“...Whenever we called with a question, no matter how insignificant, we always got a quick response. Her knowledge of the market, area, and quick response time made [working with her] an easy choice. Thanks to Casselyn doing the leg work, this process was as painless as we think it could have been. Today we consider her a friend and can’t thank her enough for all of her hard work...”

John & Kristina Blaschek

“...Casselyn Feinstein was instrumental in facilitating our relocation to Hinsdale, locating a rental home that could accommodate our two children and four dogs as well as quickly finding a buyer for our home in Plainfield during the most challenging real estate market in history. None of this would have been possible without Casselyn’s unbridled enthusiasm , professionalism and attention to detail ...”

Michael & Nancy M.

“...You are an exception to your profession - you have amazing follow-up skills. ...”

David Knoch

Honorable Mentions

-Recognized as one of ERA's Outstanding Realtor's for August 2009
-Recognized as ERA's Seller of the Month for January 2010
-Recognized as ERA's Seller of the Month for March 2010
-Recognized as ERA's Lister of the Month for May 2010
-Recognized as one of ERA's Outstanding Realtors for July 2010
-Recognized as ERA's Seller of the month for October 2011
-Nominated and awarded as a Five Star Professional in Chicago Magazine for October 2011
-Was 1 of 5 Realtor's in Illinois to be interviewed in Illinois Realtor Magazine's Young Gun's article for January 2012
-Year after year recognized as one of ERA's top agents


Designations

Becoming a Realtor in one of the most challenging markets our nation has ever faced was a decision I have never second guessed. I have been in real estate for four years, have my Brokers license, am an Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Certified Negotiation Consultant (CNC), Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), and Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) specialist. Continuing education helps me stay ahead of the constantly changing market. I feel educating myself is extremely important, and which is why I stay knowledgeable in normal buying/selling/renting, as well as remaining well versed in short sales and foreclosures, as there are many in the Chicagoland area.

Education

I received my BA in communications and a Business Entrepreneuring Certificate while attending the University of Iowa. During my studies, I learned how to communicate effectively with people from all different backgrounds, and I find myself using these skills daily.

  •  
University of Iowa

 

  • > Business Entrepreneuring Certificate
  • > Coxswain for the Men’s Crew Club
  • > Treasurer of Hawkeye Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club
  • > First female to compete for Hawkeye Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club
  • > First club member to get a gold medal

 

While in college, I participated in two extracurricular activities. The first was a coxswain, the person who steers the boat and tells the rowers what to do, for the Men’s Crew Club and the other was the treasurer of the Hawkeye Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club.

As a coxswain, I managed eight different men at once, so l quickly learned to get my point across in an authoritative, assertive, yet kind way. I was also the only coxswain to have a boat win a gold medal at a regatta.

King GrapplerMany people wonder what made me get into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I think it is very important for every person to know how to defend him/herself. While in college, many stories arose of people not being able to defend themselves on campus, and I never wanted to be caught in a similar situation. When the club started, I jumped at the opportunity to join. Being voted as a board member was an honor, but I was more proud of being the first female to compete and the first club member to get a gold medal. I learned being smaller and physically less strong is not a bad thing; the fighter has to know more than his or her opponent. Even though I no longer fight, I feel this helped in real estate, as I am younger than most Realtors but, in many instances, have more knowledge than people twice my age.

After college, I was offered a job as the Women’s Self Defense Coordinator of the Western Suburbs. Overall, my training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu helped to create a niche market. An average day consisted of running self defense seminars for K-12 and police departments. I learned to market myself as a business woman and fighter, while promoting the owners' business. This job was beyond physically exhausting; I learned to push myself further than I ever thought possible, which was a great all-around skill.

 

Dogs

 

While in college, I decided I needed more on my plate, so I adopted a 7 week old Chocolate Labrador. They say dogs pick out owners, and I am now a firm believer. I wanted a female runt and came out with the biggest male. He would not leave me alone; he was already sold, but we connected. His original owners came to pick him up, saw us together and said they could not take him, since he had already found his family. I named this giant, Boomer. He became my life. Everywhere I went, Boomer accompanied. We were partners in crime. He was the easiest dog to train and was known in Iowa City as the “dog who walks off leash and stops before he crosses the street”. When I moved back to the Chicagoland area, I started volunteering with him at nursing homes through the Hinsdale Humane Society. Eventually the humane society realized his potential and asked us to become a Delta certified team. With this certification, we are able to visit nursing homes, elementary schools, assisted living facilities, hospitals, and help people with animal assisted therapy. We also were asked to do the READ program, where we sit with children who have anxiety reading and work with them. Research has shown reading to a dog lowers the child’s anxiety level, creating an ability to have his or her reading skills grow.

Eventually, I decided Boomer needed a buddy, so I set my heart on rescuing a pit bull...enter Bailey into the equation. Bailey was about 7 months old when I found him. He was bigger and older than I wanted, but just like Boomer, he picked me out. He crawled into my lap and fell asleep, just wanting me to hold him. I was sold. I was not told much about his past, but from research, my vet, and scars, we have been able to find out he was most likely an attempted fighting dog. The easiest way to phrase it, he was damaged goods. I knew from his temperament he had fantastic potential as a family dog. It has almost been three years since I rescued him, and he has gone from a scared pup unable to play with other dogs, to a dog that frequents the dog park, loves children, and enjoys cuddling on the couch at the end of the day. Some people wonder why I spent all this time and money on him, but I believe there is good in everything, it just has to be found and given the opportunity to develop.