Captain Realty

Our move from a Lincoln Square rental apartment resulted, with Seth Captain’s help, in a housing victory with an Albany Park bungalow — our home!
In our year-​long search on the northwest side of Chicago, we interacted with many different agents representing home sellers. Not one of them could have been all of the things that our buyer’s agent Seth was for us.
Seth was patient during the long search and encouraged us to be patient as well. Knowledgable about Chicago housing history, trends, and home design and maintenance. Thoughtful. Forthright. Chill. A great guy to spend time with and also a babe.
Throughout our search, it was clear time and time again that Seth had our best interests in mind — not his commission, not his sales numbers, not referral kickbacks. Seth was OUR ally and champion at every stage of the process, and we wholeheartedly recommend you make him yours as well.

Seth Captain was the perfect real estate broker for us because we wanted a small, affordable vintage home in fairly good condition on the north side of Chicago. But also for these reasons:
1. He patiently guided us through each stage of our first home purchase. Seth was totally up-​front about telling us where our assumptions about the market were way off, but was also good at digging in to our wish list to find ways to make it work toward our advantage. When our first deal fell through due to a somewhat unstable seller, he helped us move on (which is easier said then done when you’ve invested time and energy into your first «dream home»). And on the second deal, after our loan officer totally dropped the ball on several occasions, he helped shelter a shaky deal to close and helped us stay calm when it looked like everything was going to fall apart.
2. He understands the buyer’s position in a hot Chicago market. We were operating in a very competitive time and he identified ways to make our offers stand out, and found properties that were focused around our somewhat unique needs. We secured the winning bid in both the multiple-​offer situations we engaged in.
3. He’s knows his stuff. He studies his areas of town block-​by-​block. He made excellent recommendations for other professionals we needed along the way. He understands firsthand the quirks and pitfalls that can come with older homes, so we didn’t feel like we were going into inspections blind.
4. In a land of high-​pressure jargon, Seth is a calm, clear communicator. He would always give very detailed, timely replies to all our questions and concerns, no matter how big or small. He also worked around our schedule and never pressured us at any point, even though it took a long time to find the right place.
5. He’s fun to be around. His humor and compassion through stressful moments was absolutely key for us. He’ll always tell you the unvarnished truth and he’s very good at helping you sort through difficult decisions without telling you what to do.
I wouldn’t recommend Seth Captain to people looking for new construction, or condos, or downtown living. Or to folks who don’t appreciate a good chuckle when things inevitably go south. But he was absolutely perfect for us.

Let it be known that this review is coming from a fellow local business owner in the same field as Seth. Like Seth, I am a small operation and as such often find it hard to get away, even when I am supposed to be on vacation. Seth’s professionalism and objectivity when dealing with real estate matters is unsurpassed. When I’m on vacation, he covers for me and treats my clients as his own. There have been times that deals have come together while I have been away and it has been due to his expertise both on the buy and sell end of the transaction. Seth brings fresh ideas when it comes to bidding strategies and he also brings a traditional hard work ethic when dealing with showings and research. It’s extremely rare for one agent to trust another. I trust Seth Captain and will continue to trust him for years. If competing businesses trust him, you should as well.

