About Deb Hess & Partners

For more than 35 years, Deborah Hess has helped shape real estate decisions across Chicago—guiding buyers and sellers, advising developers, and building a business grounded in market knowledge, strategy, and long-term client relationships. As the founder of Deb Hess & Partners at Compass and one of Chicago’s most experienced residential real estate professionals, Deborah brings more than $1 billion in career sales and an exceptional depth of insight to every client and every transaction.

Her expertise spans Chicago’s diverse residential market, from luxury single-family homes and condominiums to new construction, condo conversions, multifamily properties, and investment opportunities. For sellers, Deborah is known for thoughtful pricing, meticulous preparation, sophisticated marketing, and skilled negotiation designed to maximize both value and market impact. For buyers, she brings a deep understanding of neighborhoods, housing stock, property value, and long-term potential, helping clients make confident decisions in even the most competitive or complex markets.

Deborah’s experience extends well beyond traditional brokerage. Developers and investors regularly turn to her for strategic guidance on site selection, floor plans, finishes, pricing, positioning, staging, marketing, sales strategy, and project closeout. Her ability to understand what buyers want—and anticipate where the market is headed—has made her a valued resource from the earliest planning stages through the final sale.

At the heart of Deborah’s business is a highly personal approach. She believes exceptional real estate representation is about more than completing a transaction; it is about understanding what matters most to each client, anticipating challenges before they arise, and providing informed, candid guidance from beginning to end. Many of her client relationships span decades and generations, built on trust, results, and a level of service that has remained the foundation of her business throughout her career.

As the leader of Deb Hess & Partners, Deborah has created a collaborative team that combines extensive market experience with modern technology, thoughtful marketing, and a shared commitment to exceptional client service. Her enthusiasm for Chicago real estate, deep neighborhood knowledge, and long record of successful results have made her a trusted advisor to buyers, sellers, investors, and developers throughout the city and surrounding communities.