Testimonials

“We are out-of-towners, soon to be transplanted Chicagoans, having recently closed on the purchase of a residential property downtown under the careful and expert guidance of Debra and her amiable and capable team. Beginning our Chicago domicile search from across the country, with no knowledge of local real estate expertise, was a daunting task. By the grace of good fortune and more than a little internet research, we came upon Debra Dobbs and are thanking our lucky stars. Jackpot.

Whereas we have transacted many residential real estate deals, as buyers and sellers, in every corner of this country, we have never encountered the potent amalgam of expertise, experience, intelligence, ethics, knowledge, network, good humor, boundless energy, inside baseball arcana, and, most importantly, kindness that is Debra Dobbs! And those attributes merely scratch the surface. After many decades working in Chicago real estate, she has clearly and deservedly earned the respect and admiration of her colleagues. As well, Debra’s carefully curated “Little Black Book” provides a priceless value-add for both the newcomer and the native with its many vetted recommendations for all things real estate, construction, design, culinary and more. In our case, she found the perfect interior designer for our distinct personalities and design needs. DD is indeed a real estate savant, the girl with something extra. Her deep connections are highly assistive to her buyers and sellers, facilitating every aspect of the transaction but never ending there. Moreover, Debra’s team complements her great energy and attention to detail by ensuring that the entire process (in our case buying) is seamless from the Alpha to the Omega and beyond.

We are grateful to have found ourselves in her powerful orbit, thrilled to have closed on the purchase of a wonderful home in Chicagoland, and blessed to now call Debra Dobbs a friend.”

“Debra and Katharine did a great job helping to sublet/ rent our apartment. They sent out our listing to their realtor contacts and held one open house, and they had 12 offers above asking rental price. They rented the place for $600 above asking price after one showing!”

“I worked with Debra Dobbs and her team to both purchase and sell my condo, and had wonderful experiences! In selling, I worked with Kate Penkova who was very kind, helpful, communicative, and very timely with both replies and appointments. They all made the process easy!”

“I met Debra in passing, several years ago, while walking my dog through the East Lincoln Park neighborhood. Debra is an animal lover, and we enjoyed an instant connection. Years later, when making the decision to list my condo, I knew I should reach out to Debra.

Debra is a consummate professional with decades of real estate experience. She arrived at our first meeting very well-prepared. She listens, she remembers, and she offers sage advice backed by diligent market analysis to effectively market a home. She is also patient and understands the inherent stresses involved in selling a home, doing everything she can to take away as much stress from her clients as possible. We were so happy with Debra and her team of professionals, including the photographer, videographer, graphic designer, and support staff who helped our home shine.

Within a month of our first meeting with Debra, only a day after listing our condo, we had a very solid offer near full asking price. We also had a wonderful new friend in Debra. She never rushes and always takes time to connect on a very personal level. That is the Debra Dobbs difference!”

“Working with the Dobbs group was such a great experience! The team is so helpful and made our buying process seamless and as stress free as possible! Highly highly recommend them!”

“I have been a Managing Broker for 2 decades and I can honestly state Debra and her team are the best of the best! I guarantee she will sell your house faster, for the most money achievable with less stress. She is a great communicator and very detailed in her efforts.”

“I’d give her all the stars in the galaxy if I could! Amazing realtor and wonderful person.”

“Debra is amazing. She somehow makes every client feel like they are her first priority even though it is clear she is really very busy and pulled in many directions. We had a “no pressure” first home buying experience. Debra held our hand and walked us through every step! I would definitely recommend her to to any of my friends or family!”

“Thank you Kate ! You’re great. You are a five star realtor! I really appreciate all your time and efforts.”

“Working with the Dobbs group was the best decision I could make when buying my first home! My agent, Lucy, did an amazing job walking me through each step of the process. From touring various condos, to getting contracts signed, Lucy was an immense help in making my first-time buying experience as smooth as it could be. I will gladly refer Lucy and the Dobbs Group to anyone looking to purchase their first or 100th home! Thank you.”

“Debra, Kate and the entire team were very responsive to our needs and those of our tenants. Always showed our property in a professional timely manner.”

“Lucy, Kat, and Debra at the Dobbs Group are wonderful! They were friendly and informative throughout my home buying process and made everything feel smooth. Definitely recommend.”

“Debra and her team took care of everything! From start to finish the selling process was very seamless and smooth. Highly recommend this team for your real estate needs!”

“We have worked with Debra both as a Buyer to find our home and subsequently based on our positive experience, a Seller to market and sell our home. Debra is a consummate professional, incredibly easy to work with and service oriented – she really takes the time to listen and understand what is important to you and what will work for all parties. She is very knowledgeable about the market, consultative and a trusted advisor. Debra is surrounded by a network of professionals who are top of their profession, including videographers, digital marketing experts, landscapers, specialized contractors for every household need…the list goes on. We cannot speak highly enough of our experience with Debra, and once you settle into your new home she is there to get you introduced to all the local attractions, the best restaurants and activities as well as introduce you to likeminded people in your area. Debra goes beyond executing a transaction, she builds deep and lasting relationships.”