When I started thinking about buying a home last fall, I really had no idea where to start or what I was looking for. Mostly, I didn’t want to pay rent anymore. And I had a feeling that, if I were able to afford a multi-​unit building, I could handle being a landlord. That’s all. It was just an idea I had been playing around with. However, as a young single person with no experience buying property, it seemed prohibitively complicated. At this point, nothing had taught me that a multi-​unit house was even within my grasp as a first-​time buyer. Was it a lot of work? Nobody I knew had ever done it. Nobody had even suggested it. I didn’t really know if I could afford it. But despite all this, I wanted to at least take a look at what was out there. So for a long time I searched the Internet for an agent who could give me some honest answers about what it would take to be a landlord. When I came across Seth’s profile, I knew he would be my best bet.
Seth was immediately helpful from the very first email exchange. He gave me some reassurance that I would be able to pull it off. «My first building was a three flat,» he said. «And I didn’t come from money or a handyman, and I was only a few years older than you. Worked out great.»
So we started scheduling showings and touring buildings in the neighborhoods I was interested in. Some were nice, some were in very rough shape. At times, I had to step outside of my comfort zone a bit, and see beyond the furnishings and finishes to the full potential of a building. This took a bit of practice, but Seth is an expert at this. Never did I feel pressured at all to buy a place I wasn’t entirely comfortable with. It’s all part of the process, he would say.
My home buying experience, as I’m sure it is for most of Seth’s clients, was less about any particular house and more about weighing out difficult tradeoffs and planning out a future lifestyle. It’s a deeply personal decision and Seth respects that fact. He wants to see you in the right building, and he wants you to be able to easily afford it. During the nine months or so that we worked together, we had to navigate a brutal seller’s market. There were a few multiple-​offer situations that I lost out on. But Seth remained persistent and upbeat. He would eventually help me buy a wonderful two-​flat in an extremely desirable neighborhood — a neighborhood that I had completely written off as unattainable. But with my new supplemental rental income, I’m able to live comfortably and pay less than I previously did in rent. Being a landlord? Turns out it’s even easier than I thought. Seth is a huge proponent of owner-​occupied rental properties and now it’s easy to see why.
Seth, at least for me, was far more than a real estate agent. I don’t think I would have fared nearly as well without him. He was an advocate, a mentor, and a guide. He understands the cultural and architectural landscape of Chicago very well. His enthusiasm for all aspects of property ownership is contagious. And if you’re the type of person who breaks the mold in one way or another, you’ll likely find that Seth is a great fit. If you’re lucky enough to work with him on your first home purchase, you’ll find yourself with a great house and all the support you’ll need to thrive there.

Seth was referred to us by two different friends, both who had excellent experiences with him. Ira and I came to Seth thinking we knew what we wanted but really having NO IDEA what we were doing. Seth patiently helped us navigate the experience to find out what we could afford, what kind of building would be best for us and helped us successfully land an incredibly difficult time consuming short sale.
If you are the type of person who has slightly different needs and priorities then the cookie cutter condo type, Seth is your guy. He excels at listening to his clients to understand their unique needs and help direct clients to the right home for them.
If you are new to the real estate game, Seth is your guy. He is amazing at explaining the nuances of the business to newbies. He understands this is an emotional process and is very supportive when dealing with the many ups and downs of the current real estate market.
If you are interested in substance over the superficial, Seth is your guy. He’s more interested in helping you find the right place then just making money. We came to him very much in doubt as to whether we could ever achieve the goal of owning a place in Chicago and he helped us navigate through the muddy trenches to emerge home owners. Thanks Seth!

My fiancé and I never thought we could –or would– buy a home overlooking Lake Michigan on the Gold Coast. We didn’t realize that (1) we could afford it, (2) we’d both secretly wanted to do so since we were in college driving past the condos en route to downtown from going to school at Northwestern, or (3) the neighborhood would fit our lifestyle.
Truth is, we really didn’t know what we wanted beyond the number of rooms. Seth isn’t about trying to get you to buy something so he can get a commission. Seth is about helping you figure out what you want, then helping you find it.
Seth isn’t about driving you in luxury from spot to spot. Inevitably I was mistaken for the realtor at each building we arrived at — I looked the part far more than he did. But, I was also the one that, at times, became infatuated with a building that Seth pointed out was not worthy of our interest. He was right. He came to figure out what we wanted and needed before we did.
Seth isn’t about getting you to buy the most expensive building you can afford. He talked us down from a ledge when a building we fell in love with turned into a bidding war. He insisted that he «introduce us to some new buildings.» We ended up buying a condo unit that was more than $ 100,000 less expensive than the one he talked us out of — and I am grateful for this.

