"Keep it positive and have fun,” is the advice REALTOR® Amy Avakian gives every new agent she meets. “And keep stress-relieving activities in your life.”

These three keys have carried Amy from the beginning of her career to today. Finding harmony in work and life is something that many professionals, including REALTORS®, struggle with. After two decades into her life as an agent, Amy feels like she’s found the best of both.

Born and raised in Hinsdale, Amy spent her early years surrounded by strong family values and community ties. After graduating from Hinsdale Central High School, she went on to earn her bachelor of science degree in business and human resource management from Indiana University. 

After college, Amy spent a decade living in downtown Chicago and working as a convertible bond salesperson in the finance industry. She was thriving in her career until a sudden shift in circumstances put her at a crossroads. 

“I was living in the city and working in finance when I was told my job was going to be relocated out of state,” Amy recalls. “So I started looking at other careers. After watching friends start buying condominiums in the city, I was inspired to switch to a career in real estate and stay in the Chicagoland area.”

This leap of faith came in 2004, just as she and her husband, Keg, were starting their family. The timing was perfect for a career that offered both fresh challenges and needed wiggle room for added family responsibilities.

“I've always loved real estate,” says Amy. “When starting a family, it proved a great career transition—it gave me the flexibility I needed to be with my kids and get involved in their activities.”

As Amy settled into her role as a REALTOR®, she drew heavily on her finance background and business acumen. But the path wasn’t without its hurdles. Within her first five years, Amy faced the mid-2000’s market downturn, which tested her ability to evolve her tactics. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person showings became nearly impossible. Instead of panicking, Amy adapted. In both cases, she’s learned valuable lessons that she’s applied to her everyday approach.

“When we couldn’t hold in-person showings, we transitioned to virtual showings,” she says, “It was something we were forced to do back then, but now it’s often a great tool for out-of-state clients.”

For the last seven years, Amy has been based at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Hinsdale. It’s a short commute from her home in Western Springs, the suburb she returned to in 2004 to raise her family. Her three children—KJ, Michael, and Suzy—are now young adults (age 21, 19, and 17 respectively), but Amy has remained deeply engaged in their lives, both personally and professionally.

“Being able to help pay for my kids' college tuition has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career,” she says. “And finding a work-life balance that has let me spend time with my family and contribute financially is a true achievement.”

Amy is also passionate about giving back to the community that raised her. She helps run a program called Safety Village, a beloved summer initiative that teaches safety lessons to five- and six-year-olds in the western suburbs. Her involvement in local causes reflects the same spirit that drives her business: service, heart, and commitment.

When she’s not helping clients or volunteering, Amy can be found outdoors, usually with a paddle in hand: she’s an avid player of paddle tennis, regular tennis, and pickleball.

 

“Paddle tennis is something I could talk about all day,” she says. “I also love long walks, good music, and all the small things that can help replenish a big, busy life.”

As for her plans ahead, Amy has no intentions of slowing down. 

“I plan to be in real estate for a long while,” she says. 

“My background and experience have kept me diligent and driven in running my real estate business,” she adds. “But my ultimate joy and inspiration comes from finding my clients their perfect next home while also inviting [these] new families to the western suburbs."