Fulton Grace Realty Reviews 2024

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By Shannon Whyte Updated April 11, 2024

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Fulton Grace Realty is a legitimate full-service real estate brokerage that assists customers with selling, buying, property management, and renting. The company has one of the largest agent networks in Chicago, Illinois, as well as franchises in Arizona, Florida, and Wisconsin. You have plenty of top agents to select from, but it doesn’t offer commission savings like the best low commission companies do.

Our Fulton Grace Realty rating

Overall score4.3 🟢
Service value4.5 🟢
Customer experience4.0 🟢
Agent quality4.0 🟢
Brand power5.0 🟢
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Ratings are based on a 1–5 scale, with 5 being the best. Learn more about our methodology.

Fulton Grace Realty scored well across all ratings, earning a 4.3 overall score. It is a respected real estate company that has been recognized and featured in various national and local Chicago news sources.

Fulton Grace Realty is particularly well-known in the Chicago area, with recent reviews appreciating how well agents understood the fast-moving market. 

In the last 12 months, Fulton Grace Realty Chicago reviews were largely positive, with most reviewers expressing high satisfaction with their agent and services, especially those renting in the competitive Chicago market. While there were some Fulton Grace reviews indicating dissatisfaction with their agent or service quality, the company typically provided responses and offered to make things right when possible.  

» See how our Fulton Grace Realty review breaks down.

Is Fulton Grace Realty right for you?

Fulton Grace Realty could be right for you if you’re looking for comprehensive real estate services, including buying, selling, renting, or property management, especially in the Chicago area. This well-known company provides high-quality services, and the agents are experienced and knowledgeable.

But you may want to use an alternative company if you want to save on commission. While agents at Fulton Grace are experienced, you’ll want to interview any agent thoroughly before making your decision because it’s more important to choose an agent that fits you than a brand.

If you want to save on commissions, you can explore discount brokerages that offer full services similar to Fulton Grace Realty. You can compare options on your own or with a free service like Clever Real Estate. Clever vets partner agents, many from name-brand brokerages like Keller Williams and RE/MAX. Plus, it offers a low listing fee of 1.5%, which can lead to thousands of dollars in savings.

» Compare vetted realtors in your zip code who work for just a 1.5% listing fee.

Fulton Grace Realty vs. top low-cost alternatives

We recommend these companies as top low-cost alternatives to Fulton Grace Realty. All three can connect you with full-service agents and help you save on commission compared to the standard 2.5–3% listing fee.

Company
Listing Fee
Customer Rating
Availability
1.5%
Min. $3,000
5/5
3,100+ reviews
Nationwide
Find Agents
On listwithclever.com
Good agents, but limited choice
2%
Min. $3,000
4.9/5
7,000+ reviews
Nationwide
Good for comparing options, but no guaranteed savings
Varies
Avg. 2.2%
4.6/5
6,900+ reviews
Nationwide
Best overall

Clever Real Estate

Find Agents
On listwithclever.com
5.0
3,100+ reviews

Listing Fee

1.5%

Availability

Nationwide

Editor's take

Overview

Clever Real Estate is the best option for most sellers looking for an agent. The company matches you with multiple experienced, full-service agents so you can find the right fit, and it offers a low 1.5% listing fee no matter which agent you choose. Read our full Clever Real Estate review.

Pros

  • 1.5% listing fee (half the usual rate)
  • Guaranteed matches with top local agents
  • Large agent network; great selection compared to competitors

Cons

  • No guarantee you’ll get matched with a specific agent or brokerage
  • Add-ons like professional home staging and drone photography may cost extra

What it is: Clever Real Estate offers a lower commission without sacrificing quality. Through its free service, you can find top-rated agents in your area and sell for just a 1.5% listing fee (much lower than the average realtor commission rate).

How it works: You take a short online quiz (five questions) to help Clever understand your situation and preferences. Then Clever matches you with vetted, top-performing agents in your market who are a good fit, including realtors from major brands like Compass, Century 21, and Coldwell Banker. If you don’t like the agents Clever recommends, you can request more matches until you find the right fit — or simply walk away.

Customer reviews: 5/5 (3,180 reviews)

Better Business Bureau: 5/5 (91 reviews, accredited, A+ rating)
Google: 4.8/5 (303 reviews)
Trustpilot: 5/5 (2,786 reviews)

» Start comparing top agents
Good agents, but limited choice

Ideal Agent

Read Review
On listwithclever.com
4.7
7,000+ reviews

Listing Fee

2%

Availability

Nationwide

Editor's take

Overview

Ideal Agent is a solid option if you’re looking for a top agent. The company vets its realtors thoroughly, so you’ll likely get a quality agent. But you won't save as much on realtor fees as you could with other companies. Read our full Ideal Agent review.