If you are looking for a new construction Lincoln Park Condo, Seth is not your guy. Looking to sell a place? Nope. Seth is a buyer’s best friend. What Seth does offer you is deep-​seated knowledge of vintage construction, integrity and personality.
My wife and I have been tossing the idea of owning a place for a while. When we saw that our neighborhood had gone untouchable, we knew we had to act soon or risk being forced to leave the city. We put out an all call for realtors and Seth’s name popped up a couple of times. We researched every one of the realtors and was impressed by Seth’s web presence, especially the how-​to video and blog on his site. After a very scrutinizing and scientific process of elimination, we went with Seth and couldn’t have been happier.
Now if you think you are an easy-​going relaxed kind of person, you haven’t bought a house. If you have bought one, you know the ordeal is nothing short of a stress inducing nightmare. The kind that makes you lose hours of sleep per week. Enter Seth.
Seth was able to talk us off the ledge. He kept us calm and feeling sane. Throughout the entire transaction, I never once felt pressured to do something I didn’t want to do. His demeanor was always cool and matter of fact. He often presented us with the option of not buying. I don’t know if that is what most realtors do but it speaks volumes to this guy’s integrity. He even kept with us after we put an offer on a place, got it accepted and balked after the inspection.
Not knowing legions of real estate types, Seth pretty much assembled our buying team. Damn it if they weren’t all just awesome. Who someone chooses to do business with says a lot about a person and Seth is awesome.
At the end of the day, this was a business transaction. When we were thinking about buying before, we were turned off by the often sleazy characters you can find in this business. Seth is about as honest and solid a guy you can get. I would and will recommend Seth to anyone looking to buy a home. You will not find a better guy in your corner.

A fortuitous late night cyber quest trolling for multi-​family buildings with a sweet owner’s unit led us to Seth Captain. After reading multiple rave reviews, we reached out. Seth asked us thoughtful questions to gain more insight into what we truly wanted before sending us some awesome properties. He created a color-​coded map (with some humorous notations) designating neighborhoods he thought would be most fitting for our desire to be in a walk-​to-​everything location. We found options that were awesome, but realized we would be best served renting for a year to check out schools and to ensure we could survive living in a multi-​family environment.
Even though Seth usually works with buyers, he agreed to be the selling agent of our home. Immediately, he went to work gaining a deeper understanding of our neighborhood as well as all the intricacies and mechanics of our home rebuild. Seth became well-​versed on what our home offered and made sure all those who walked through knew the depth and scope of the rebuild. Also, his experience in the marketplace proved fortuitous for us as Seth wisely added language to our contract that kept our deal solid. Seth is well versed in the full scope of the deal – from negotiations to appraisals to closings – and all of the nuances in between.
Seth Captain is a rare bird, indeed. He is laid back, cunning and true. True to his ideals and ethics while leading all parties to a good end. Hopefully, you are lucky enough to have him on your team as you move forward on your real estate quest. He is the real deal.
PS To further highlight Seth’s character, he donated a portion of his commission to a charity that is meaningful to our family. A good human, indeed!

Seth makes real estate fun.
When starting to think about buying a home, I talked to a few realtors who told me that our only option for our budget was a condo. We were looking for a multi-​unit or single family home. I continued to look for a realtor. Then… I saw a cartoon of Seth as a real estate superhero on his website and I knew he was the one for us! He was very optimistic and honest about what we could get within our budget and had a great knowledge and understanding of all the neighborhoods we were interested in.
What makes Seth very unique is his patience and open-​mindedness. He has the ability to see the opportunities for each property– as well as informing you of the needs or possible problems with each place. Oh ya, and he’s funny too, which is necessary when you are spending lots of time with the person. (And when you are checking out a jam-​packed apartment with an extensive barbie doll collection stuck to all of the walls, for example.) Looking around at properties on bike is a great perk, too! Seth stuck by us for 4 months and we ended up with a fantastic 2-​unit building with a beautiful yard in an area we wanted. Figuring out what you want is probably the hardest part and Seth did a terrific job of patiently helping us discover exactly what we wanted and what was important for us.
If you don’t have time to research inspectors, lawyers, plumbers, Seth has excellent referrals. We really liked all of the people he referred us to: their work, and their good sense of humor.
Turns out we had lots of choices outside of the token condo!!! Thanks, Seth!