“Debra Dobbs and her team provided superior assistance in ever aspect of our home buying. She understood immediately what we were looking for in a property and found exactly the home that met all of our goals. Through her expert representation (she wrote a letter on our behalf to the seller), our bid was accepted. Her work with us continued throughout and beyond closing. Since we were going through this process from out-of-state, she connected us with an excellent team of professionals (legal, broker, inspector, and appraiser). She then stayed with us every step of the way, providing quick and trusted advice. I would also add that she is enormously kind and thoughtful. She made sure our first night in our new home was comfortable by setting up house cleaning and ordering us take-out. She also put us in touch with a talented contractor and designer. She seems to know the best people in the business and is happy to make these introductions. We faced so many challenges in buying our house remotely at the hight of COVID, and Debra addressed every one of our concerns. We are so grateful for her exceptional representation and would work with her again in a heartbeat.”

” Dear Kate: Thank you for assisting us with the sale of our property. You are courteous, helpful and attentive. Our phone calls, emails and questions were answered promptly. We were very pleased with the service you provided from the time of listing to the time of closing. You did a super job!”

” – Best Real Estate Team In Chicago Land –
We just completed our sixth transaction with Debra Dobbs Group. We have been on the buying side and selling side with Debra and Company over the years. This time we wanted to sell our Lakeview condo. We found ourselves selling under the most challenging circumstances we have ever encountered. To underscore the difficulty, we live out of town from the condo, we had the pandemic raging, and it was winter.
Josh went above and beyond to show our condo during the Chicago winter dealing with snowstorms and their aftermath. They navigated Covid 19 with ease and made everyone coming to a showing feel safe and secure. In addition, when we needed some minor repairs to the unit, they had the contacts to get the job done competently and quickly.
The bottom line…
They understand the market inside and out. They know a ton of other agents, so you get good feedback on showings. They give you incredible real-time market information and analysis. Oh yeah, they market your property in very creative ways. They understand and use the power of social media very effectively. So, you get the best information you can get to make important decisions about your property and how to sell it for maximum gain.
Anyone can sell a property in a hot market, but Debra and Josh really showed that they are the best under the most challenging of market conditions. They stepped up and sold our condo. The personal service we got from Debra and Josh is unmatched in Chicago.”

“Debra and Josh are great to work with! Their experiences and knowledge of the Chicago market make the selling and buying process incredibly easy. From the time we decided to list, they gave valuable feedback on what we needed to do to properly to show our place. They have great painting, inspection, attorney, and mortgage contacts to help you throughout the process. Even during this busy housing market, their communication and attention to detail was great. We accepted a competitive offer on the first day after the first showing. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

“We want to express our sincere gratitude and pass on our compliments. You and your team are true professionals. Your great communication, insightful market perspective updates, and attention to detail made the sale of our home in Lincoln Park a smooth and efficient process. We are extremely happy we chose Debra Dobbs & Associates to represent us for our sale. We will highly recommend you and your team!”

“Debra Dobbs is a stellar realtor and helped us immensely in finding our perfect place. She’s an expert on all Chicago neighborhoods, but was particularly helpful for our Lincoln Park search. She steered us clear of bad buys and got us the right price for our home. Not only does she go above and beyond in her role, but she was a fount of knowledge in recommending contractors, painters, legal advisers, etc. With Debra, you get your entire home buying crew in tow. It was a perfect experience for us.”

“Debra is an absolute joy to work with; she makes a process that can be overwhelming and frustrating relatively painless…when it came time for us to negotiate it was clear that Debra was our advocate. Debra has a strong intuition and is a great reader of people.”

“We are still thankful every day for the fantastic work you did on our behalf. Thanks to your hard work, diligent efforts, conscientious follow up and talented marketing techniques, you sold our condominium and we were able to move closer to our daughter and her new family. In addition to the timely results you were able to accomplish, we truly appreciated and enjoyed working with you. ….

We have the luxury of being able to compare your company with other agents in our recent past and, frankly, there is no comparison. Thank you again for helping us to move on to our new life and home.”

“Kate was obviously working on my behalf. She was a no-nonsense assistant in finding the home that we wanted on (actually under) budget and within a tight timeframe. She even worked us through the beginning of the COVID outbreak. She was listening to what we were saying and what we weren’t saying. She was honest about the properties she showed us and was helpful in considering things that we hadn’t even thought of. One outstanding example: We’d seen 9 houses and didn’t find what we were looking for. At the end of the 9th house visit, we sat on the stoop with Kate, explained that we wanted to change our search a bit. Within an hour, we had 8 new houses to consider! She was just OUTSTANDING! ”

“We have bought three homes with Debra (and sold also two of those homes with Debra, and rented out one of them while we lived somewhere else). 

