Corey Barker - KW North Shore West

Corey Barker - KW North Shore West 2024 Top 1% of all Agents in selling or buying homes within Keller Williams Illinois & Mainstreet Board of Realtors!

Corey is wholly focused on helping families with their Real Estate needs in Gurnee and the surrounding areas within Illinois. Corey Barker is a nationally recognized real estate powerhouse, honored by the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® in 2024 and ranked among the Top 1% in both Sales Volume and Transactions for five consecutive years—outperforming over 18,000 agents across the Chicagoland area. In 2024, Corey secured the #9 spot for Individual Sales Volume across 28 Keller Williams Market Centers, representing more than 4,000 agents throughout Illinois, Northern Indiana, and Southern Wisconsin in the Mid-American Region. Nationally, Corey ranked in the Top 1% of over 1 million agents on Homesnap, a testament to his elite performance and unmatched client service. Locally, he has held the title of #1 Individual Selling Agent in Gurnee for an impressive five years, earning the trust of buyers and sellers with his deep market knowledge, proven results, and personal dedication. Awards demonstrate the hard work and dedication he has put into his business and are a testament to the trust his clients and friends have put into him to build his business to where it is today! He's a local market expert, having lived in the Gurnee area and raising four daughters here for over 25 years. Leverage his 30+ years of proven success in the Title Insurance business to help you meet your Real Estate objectives, whether you are buying or selling. Corey is experienced in working with both buyers and sellers. He brings superior qualification skills to his clients and this helps him to better qualify and match the homes and families. Corey sets his standards extremely high for himself as a representative of his clients. These high standards, accompanied by his strong communication skills during all stages of the process, along with his professionalism, hard work, proven marketing strategies, and market expertise, generate results in all market conditions. Allow Corey to make this a wonderful and successful experience for you! Please call Corey today at 224-548-1323 for all your real estate needs.

09/22/2026

🌊 THE FINAL CHAPTER — AMALFI COAST!

Well, here we are… our final stop on our 19-day Italian adventure! ❤️

From a real estate perspective, one thing I’ve really learned on this trip:
👉 Our taxes stink… but home values and land can be surprisingly reasonable in Illinois. 🏡🌴

Now, the Amalfi Coast isn’t exactly a “bargain” market - especially when you’re talking about those million-dollar views! 😂

And after 19 days of Italy…
Me: The whole snowbird idea is sounding more and more appealing. 😂☀️

Illinois winters… 🤔 OR…
Amalfi Coast winters… 🤔😂

I think I know where my head is going!

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has followed along over the last 19 days - from Milan ➡️ Lake Como ➡️ Venice ➡️ Florence ➡️ Cinque Terre ➡️ Rome ➡️ Amalfi Coast.

It’s been an incredible trip, an incredible education, and a whole lot of steps! 👟😂

Vivi sano e crea gioia nel tuo mondo! ❤️🤍💚
Live healthy and create joy in your world!

09/16/2026

FLORENCE & CINQUE TERRE - WOW! 🍷👠🌊

From the beautiful streets of Florence to the breathtaking cliffs of Cinque Terre, Italy just keeps showing off! 😍

✨ Clean, beautiful, high-end shopping
🍷 Wine windows & vineyards everywhere
🫒 Incredible olive oil, olives & local food
🏡 And yes… we keep looking at the real estate too! 😂

And here’s a number that caught my attention: Italy has ZERO annual property tax on a primary residence in many circumstances - quite a contrast to Illinois, which has the highest property taxes in the U.S. 💰

Italy may be winning the beauty contest… but I’m still bringing my Illinois real estate knowledge along for the ride! 😂

Counting our blessings, enjoying every stop and soaking it all in. ❤️🙏

Next stop: ROME! 🏛️🍝🍷

09/14/2026

NEXT STOP: VENICE! 💚🤍❤️

After Milano and Lake Como, we’re now in a city where the streets are canals, the taxis are boats, and getting lost is actually part of the experience. 😂🚤

Venice is truly one of those places you have to see in person. The architecture, the history, the little streets, the canals and the way everything is connected by walking or water… it’s pretty amazing.

And of course, I’m still looking at everything through my real estate eyes. 🏡😂

The properties here are fascinating - historic buildings, apartments above shops, canal views, incredible architecture and locations you simply can’t duplicate anywhere else.

But what really caught my attention is the lifestyle.

The people who live here aren’t moving here because they decided they wanted to experience “Venice living.” Many have been here their entire lives. And you can see why it’s a completely different way of life.

It’s definitely NOT the Midwestern lifestyle we know! 😂

No jumping in the car to run an errand. 🚗❌
No pulling into your garage.
Need something delivered? Better figure out the boat situation. 🚤😂
And those beautiful little streets? Let’s just say you better like walking! 👟😂

I absolutely love experiencing it, but for me, Venice is a VISIT — NOT BUY kind of place. 😎

Give me the canals, the gondolas, the history and the incredible views for a few days… and then I’m ready to get back to my car, driveway and Midwestern lifestyle! 😂

Venice gets a HUGE thumbs up for visiting. 👍
Buying? I’m going to pass. 😂

Now… NEXT STOP: FLORENCE! 🍷🏡

09/11/2026

LAKE COMO… WOW! 🌊😍

I’m starting to understand why people fall in love with this place! 💚🤍❤️

Of course, the real estate guy in me couldn’t help but look around. 👀🏡😂

I found a rental just outside of Como for €1,400/month + utilities! 🤯

Seriously… €1,400 a month!

