Michael is the zen master of real estate. He is calm, intelligent, confident and...more than I ever expected. I am not sure if people know how difficult it is to find a great barber. I used to go to Gabby's on Clark St. until I moved and it has taken me three years to find another. When I first put my condo up for sale I used a different @gent and I was left with less than satisfying results. In terms of my analogy, I had asked for a trim with a clean taper and received a total buzz cut. Trust me when I say, I look scary bald and cutting my asking price became a weekly event. I understand you have to lower the price sometimes, but any idiot can give a house away so why bother with an agent. Well, I'll tell you why...Michael. Michael got me MY best price. He is not a miracle worker since sometimes it is the market and/or the buyers. My buyer was a real piece of work. We negotiated a price simply enough, but the buyer was not willing to accept payment for the three minor repairs that were identified. These were more of a nuisance since I was out of state. Could I have done the work myself? Most definitely, but everyone is busy so working and going to class full-time made it difficult to get back. Michael helped me with everything and there was no task or problem he couldn't resolve. He referred me to a competent lawyer and maintenance guy; he helped usher out my tenant; he called me with updates and details; he did it all and kept me well informed. He was able to help me get through all the hiccups that arise when selling a home. As of now, I've bought two homes and sold one so I have limited experience, but I know great customer service and when an honest, hardworking person cares. I wish I could say more or at the very least say it better, but I will end with similar sentiments as others. Michael is great at providing the information and details needed for you to feel confident about selling or buying your home, helpful beyond compare and reassuringly calm. Michael is zen and will not disappoint. read more

Michael is a great real estate agent: knowledgeable, honest, organized, and easy to work with. I feel comfortable recommending him to any of my friend who is buying condos in the city. Michael has great knowledge about Chicago condo market. Before working with Michael, I worked with two other agents very briefly: one from a famous real estate search website and the other used by a coworker, and key issue of both agents is that they are not knowledgeable enough about Chicago condo market: I usually do a 30-min internet search about a condo building before I visit in person, and you know what, I usually end up knowing more about the building than these two agents. Michael is different: he practically know very major condo building in the city, e.g., certain building has a bad foreclosure history and hard to get loan, certain building has build quality issue, or certain building has lawsuit against the builder. Michael is honest. First, after learning what kinds of condo I'm looking for, he actually recommended a few good condo buildings that currently have no unit (or no unit on a particular tier) on the market, and said that we can closely monitor those buildings. Clearly many agents will not do that: many agents will just recommend you something on the market and make you buy as soon as possible. Also, sometime I sent him a condo building and expressed strong interests, and he'll just tell me that's not a good building and why. Michael is very organized. He takes notes on his mac during every meeting with me. Michael is also extremely polite and a pleasure to work with. Highly recommend! read more

Working with Michael Michalak was an absolute pleasure. He helped me with my first home purchase and really put my mind at ease throughout the whole process. When we first started seeing houses together, I was a bit concerned because he didn't seem to have strong opinions about the properties. I quickly realized, however, that he purposely didn't provide much input for the first couple houses because he was trying to asses what I was looking for rather than nudge me in one direction or another. Once he had figured out what I wanted and needed, Michael was the best asset a buyer could ask for. He was so thorough at the showings, asking questions about the piping, confirming how old appliances were, checking out the attic spaces and even insisting on walking through the crawl spaces so that he could make sure that the foundation was solid! He had such a depth of knowledge on everything related to the home-buying process and taught me so much about real estate in the months that we spent working together. He was flexible when organizing times to see houses and never once pushed me to buy a place that I wasn't thrilled about. If you want a real estate broker who has your best interest in mind, please give Michael a call. You won't be disappointed with the results. I'm now in a 2-flat that I never would have thought was an option for me because he took me to see 10+ properties and patiently guided me through the home-buying process. He doesn't take shortcuts, he works hard and puts the buyer first. Thank you Michael! read more

