Real Estate Legends: Recent Episodes
Real Estate Legends
Real Estate Legends Podcast brings listeners into the minds of some of the biggest names in real estate and allows them to learn how the legends got their start, overcame obstacles, and closed monumental deals that shaped real estate as we know it.
“If you want to make change you have to get involved in politics, there’s no other way around it.”
- Jim Ascot
Jim Ascot is the President and CEO of Ascot Realty Group, Inc. He served as President of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, Chairman of the Lane Tech Local School Council, Chairman of the 2022 Greek Heritage Parade, and Chairman of the State of Illinois Election Day Voter Registration Commission.
After a successful commercial real estate career, Jim is now running to represent the city's new 34th Ward as alderman. His top priorities as alderman include eliminating homelessness, reducing crime, improving quality of life and efficient government services.
Jim Ascot's Bio
“I’m their ROI. They took a chance and invested in themselves and their future to come to this country. For me, everything I do is their return on their investment.”
- Tommy Choi
Tommy Choi is the Co-founder and owner of Weinberg Choi Residential and Keller Williams ONEChicago. The Weinberg Choi Residential team has sold over 1,000 properties, and over $500 million dollars in sales volume. They are consistently ranked in the top 10 real estate teams in Chicago, which puts them in the Top 1% of Chicago Association of Realtors’ top producers.
Other notable achievements include serving as the president of the Chicago Association of Realtors and being the first Korean-American president in the association’s 135 year history. Tommy was also the first Asian American vice president of the National Association of Realtors. It’s no wonder he was named to the 2020 class of Crain’s Chicago Business’ 40 under 40. All things considered, Tommy’s legacy remains solely about his kids. At the foundation, gratitude is where he stands upon on.
Tommy Choi’s Bio
“Residential is the race, commercial is the marathon.”
- Scott Maesel
Scott Maesel serves as Managing Director for SVN | Chicago Commercial in Chicago’s West Loop/Fulton Market. With over 20 years of industry experience, Scott is a highly regarded Chicago CRE veteran and named one of Crain’s Most Influential Commercial Real Estate Brokers. Some of his most notable deals are: The Morrealle Meats portfolio, a $36 million transaction; 210 N. Green, which served as a catalyst for future development in the area and later developed as WeWork; and numerous leasing transactions such as Blind Barber, Floyd's 99 Barbershop, Au Cheval, Lone Wolf, and The Lunatic, The Lover & The Poet.
So how did Scott become one of Crain’s most influential commercial real estate brokers? In his words, “what I’ve done and what I’ve built, I couldn’t do it without partners.” After almost going bankrupt, Scott and his partners have expanded the business to include over 50 advisors, servicing all commercial product types both locally and nationally. Together, they have grown the SVN® brand into a globally recognized establishment. They have opened and/or created: SVN Chicago Commercial, SVN Denver Commercial, SVN Cuba, SVN Chicago Property Management, SVN Industrial Division, SVN Commercial Partners, Konnect (a real estate finance company) and continue to move the commercial real estate industry forward.
Scott Maesel’s Bio
Founder of Real Estate Legends Podcast, Residential and Commercial Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams ONEChicago
Founder of Belgravia Group, Ltd., President of Lakewest, Inc., and a Principal in the law firm of Ruttenberg Gilmartin Reis LLC
Real Estate Legends Podcast brings listeners into the minds of some of the biggest names in real estate