Chicago’s residential brokerages kicked off the new year with new agent recruits as industry consolidation pushes companies to sharpen their recruiting pitches.
Baird & Warner announced Steve Jasinski was returning to the firm after five years with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Chicago. Jasinski is leading the Jasinski Home Team at Baird & Warner’s La Grange office.
In a press release, the firm said Jasinski’s return was an example of its appeal as a local powerhouse versus a field of nationally consolidated competitors.
When Jasinski left Baird & Warner in 2021, he said he thought of it as “your grandfather’s real estate company.” Its purchase of tech-focused Dream Town in 2025 made him interested in coming back, he said.
When he returned in December, he said he was surprised at how much the firm had embraced technology. The company released an AI chatbot for its agents in December.
“They actually have systems that are functioning and working together, and are actively working on new ones,” Jasinski said. “It was truly like night and day.”
Jasinski spent the last five years at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Chicago, and was a Baird & Warner agent for nine years before that.
Jasinski’s team closed $26.5 million in sales across 70 transactions in 2024, according to Real Trends. He has two more agents on his team and said he’s interested in expanding.
Baird & Warner also recently picked up a Highland Park team from Compass, citing the addition as another example of the firm’s ability to attract talent from the most competitive national firms.
The Gerber Diaz Group, led by Louis Diaz and Joe Tyler Gerber, moved to Baird & Warner’s Highland Park office in late 2025. Gerber closed more than $25 million in sales volume in 2024, Baird & Warner said.
Baird & Warner said in a press release the brokerage’s independence and local origin was a major influence in their decision to jump from Compass.
Compass adds team with multifamily focus
Meanwhile, Compass is attracting heavy hitters by pitching its own technology platform and reach. In early January, the brokerage brought on Charlie Cohen and Alex Morsch to create the Cohen Morsch team.
The five-agent team had combined annual sales of $57.5 million, Compass said in a press release. The group will focus on brokering multifamily and investment properties.
Cohen was most recently director of sales at Cross Street. In a press release announcing the move, Cohen said Compass’ platform and tools will “elevate how we serve clients.”
Morsch was most recently a senior broker at Cross Street, Compass said. Morsch represented the buyer on a three-lot development site in Lincoln Park that sold for $5.7 million last year, the release said.
Compass finalized its acquisition of Anywhere Real Estate this month, with the megamerger bringing some of Chicago’s top brokerages under Compass’ umbrella.
Jameson Sotheby’s gains Baird & Warner agent
Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty is also expanding its roster. The firm brought on Joanne DeSanctis Kirk to its Chicago City Hub office this month.
DeSanctis Kirk, who was previously at Baird & Warner, said she wasn’t expecting to make a move. But after conversations with Jameson Sotheby’s representatives, she felt it was a good fit and gave her support as a solo agent. She said the firm’s coordinated support between marketing and transactions has been a benefit.
“I had good support previously, but it was bifurcated,” she said. “And this is kind of a one stop shop.”
As a solo agent, DeSanctis Kirk averages about $10 million to $15 million in sales a year, she said. She closed about $13.8 million in sales across 17 transactions between October 2024 and October 2025, according to data compiled by The Real Deal.
Her sales are spread across Chicago but focused in the North Side, she said.
Coldwell Banker brings on North Shore manager
At Coldwell Banker Realty, Natasha O’Connor was appointed branch vice president of the brokerage’s North Shore offices in Glenbrook and Lake Forest, Chicago Agent reported this month.
O’Connor was formerly a managing broker at @properties until 2023, according to her LinkedIn. She held roles at Prudential Rubloff and Baird & Warner before that.
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