You get to live outside of Como, have easy access to Como and all the surrounding areas, and experience the Italian lifestyle without paying Chicago prices. 💰

And this isn’t just a vacation destination. It’s a great area to consider for second homes or longer-term rentals. 🏡

Just imagine carving out one month of your life and living here. There is SO much to see and do — and you’re just a train ride from Milano 🚆 and a car ride from Switzerland!

Then we started exploring…
🚞 Funicular ride up the mountain — INCREDIBLE views! 😍
🚤 Boat ride around Lake Como — absolutely gorgeous! 🌊
🛍️ Bellagio — shopping, walking around and taking it all in. HIGHLY recommend it!
🍝 And the food… 🤌 TO DIE FOR!

I’m telling you… I’m becoming more and more Italian every day! 😂

Maybe I should stop looking at the real estate and just buy a place! 🏡🍷

🎭 VENICE, HERE WE COME! 🚤

Follow along!

And today’s Italian lesson:
“COREY, MI STAI INFLUENZANDO A PENSARE COME TE!” 😂🤍

FIRST STOP: MILANO! 💚🤍❤️19 days in Italy… and you KNOW I’m going to be looking at real estate along the way! 😂🏡I found a...
09/09/2026

FIRST STOP: MILANO! 💚🤍❤️

19 days in Italy… and you KNOW I’m going to be looking at real estate along the way! 😂🏡

I found a beautiful property being shown for €880,000 - WITH A SWIMMING POOL! 🏊‍♂️
My Chicago real estate brain immediately said… “That’s a STEAL!” 😂

Different market. Different lifestyle. Different definition of value. 🌎🏡

And Milano did NOT disappoint…
⛪ Duomo di Milano
🎨 Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper
🛍️ Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
🍷 Navigli & aperitivo
🏘️ Brera & incredible architecture

Now it’s time to head north…

🏞️ NEXT STOP: LAKE COMO!

Lake Como is basically the Lake Geneva of Italy… but on steroids! 😂🌊

More beautiful homes, incredible scenery, Italian lifestyle - and of course, I’ll be keeping my real estate eyes open! 👀🏡😂

Although, if you’re looking for homes here, you might get a little distracted by all the SHOPPING! 🛍️😂
BRING YOUR PURSES! 🤑

Follow along… the adventure is just getting started!
And if you’re following along with my Italian adventure, say:

“VI SEGUO!” — 😂👇

09/08/2026

🏡 Sometimes a million-dollar home takes more than a million-dollar budget - it takes a little creativity! 😂

This wonderful family of four found their new home in Greggs Landing, one of Vernon Hills’ premier communities, surrounded by million-dollar-plus homes.

The catch? The current tenants needed a little extra time to move out. So we thought outside the box, negotiated with a little humor 😄… and made it work!

After 30+ years in real estate, I’ve learned: When the road doesn’t go straight, You find another way to seal the fate! 🏡💰

Experience matters. Creativity matters. And sometimes… a good sense of humor closes the deal! 😉

✈️ ITALY… HERE WE COME!For the next 19 days, I’m taking you along on a very different kind of real estate tour. 🏡We’re t...
09/04/2026

✈️ ITALY… HERE WE COME!

For the next 19 days, I’m taking you along on a very different kind of real estate tour. 🏡

We’re traveling from Northern Italy to Rome and all the way South, spending a few days in each region - and I’m going to be looking at Italy through the eyes of a real estate agent. 👀

🏡 Dream second homes
🍋 Airbnb & vacation rental possibilities
🌿 Countryside cottages & land
🌊 Coastal properties
🏘️ Architecture, neighborhoods & lifestyle
💡 And plenty of real estate “AHA!” moments

Now, this is NOT a 19-day business trip! 😂

It’s about enjoying Italy, experiencing the culture, making memories - and bringing you along for the ride while I plant a few real estate seeds along the way.

Who knows… maybe you’ll discover a place that makes you say:

“I could actually see myself owning something here.” ❤️

19 days. North to South. Real Estate through an Italian lens.

Let’s go! 🍷🏡✈️

BUSY DOESN’T MEAN LOST. 🏃‍♂️🏡📱If you know me, you know I’m pretty much 24/7/365—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I ...
09/03/2026

BUSY DOESN’T MEAN LOST. 🏃‍♂️🏡📱

If you know me, you know I’m pretty much 24/7/365—and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love what I do and I love taking care of my clients. ❤️

But there’s something I’m reminding myself of more and more…

You can be busy building a successful business and still lose sight of building a great life.

Work hard. Chase the opportunities. Take care of your people. 💪

But don’t forget to step off the treadmill once in a while. 📵
Enjoy your family. Take the trip. Laugh. Relax. Make some memories. ✈️❤️

Because at the end of the day, the goal isn’t just to make a living… it’s to make a life.

And yes… Dolly said it best. 😉🎶

Stay busy. Stay driven. But stay balanced. ⚖️

Thank you,
Corey

09/02/2026

🏡 THIS ONE DIDN’T JUST GET LISTED… IT GOT EARNED. 🔥

Two full months. 💪🏼
Sweat. Hard work. Decisions. Details. And a homeowner who was determined to make her home look the part.
And now… WOW. 👀✨
I like to say, “Dress to Impress.”
She did exactly that.

But what really makes this home special isn’t just how beautiful it looks - it’s the versatility. ❤️
♿ Handicap-friendly design
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Multigenerational living potential
🏠 Spaces that can adapt as life changes
Not every home can offer that kind of flexibility.

This is more than a house that photographs well.
It’s a home that was thoughtfully prepared, intentionally presented, and ready to make an impression.

Two months of hard work.
One very impressive result. 👏🏼
Now… let’s get this one SOLD! 🔑🏡

Address

350 N. Milwaukee Avenue , Suite 200
Libertyville, IL
60048

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