Seth was exactly what we wanted in a realtor — he loves Chicago’s neighborhoods, he knows a great deal about both multi-​family and single family homes, and he appreciates the quirky homes more than the cookie-​cutter homes. If you are formal or fancy, Seth is not your guy — he cross-​country skied to our apartment to meet us for the first time, which made him a winner in our book (both because he skied and because he came to our house!)
Even though he’s a one-​person shop, we always felt like we received enough attention. As first-​time buyers, we had a lot of questions and Seth was patient in answering them. He also drove us up to Evanston to see houses.
I can’t speak to his ability to go-​to-​bat in negotiations, as our house was a short sale sold as-​is, but I think he fundamentally believes in fairness and community and would work within reason to get his clients a good deal. We enjoyed working with Seth and would recommend him highly to the urban crowd looking beyond conventional condos.

Seth was recommended by a friend who had just used him a few months prior to find a place in Logan Square. She mentioned he wasn’t a «typical realtor» and after checking out his website, I knew it would be a great match. By not typical, she meant thoughtful, calm, and caring. This was only solidified more when he came by to meet us at our place. Seth is laid back but thorough, incredibly knowledgeable and determined. He took the time to learn about us, what we were looking for and what was most important to us.
The first day we met, we saw 10 houses in numerous different neighborhoods. It was an intense day but it was so helpful in determining the important factors and it gave Seth insight into what to look for. Each time we went out with Seth, the better and better suited the houses were. We would send him listings, he would note what he thought we would/wouldn’t like and he was always dead on. He knows the neighborhoods inside and out (which was so helpful considering neither of us are from here) and has a ton of recommendations for local vendors in just about every field!
We would recommend Seth in a heartbeat and can’t wait to have him over for a beer in our new yard!

Our search for the house with Seth started back in October of 2011. I did a quick Gmail search to check this fact and it revealed 161 «conversations» with Seth. Each «conversation» having on the average 3 – 7 emails. That’s about 600 — 1000 emails exchanged between us and Seth in regards to our house search. That quick statistical fact should give you an idea of this man’s dedication to his clients and commitment to finding the right house for them (we were probably his longest clients due to our indecisiveness and comfortable rent arrangements). But math aside, Seth is truly wonderful agent and great human being. He has amazing knowledge of Chicago neighborhoods and he’s super intelligent. He cares deeply about the buyer and won’t stop until the client finds that «right» house.
Saying that, he’s not your typical real estate agent. He’s not money hungry, sales driven person as many real estate agents seem to be. He genuinely cared about our opinions and we never felt pressured to buy the house that we did not feel comfortable with. Through our house search adventures, which we often did on our bicycles, he would be sometimes mistaken for a buyer maybe due to his laid back personality. However when it came to business, he was always there to ask sellers tough questions and negotiate what’s best for the buyer.
I call our house searches «adventures» as we actually enjoyed going through different neighborhoods in search of that «perfect» house (remember there’s no such thing as «perfect» house). With Seth, the house search was actually fun. I think we will miss our house search excursions a bit now that we bought the house with Seth.
If the idea of buying your next home scares you or the thought of dealing with intimidating real estate person makes you cringe, then you should definitely give Seth a call. He will make you feel at ease during the process and you will actually enjoy your house search. Also, drop the car and go on the bicycle. You’ll get the feel for the neighborhoods so much better, enjoy some fresh air and get some exercise. Maybe even go for a cold beer afterwards with Seth, just so you can check the local dive bar. It’s important to know it if you will live in that neighbored ;)