She’s utterly fabulous. She’s amazing. She’s patient and very good at both understanding your unique situation and making you feel like you are the only person in the world. She knows Chicago; she knows the market; she knows all the other brokers. 

I cannot recommend Debra enough or highly enough if you are looking to buy a home or sell a home, or do anything else related to real estate in Chicago.”

“Kate was amazing. Knew exactly what I wanted and was able to target an area that I wasn’t even aware would be a perfect fit. The process was simple and quick, it was a week from the first email exchange to me signing a lease on my dream apartment. Kate is awesome!!”

“Debra and Alyssa were great. Debra fought for more money for us instead of just trying to get the deal done. Professional and all the people we worked with loved both Debra and Alyssa, and that made our lives easier as we’re out of town. Highly recommended!”

“Kate was very helpful in the apartment finding process. I had a very short time period to find something and she put together a list using criteria we had discussed and handled setting up all of the showings. It was a lot easier than having to do it on my own. She also went above and beyond and drove us around to each location eliminating the need to wait for an uber and allowed us to view more apartments in a short period of time.”

“After becoming overwhelmed with trying to find a place to rent in Chicago, I reached out to Debra Dobbs Realty. I was immediately assigned an agent, Alyssa, and given a listing of properties that matched my preferences. Within a week I was taken to several properties by Alyssa and ended up finding a couple places that I liked. She worked continuously with the broker to make sure that everything went as smoothly as it could. I will definitely reach out again in the future if I ever need to find another place in the city.”

“Kate was great to work with! We were on a very short trip to find an apartment. Kate found only places to see that fit all my requirements. She was very honest about her knowledge of the neighborhoods and her thoughts about whether the property was a good one or not. She never tried to pressure us into considering something we didn’t like. When our first day produced no leads, she quickly put together another list of possibilities for day two which was a success! She was extremely prompt returning all emails and text messages, and she continued to help us through the final steps of the lease and setting up utilities. We plan to work with Kate again in the future!”

“I never leave reviews! For the first time, I actually want to. I simply can’t express my gratitude and admiration for the realtor services received from Ms. Debra Dobbs.

I contacted her online with uncertain expectations as to the outcome. My 25 year old son in Chicago (and I in TN) had unexpectedly lost his lease and had no place to reside. To add to the stress level my son had a new boss and a new promotion which required his energies.
Within a matter of hours, Debra had located several properties within his price and geographic range. Within a matter of 2 days she had an offer prepared to the broker handling the owner’s properties.
We thought our stress was over. Alas, it had not even begun. The owner’s broker was incompetent, the owner in a foreign country, etc. Through more time and trouble than ever imagined, Debra kept moving the process forward with professionalism and a positive spirit.
Finally a lease was signed. With no expectation and wonderful surprise, Debra continued to assist! As my son was out of town, she retrieved his key, checked on the condo. etc. in preparation for his weekend arrival.
Currently, she or her staff have offered to be on site at his condo to allow the moving company to access so my son does not have to miss work.
I apologize for the length of this post. But, when expectations are exceeded as Debra Dobbs did – it is important to share.
Trust Debra with any and all of your real estate needs!.”

“The Debra and Alyssa team have now helped us with two home purchases and one home sale in the Gold Coast and River North neighborhoods! Extremely pleased and appreciative of their assistance with all transactions and the always readily available support they offered. I would highly reccomend their team for any purchase, sales, and rental transactions in the Chicago area!”

“Kate found me the best apartment situation I have ever found since I have been living in Chicago which is basically my entire life she was relentless in going for me since I am disabled so that we didn’t waste time seeing if the stair situation would be too much for me to waste my time looking at the apartments she went above and beyond every single way someone can.”

“I worked with Debra as a first time home-buyer. She and her team were truly fantastic to work with – they made the process as transparent and easy as I believe possible. Can’t recommend her enough.”

“I stumbled upon the company online when my husband and I desperately needed a realtor to help me move from Florida to Chicago in less than a month. I had the privilege of being assisted by the phenomenal Kate Penkova. She was nothing short of amazing! She was professional, very responsive even after business hours and extremely helpful. It was my first time using a realtor and I’m so glad it was her. I would 100% recommend her.”

“We had an excellent experience with the DOBBS Group; Kate Penkova our realtor was excellent. She demonstrated a deep understanding of the local market, provided valuable guidance throughout the entire condo-selling process, and negotiated effectively on our behalf. We were always kept informed and involved in decision-making. Overall, we had a positive experience with Kate and would highly recommend their services to others looking to buy or sell a home or condo.”

