40+
Years of Experience
Serving Lake County since 1985
Lead Broker & CEO · RE/MAX Suburban
Leslie McDonnell
Four decades of Lake County market knowledge. A reputation built on strategy, relationships, and results.
Leslie McDonnell is the Founder, Lead Broker, and CEO of The Leslie McDonnell Team at RE/MAX Suburban in Libertyville. Since 1985, she has helped thousands of buyers and sellers navigate changing markets across Lake County and Chicago's North Shore.
Her approach combines decades of local market knowledge with strategic pricing, elevated marketing, and skilled negotiation — supported by a full-service team that guides clients from the first conversation through closing.
Experience That Performs
Local knowledge.
Measured results.
“Numbers tell part of the story. The relationships tell the rest.”
Leslie's experience is street-level knowledge of Libertyville, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Lake Bluff, Vernon Hills, Deerfield, and surrounding communities — what buyers respond to, how homes should be positioned, and where value is created.
After more than four decades in real estate, she has worked through very different market cycles and thousands of individual transactions. That experience gives her clients context that goes beyond an automated valuation or a single comparable sale.
For sellers, that means thoughtful pricing, careful preparation, strong presentation, and experienced negotiation. For buyers, it means local perspective and direct guidance throughout the search, offer, inspection, and closing process.
And because Leslie works alongside a full-service team, clients receive both her experience and coordinated support throughout the transaction.
A Career Built in Lake County
Four decades of experience.
The numbers provide context for a career built one client and one transaction at a time.
6,400+
Homes Sold
Across four decades of practice
$3.7B+
Total Sales Volume
Across Leslie's real estate career
How Leslie Works
Strategy at every step.
Preparation, timing, market intelligence, and experienced advocacy — working together from the first decision through closing.
I
Pricing Precision
Market analysis informed by decades of Lake County transactions and an understanding of the differences between neighborhoods, streets, properties, and competing inventory.
II
Elevated Marketing
Professional presentation and strategic marketing built around the individual property rather than a one-size-fits-all listing plan.
III
Skilled Negotiation
Experienced representation focused not only on price, but also on terms, contingencies, timing, risk, and the priorities that matter to each client.
Backed By a Full-Service Team
Every client receives Leslie's direct guidance along with coordinated support from a team managing the details from preparation through closing.
A Record of Distinction
Recognition earned over time.
Leslie's career has brought recognition at both the local and national level.
#2 Lake County Listing Agent
Chicago Agent Magazine
Top 200 U.S. Real Estate Teams
The Wall Street Journal
2025 Top 500 Real Estate Agents in the U.S.
2025 Paramount of Excellence Award
RE/MAX Hall of Fame
RE/MAX Diamond Club & Pinnacle Award
More Than a Transaction
Experience matters. So do relationships.
After four decades in real estate, Leslie knows there is a story behind every move — a growing family, a new opportunity, a longtime home filled with history, or simply the feeling that it's time for something different.
Her job is to bring experience, perspective, and a clear strategy to that decision while making sure her clients feel informed and represented throughout the process.
Thinking About Selling?
Let's talk about your home.
If you're considering a move, Leslie can help you understand your home's position in today's market and what to consider before deciding when or how to sell.