Pros

  • Easy way to connect with top agents
  • Discounted 2% listing fee
  • Customer service has excellent reviews

Cons

  • You likely won't choose which agent you work with
  • Limited savings for sellers, none for buyers
  • Limited ability to manage listing online

What is it: Ideal Agent is a real estate brokerage that matches buyers and sellers with real estate agents.

How it works: Ideal Agent has strict performance criteria for the agents it lets into its network. This vetting process means you're more likely to be matched with a top agent, although it also means there are fewer agents overall to choose from.

Ideal Agent also has a cash buyer program where it solicits cash offers for your home from various investors.

Customer reviews: 4.9/5 (7,007 reviews)

Did you use Ideal Agent? Leave a review for the chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card.
Good for comparing options, but no guaranteed savings

UpNest

Read Review
On listwithclever.com
4.6
6,900+ reviews

Listing Fee

Varies

Availability

Nationwide

Editor's take

Overview

UpNest lets you choose from multiple vetted agents, so there’s a good chance you’ll find a realtor that fits your needs. But it falls short on savings and customer service. Read our full UpNest review.

Pros

  • User-friendly dashboard
  • You can choose from multiple agents
  • Agents bid for your business, which may lead to lower realtor fees

Cons

  • No guaranteed savings on realtor fees
  • Customers report problems with customer service
  • No clear agent vetting requirements

What it is: UpNest is an online platform that matches home sellers and buyers with local real estate agents from different brokerages.

How it works: When you sign up for UpNest, you’ll get proposals from multiple vetted agents, usually within a day. Each proposal includes the agent's fees and services. Agents are required to offer full service but set their own listing fee. You can request more agent matches or walk away anytime.

Customer reviews: 4.6/5 (6,934 total reviews)

» MORE: Want to compare more options? Check out our guide to the best low commission realtors and companies.

Fulton Grace Realty: Our in-depth review

Service value

📊 Our rating: 4.5/5

  • Essential listing services and pro photography
  • Social media, print, and email marketing plans
  • No drone photography
Show more

Like other full-service brokerages, Fulton Grace agents help buyers find listings, get pre-approved for mortgages, tour properties, and negotiate the best price.

Fulton Grace Realty gives sellers the services they need to sell their home. These include:

  • MLS listing and syndication across major real estate sites
  • Strategic pricing and CMA
  • Professional photography and home staging advice
  • Marketing materials, including sale signs, brochures, flyers
  • Social media, print, and email marketing
  • Open house planning and coordination

Agents from Fulton Grace Realty will likely charge a fixed commission for their services, in spite of what local competitive rates are. For a point of comparison, here are the averages for Illinois:

StateAvg. listing feeAvg. total commissionAvg. cost*
Illinois2.75%5.35%$14,100
Show more
*Based on the state's median home price on Zillow.

The company doesn’t appear to offer sellers aerial photography. While this isn’t essential, it can be a nice add-on — especially if you’re paying full price to work with a Fulton Grace agent.

» MORE: Average commission rates across the US

Customer experience

📊 Our rating: 4/5

  • Many renters felt their agent listened to what they needed and wanted
  • Many reviewers in the last year reported high-quality service from agents
  • Mixed reviews on property management services
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Fulton Grace Realty reviews are positive overall. The company has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars across 388 customer reviews on Google and the Better Business Bureau.

A closer inspection of Fulton Grace Realty reviews in the past 12 months revealed that most reviewers felt their agent was knowledgeable about the local market, responsive, and professional. However, reviewers were mixed regarding the property management services, with some frustrated by the lack of response or timely help. 

Fulton Grace Realty often responded respectfully and helpfully to many of the negative reviews, including offering refunds when appropriate.

✅ Agents genuinely listen to renters’ wants and needs

Several reviewers highlighted how well their agent listened to what they wanted and needed and answered all the customer’s questions. As a result, reviewers reported finding exactly what they were looking for.

Taylor B. wrote in May 2024 that their agent “listened to my wants and needs and set up tours at numerous buildings…[My agent] has a client first mindset, and I loved working with her!” 

Sonya K. had a similar experience in May 2024, stating their agent “genuinely listened to our wants and needs in a new place to live. We had a lot of questions and she handled them all with (Fulton) grace. We were able to find the perfect new apartment and are so excited to move in!”

This praise was found among a wide number of Fulton Grace Realty agents. Some reviewers also appreciated that their agent stayed focused on their needs and wants even when dealing with more difficult situations. 

For instance, Chole T. wrote in May 2024 that they felt their agent “really understood what I wanted and needed from a place. We had a short timeline and tricky radius to work with and [my agent] was realistic and helpful in all areas!”

✅ Many reviewers highlighted how professional, prompt, and knowledgeable agents were.