“I cannot recommend this team highly enough. Katharine is exceptionally competent, extremely personable, and highly responsive. She really took the time to understand exactly what I was looking for and only shared those listings that met my exact criteria. I could tell that each client was receiving customized service rather than getting the same off-the-shelf recommendations as everyone else. Katharine is super scrappy and tenacious, more than willing and able to negotiate and think outside the box on behalf of prospective tenants to maximize their outcomes. And if you are looking at apartments while out of town, she’ll even go on the tours for you – not all brokers do this. And best of all, it’s entirely free to you! At risk of sounding hyperbolic you’d honestly be a fool not to partner with Katharine and her team as part of your Chicago apartment search.”

“Debra is the best!!!! We have worked for over a decade on several real estate sales and purchases, some rather complicated, and her expertise and guidance in these deals was invaluable. She is incredibly hardworking and dedicated.”

“Debra Dobbs and Kate Penkova did a fantastic job for us. And really all the Dobbs team did a fantastic job. Debra and Kate both went above and beyond to help us in the sale of our home in Chicago. Not only that, they are wonderful, genuine, people, so pleasant to work with. I am grateful we were able to connect with them through a recommendation from a friend! Thank you so much!”

“Katharine was extremely efficient with not only her options but also working with my current building. She was diligent throughout the process with asking questions and making sure it was a smooth process for me. Couldn’t be happier with what she found for me and my new apartment!”

“My husband and I had a fantastic experience with Debra and her team. Not only were they extremely responsive, and professional but also so delightful to work with. Debra’s energy and warmth really made us feel at ease through the process of buying our condo. We would highly recommend Debra to all, and certainly work with her again in the future.”

“We recently completed our fifth and sixth transactions with Debra as our agent. She’s part genius, part magician. She found us the perfect new home after showing us only two candidates, and helped us negotiate a fair and reasonable contract in less than three days. We then put our old home on the market, at a price we thought was ambitious but fair, and she sold it in less than two weeks after only three showings, at 97% of our asking price. We had worked closely with her during renovations of our old home to make sure that the work we did would appeal to a broad market, and her suggestions turned out to be spot-on. A wonderful, brilliant, very hard-working, and fun person!”

“Debra Dobbs is a true professional who works tirelessly and passionately on behalf her clients. She is intuitive and helped my husband and me make absolutely the perfect choice for us in a city home. Debra is also an energetic person who is simply a pleasure to work with! I recommend her without reservation.”

“Debra extrudes experience, knowledge, dedication and honesty when it comes to buying and selling a home. She goes above and beyond as a friend would, not just as your agent. She builds relationships so she can deliver exactly what her client’s lifestyle requires in their home. She knows the market in and out and Debra is the type of agent you want by your side… that you need by your side.”

“Kathleen and The Dobbs Group were great to work with as buyers’ agents for our condo in Lincoln Park. Kathleen is friendly and knowledgeable. We never felt pressured as we searched for a place that fit our specific needs in the neighborhood that we love. Kathleen listened and was incredibly helpful in guiding us through the purchase process. She has a keen eye and was able to hone in on elements to take into consideration as we decided on our best fit. We felt supported and like we had an advocate throughout negotiations and the closing process. I highly recommend Kathleen as an agent and The Dobbs Group. We are so happy in our new home!”

“Kathleen and The Dobbs Group are a very professional team, which made for a smooth home buying experience. We will definitely work with Kathleen and The Dobbs Group again. I highly recommend Kathleen as an agent and The Dobbs Group to anyone looking for a new home in Chicago’s northside neighborhoods.”

“Debra, Kate, and the entire team were a dream to work with! As a first time home-buyer, I never felt like she was annoyed at my dozens of questions and always took the time to explain things in a way that I could understand. She was thoughtful and thorough during home tours and quick with email communication when necessary. Everyone who we mentioned Debra’s name to had nothing but kind things to say about her, and her deep Chicago real estate connections definitely worked in our favor! Every expert that she recommended we use (mortgage, inspection, lawyer, etc.) was fabulous as well. I really can’t say enough good things about my experience working with Debra and the whole team!”

“This is not a review, but rather a love letter to the Dobbs Group.

My journey as a first time home buyer with Debra and her team has been outstanding. They really helped guide me through the entire process; they could not have been anymore organized and accommodating. I learned so much from Debra and with her assistance I was able to buy a home I know I will love for years to come. When sharing my experience with my family, they have been blown away by the level of high quality service Debra provides.

I especially want to express extra gratitude for Debra’s assistants Lucy and Kat. They have been a tremendous help scheduling inspectors and contractors on my behalf as well as standing in for me when I could not be at appointments in person. I think their titles need to be changed to Super Hero Assistants because they are truly stellar.

If you are buying in Chicago look no further than the Dobbs Group! I look forward to staying in touch with them and will continue to sing their praises through the end of time.”

“Debra Dobbs is a consummate professional. She is dedicated to serving her client with utmost care and attention. Debra immediately sized up my goals and preferences and got to work quickly. While I am sure she had many competing priorities, she made me feel as if I was her highest priority. Her research tools and network helped to identify a pool of properties. She dealt effectively with an unanticipated curve ball and navigated me to an even better property. I could not recommend Debra more highly. She is a pleasure to work with.”

