Leave a Message

Thank you for your message. We will be in touch with you shortly.

Northwest Suburban Chicago Realtor — Mari Van Meter

Clear Guidance for Buying, Selling & Life’s Changing Chapters

Buying or selling a home is a big decision, and sometimes it comes with something bigger happening in your life.


I help buyers and homeowners throughout Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs understand their options, make confident real estate decisions, and navigate moves such as relocation, downsizing, divorce, or a first home with clarity and care.



Serving Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Palatine, Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Wood Dale and nearby communities throughout Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs.

Local Experience. Professional Guidance.

I’ve been serving buyers and sellers throughout Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs since 2021, with experience ranging from first purchases and traditional home sales to moves involving downsizing, relocation, divorce, and other major life changes.

My job is to help you understand what matters, what can wait, and what deserves a closer look so you can make decisions with more confidence and less noise.

Professional Recognition & Credentials

  • #5 Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices American Heritage Real Estate, 2025

  • BHHS Leading Edge Award Recipient, 2025

  • Best in Real Estate Award Recipient, 2024 & 2025

  • Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS® DEI Committee Vice-Chair Appointee, 2026–2027

  • C2EX — Commitment to Excellence

  • ABR® — Accredited Buyer’s Representative

  • SRES® — Seniors Real Estate Specialist

  • PSA — Pricing Strategy Advisor

  • CNE — Certified Negotiation Expert

  • Serving clients since 2021

Illinois Real Estate License: 475.198632

Start With What You Need

Every move starts in a different place. Whether you’re buying, selling, or working through a bigger life change, start with the path that fits what you need right now.

I'm Thinking About Buying a Home

I'm Thinking About Buying a Home

Understand the market, compare communities, and make confident decisions without feeling rushed.

I'm Thinking About Selling a Home

I'm Thinking About Selling a Home

Prepare, price, and market your home with a clear strategy built around your goals.

I'm Navigating a Life Transition

I'm Navigating a Life Transition

Get thoughtful real estate guidance during divorce, downsizing, relocation, estate changes, or another major life shift.

Thinking About Selling a Home in the Northwest Suburbs?

Selling well starts before the listing goes live.

The strongest results usually come from making thoughtful decisions about pricing, preparation, repairs, timing, marketing, and negotiation before buyers ever walk through the door.

I look at the home itself, current competition, recent sales, buyer behavior, condition, updates, and the specific Northwest Suburban market before recommending what to do next.

That may mean making a repair, changing a price strategy, improving presentation, or deciding something simply isn’t worth doing.

Thoughtful pricing. Strategic preparation. Marketing built around the property.

A Move is Rarely Just About The House

Sometimes a move is simply the next home.

Other times, it comes with something much bigger: a divorce, downsizing, relocation, estate change, financial shift, or another major transition.

Those moves often involve more decisions, more people, more emotion, and more moving parts.

I bring calm structure to complicated decisions. That means clear communication, practical guidance, honest conversations, and helping you understand what needs attention now and what can wait.

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start.

What Clients Say

Good real estate guidance should feel clear, responsive, and personal. Here’s what past clients have shared about working with me.

Find Your Place in the Northwest Suburbs

Explore local housing, neighborhoods, commuting, taxes, schools, parks, and community resources for the Northwest Suburbs I know and serve.

main

You Don’t Need to Have Everything Figured Out

Tell me what's changing, what questions you have, and where you feel unsure.

We can talk through your options and identify a practical next step together.

Rooted in the Northwest Suburbs

I don’t just work in Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs. I’m actively involved in the communities I serve.

From nonprofit leadership and neighborhood involvement to local business connections, sponsorships, creative community events, and volunteer work, showing up locally is an important part of my life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. I’m a residential Realtor serving Arlington Heights and Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs, including Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Wheeling, Mount Prospect, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, and nearby communities.

I help clients buy and sell homes, understand local market conditions, relocate, downsize, and navigate moves connected to major life transitions.

Yes. I help Northwest Suburban homeowners build a selling strategy around their specific home, goals, timing, and current market conditions.

We look at pricing, preparation, what may or may not be worth fixing, marketing, buyer response, offers, negotiation, and the steps from listing through closing.

Learn About Selling Your Home

Yes. I provide step-by-step guidance for buyers and a thoughtful, customized marketing and preparation plan for sellers. I also work with clients who need to sell one home and purchase another, helping coordinate both sides of the transition.

Yes. Many of the moves I help with involve more than a real estate transaction.

I work with clients navigating downsizing, relocation, divorce, estate changes, loss, changing household needs, and other transitions where the timing and decisions may feel more complicated.

My role is to help organize the real estate side of the move, explain the options clearly, and help you decide what makes sense next.

Life Transition Resources

I work with buyers, sellers, first-time homeowners, longtime homeowners, and people navigating major life transitions. This may include downsizing, relocating, buying a first home, selling after a loss, combining households, or helping family members manage a move.

Every listing receives a customized pricing, preparation, and marketing strategy. Depending on the property, this may include staging guidance, professional photography, digital marketing, open houses, buyer feedback, negotiation support, and a home warranty that protects the home during the listing and can transfer to the buyer for one year.

My approach combines real estate expertise with clear communication, organization, and personal guidance. I take the time to explain what is happening, prepare you for each step, and help you make informed decisions without pressure. My goal is for you to feel supported, prepared, and confident throughout the process.

Clear and consistent communication is one of the most important parts of my service. We will discuss how you prefer to communicate and how often you would like updates. You will always know what is happening, what comes next, and when a decision is needed.

I have been serving real estate clients since 2021. I am an award-winning, top-producing agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices American Heritage Real Estate and hold several professional designations, including ABR®, SRES®, PSA, CNE, and C2EX.

The first step is a relaxed conversation about your plans, questions, and timing. You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out. We can talk through your options and determine the next steps that make the most sense for you.