Mac Corey knows just about everything there is to know about lake living. He should; he grew up spending summers on Wisconsin’s Lake Geneva and made the vacation-home community his permanent home in 1990. Based at the Fontana-on-Geneva Lake office of d’aprile properties, he serves buyers and sellers across a triangle from Milwaukee and Kenosha on Lake Michigan and out to Lake Geneva.

“Ryan D’Aprile, the founder of d’aprile properties, is one of my oldest friends,” says Mac, who worked in other industries for several years before Ryan suggested he consider the mortgage business. “He was growing his company and really wanted to work with me during that growth phase. He’s very persuasive!” In 2011, Mac spent a few years with in mortgages with d’aprile properties, learning the industry from the inside out before discovering that real estate would be an even better fit.

Changing careers within d’aprile properties validated for Mac that much of his success stems from his place on an extraordinary team. “I am a solo REALTOR®, but our culture is one of a giant team,” he says. “We work extremely well together. We’re independent contractors as agents, but we support each other companywide.” With more than 350 agents, the members of the Chicago-based company share resources and referrals across Chicagoland, Northern Indiana and Southeast Wisconsin, where Mac specializes. “I can’t imagine that any other company offers the amount of support that we do.”

That internal support, says Mac, translates to unmatched experiences for buyers and sellers. Mac, in his niche vacation community near Lake Geneva, works with many buyers from upscale neighborhoods and suburbs of Chicago. When marketing his listings, he takes advantage of his savvy use of technology. “I am also a huge proponent of professional photography and work with an amazing photographer in the area,” he says. “She is so good that when I see photos on other listings, I immediately recognize her work; it’s that superior.” Photographs and customized descriptions are then distributed through various online marketing and social media platforms, including boosted posts and email marketing. “And in a vacation home market, print and direct mail marketing are important, as well,” says Mac.

Sellers and buyers reap the benefits of the close relationships between the agents at d’aprile properties. “We market very strongly within our company,” says Mac. “Everyone knows exactly what’s going on across the company.” When working with buyers, Mac’s experience in mortgages gives him and his clients an added advantage. “I can give them some extra detail in advance about what to expect with appraisals and different situations that might arise,” he says. “Because I’ve closed mortgages, I can detect what things could go wrong. If you know what to look for, you can be better prepared.”

For Mac, the joy of real estate is in helping people by providing valuable information and guidance to help them either purchase their dream vacation home or seamlessly work their way through the sale of their home. “If it’s a lake house, that’s where they are going to build family memories. If someone has change in their life and needs to a new house, I like helping them reach their goals. And sometimes they are ready to move on if they’re not using their vacation home.” Overall, he enjoys making sure people are happy while helping them advance their lives.

In his own life advancement, Mac and his wife are raising a young family while Mac continues to build his business. “I’m also a singer and guitar player,” he says, noting that performing in free concerts with local musicians is one of his top hobbies, along with cooking. He also values community involvement, serving on the board of his local real estate association as well as the school district board. Doing so much, he says, is not work; it’s part of who he is. “There’s no end to how much anyone can learn and grow,” he says. “The culture of our company lends itself to that. Our future is not just to sell more real estate but to change people’s lives in positive ways.”

To learn more about Mac Corey, visit mac-corey.com or facebook.com/umackie, email mac@daprileproperties.com or call 262-394-6070