“The Dobbs Group was a dream to work with; always punctual, responsive, and knowledgeable. Debra and Josh walked us through the entire home buying and selling process with the highest level of professionalism. They answered all of our questions, kept the process on track, stayed focused on driving toward closing, and were open, honest and experienced. We loved their conversations, guidance, and knowledge of the industry. They helped us feel confident we were on the right track from staging our home to making sure we were priced right. We would highly recommend them to anyone looking to buying or selling a home!”

“Debra and her team handled the sale with professionalism and truly cared about selling our condo. We had a high rise condo in Chicago which was not an easy job. She gave us great recommendations on staging the condo and made it stand out. We had a weekly phone call where she keep us abreast of the changing market conditions. Her steady hand helped guide us through what can be an emotional transaction.

I would whole heartedly recommend Debra and her team to help you sell your property or helping you find your dream home.”

“I have always found Debra to be professional, fair and sensitive to the needs of her clients. She puts her clients’ interests and needs first and foremost.”

“We had a great experience working with Debra and her team. Debra is particularly outstanding at adjusting her style to connect with buyers and making the experience very personal. We first met Debra while purchasing a home, worked with her as a dual agent for the purchase, and then engaged her to sell our property too. I highly recommend Debra and her team. The pictures, video, and marketing were fantastic too.”

“Debra and her team are FANTASTIC! I challenge anyone to find a realtor who is more knowledgable about what is happening in the real estate market, Chicago &/or how broader world events are affecting your situation (whether buying or selling). On top of that, Debra is incredibly kind, empathetic and professional. She and her team will treat you like family every step of the way.”

“Debra made every detail of the whole process seem seamless and efficient. That she managed to do so during a pandemic and winter season is phenomenal. Easiest move I’ve ever made! I recommend her without hesitation!”

“All of Debra’s 5-star reviews are completely accurate. That’s why I chose her and I couldn’t have had a better experience. With Zillow (and others), you don’t need agents to find you places to see. But you need everything else — what is their experience with the neighborhood, building, etc.? What are some easy changes you can make to get a place where you want it to be? Who should I use for my (pick any: lawyer, inspector, lender, contractor… the list goes on).

You need an agent to help you through the entire process of something you may only do a few times in your entire life. Debra does this every day and is tireless on making it a good experience for you, and making sure there are no surprises along the way.

I only met Debra a couple of months ago, but she’s already my go-to recommendation for anyone looking to buy a new place in the Chicago area. I haven’t sold with her yet, but when I do, she’s the person I’ll call. Without question.”

“Professional, hard working, and delivers results. I can highly recommend using Debra and her team both for purchasing and selling properties in the Chicago area.”

“I can’t recommend Debra Dobbs enough for a buyer who needs a trustworthy, knowledgeable and professional real estate agent. She is more than an agent – she’s a well-respected consultant in her field and one of the best I have ever worked with.”

“Kate is a gem! As a first-time homebuyer, I wasn’t sure where to start. Kate was extremely patient, flexible, and honest throughout the process. She visited multiple properties with me, assisted with negotiations (helping me save money), and was always 100% honest and transparent. I would recommend Kate to anyone buying or selling and will use her services again!”

“Kate was really great! She made the process of selling easy for us! It was our first time selling and we feel that she has been extremely helpful throughout the whole process. We highly recommend her!”

“Debra and her team worked tirelessly to help us find our first rental property. She attentatively listened to what we valued in a rental property and took us to numerous prospective properties until we found the perfect investment. Debra doesn’t hesitate to provide input as to the pros and cons of each property, we never felt rushed to make a decision as Debra would routinely say: “I want you to get the property that’s right for you, and I’ll show you as many properties as it takes until you do”. While this was the first investment property we’ve bought with Debra, we used her a year ago to buy our primary home. We consider Debra much more than our broker, we consider her business partner.! ”

“Though Debra is formally called an agent, we view her as a trusted advisor and friend. We have seen her informally take on the roles of designer, reviewer, negotiator, diplomat, and yes, even psychologist.”

“It was a pleasure to have Kate helped us rent our condo. She always answered her phone and replied to emails right away. Very dedicated to her job and goal to find the best offer for her clients. Highly recommend!”

“If I had to buy another place I would go to Debra without hesitation. She made our experience unique and fun and as smooth as possible. Couldn’t have been better. THANK YOU VERY MUCH we are vey happy! and Debra is responsible for it!”

“Kate is extremely determined to help you find a great place to rent or buy. My roommate and I had a lot of setbacks and Kate was always happy and determined to help us find exactly what we were looking for. We couldn’t have found a better realtor!!!”

“Working with Debra Dobbs Realty has been a wonderful experience! Our realtor, Alyssa, was extremely flexible with scheduling tours for us and always communicated with us quickly within a day. She was honest about her opinions on properties and facilitated an easy and quick search to find our apartment. She went out of her way to make sure we had access to any property we wanted to see. I would highly recommend Debra Dobbs Realty to anyone!”

