Mark Kowalik Realty

Mark Kowalik Realty Mark’s successfully incorporated his passion for Chicago's history, enthusiasm for promoting activ

Mark’s real estate career began in 2015 & within his first year, he was awarded the prestigious Chicago's Real Estate "Rookie of the Year" Award. It’s an award recognizing a new agent for sales, performance, & commitment to client excellence. By 2017, he had earned his place in the top 3%, company wide, for Baird & Warner- a company with over 2,300 real estate agents. In his first 2 years, Mark co

mpleted over 50 transactions with a combined sales volume of over $18 mill. Mark is a Certified Relocation Specialist for buyers and sellers and gains his clients’ trust through hard work, honesty & a whole lot of hustle. As a way of giving back, Mark donates one bike for every three completed transactions to help mobilize people through the power of bikes with a charity organization called World Bicycle Relief. As an avid city cyclist, Mark has completed multiple Ironman triathlons, and works hard to maintain a well rounded life, balanced with his wife & daughter. Mark is a West Looper himself as both an investment property holder and resident and is a first-generation Polish speaker. Mark is truly active in the market, community, and in his own lifestyle, earning himself the name .

09/05/2026

Four showings. Labor Day traffic. One solution. 🚲

When Chicago traffic isn’t cooperating, you improvise.

Had a client looking to see four properties across the city over Labor Day weekend, and sitting in traffic wasn’t going to cut it.

So I grabbed a bike and turned showing day into a little city bike tour. 😂

Sometimes being a Realtor means finding the most efficient way to get it done.

And honestly… there are worse ways to spend a day working in Chicago. 🌆🚲

09/04/2026

Is spending around $3,000 on staging actually worth it?

For this listing, I believe staging was worth the investment.

An empty condo forces buyers to imagine where furniture goes, how a room functions, and whether their lifestyle actually fits the space.

Staging helps answer those questions before they even have to ask.

At 843 N California, we invested in presenting the property the right way from day one.

The result?

Under contract in 7 days.
Closed in 35 days.

There are never guarantees in real estate, but presentation matters.

Sometimes spending a little more upfront can help create a much stronger first impression when it matters most.

✨ Just Sold!Really excited for my investor on the successful sale of 1224 W Van Buren Ave #822 in the West Loop.They pu...
09/04/2026

✨ Just Sold!

Really excited for my investor on the successful sale of 1224 W Van Buren Ave #822 in the West Loop.

They purchased this property 10+ years ago as their primary residence and later converted it into an investment property. After holding onto it through different stages of the market, they were able to see that long-term investment come full circle with a successful sale.

There’s something especially rewarding about helping a client close out an investment they’ve owned for more than a decade.

09/01/2026

I made a commitment.

Not just to run 100 miles.

I made a commitment to my family to be present.

This morning was the first day of school. I was there for the morning routine. Tonight, I was there for bedtime.

I made a commitment to my clients to show up for them and give them my best during the day.

And I made a commitment to myself to chase something hard.

So when 11 PM rolled around and my bed looked REALLY f**king good…

I had a choice.

Nobody would’ve cared if I skipped the run.

Nobody would’ve even known.

But I would.

So, f**k it.

You made a commitment.

Go do it.

That’s how I ended up running through Chicago at midnight when just about every part of me wanted to be asleep.

I’m learning that commitment isn’t what you do when you’re motivated.

It’s what you do when you’ve already shown up for everyone else, you’re tired, nobody’s watching…

and you still show up for yourself.

In about four weeks, I’ll stand at the starting line of another 100 miler.

And if I get to cross that finish line this time, I know exactly why it’s going to taste so damn good.

It won’t just be because of those 100 miles.

It’ll be because of all the nights like this that got me there.

08/26/2026

POV: You move to the suburbs to “save money” by not paying HOA fees every month… 😂

Then the bills start showing up.

💧 Water bill
🌱 Lawn care
🏠 And eventually… a new roof

HOA fees definitely aren’t cheap, but one thing I appreciate about city condo living is knowing that a lot of the exterior maintenance and major building expenses are being handled through the association.

Of course, there are pros and cons to both.

But that “no HOA payment” in the suburbs doesn’t necessarily mean no maintenance costs. 😉

08/25/2026

One of my favorite things about raising a family in the West Loop is how many experiences like this are right outside our door.

My daughter and I went kayaking on the Chicago River with Wateriders and it was only 11 minutes from home. 🛶

We got to explore the river, take in the Chicago skyline from a completely different perspective and, most importantly, make an awesome memory together.

And the whole experience cost us just under $40.

Sometimes the best part of raising kids in the city isn’t what you have at home—it’s everything you have access to right outside of it.

Thank you Wateriders for an awesome time!

08/25/2026

Whenever someone calls Chicago a “concrete jungle” 🌳🏙️

Living in the West Loop, yes, we have the bigger anchor buildings with 50–150+ units.

But walk a few blocks off the main streets and Chicago can look completely different.

Tree-lined streets.
Row homes.
Smaller walk-up buildings.
Front yards and neighborhood pockets surrounded by greenery.

One of my favorite things about living in Chicago is how quickly the city can change from block to block.

Concrete jungle? Sometimes.

But definitely not everywhere.

08/23/2026

I’m training to run 100 miles this October—but I’m probably not doing it the way you’d expect.

I don’t have a strict nutrition plan.

I don’t wear a GPS watch or track my heart rate.

Most nights, I don’t get eight hours of sleep.

I’m a husband, a dad and a full-time Realtor, so I train when my family is sleeping—sometimes late at night, sometimes between 4:00 and 8:00 in the morning.

I’m not trying to train perfectly.

I’m trying to prove that you can still chase something hard without neglecting the people and responsibilities that matter most.

Follow along as I train unconventionally for 100 miles.

08/06/2026

Running 62 miles taught me that feeling broken doesn’t mean you’re finished.

The real battle is convincing your mind to take one more step.

With a goal of running 100 miles in October, I signed up for this race to find out where my training and my mindset really stood.

The first 10 miles felt effortless.

Then the weather flipped.

Miles 17–25 were spent in a torrential downpour, grinding through mud in completely soaked shoes and socks.

In a race this long, you can’t focus on the finish line. It feels too far away.

You focus on the next milestone.

Mine was the halfway aid station.

Two cheeseburgers. A pile of bacon. Fresh fuel. A few miles later, dry clothes and shoes.

It’s amazing what one small win can do for your mindset.

From miles 31–52, Tucker White and I felt incredible.

Blue skies. Beautiful trails. Great conversation. A reminder of why I love pushing beyond what feels comfortable.

Then came mile 52.

My shins were screaming. Seven blisters made every step painful. My legs were shot. My hips were done.

But mentally, I wasn’t quitting.

I kept repeating:

“Brain over body. Just keep moving.”

Running became shuffling.

Shuffling became hobbling.

With three miles left, Tucker looked at me and said:

“Let’s run it in.”

Our bodies were done.

Our minds weren’t.

That’s why I love these races. They reveal that our limits are usually much farther away than we think.

And the biggest lesson wasn’t really about running.

It was about life.

Work gets repetitive. Raising a family isn’t always exciting. Marriage isn’t always easy.

Big goals aren’t built only in the exciting moments.

They’re built by showing up and taking the next step when you’re tired, uncomfortable and no longer motivated.

When you think you’re empty, there’s usually more left in the tank.

Just keep moving.

62 miles ✔️
Next stop: 100 miles.

Address

2762 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
60614

Telephone

+17082077672

Website

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