I called Seth after reading some good reviews, and everything was great from the start. He spent an hour talking with me, getting to know what I was looking for. We were really looking all over the city from Albany Park to Little Village, and he was happy to drive us around showing us different places.
Through the whole process of buying a house I realized that so many people in the business have assumptions about what you as a buyer want (ie air conditioning, dishwasher, granite countertops). We were looking for an older place with some charm that we could put a lot of work into, and Seth was not pushy at all about steering us in any other direction or making assumptions about what we wanted.
It was also great that I was able to call Seth at any time through the process with questions, day or night, and he always had time to talk. He was a great advocate on our behalf and in the end saved us a good amount of money by being savvy about the bidding process and even helped us negotiate a nice credit after our initial offer was accepted. I definitely recommend giving him a call if you are looking for a realtor.

Seth is not your typical real estate agent. He operates from a set of genuine values and is more interested in you as a person, and Chicago neighborhoods as communities, than he is in closing deals. My husband and I were looking for unique property with vague ideas about what that meant. We’re not typical Chicago condo-​dwellers and we needed space for projects and income property that fit our budget. Seth helped us articulate those needs and see possibility for them in spaces that we wouldn’t have otherwise considered, even as those needs changed over the months we were looking for space. Not only can he find hidden gems, but he walks you through every step of the emotional buying process with competence and compassion. He treats everyone else involved in the real estate process with total respect, which is critical when you’re looking at multi-​unit properties with tenants. (Did I mention Seth speaks fluent Spanish?) He connects with people on a real level, can easily weed out the genuine articles from the phonies (even when you can’t and you think you can), and is definitely someone you want on your team.

Seth was our real estate agent for purchasing a house in Chicago, IL. He came with a good recommendation from a close friend and didn’t disappoint.
He was very responsive, very flexible on showing times, and knows the city extremely well. Every listing he sent came with his opinion on the property (based on what we were looking for,) and he also sent detailed information about businesses in our area. (Restaurants, bars, grocery, parks, shopping, etc.) He was able to weigh in on neighborhood safety, and trends. Most importantly, he was looking out for our best interests. He was NEVER trying to make the quick sale!
I highly recommend Seth from Captain Realty if your are looking for homes/​buildings in Chicago. I cannot speak highly enough of his services.

Perhaps giving away one of my secret weapons is not a good idea, but for Seth’s sake, I’ll let the secret out. Seth Captain is the best thing that has happened to my real estate portfolio. Ever.
I reached out to Seth a few months ago while on a mission to find multi-​unit rental property in the Logan Square/​Humboldt Park area, and did so after reading some of his what seemed like exaggerated testimonials on his website. People were talking about him as if he were some sort of real estate saint (and if you have dealt with some of the realtors I have, you would be skeptical that such a person existed in this industry, too!). But, I had to find out if it was too good to be true for myself otherwise the thought would keep nagging me. I gave him a call and spoke to this laid-​back but highly knowledgable Chicago transplant for about 15 minutes about my situation, what I was looking for and why while he listened intently. Within a few hours I had multiple listings in my inbox that fit my description exactly.
It took us a few tries before we got the formula down just right, but Seth quickly brought me to the ideal property. And after we found the first place, he did it again! I now realize that those testimonials I read are not only true, but don’t even do him justice (nor does this one, actually).
I look forward to years to come working with Seth and thank the internet gods constantly for leading me to him.

Seth is a great buyer’s agent: forthright, responsive, and knowledgeable. He’s interested in making the right match between you and a property, not in making a quick sale. Is Seth about a quick buck? No, what he wants to do is plug you into a house you love, a neighborhood, and a community. He’s not going to help you flip that ugly condo. He’s not going to try to sell you that fake «loft» in the west loop. He’s going to find you a hidden gem in a real neighborhood. Then he’s going to help you buy it.
When Seth gets off his bicycle, takes off his helmet, and you look into his eyes, what will you see? You’ll see that he goes about his business with old-​school values, with honesty, integrity, and respect for his clients.
Seth will tell you himself that he’s not the right real estate agent for everybody. But maybe you’re not like everybody else. Maybe you’re looking for the right real estate agent for you. Maybe it’s Seth.