When we were in Chicago, we had one weekend to find the perfect apartment/condo for our daughter. We knew the basic location we were interested in, but since we live in Florida and know nothing about real estate in Chicago, we looked to Michael to help us out. On very short notice, he met with us and showed us a few possible locations. He listened to our requests and worked with us long-distance to get the place we settled on. He is extremely knowledgable and pleasant to work with. Michael worked with us to make sure we found the perfect place for our daughter and then worked diligently to make it happen. Not only is he a wonderful realtor, he shared his own personal tips for living in the Chicago area and gave us suggestions to local businesses, physicians, decorators and more. We know that should our daughter have a question while she is living there, she could call Michael and he would do his best to help or point her in the right direction, even though his part of the transaction is completed. He truly seems to be one of the "good guys" and we are so blessed to have found him. We would highly recommend Michael Michalak with RE/MAX Signature if you are looking to buy or sell in the Chicago area! read more

Michael is a true professional and a advocate for his clients. Simply put, he is a tremendous agent. In helping my wife and I purchase a investment property/condo in Chicago, he was attentive to our needs, worked around a crazy schedule and provided us with wonderful options to consider. More importantly, Michael was the first to offer honest insight to properties that may not have been an intelligent purchase - he was always about ensuring that we make a good decision. When we did find the property we wanted to purchase, Michael worked well with a difficult representative of a corporate owned piece of real estate and negotiated a great price. It was not a typical situation and one that could have easily fallen through without his patience and professionalism. In the end, we came away from the negotiation with our condo AND magically an extremely valuable separately deeded garage spot that we were not even aware of at the start. A roof over our head and our car! I highly recommend Michael if you are considering any type of real estate transaction - whether a buy or sell, Michael is one agent I would always trust. read more

Before I started looking at properties, I met with several agents to learn about the buying process and each agent's approach to ensure it's a good fit with my approach. After closing one investment condo and with a second condo under contract, I'm glad that I've selected Michael as my real estate broker. Michael helped me through the process of finding my first investment property. With each showing, he pointed out the goods and the bads from both an investor and a potential tenant's perspective. I found this very helpful in pricing the properties properly. After making several offers on various units, we ended up buying the very first unit that we made an offer on because the unit came back to market after it was under contract for several weeks. Michael is knowledgeable, attentive, and very responsive. When I'm struggling with making counteroffers, he always reminds me that we can walk away if I'm not comfortable and other new units will come on market that meets our requirements. This is important to me because it shows the agent cares about his client and is looking after my best interests as well. read more

My wife and I recently sold our condo in Chicago, as we were moving out of state. We worked with Michael and couldn't have been more pleased. Michael is the epitome of a true professional. He is very knowledgeable in Chicago real estate, offered great advice throughout the process, was prompt in responding to any questions or requests we had and walked us through a few hiccups along the way. We ended up under contract less than five days after putting our condo on the market. My wife and I have said over and over how Michael went the extra mile to make the process smooth and effortless. We moved to a new city after we were under contract, but before we closed. In our absence, Michael made multiple trips to the property to make sure there were no issues. He even shipped mail that had come to our condo after we moved. In addition to all of that, he found a home owner's tax credit that we had not been taking and helped us get a refund from the state. If you are looking for a realtor and are wondering who to use, you would be hard pressed to find one as good as Michael. read more

I have known Michael since 2007 when he helped me find my first home in the Printers Row neighborhood of Chicago. I cannot say enough wonderful things about him; his work ethic, patience, promptness, professionalism, extensive knowledge of Chicago neighborhoods and real estate, and his enthusiasm for his work make him a wonderful real estate agent to work with. Currently my husband and I continue to work with him on maintaining our rental property in Chicago and he is a wonderful agent to have as we no longer live in the city we rely heavily on his expertise with this rental. Michael has also been extremely helpful in connecting us with other real estate agents in the many towns my husband's Military career has taken us in addition to great recommendations for mortgage lenders! If you have any real estate needs in Chicago, Michael is a wonderful agent. We have never been disappointed with his work and value him as our continued agent in Chicago! We look forward to the continued years of great service he provides us. read more

Michael deserves his 5-star Yelp rating and he really is as good as it gets. I do not have a single criticism. As a first time apartment buyer, I had no idea what I was doing and Michael was there to walk me through every step of the process. After even our initial meeting, I walked away impressed with his knowledge of the Chicago market and immediately trusted him to guide me in the right direction. Michael promptly replied to all emails, was professional / friendly / patient at all meetings, and buying an apartment was as painless as could be. When it came to finding an inspector or insurance broker or mortgage broker or attorney, I asked Michael if he knew anybody and I ended up utilizing every one of his recommendations. He has got an all-star team and they all provided the same quality of service that I came to expect when dealing with Michael himself. There was truly no interaction or area that could have been improved upon. I would not dream of using anybody else in the future. read more

I highly recommend Michael to anyone looking to buy or sell in Chicago. Neither my fiancé or I had owned property before, and from the initial consultation to closing, Michael was there every step of the way and truly felt like a partner in the process. He provided valuable advice on things to look out for with a home as well as expert knowledge on the overall real estate landscape in Chicago. We eventually agreed to a new construction condo, and even after our offer was accepted Michael stayed heavily involved to help hold the Developer and the Developers team accountable to specific specifications that were included in the offer. Lastly, right before closing the appraisal came in lower than the agreed upon price, and Michael was quick to provide pragmatic advice and skillfully renegotiated an updated offer. Michael provided genuine expertise and care as our realtor - and for a purchase as important as a new home - those traits are invaluable. read more

As a lender, my viewpoint and review of a Realtor might be different than a potential home buyer or a client looking to list their property with a Realtor however I feel that the resposiveness, professionalism and courtesy as well as respect of the efforts I put forward to make a transaction happen in a timely manner for our borrowers are defintely a reflection of how a Realtor would treat their client. Mike was a pleasure to deal with and was quick and responsive to needs we had to put together a somewhat complex transaction for our borrower purchasing one of Mike's listings, which is always appreciated on my end of the business. He routinely checked in on the progress of the loan we had in process in a professional and courteous way and to see if he could offer any assistance, again, always appreicated. I would absolutely refer and recommend Michael Michalak as an excellent Real Estate resource. Thanks Mike, it was a true pleasure working with you. read more

I was referred to Michael by a friend when I was starting to look at condos in the downtown area and l couldn't be happier. Michael is extremely responsive and was willing to answer any of my questions I had regarding the home-buying process as a first time (and somewhat clueless) buyer. He also takes the initiative and was efficient at finding listings that piqued my interest, and did all the work scheduling tours.Once I made an offer, Michael was always quick to provide helpful advice regarding negotiation, inspection concerns, and loan and insurance referrals. On closing day, the paperwork got delayed at the title company, and I had to get to a really important meeting before some final documents were faxed back for me. Michael ended up going above and beyond the call of duty, and stayed for a couple extra hours to straighten everything out, really reducing my stress with having to leave early. Michael definitely deserves his five star rating. read more

I wish I could give more than 5 stars! We purchased our first home (condo) this past year and would not have navigated through the process of being first time buyers with a brand new build without Michael's expertise, guidance and support. We lived out of the country and had a short window of time to find a new place. Michael stayed on top of every listing that fit our requirements and scheduled visits to match our limited timeline. Michael's level of professionalism, responsiveness, organization and attention to detail are unparalleled. He always made himself available to us and would even check on our place while it was being built to give us status updates! He defines "above and beyond" and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work (from searching through closing) with such a remarkable listener and dedicated supporter. Thank you Michael for a top notch and successful experience! read more

