Steve Kehoe

Hi! I’m Steve Kehoe and I currently live in the Chicago neighborhood of River West with my wife Allison, daughter Della, our dog Gary and cat Benjamin. I also run a real estate team here in Chicago out of our Lincoln Park office. I am originally from Cincinnati and have lived in several places around the globe, but feel fortunate to call Chicago my home. Neighborhoods in Chicago I’ve lived in include Lakeview, Old Town, Fulton Market, and currently River West. 

A quick bit about real estate in my life:My passion in real estate is driven by the excitement of helping somebody start a new chapter in life. People always come first. I love all my clients and find joy in helping others, whether you are first time home buyers, downsizing, upgrading to a dream home, relocating for job/family, or looking for investment purposes. In fact, I often find myself connecting clients with some other need in their life, whether it be a painter, accountant, plumber, haberdasher, or even just a good restaurant recommendation.My background and education is in finance, real estate, and risk management (Ohio State University alumni). I am passionate about combining these and analyzing market trends and property values in real estate. This particular combo led me into the niche market of multi-unit (or multifamily) properties, which is where I started my real estate career in Chicago. When it comes to these 2, 3, or 4 unit buildings, I love helping the pure investors and also ‘house hackers’ that want to live in one unit and rent out the other. The analytical skills developed from the many moving parts of a multiunit deal are crucial for me because they are also the foundation of how I approach the analysis of single family homes and condos. There are a ton of factors that play into a property’s value, and it is important to identify all of them!

Non real estate things in my life:
As I mentioned, I grew up just outside of Cincinnati in the very small village of North Bend, Ohio. I have an older sister, a younger brother, and very loving parents.  Fond memories of my childhood include a lot of golfing, volleyball, and time with family pets. 

My parents both played volleyball in college and met playing the game.  Their skill, knowledge and passion was directly imparted on me as I played  the sport in high school and college.  I am a proud alumni and Hall of Fame athlete from The Ohio State University.  During my time with the university, I was fortunate enough to lead our team to win the program’s first national championship.  

After graduating, I lived in Europe for 5 years while playing professional volleyball. Most of the time I lived in Finland, but I also lived in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands for a short time. I still love volleyball and play occasionally, but I am much happier to be in the real estate industry and live in Chicago.  The big draw for why I stopped playing was because I wanted to set up roots, start a family, and grow a business - so here I am, doing all those things!

My wife Allison and I have been married now for 5 years and if you’ve ever spoken with me, there's a 99.9% chance I bring her up in the conversation - she’s the best, and it is hard not to talk about her! We really enjoy long neighborhood walks, especially with our dog Gary the Leonberger.  We ride our bikes together way more than the average Chicagoan, and use it as a fun way to explore different neighborhoods and experience the lake front.  One of our favorite things to do is try new restaurants, and luckily Chicago has plenty of great ones. Allison and I also own a couple properties together.  One is a personal residence and the other is an investment.

Recommendations that I’m often asked for:
Lender: Landon Hoon at A&N Mortgage
Real Estate Attorney: Marneris Law (Niko Marneris and Cynthia Zenko Marneris)
Inspector: Ken D’Alexander - Complete Property Inspections Inc.
Haberdasher (custom men’s clothing): Cordt Withum, Balani Custom Clothiers
Gym/workout: Wells St. Fitness and Corepower Yoga
Car wash: Car care Specialist (Lincoln Ave and Lakewood Ave in Lincoln Park)
Favorite Book: East of Eden, John Steinbeck - lots of other book recommendations too
Coffee: Dark Matter Coffee
Chicken Sandwich: Roost Chicken and Biscuits at 457 N Milwaukee
Ramen Spot: Ramen Takeya at 819 W Fulton
Deep Dish Pizza: Art of Pizza
Ice cream: Black Dog Gelato (I really like Jeni’s too)
Live Music - Blues: Kingston Mines

Contact me for plumbers, electricians, architects, tile work, and handyman projects - I have plenty of referrals I’d be happy to share!