agent. Her priority is a satisfied and happy client and always guides with a velvet approach, even at times we don't necessarily like what we hear. Her patience, polish, and attention to detail from expert staging advice to stunning promotional materials and marketing strategies far outshine others. Karen is always "there" and I will never forget our experience with her. She is simply exceptional at what she does, the best, a jewel, a friend. It is without reservation that I highly recommend Karen Arenson

Zillow - Anna C

Karen helped my husband and me buy our Winnetka home in July 2019. We were relocating from out of state for my new job, and she helped bring calm to a very crazy time. Not only did Karen do a masterful job of helping us find the right home for our family of four, but she also helped educate me on the North Shore so we could select the right target area for our family--the differences between Wilmette, Winnetka, and Glencoe, where to take the kids sledding in the winter, parking availability at each of the Metra stations, childcare options. You name it, she was an expert in it. We're still in the process of selling our Ohio home, and there have been many times I wish Karen could be my realtor on that transaction too. I cannot recommend her highly enough. Work with her--you won't regret it.

Zillow - Katherine S

Karen helped me sell my Glencoe home in the summer of 2018. She could not have been more knowledgeable, savvy, or considerate. Although my home was "as is" and at the lower end of the local market, she treated me with as much attention and professionalism as if it had been a pricey mansion. In the difficult time that is home staging and selling, there is no one I would rather have had by my side. I would recommend her to any home buyer or seller, unreservedly.

Zillow - Grace H

Karen helped my husband and I buy our home in Wilmette in July 2018. We consider ourselves very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with her. Karen has many years of experience, she is the utmost professional, and she really makes you feel well cared for and like you are her only client. She is extremely knowledgeable about the North Shore--schools, neighborhoods, etc. as well as maintaining an older home and all that that entails. She made things easy and smooth and was available to us throughout the process. Things went so well that she helped us sell our condo later that year, and we yet again relied on her professionalism and experience.

Zillow - Leah

About Karen

My career in residential real estate sales offers the perfect blend of all that I love – teaching, learning, exploring, guiding, and mentoring. My true passion is the “Ah ha” moment that occurs when I have helped others achieve their potential or realize an important goal. Being able to make a difference in people’s lives gives me great joy.

I started my career in residential sales with a boutique brokerage in the city. When my husband and I moved to the North Shore, I shifted my focus to serving communities along the lake front. Having received a master’s degree from Northwestern University and been on the faculty at New Trier High School, Lake Forest High School, and Lake Forest Country Day School, I was already intimately familiar with the North Shore and the transition occurred seamlessly. Within a short period of time, I was a top producing agent and a leader in the community. I truly enjoy supporting my clients and take pride in building lasting relationships predicated on mutual respect, candid advice, and empathy.

In 2007, I took my career to a new level when I became the Managing Broker of an office in Wilmette. Over the years as I successfully mentored both new and seasoned brokers, the scope of my responsibilities grew and, at the peak, I was Managing Broker for more than 200 agents in offices in Winnetka, Wilmette, and Highland Park.

I joined Engel & Völkers because the company’s culture and values truly align with my own. The consistency and quality of this global brand is unsurpassed. And, from the top down, Engel & Völkers is committed to providing its advisors with superior quality training, marketing, technology, and a white glove experience. With their robust support and heart-centered leadership, every advisor in this high-end boutique firm is equipped to better serve their clients and take their business to a new level. I am thrilled to be able to offer personalize coaching in a high integrity environment.

While residential real estate was not my first career, it was destiny from a young age. We left my childhood home in Hinsdale when I was age eight and moved again and again, living in five states over five years. With each new move, my world was turned upside down. From this experience, I learned how to assimilate, make new friends, the importance of family, and how to create a sense of home wherever we lived. 

I have lived with my family in my current home in Glencoe longer than I have lived anywhere else. Perhaps that’s why we enjoy getting out, traveling, and experiencing new cultures. We love to hike and have had some remarkable adventures in remote corners of the world. Still, there’s no place like home.

Karen's Background

• Certified Residential Specialist - CRS 
• Graduate Real estate Institute - GRI 
• e-Pro - Electronic Real Estate Professional 
• Certified Relocation Specialist, Certified Negotiation Specialist 
• Educational Administration - Northern Illinois University - M.Ed. 
• Curriculum Design & Supervision - DePaul University - M.Ed. 
• English Literature - Northwestern University - M.A. 
• Journalism & Communications - University of Michigan - B.A.