Many Fulton Grace Realty reviews in the last year focused on the high quality of service customers received. These reviewers felt their agents made the process less stressful, and they were pleased with the quality of communication and how well agents understood the local market.

For instance, Katherine W. in May 2024 was initially stressed because of the “bidding wars and how fast units were being picked up…We tried working with a couple other realtors from other companies and [my Fulton Grace Realty agent] was the most responsive and helpful by far! Truly impressive…He was able to keep us in our preferred neighborhood, price range, square footage, and style.” 

However, given the number of Fulton Grace Realty agents, there are a few negative reviews about the quality of service in the last year, but there were significantly more positive than negative reviews regarding agent service. We do recommend interviewing any agent before hiring them to make sure they fit your situation, communication style, and needs.

❌ Mixed reviews regarding the quality of property management services

Reviews regarding the property management services were mixed — with some reviewers having a great experience and others having trouble with communication and the quality of the service.

Dahlia F. in May 2023 wrote, “Do not get into any type of tenant relationship with this management company…They do the minimum required by law and could care less if you have a nice home.”

But Ashish M. in May 2023 wrote, “Fantastic property management and real estate company. Took great care of my condo for 8 years then helped me to sell for a great price!”

❌ Mixed reviews on office returning phone calls

While many reviewers reported replies were prompt, there were several reviews in the last year stating that the office was slow to call back, and in some cases, didn’t return calls. This situation also contributed to some issues with reviewers missing showings or their agent not showing.

Nanci M. wrote in May 2023 that “they do not return calls…It has made my daughter’s first apartment rental a miserable experience.”

Ben K. in May 2023 wrote, “Scheduled a viewing of one of their properties using Rently. We showed up and couldn’t find anyone. Called the number listed and got a full voice mailbox.”

Agent quality

The agent team at Fulton Grace Realty appears strong. The average number of years working as a realtor is 16 years — double the industry median. We always recommend interviewing individual agents. Ask how long they’ve been a realtor and what differentiates them from other agents in Chicago.

» MORE: How to choose a good seller's agent | How to choose a good buyer's agent

Brand reach and visibility

📊 Our rating: 5/5

  • Well-known brand
  • Dense coverage of Chicago
  • Strong online presence and web traffic
Show more

Fulton Grace Realty’s brand power is excellent compared with other brokerages in Chicago, like Baird & Warner.

Its market coverage is exceptionally strong, with six offices across the Northside of Chicago and 350 agents representing over 11,000 active rental listings and over 3,000 homes for sale in the city limits. There are also thousands of active listings spanning Illinois, including Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur, Galena, Gurnee, and Naperville.

According to our analytics tool, more than 11,000 people search "fulton grace realty" and other branded terms online each month, while the website gets roughly 30,200 visits. That’s much higher than what we’ve seen for regional brokerages of the same size.

What is Fulton Grace Realty?

Fulton Grace Realty is a full-service real estate brokerage based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 2008, the company has six main offices staffed with over 350 agents, all of whom provide essential services to buyers and sellers in Chicagoland. Fulton Grace Realty has grown rapidly to become one of Chicago’s leading real estate brokerages.

Additionally, Fulton Grace Realty has expanded into parts of Arizona, Florida, and Wisconsin.

General contact info (corporate office)
📍 Address1400 N Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
☎️ Phone(773) 698-6648
📱 Social mediaFacebook
X (Twitter)
Instagram
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Fulton Grace Realty local offices and contact information

Wicker Park (main office)
1400 N Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
North Center
4141 N Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60618
West Town
1448 N Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
Lakeview
2901 N Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60657
Gurnee
5101 Washington St., Ste. 24
Gurnee, IL 60031
Evanston
812 Davis St.
Evanston, 60201
Show more

Other Fulton Grace Realty services

In addition to its buying and selling traditional agent services, Fulton Grace Realty also offers:

  • Assistance with finding a place to rent
  • Non-exclusive property leasing services, including listing your rental property, conducting showings, and assisting with lease paperwork
  • Fulton Grace property management services, including an online rent payment system, move-in and move-out inspections, and expert maintenance

Fulton Grace Realty also partners with RenovationSells.com, providing services to renovate now and pay later.

Next step: Start interviewing agents

We recommend interviewing multiple agents (ideally 2–3) to ensure you get the best fit and value.

You can start comparing top local agents here. These agents are vetted for experience, successful transactions, and customer reviews. They also provide full service for a 1.5% listing fee instead of the typical 3%.

Find the best agent and rate near you
  • Answer 5 simple questions about your sale
  • Get matched with 2 to 3 top local agents in minutes
  • Choose the best fit and save up to 50% on listing fees

Methodology

We create a score for each traditional real estate brokerage based on four core criteria:

  • Service value
  • Customer experience
  • Agent quality
  • