Local Business Spotlight: Pioneer Realty Group
Meet Helen Bailey and Sean Flynt, owners of Pioneer Realty Group. They provide real estate leasing, property management, sales and investment consulting services for renters and owners. They opened their office on Lincoln Ave in 2017 and have loved running their own business ever since, from seeing their staff grow to being able to work together as a married couple. Read our interview with them to learn more and hear some of their favorite spots in Lakeview!
Give us a small backstory of how your business started.
Sean has a background in property management, and Helen was working in real estate and in the multifamily mortgage industry. We got a taste of the investment side of real estate when we purchased our first 4 unit building in Lakeview just off Belmont and Ashland in 2012. After that, we knew that opening our own real estate and property management business was the end goal, we just needed to get some experience and find the right time. In March of 2017 we left our full time jobs and opened our office on Lincoln Ave with a couple of trusted large clients to get us started. It's been a wild ride, but we are so happy that we are able to run our own business and really enjoy the challenges and joys that come with it!
What are some of your favorite moments of running your business?
It's been super fast paced and we've had so many unexpected changes over the past (nearly) 4 years. Some of our favorite moments are when we see our employees get excited about their growth. Real estate isn't most people's first choice in careers - we get a lot of employees with varied backgrounds. However, when it's done right and with an ethical mindset it can be incredibly gratifying to help people find their homes and investments. Although it has its challenges, we feel really lucky to be able to run a business as a married couple. This business has given us a ton of flexibility, and we're having our first baby in February and are lucky that we can find a work/life balance that allows us to raise her.
Do you have any hobbies that you do outside of running your business?
We have two adorable dogs, Boomer and Tillie, and love taking them on hikes when we can get out of town. We also love getting out on the lake whenever we have a chance, and had a boat at Belmont Harbor that is so much fun in the summer! Sean is also a huge baseball fan so we will be going to Cubs games again hopefully soon!
What are some of your favorite spots in Lakeview that you frequent?
Dogaholics is absolutely amazing, and we cannot say enough good about the doggie day care that they offer our pups. We also love Cafe Tola- those empanadas and horchata latte's are delicious! Corridor Brewery is also super tasty. Helen is pregnant right now, but that is on the list of places to go as soon as she can drink the beers again! We are so excited for when things are safe enough again to start going out to our favorite restaurants and bars.
What are the best ways people can support your business right now?
We have been working on our social media presence. Following us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn would be incredibly helpful. Word of mouth and referrals are essential in this business. If you are in need of an apartment rental, home purchase/sale, or need help managing your apartments, we would love to talk to you about the services we can offer.
