In the heart of University Village stands a figure near-synonymous with community spirit and real estate expertise: Cory Tanzer. Affectionately dubbed “the ‘Mayor’ of University Village," Cory has not only dominated the local real estate market there, but he has also woven himself into the fabric of the community through his extensive involvement in bringing the neighborhood closer together.  

“I love the University Village area, and I want others to love it too,” Cory shares. “Selling homes here just further enables me to build a greater community. And the community events [we host] help to make the quality of life for my neighbors better.”

Cory grew up in the Elmhurst and Villa Park area, where he was instilled with the importance of community. His father, a second-generation printer turned real estate investor and business consultant, alongside his mother, a dedicated homemaker, shaped Cory's early understanding of generosity and community service. "You are not living unless you're giving," his father would often say—a mantra that Cory carries with him to this day.

“My parents volunteered throughout the year, but would also always make food baskets, as well as donations, for others in need around the holidays. They showed me the importance of family and community and how they are connected to each other,” he explains.

After graduating from Elmhurst College with a degree in business and marketing, Cory embarked on a fifteen-year career in retail management, overseeing multiple Target stores as a district manager. However, a yearning for a better work-life balance and a desire to make a more direct impact in his community led him to a crossroads.

“The defining moment and path came when I realized I could help others by working in real estate, and that it would allow me the flexibility to make my community better too,” explains Cory. “I also wanted to start a family and to be able to be there for my family at important events.”

As it happened, Cory’s in-laws were the principal owners of Option Realty Group in Naperville at that time. He joined their firm in 2015 with the intent of bringing it downtown. His vision was clear: to serve his community, help others build wealth through real estate, and enhance the quality of life in his neighborhood. But Cory had to start from scratch. He methodically built his brand, Cory Tanzer and Option Realty Group, step-by-step, following a meticulous five-year business plan.

“I learned from others in the industry, too,” Cory notes. “Without the help of Nick Nastos at the Seventy7 Group, I would not be where I am today. Nick had too many leads on his hands for rentals and sales and offered me a chance to take them while paying him a referral fee. Luckily for me, no one on his team wanted the University Village area.”

Cory took the leads and ran. He started by renting about ten apartments per month. By 2017, he was doubling his business and adding agents to the Cory Tanzer Group. And by the end of 2023, of all the homes sold, the team had a 41 percent market share in the University Village area. 

Cory's team has been integral to his success. They are: Drew Stoffer, the organization king, University Village expert, and managing broker for Option Realty Group; Serena Philips, the South Loop specialist for listings and buyers; Rick Coppola, buyer’s agent and UV expert; and Cynthia Covian-Hernandez, the mastermind behind their community events and a buyer’s agent for the team, form the core of his team. Each person on Cory’s team has not only lived in the University Village area at one point, but they also own property and invest there too. 

“I may be ‘the “Mayor” of University Village,’ but they are my helpers that make me successful—they ‘keep the lights on, and the streets paved and plowed in the winter,’ as it were. Our vision is to expand and add great agents who are neighborhood experts in their area [of knowledge]. What’s most important to me is that we continue to expand our community impact.” 

Cory's approach to real estate is deeply intertwined with his commitment to community building. He believes University Village, where he lives and works, is a true hidden gem, and he deeply believes in making University Village it the best place to live in Chicago and Illinois. “I want my neighbors to not only know me but know each other. It’s why I post my weekly Won’t You Be My Neighbor? video on social media. It helps us all connect. Few things are more fun than to walk through the neighborhood on a lovely day, know the neighbors I meet, and have one that was on my vlog tell me it helped them to grow their business and know more neighbors.” Cory also enjoys organizing monthly movies, community clean-ups, ice cream truck events, spring holiday egg hunts, book exchanges, and fall festivals for the entire community.  

Cory's life outside of his professional and community roles is filled with simple joys. He treasures moments spent with his wife, Sara, and their son, Theo, enjoying family game nights, reading together, and planning trips to amusement parks. Cory also enjoys taking strolls through the city (he doesn’t own a car but walks everywhere); listening to his favorite band, the Foo Fighters; and watching his top three favorite childhood movies—Back to the Future Part II, Jurassic Park, and Independence Day starring Will Smith—every month, which help him remember his childhood and the good times he had with his parents. 

And like Cory’s family did as he was growing up, Cory, Sara, and Theo enjoy giving back to others, together, as a family. In Cory’s eyes, his clients and community have become an extension of his family.

“I feel like I have the largest family in the world thanks to my clients accepting me and my family into their lives. As an adopted and only child, this is the most fulfilling thing for me. We send out over 1,000 holiday cards to our extended family every year!” he exclaims. 

As the self-made “‘Mayor’ of University Village,” Cory sets an inspiring example of how business success and community spirit can go hand-in-hand, creating a legacy that transcends property sales and delves deep into the heart of what it means to live like a community.