Testimonials 

You can read more at my Google Reviews

My wife Tammy and I have had the pleasure of using Realistic Realty for our investment properties. Ernie was a pleasure to work with. Ernie took the time to understand what we wanted and what we were looking for in the properties. He was always available to go look at a building, whether it was on weekends or at night. He takes the time to find out how to get the deal done. Sometimes the hard part starts after you have found the property you are in love with. The property I’m referring to was time consuming and the process became emotional. Then it fell apart. We were informed the deal was dead. It’s hard to describe how bad we felt. Ernie knew how badly we wanted it and without telling us, he didn’t give up. When he called 2 days later and told us he resurrected the deal I shouldn’t have been surprised. I have strongly recommended Ernie to my friends and family. My brother and sister-in-law are also clients of Ernie.

Mike G. , Firefighter, Chicago 2013

Ernie did a phenomenal job in assisting us in selling my aunt’s home of 45 years. He made this bittersweet process as painless and easy as possible.  He was incredibly helpful, explained every detail and made sure we understood everything and were comfortable in our decisions!  Very knowledgeable about every aspect from the type of home to his home inspector services as well! Ernie is the whole package, and we will definitely be hiring him again for any future moves we may have!

Sarah   2023

Ernie was my realtor. He did an amazing job. He was so on top of everything from beginning to end. He went above and beyond every step of the way and he made a confusing process so much easier. Wish I could give ten stars.

Uriah W.   2023

 We had the privilege of working with Ernie Raulli to sell a property under probate, and I couldn't be more impressed with his professionalism, expertise, and compassion throughout the entire process.

 From the moment we engaged Ernie, he demonstrated a deep understanding of the complexities involved in selling a probate property. He guided us step by step, ensuring we complied with all legal requirements while minimizing stress during a challenging time. Ernie's market knowledge was outstanding. He provided a thorough analysis of the property's value, and his strategic pricing and marketing approach resulted in a sale at a competitive price.

 What truly sets Ernie apart is his empathy and genuine concern for our family's well-being. He handled delicate matters with sensitivity and always kept us informed and supported. It was evident that he cared about more than just the transaction; he cared about us.

Throughout the process, communication was excellent. Ernie promptly addressed all our questions and concerns.

  I wholeheartedly recommend Ernie. He is a true professional who combines expertise with compassion, making a challenging process as smooth as possible. My family and I are incredibly grateful for his outstanding service.

  Thank you, Ernie.

Gladys A-L  Old Irving  2023

Hi Ernie,

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you what a pleasure it has been to work with you.  From our first meeting last April, you have been positive, professional and helpful. I’ve been impressed by both your knowledge, and your practical and steady approach to your business.  When other agents seem to be in panic mode, you appear able to maintain your composure, focus, and positive attitude.

I understand why you are successful – and wish you continued success in this tough economy.  You clearly understand the benefits of advertising and marketing consistently. 

Sincerely,

Debbie Buckley

Manager of Business Development

CBS 2 Chicago   2008

Ernie and I worked on a sale as part of a probate estate.  This requires extra requirements from various parties involved.

He truly was a teammate and problem solver.  He was helpful in obtaining association documents when the seller was out of town and anticipated issues that could cause delays.

While we had a few bumps in this deal that were outside of our control, he focused on getting the deal done rather than playing the blame game.  We were able to close on time with a happy buyer and happy seller!

I have worked with many realtors and Ernie stands out from the crowd.  His communication is top notch which helped tremendously in a deal with additional requirements.  I look forward to working with you again!

Janice D., attorney 2023

I listed my commercial property with Ernie after several years and many realtors had been unsuccessful at selling the property. I would highly recommend Ernie to be your realtor, he does commercial and residential. He was a very professional, tentative and pleasant person to work with. I would do business with Ernie again. I will refer family and friends to Ernie. Ernie, thank you for such a great job!

 - Debbie M. Jefferson Park, Chicago   2022 

Ernie (Realistic Realty) was absolutely wonderful to work with. From the initial meeting and walk-thru until closing two months later, Ernie was honest, pro-active, and informed as he managed the sale of my house in Chicago. I was a long-distance seller (living in Los Angeles) so his timely communication and expertise about the Chicago market, necessary inspections, and legal referrals was invaluable. I honestly believe the deal would have fallen through if not for Ernie Raulli as my agent.

- Donna B    2023

I would like to make a brief statement regarding Ernie Raulli. He was the studious and determined individual who was responsible the sale of my 2-flat when I was losing hope. I had it listed with “”BuyOwner”, which initially sounded like a good deal. Quite frankly, they list your home but you have to return all lead calls they email to you. That ended up being a lot of time and effort on my part. They put no effort into promoting your property or suggest any ideas to make the property more appealing to sell.

Ernie took the time to show the building and listened attentively to the specific aspects that buyers were concerned about, things that may have seemed simple and insignificant to me. These were minor flaws that made potential buyers non-buyers. Ernie gave my partner and I some suggestions to beautify the home. Simple things like painting the basement floor, walls and windows. With one week’s work and minor expense, Ernie showed the building to several potential clients. Within 2 weeks the building sold.

