Claire Sucsy commemorates 30 years as Evanston’s power real estate broker.
Emily McClintock, Claire Sucsy, and Sandra Sucsy Alguire
It’s a wonder nowadays that anyone can stay in one career for multiple decades. It’s something that Claire Sucsy acknowledges as she commemorates 30 years of a storied career in the realty industry. “I simply love the business,” she admits, calling her clients her extended family. “I’ve met so many lovely people that I’ve kept in touch with over the years that are still coming back to me, including multiple generations—mothers, fathers, children.”
It was Sucsy’s own family that inspired the former junior high teacher to switch careers in the ‘80s. She had recently relocated to the Evanston area from Texas as her husband took a new job in Chicago, and as she started having children, she says, “I decided I wanted to have more flexibility in my schedule, and I found real estate. It was kind of a shot in the dark. I had not been in sales of any kind until then, but it’s been a great career for me.”
Sucsy has been the top seller in her Coldwell Banker office every year since 1985 and part of the top 1% sellers President’s Club, overcoming the incredibly high interest rates of that decade and the most recent economic downturn in the late 2000s through perseverance, she says. “It all really boils down to taking wonderful care of your clients and being persistent about marketing the property and improving yourself.” Right around the turn of the housing market in 2009, Sucsy made another beneficial decision, creating an offshoot of her Coldwell Banker division with The Claire Sucsy Group and brought on partner Emily McClintock (a fellow top seller since 1992) as well as her daughter Sandra Sucsy Alguire to round out the power team that today entertains almost solely referrals and past clients.
“We are seeing more and more [realty] teams being created over the years, and it’s been a wonderful way to really tweak our skills as well as add to the time that we have with our clients to serve them better,” says Sucsy. It also gives her time to spend with Sandra. “This gives us a chance to connect and be together. She is just a wonderful addition to the group.”
Sucsy says the summer market is looking promising in 2015, particularly in Evanston where she still resides. “It’s become more and more popular as people leave the city for things like the schools and our great restaurants that still have the urban feel and closeness to the city,” she admits. “That’s why I love it and never left.” So much so that she donates a considerable amount of her commissions to local charities and organizations including Evanston Art Center, School District 65, Connections For the Homeless and the YMCA and YWCA among others. In September, the group led by McClintock will contribute to the C.O.P.E. education network with a “Stuff the Bus” food drive.
On most days, Sucsy can be found in her office also situated in Evanston on Central Street, a new spot she moved to last November. “I was in the same office my whole career until then,” she admits. “I am proud my team is part of Coldwell Banker—the top real estate company on the North Shore!”
The Claire Sucsy Group, Coldwell Banker Evanston, is located at 1710 Central Street in Evanston, 847-425-3737, theclairesucsygroup.com.
