By: Matt Emma
Margaret McSheehy has spent her entire adult life in the western suburbs of Chicago. After earning her degree from Loyola University Chicago and completing graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, she founded Historic Homes Realty in 1986.
Since then, Margaret has helped hundreds of people buy and sell homes in the area. The communities she serves are places she knows deeply, not just as a real estate professional but as a longtime resident.
Personalized Attention
Margaret does not run a large office with a team of assistants or a marketing department. She works alone, and she likes it that way. In an industry that has become increasingly corporate, her approach is intentionally personal.
“When you work with me, you have access to me during the day and after business hours, and I will answer the phone personally,” she said. “I take care of you and your transaction myself. No secretary, no different departments, no outsourced AI ads. I personally make sure everything is done right and on time.”
This hands-on model means she is personally responsible for every client and every transaction. That accountability is something she takes seriously, and her clients notice it.
Repeat Clients and Referrals
Most of Margaret’s business today comes from repeat clients or referrals from past clients. People come back to her, or they send their friends and family. That kind of trust takes decades to build, and it does not happen by accident.
“I love all my clients, and I treat every person like I would treat my own family member,” Margaret explained. This philosophy shapes every interaction she has. It is not a sales pitch. It is how she operates.
Margaret is a designated Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), the highest credential awarded to residential real estate agents, held by less than 3% of Realtors in the country. The designation recognizes agents who have completed advanced professional education and demonstrated consistent production in residential real estate.
She is a member of the National Association of Realtors and abides by their Code of Ethics. Margaret is also a trained negotiator, and she works diligently to advocate for her clients throughout every transaction.
Understanding What Sellers Need
One of the things Margaret understands well is that selling a home is rarely just about the house. People who are selling are often in the middle of major life changes. They are cleaning out basements, sorting through decades of belongings, looking for a new place to live, applying for mortgages, booking moving vans, and dealing with all the stress that comes with transition.
“They need someone to completely take over the sale of their house so they are freed up to handle their lives,” she said. “I make it easy for people to sell their homes. They list with me, and the next thing they have to do is sign a good offer and move on to their new lives.”
That kind of simplicity is rare in real estate. But Margaret has been doing this long enough to know what matters and what does not. She cuts through the noise and focuses on getting the job done. Recently, she introduced a new option for sellers, allowing them to choose specific home-selling services based on their individual needs.
Dedication to Her Clients
Outside of work, she enjoys reading, exploring historic sites, and spending time outdoors. She hikes and kayaks in the Northwoods of Wisconsin whenever she can.
But most of her energy still goes into her work. After four decades in the business, she still picks up the phone herself. She still handles every detail personally. And she still treats every client like family. In an industry that often feels impersonal, that consistency matters. It is what trust looks like when you have spent a lifetime earning it.