This is a testimony to the efforts of Ernie paying attention to detail. He inserted himself personally to complete the task he was given. His dedication was the discerning reason why the property sold. His personal touch was the deciding factor. Any seller would be lucky and successful to utilize his professional services and dedication.

Paul Kozuch   Chicago     2006

As a first-time home buyer, I was filled with questions, concerns, and uncertainties in my search for the right place---that is, until a friend put me in touch with Ernie Raulli.  

Ernie was a tremendous ally in my search, not only as a voice of experience who answered my questions and gave me sound real estate advice, but also as a friend who really understood my needs and advised me on a personal level.  He helped me scrutinize a myriad of MLS database listings in hopes of finding real contenders, and even after 20 or so property showings, I never once felt like a nuisance client he couldn't wait to unload.  To the contrary, Ernie arrived early to every property showing with a smile on his face, and he gladly showed me everything I wanted to see.

After about two months of searching, I finally found the home I wanted to call my own.  It came as no surprise that Ernie was there for every step, providing apt representation in contract negotiations and dealing with the sellers, assisting me in obtaining a home inspection, and helping me find a mortgage broker to secure my home loan.  Working with Ernie was a tremendously positive experience, and I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone looking to buy or sell in today's ever-changing real estate market.

Matt Miklius    Evanston    2008

Working with Ernie Raulli on the purchase of our house was a great pleasure. He was there for us every step of the way. He was always there to answer the phone, or in person, when either of us had a question. He met with the lenders and the seller even when we couldn't be there. This was our first home purchase and Ernie made it seem seamless and oftentimes even fun. We highly recommend Ernie Raulli to anyone who needs assistance in buying or selling a house.

David and Marty R.  Frankfurt     2014

Ernie,

I want you to know I appreciated your diligent and resourceful efforts to close this transaction. It’s been too long since I’ve worked with an agent who did their job so well. Feel free to contact me at any time if you have any legal questions or concerns.

Regards,

Mike B. - Attorney,  Mundelein  2014

Working with Ernie is like working with family. First-time home buying is scary. What questions should we ask? What are we not thinking about? Is this place a good investment? Ernie thought and contemplated these questions long before they even popped into our heads. Every time we showed up to a viewing, we saw Ernie checking out the area and upon greeting us he immediately gave a rundown of considerations. He pointed out critical details and afterwards went through key things to consider. He caught signs of water damage, poor construction and neighborhood watchouts that we just didn’t notice in the excitement of first time home buying. That kind of care for his craft is what make Ernie one of the best. When we knew which condo we wanted and Ernie agreed we found a good one, we felt that relieving and exciting feeling at the prospect of finding not just our first home, but a quality home.

During the search phase, we eagerly scanned the daily morning email that Ernie’s MLS tool generated. These emails featured brand new listings within 24 hours of posting, that matched our search criteria. We marked our favorites. This gave Ernie a narrowed in sense of what we liked, and us an easy to use place to reference our favorites. The tool left us knowing we found the best option for us, and mitigated that feeling of “maybe there’s something else.” We loved how Ernie kept a daily pulse on the MLS, both for new options and to research comparable properties. I think it’s a pretty safe bet that he knows the recent sales in most Chicago neighborhoods! He is the Chicagoland expert.

When we moved to the offer stage, we knew we snagged the best deal possible with Ernie leading the negotiations. The partnership played out in texts and calls, with us consulting and Ernie advising. We had the final say, but Ernie stood on the frontline working his magic with the other realtor. As the process proceeded into more uncharted territory for us - lawyers, underwriters, inspectors and others got involved - we could always count on Ernie to provide guidance and of course always have our best interest at hand. He also recommended other partners along the way that were true pros and showed up with same level of expertise and care. 

Without Ernie, we never would have moved into our perfect first home. He took what could have been a frustrating and tiring process, and made it smooth and nerve-calming.

Would we recommend Ernie? Absolutely.

- Amanda LaBonar and Brian Kilborn, Happy Chicago Buyers.  2017

From Ernie:

I like to relate this story of a client of mine who moved out of state before she could list her downtown high-rise condo at 208 W. Washington-Unit 1008. When a seller moves out of town, you have to trust your agent, so I was hired. One weekend, a busy married couple from St. Louis came to Chicago to buy a condo for their daughter who was about to begin her freshman year of college here. They liked my client’s building and were sold on buying a unit there. There were 2 condos with identical floor plans that they liked; mine and one 2 floors higher; Unit 1208. Usually the higher floor sells quicker and for a higher price, but I sold mine first and for $15,000 more than what the other unit eventually sold for. Here’s why: The buyers of my condo were in Chicago for only 2 days and for 2 days they tried to see the other one, but the agent never showed up. They bought mine. It’s simple; I was there and the other agent wasn’t. I am a full-time professional.

-Ernie