Dream Town Realty's Chicago Real Estate Agent

Chicago Realtor - James Barclay

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James Barclay

Office: 773.945.0140 | Cell: 773.294.9048 | Fax: 773.945.0141

2012 Top Producer, Awarded by the Chicago Association of Realtors

Many people, when they think of Realtors, imagine one of the characters from "Glengarry Glen Ross". There is Jack Lemon's character: out of touch, desperate to make a sale for his own survival, pathetic. There is Al Pacino's character: arrogant to the point of revulsion, out to make as much money as possible with little regard for anyone but himself. Then there is Alec Baldwin's character: just an a**hole.

Me? I don't fit into any of those stereotypes. I'm just a regular guy. And a nice guy to boot.

My job, and I take it very seriously, is to help people. Usually that means assisting them in buying or selling a home. It often involves educating them to the way the process works and informing them of all their options. It frequently includes explaining the current market conditions and referring them to an attorney, lender, home inspector or moving company whom I trust. Sometimes it even means telling them now is not the time for them to buy or sell and helping them construct a long term plan to achieve their goals.

I began in the industry in 2005 and have seen my business grow steadily each year--despite the current market challenges. By serving both buyers and sellers, I gain valuable insight to the needs and motivations of each. That, in turn, allows me negotiate for my clients strategically and effectively--getting them the best possible deal for their money.

In addition to working with sellers and "move up" buyers, I particularly enjoy helping first time home buyers realize their goal of home ownership. I am the organizer of the First Time Chicago Home Buyer's Group on Meetup.com and I host a series of regular workshops designed specifically for first time home buyers.

My background is somewhat atypical for a Realtor. I hold a Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas and for ten years I made my living solely as a professional drummer. I have recorded, performed and toured throughout the US and Europe. Many people are surprised to learn this but for me the path to success in both careers has been the same: hard work, honesty and integrity. Most importantly, when given the opportunity to perform — on stage or as an advocate for a buyer or seller — I do the best job I possibly can and completely exceed expectations.

By doing so, I have been able to build my business largely on the referrals of past clients who appreciate the work that I did for them. Don't just take my word for it. Read for yourself what people are saying about me in their testimonials and on Yelp.com.

...and yes, I still do perform on the drums as time allows. It's a thrill to invite my clients to a club gig or a theater show I'm in and let them see the "other" me.

My Listings

What My Clients Have To Say

  • Rob Ritchie
    Ravenswood

    Given the complete plethora of agents you can choose from in Chicago I ended up trusting Yelp's reviews and going with Jim, and boy was everyone else spot on with their recommendations. Jim is genuinely honest and forthcoming at all times. Better yet, he listens to what you are looking for, looks for relevant listings, and lets you make decisions for yourself. I was surprised that we walked into several units and he pointed out multiple negative things that I wasn't even thinking about. It never felt like he was trying to force anything on me while we looked at units. He was always constructive in pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of a unit and could tell that he really does care that the unit you buy will be perfect for you. I also purchased a short-sale that took several months to close on due to issues negotiating with the bank. At one point my attorney wasn't able to get a response out of the agent at the bank for several weeks and was worried the deal wouldn't happen. On Jim's own initiative, he called the bank, managed to get a hold of the agent, and conferenced my attorney in to resolve the issue at hand to keep everything moving. You really can't go wrong with Jim. If you haven't decided on a realtor yet, do yourself a favor and call him.

    Rob Ritchie, Ravenswood

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  • Nate Adams
    Roscoe Village

    I worked with Jim Barclay in buying my first condo in Roscoe Village. Jim was always available and took the extra time to explain every step along the way. I always felt like I had someone in my corner and he made the process manageable with my hectic schedule. I would recommend anyone looking to buy in Chicago to give Jim a call. Thanks Jim!

    Nate Adams, Roscoe Village

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  • Dave O.
    Irving Park

    Jim is the type of Realtor I wish I had found 10 years ago when I first started investing in real estate. He listens to your needs, concerns and goals, then works towards providing the properties that fit with your criteria. I would also recommend any first time home buyers to attend one of his seminars. He breaks down the home buying process and takes away the fear of the unknown. I have recommended several people and they have all gained from his experience.

    Dave O., Irving Park

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  • Andy S.
    Lincoln Square

    I recently found and closed on a condo with Jim's help, and I would highly recommend working with him. He was great at helping me identify exactly what I was looking for, providing honest opinions on what we saw, and answering any questions I had (which were numerous). As a first time home buyer, I found the process to be clearer and less intimidating with his help.

    Andy S., Lincoln Square

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  • Dina D.
    North Center

    I bought my first home (condo) with Jim as my realtor. He was very kind and patient with me while I was freaking out about this huge decision. He seems more concerned with his clients needs and happiness than with just getting someone into any old house and making money. Oh, and he plays drums and invites you to his shows. He's a great drummer too! 5 stars from me!

    Dina D., North Center

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  • Keri
    West Loop

    Jim was great every step of the way, from listening to my needs (trust me there were many), to guiding me through the process with ease. I believe this process "flowed" so easily because of his experience in the business and his ability to negotiate. He helped me get exactly what I wanted and I couldn't be happier with my experience.

    Keri, West Loop

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  • Jessie H.
    Rogers Park

    When no one was buying condos in Chicago, Jim found us a buyer willing to pay what we needed to make. It was a needle in a haystack and nothing short of a miracle. He also handled my stress and harassment (don't think I went easy on him when we had no offers!) and he did it with complete patience and understanding. I have to also say that he isn't a typical realtor. He has a knack for matching buyers to the right property, we said we wanted a single family but didn't have a huge budget and we liked the city. He thought out of the box and introduced us to neighborhoods we never considered before. If it weren't for him, there's no way we would have ended up in the house we adore in a neighborhood that is perfect for us and for a price that can't be beat.

    Jessie H., Rogers Park

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  • Matt H.
    Lakeview

    Jim just helped us purchase our first home and we honestly could not be happier. He is extremely helpful. If I EVER had a question, I could either give him a call or shoot him an email and he would always respond within the day. I even recall a very important question I sent to him where he responded in 15 minutes! I really believe he just cares about the people he works with and he wants to help them in any way he can. He also knows other great people in the real estate industry. All of the people he referred us to were great people to work with and were very professional. He really helped us nail down what we were looking for in our first home and kept us on track while we were looking. I found that after looking at a few places that didn't quite have all of the qualities we were looking for, I began to compromise. Jim gave us a friendly nudge and reminded us of what we had initially said we wanted in our first home. He was able to keep us focused on what we were really looking for and was able to get us into a place that we love!

    Matt H., Lakeview

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