Welcome to the team, Adriana Bahena!

We are excited to have another native Chicagoan at Busby Group! Between her on the ground experience as a real estate broker, plus recently graduating with her master’s in business administration and real estate, Adriana KNOWS real estate inside and out! Plus, she is a born and bred Chicagoan with a real passion and love for her city. I asked Adriana a few questions so we can all get to know her – read the full interview below, and join me in welcoming Adriana to the team!

What did you do before starting in real estate?

A lot of studying! I recently graduated from Roosevelt University with my master's in business administration with a concentration in real estate. 

What is your favorite part of working in real estate?

It's multi-faceted. It's not as simple as buildings and sales. To me it's about architecture, design, infrastructure, necessity, neighborhoods and the people living and working in those communities. I love meeting new people, guiding my clients through their real estate goals and exploring the real estate in our city. And capturing any of those moments and adding it to social media, of course! :)

What are you most excited about in the coming year?

I'm excited to achieve new goals, professionally and personally.  I look forward to helping my clients achieve their real estate goals, and sharing new knowledge I acquire along the way.  

What does your typical day entail?

Every day is a little bit different, but to keep myself organized I do block certain times for activities including checking on the status of pending transactions and touching base with any clients. Typically, the first thing I do in the morning is read through important market news and updates. Evenings and weekends are usually the busiest times with showings and open houses.

What was your big ah-ha moment in your real estate career thus far?

When I started out I didn’t realize just how big an impact helping a client buy or sell real estate can have on their life. It really can be life changing! I love working with Busby Group because each of us genuinely have our client’s best interest at heart. 

Where do you live in Chicago, and what is your favorite neighborhood?

I currently live in the near west side of Chicago. All 77 neighborhoods in Chicago offer something special, so choosing one as my favorite is difficult, but I really enjoy the restaurant scene in Pilsen, Wicker Park and the West Loop. This year I am challenging myself to explore beyond my go-to neighborhoods!

LIGHTNING ROUND:

You are a born and bred Chicagoan! What is your favorite:

Restaurant: Chicago has an amazing restaurant scene, always somewhere new to go, but a few of my faves are La Vaca Margarita Bar, Butterfly Sushi, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, Tango Sur and for breakfast, of course, Wildberry!  In 2022 I want to explore more Asian cuisine – recommendations are welcome! I also look forward to trying the newer restaurants in Chicago such as Avli on the River and Bar Mar.

Park: McKinley Park is beautiful all year round. It's about 72 acres with a pool, tennis and basketball courts, a seasonal ice skating rink and my favorite part, a peaceful lagoon full of wildlife.

Hidden Gem: Not so much hidden as you can't miss it when you're driving by it, but maybe unknown to many, Palmisano Nature Park. The park is slightly south of the Chicago River just north of Bridgeport. Take nice long walks, nature watch or sit back, relax and enjoy the sunrise or sunset with friends.