“The short version: Work with Debra’s team. They are amazing.
The longer version: My wife and I had a truly amazing experience with Debra’s team. Our move was a bit rushed, which led to a few complications and required a lot of last-second flexibility on the part of Debra’s team. (BTW, we worked mostly with Alyssa, one of Debra’s agents.) At every turn, the team did anything they could to help us out, and always went above and beyond the call of duty. If you need a real estate, talk to Debra. We are very happy with them, very grateful for their hard work and consistently quick response, and we will work with them again for sure.”

“Use This Agent!!!
Our experience with Debra and her team was excellent and smooth. We worked with Alyssa Ager, one of Debra’s colleagues, and the experience was perfect. we are first time home buyers and even though our budget wasn’t half a million, we got the same attention that any of her clients could hope for. Alyssa was a pro on all things home buying and went to bat for us when she saw something that needed to be negotiated.”

“Very smooth & great experience. Highly recommend Debra and her entire team.”

“Debra is a sublime realtor. We suffered through some prior realtors who were not as good, and we’re so lucky to have found Debra. She is a true expert – In Chicago, she knows every building, every block. For help and resources, she comes equipped with everything from great contractors to legal to insurance agents. She has great taste in every style and aesthetic, and she’s the perfect mix of warmth and bulldog. She represented us very well, and we feel we got a fair price and product. Overall, it was a great experience. We highly, highly recommend her.”

“Debra is the most knowledgeable and thorough broker! She understood our needs and worked tirelessly to find us the perfect home.”

“I highly recommend Debra and her team to help buy or sell your property. I interviewed quite a few agents before deciding to go with Debra and I am so happy I chose her team. I had to move to a different state and was really worried about all the logistics of staging and selling my property while being away. Debra’s team took care of everything, starting from organizing and arranging everything related to the staging company, cleaning of the condo, they even took care of the insurance purchase for me and also picked up my mail and forwarded it to my new address. They have been absolutely amazing and I cant thank them enough for making this process so smooth. Debra also recommended a great lawyer who did a wonderful job. Honestly, I didnt have to do anything and we got an offer within a week of putting my condo on the market and this offer was 15k over from what other agents told me is “reasonable”.
You will not regret choosing this STAR team!!!”

“Working with Debra and her team has been beyond words to state in a review. Debra’s attention to detail of our sale coupled with a check of our emotion made the experience stress-free. She never deviated from our requests – and worked on our behalf. Her spirit and knowledge of the market always made us feel that we were working with the best of the best!”

“Debra represented me and my husband for both buying and selling. I met Debra 5 years ago at an open house at one of her listings where I went in with my agent, I had to fire my agent and hire her because of her professionalism and knowledge on the market, and that was one of the best decisions I have ever made.She found us our first dream home 5 years ago, and recently represented us on both buying and selling. Her 30+ years of knowledge on Chicago and each neighborhood helped us to narrow down the neighborhoods we wanted to focus on looking; she went above and beyond to search for schooling information for us; she listens carefully to all our needs and gave her honest opinions. She never gives us the feel that she just wants to close the deals quickly, she cares as much as we do to find a perfect place that we will love! You feel like you are working with a caring family member but not just an agent when working with her!

All her contacts are absolutely amazing as well, and makes the buying/ selling process so much easier.”

“I’ve had experience over many, many years with a lot of real estate agents, both as a buyer and a seller. I’ve learned a lot during that time. For instance, most agents are competent and can tour you around, process paperwork, chat and keep you company. Some agents are really good – they know the areas pretty well, are really trying to help you and might have a good sense of the market. An even smaller segment are the great agents, the ones you can trust and with whom you feel in good hands. Then there are the ELITE agents, a rare breed indeed. Hard to find for sure but luckily you have me to direct you to one such ELITE agent – Debra Dobbs. Elite because she is more than a chauffeur, more than a font of knowledge, more than someone committed to your best interests, she takes it personally.

Debra has a market sense that is unmatched. She knows which areas are on the cusp of blossoming, which houses are poised to take advantage of that. Trust me, she is one you want on YOUR side during negotiations. She takes personal care of each of her clients. And you will be more than clients, you’ll become friends. Her assistance is unmatched – whether you’re a buyer or seller. Even after the sale she provides continued info useful for any homeowner. Her Little Black Book is invaluable!! Has all her secret contacts for everything you might need when you want service providers, best restaurants, night life, etc.. We just used her recommended electrician and he was fabulous!!

Can’t recommend her highly enough. Don’t sell yourself short. Don’t settle for a good agent. Go for the best. Debra Dobbs. You’ll thank me.”

“Had an awesome experience working with Kate. As a first time home-buyer, I was clueless at first, but felt supported and comfortable throughout the whole process.”