Mr. Michalak was extraordinary helpful when I was looking for a home. Being a first time home buyer and not having much experience in the Chicago real estate market, I was not certain what to expect. Michael coached me every step of the way and took the time to answer my many questions and concerns. His honesty and straightforward answers really impressed me. You can tell that he acutely listens, by the way he provides such insightful, thoughtful answers. He took what could have been a very stressful experience and made it a much more relaxed one with his guidance and knowledge. Kind of like going fishing on Lake Michigan in a charter boat with an experienced captain vs. renting a rowboat and expecting results. Michael navigated the rough waters and I caught myself a keeper of a home. I highly recommend working with Michael, he will close the deal and focus on your specific needs! read more

My husband and I were looking to purchase our first home in Chicago West Loop and started working with Michael. Michael was very attentive to our needs from the very start. He made us feel perfectly at ease throughout the process and was outstanding with the schedules even after taking up a new parent role! We surely were tough customers with quite a few constraints but it didn't flinch his compose. His professionalism and energy level are commendable. He never rushed us through a call, property visit or pressurized us to buy something we do not like. His integrity is impeccable and his responsiveness exceptional. Michael found us a condo which we truly love and the closing happened just in 30 days as everyone Michael recommended were top notch. I would highly recommend Michael whether you are buying or selling a house. Thank you again Michael. We couldn't be happier with our purchase read more

Michael Michalak is an exceptional real estate professional, whom I highly recommend to anyone seeking assistance with the process of buying/selling a property. I was trying to research the market value of a condo I own in Lakeview, pursuant to a possible short sale. I decided to contact Michael based on the excellent reviews I read here on Yelp. I am so glad I did ! I was impressed with Michael's quick response and follow-up to my inquiry, his professionalism, and willingness to take time to help me with this issues without any expectations. He really took time to answer my questions and provided all the information I needed. I will recommend Michael to all my friends and anyone needing an assistance from a real estate professional. Do not hesitate to call Michael ! You will not be disappointed ! He is the nicest person I have encountered in the real estate arena. read more

I've worked with Michael as a business referral partner for the past few years. In fact we just helped a repeat client purchase another home and the deal went quite smoothly. Part of the reason that the deal went smoothly is Michael's attention to detail, level of service and professionalism. Being in the mortgage business I know that is crucial to making ever complicated real estate transactions go well. He is always readily available and gets the things needed in a timely manner. Michael is also very knowledgeable about the downtown Chicago condo market. He knows the intricacies of most of the popular condo projects and is a great resource if you're looking to purchase in those buildings. Whether you're a first time home buyer or seasoned real estate investor, if you want a smooth and pleasant experience I highly recommend Michael to make that happen! read more

Well over a year ago I placed my Wicker Park Condo for sale. During that year I got a few offers but they were way below my asking price. I decided to look for another Realestate Agent, one that was interested in "selling" my condo and had my best interest as a priority. Michael was highly recommended to me by a friend and from the moment I met Michael I knew I had the right Agent to sell my condo. Michael is knowledgeable, professional, a good listener and patient. Michael sold my condo within 6 months! Michael held my hand through the whole process, always positive and providing me updates on showings. Michael is a Top Notch Agent, a man of integrity, informed and knowledgeable about his profession. You won't find a better Agent anywhere in Chicago. I have no problem referring him to others. Keep up the fabulous work Michael. read more

My wife are I were newer to Chicago and after renting for a year decided we were ready to buy. It was our first time purchasing a home and the process could not have gone more smoothly! Our first meeting with Michael was fantastic, he really painted us a picture of the entire home buying process. We left that meeting much more confident than we entered it. Michael negotiated us a great deal as we went back and forth multiple times with the seller. Fortunately, he was able to keep the seller's interest while helping us get the best price possible! All of Michael's recommendations were fantastic as well, from the mortgage company to the inspector, they were all great! If you are in the market for a new home make sure to contact Michael! We could not have been happier with our experience. read more