I found Seth’s add on craigslist in 2007 while I was thinking about buying a house and it really spoke to me. He didn’t sound like your typical real estate agent. He met me at a coffee shop near my house in Ukranian Village and talked to me about what to expect. He was very easy to talk to and answered all my question. We began the search for a multi-​unit building in a bunch of different neighborhoods.
At one point, he brought me to a 3 flat in Logan Square that he loved but I thought was too far and too much building for me. Turns out, he knew what I wanted better than I did. I ended up buying the building and couldn’t be happier. Now I live in the most popular neighborhood and I love my building. To think I original thought it was too far. I’m glad I listened to him.
The best part about working with Seth is that he was there for us through the whole process and after. He recommended great people for us to work with on our mortgage and inspection. And 4 years later, he is still my first call whenever I have a question about house stuff. He’s very knowledgeable and trustworthy. He’s the best!

I am 24 years old. Buying my first home at such a young age was incredibly nerve-​racking to say the least… I needed more than a real estate agent, I needed someone who would get to know me and what I wanted in my first house and someone I could trust. With Captain Realty, I got that and so much more!
I first met Seth on a cool summer evening at a foreclosed condo in Bucktown. Seth immediately started to calm my erratic feelings about making the leap into owning property. Seth asked probing questions to figure out what exactly attracted me to this condo… and I figured out that the truth was not much… I wanted space, a yard, a safe vibe outside, and a garage. Next thing I know, literally about two hours later, Seth had already found seven listings online that he wanted me to glance over! All of them were about 5 minutes away from the condo we had just saw. These properties were much more my style!
Seth took the time to get to know me as a person, what I was comfortable with, (and how much influence my girlfriend had on the place) and began to start finding me properties in which I could start seeing myself spending the next several years and starting a family. Our bike rides through the neighborhoods and real estate discussions really helped me get comfortable with buying a house, an investment, when so many of my friends were simply writing a check each month to a landlord.
Seth was with me each step of the process– from my opening questions, to the hunt, the inspection… all the way up to my first beverage as a homeowner!
The best part about the whole process was meeting someone who does his job simply because he loves real estate and loves being a part of such a huge event in his clients life! It is tough to find that in any professional today. Seth realizes that buying a house is not just a whimsical process in which he gets a paycheck– no, not at all. He realizes that buying a house is a commitment and an adventure. At the end of the day, he cares that you are happy with your new keys. And it was a blessing to make a new friend along the way.
Don’t settle for the flashy real estate companies popping up all over the north side. Take a bike ride with Captain Realty to find your future home reality.

I am not the kind of person who wants to work with someone focused on the bottom line, nor am I the kind of person who wanted to trust one of the largest decisions of my life to a bluetooth wearing suit. Mr. Captain not only does not the look like your stereotypical Realtor, his approach to the work breaks the conventional barriers set by his rigid, clandestine profession.
Working with Seth to find and buy my house was a truly rewarding process. After a conversation or two, we honed in on viewing properties that were exactly what I was looking for. He didn’t waste my time trying to up-​sell me or get into places that I have no interest in.
Looking for a property in Chicago can be tricky because the neighborhood plays a huge role in the decision. Seth is very tuned into neighborhoods and really knows how to show you the real picture. Each time we looked a property, we rode our bikes to each property, giving me the chance to learn about the neighborhood in a way that I wouldn’t have been able to by driving in and out.
The best part about Seth and Captain Realty is how thorough he is. When we would walk through a new building, Seth would get on his hands and knees in dirty basements to check out the foundation, crawl through windows to check out the roof, and show you the ugly side of each building. He is more focused on making sure you get a quality house that you like than getting his sale.
Seth is really a great guy. He has a reliable team of people who help him including a great inspector and attorney in case you don’t have your own. Seth chooses his clients just as much as they choose him.
Hunt for your house with Seth. He is a great guy and a breath of fresh air in a business that badly needs it!!!