When Michael Graff got his real estate license in 2019, he wasn’t stepping into the industry on a whim—he was stepping into it with purpose. “I’ve always been entrepreneurial,” he says. “I wanted to be in a business where your efforts are proportional to your income.” Real estate gave him exactly that: a path where he could control his own destiny.

Michael grew up in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, not far from where he lives and works now. While earning his BBA in marketing from the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago, he did door-to-door sales during the summers. “It wasn’t glamorous,” he says, “but it taught me hustle, resilience, and how to keep going—even when it’s uncomfortable.” 

That foundation helped Michael build the grit required to navigate the early stages of a real estate career. “There were setbacks,” he admits, “but stagnation was never an option. I had no choice but to move forward.”

Today, Michael is a rising force in the North Shore market, known not just for how he works, but how he thinks. He’s deliberate, analytical, and quietly confident. He’s also not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. “I think young agents can feel discouraged when older agents try to flex their years of experience,” he says. “But I always tell new agents that they can be just as capable. Confidence and a willingness to step outside of your comfort zone matter just as much.”

That mindset has paid off. Over the last six years, Michael has built a strong reputation for maximizing seller returns—especially in the luxury single-family market, where pricing and presentation require precision. “We’re not just throwing listings up and hoping they’ll sell. We’re making smart moves, implementing strategy, and going for maximum value. That takes more than nice photos. That takes skill.”

Michael runs the Graff Group alongside his mother, Sheryl Graff—a powerhouse in her own right with a background in finance and over a decade of experience in real estate. Together, they bring what he calls “a complementary skill set.” “We’re a dynamic duo,” he says. “We bring different perspectives, and that works in our clients’ favor.” The balance is key: while big teams often lose the personal touch, the Graff Group is intentional about staying hands-on, and they are always client-focused.

Ask Michael what part of the business he finds most rewarding, and his answer is simple: referrals. “It’s the trust,” he says. “When someone sends a friend or family member your way, that means everything. That means you did something right.”

Right now, his focus is on brand growth and system optimization—building a foundation that allows for smart expansion. But even as he grows the Graff Group, Michael isn’t chasing volume for the sake of it. His version of success is more grounded: “It’s about being healthy, having financial freedom and freedom of time, and sharing that with the people I care about.”

That balance—between drive and presence—shows up in his life outside of work, too. Michael loves to ski, stay active, explore new places, and take long drives or motorcycle rides to clear his head. He spends a lot of time with his family, often heading up to Wisconsin or down to the beach in Florida. “Those moments matter,” he says. “I work hard, but I make time for what’s important.”

He’s also a car guy—something he could talk about all day, and he loves digging into the stock market and investing, especially when he can spot long-term potential. “If I could go back and tell my twenty-five-year-old self anything, it’d be: ‘Buy more NVDA stock,’” he says, laughing.

Michael’s future in real estate is bright—not just because of the deals he’s doing, but also because of the steady, focused way he approaches his work. He’s building something long-term, something rooted in trust, strategy, and consistency. “Helping people build wealth while building your own—that’s the dream,” he says. “And we get to do that every day.”

In a business that’s always evolving, Michael’s compass stays steady: keep growing, keep showing up, and never lose sight of what matters. As he puts it, “I’ve been fortunate to get where I am. And I’m just getting started.