“I cannot heap enough effusive praise on Debra to describe what she does justice. She came recommended by colleagues who have worked with her multiple times in the past. She is not only an excellent realtor but part-life coach and guidance counselor that helped us navigate through our first-time home search and buying process. Debra went above and beyond to walk us through every stage of the way. We will always work with Debra and recommend her to everyone else who is looking to buy/sell a home.”

“Kate did an outstanding job from start to finish with the whole process. I have nothing but great things to say about her. I plan on retaining your company when I buy a place next spring, thanks to the great job she did.”

“I was a first-time homebuyer, and newly moving to Chicago. Kate put me at ease throughout the entire process. She was very knowledgeable about the real estate market and was honest if she didn’t think the property was worth investing in. She was also a lot of fun! Kate was so kind and patient when guiding me through the purchase process. She was extremely responsive and genuinely cared. Even after closing, Kate has contacted me to check in and has answered additional questions I had. I can’t recommend Kate enough! I was very lucky to work with her!”

“Kate was fantastic. We were purchasing a condo in the South Loop, and Kate knew many (if not all) of the buildings, knew a lot about the neighborhood, and knew just what questions to ask. We couldn’t have asked for a better person to guide us through our first experience with Chicago real estate. And most important to us, she gave us the perfect balance of utilizing her expertise–pointing things out we never would have noticed, but in hindsight, were so glad we did–and respecting our voice and preferences. Kate was also extremely responsive, flexible, and patient (with Covid, we looked for a long time as we continued to work remotely). Could not recommend Kate enough, especially for people who do their research but need that expert voice to guide them!!”

“I LOVE this group! I worked with Lucy who was an absolute delight. I found out I was moving to Chicago and had to be up there in a month (probably less!) and Lucy worked so fast to help me. Did virtual tours with me, helped me get our lease figured out and squared away and they even have something called Debra’s Little Black Book with recommendations for literally anything you could think of. Such a great experience!”

“Debra, Kate and the team took care of every single detail. This was so appreciated since I live in another state and wasn’t available to meet service people, the staging company, cleaning service and the like. Kate was on it without hesitation and always a positive attitude. Truly above and beyond efforts and attention. Your calls and emails are answered immediately.”

“When my wife and I were searching for a home, we interviewed a handful of realtors to make sure we were in good hands. Debra and her team were the best decision we could have made.

She had the resources, connections, and experience to handle the home buying process seamlessly. We expressed several needs in a new home and she was able to check all of those boxes and more – while keeping us within budget. She has a wonderful knack for viewing not only what a space is, but what it could be and how it could serve your needs in a home.

Debra was also brilliant when it came time to make an offer and negotiate. Despite it being a seller’s market, she refused to let us make a bad deal and made sure that we got immense value in the property we ultimately purchased.

I cannot recommend Debra and her team any more for your home search.”

“My husband and I listed our Logan Square home with Debra and team in August 2020. They were supportive and professional throughout the entire process. Our listing photos were spectacular and list price was determined based on our comfort level and the Dobbs’ team expertise. The market was very unpredictable but despite the challenges, we had a ton of showing activity and the Dobbs team was there every step of the way. Thanks to their hard work and marketing, we were able to find a great buyer and the process was incredibly smooth. We also leveraged the team’s recommendations for a lawyer and had a phenomenal experience. Debra’s knowledge of the market and connections in Chicago really helps her and her team stand apart. I would highly recommend Debra to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the city.”

“Debra has worked with several of our family members and dozens of friends we have referred to her over the years. She is currently helping my husband and me relocate from the suburbs. She is a terrific negotiator, always puts her clients first, and definitely has her fingers on the pulse of the Chicago real estate community. We 100% recommend her.”

“Debra Dobbs helped my roommates and I find a 4 bedroom rental in Lincoln Park last summer. Not only was she incredibly professional and impressively knowledgeable, she is hot! I will certainly ask Debra to help me find my next apartment/home. I literally could not have asked for a better experience and recommend her fully to all of my friends and family. No one else makes finding a house easier, or more fun.”

“Kate did a fantastic job of finding my family a great apartment in Chicago. We didn’t have much time to look and we needed to live in a specific area. Kate located numerous potential apartments for us in our price range and spent a lot of time to help us find the ideal unit. She was also very helpful in securing the unit for us and negotiating the best price for us. We were very fortunate to have Kate as our agent.”

“Debra has helped my family with several real estate deals spanning over a decade. She is bright, driven, ambitious, and incredibly helpful. As anyone who has worked with her can attest to, “real estate agent” is insufficient to describe Debra’s role throughout the process of buying or selling a home or apartment. To her clients, she is a friend, a trusted adviser, and a fierce ally.

Her loyalty to her clients is tangible and unflagging, and she will work relentlessly on their behalf. I cannot recommend Debra highly enough.”

“Kate was a Godsend. Someone at the front desk of a condo bldg gave us her card and we gave her a call. She just had so much insight into what we were looking for and took us around on a Saturday when we were in town. We are from St. Louis and were looking for an apartment for our son that we could stay in, too when we come to visit. We fell in love with the very first place she showed us. She is the best. I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking in Chicago. Loved her.”

“Debra was professional, knowledgeable and fought to get the deal closed when issues arose. Great job, Debra!”

“Debra was the perfect agent for us to partner with in our real estate transaction. She had great working relationships with those involved on our deal team, and she was able to provide helpful advice and counsel to us as first time buyers. We would definitely recommend Debra as an experienced agent who goes above and beyond! ”

“Kate is wonderful! She is extremely knowledgeable and works diligently, round the clock to find you the perfect home. She responded immediately to all my texts or calls regarding questions about rental properties and filling out apartment applications. She helped me refine my apartment search over the course of a month and set up multiple showings to ensure that I was aware of all my options regarding the types of units that were available in my price range. She continued to be available to answer questions even after my lease was signed. I could not recommend her more highly!”

“Great job under somewhat difficult circumstances. She’s a real pro!”

“Kate helped me buy my new condo in South Loop. Not only is she thorough with the process, but she also made sure to walk me through every step towards the closing. She was on top of every detail and coordinated the communication between every party involved. Extremely patient and calm .. always ready to help when you need her. She was prompt in answering text messages & emails even at odd hours. She made sure that I remembered the deadlines and was prepared for all the paperwork and financial matters. I wish her all the best and would strongly recommend her.”

“Kate was wonderful throughout the house-finding process. She tirelessly took us to many houses. We were never rushed or pressured. She is also an extremely good communicator and is able to juggle and schedule many things.”

“Debra Dobbs and Alyssa were so spectacular in helping us my boyfriend and I find our first home together! We were looking to move from the suburbs to the city, and Debra had an answer to ALL of our questions in regards to the best place to look for in our budget and what we were looking for in regards to the best bang for our buck. She also helped us connect with a great mortgage broker and attorney who helped make the process very understandable and easy. We relied on Debra the whole time and we felt that she was a wealth of knowledge, but also just so kind. Debra responded to us on a timely manner through calls, emails, and texts. Alyssa was also great and working with and them together was just great. We will be contacting Debra Dobbs when we go to sell our condo and look for a house in the suburbs in years to come. Overall, Debra and her team were amazing, and I would recommend them to anyone who is looking in the city of Chicago. Debra, thanks for everything, we couldn’t have found our dream place without you and your team!”

“Very friendly and professional. She goes above and beyond. I highly recommend!”

“I met Kate through a friend while looking for a place to stay in Chicago! Kate immediately took charge and had me looking at units in the downtown and Streeterville areas! I believe it was less than a week when I decided on a place! I told Kate that the place I wanted was overpriced and to make an offer! She did they accepted and I am very happy. The process was quick and I truly believe it was Kate’s doing!”

“I worked with Alyssa in Debra’s office to find an apartment and she was AMAZING! I didn’t live in Chicago while I was looking for a lease so she made the entire process so much easier by sending me a customized list of places that met my needs and arranging tours for the days I was able to visit. She came with me on the tours and was super helpful, asking questions I forgot to ask and discussing how I felt about the places after. She even checked in with me right before I moved to make sure I had everything I all set! I highly recommend her for anyone looking for a place in the city.”

“I worked with Alyssa Ager from out-of-state and had a a great experience. After narrowing down the options together she setup showings based on my feedback and we secured my rental during a quick weekend visit. I appreciated the down-to-earth approach in what could be an overwhelming city market!”

“Kate is a professional and uses her knowledge to her client’s advantage! She was fun to work with and will definitely use her again!! I highly recommend Kate to anyone in need of a realtor!!!”

“Debra’s team (especially Alyssa) were persistent and did an amazing job helping me sell my condo after I moved out of state. They helped me out with little things that had to be taken care of like finding handymen, arranged repairs and really took on a very active role since I was out of town. I would highly recommend them.”

“Kate helped our family during our first home purchase, We most appreciated to her about her promptness to returning our emails and calls, she was always so professional and had good knowledge, we would be so happy to recommend Kate to all new home buyers. Hope to work with her again!”

“We worked with Alyssa Ager. She was extremely knowledgable and timely with our search for a place in Chicago. I highly recommend her and Debra Dobbs Realty.”

“Can’t say enough good things about Debra. She was always very helpful, responsive and available. Although I decided to rent for a year to get acclimated to the Chicago area I won’t hesitate to contact her again when I decide to purchase a home. Thank you for your help!”

“Debra has a tremendous amount of experience and it clearly shows with our results. We were able to receive an offer the first week the house was listed and actually received a better offer another week later. Her follow up is top notch and makes sure you are aware of everything. Would highly recommend Debra to friends and family.”

“We were first time home buyers and Debra was fantastic to work with. Her patience, honesty, attitude and experience made the process easy for us! We’d highly recommend working with Debra.”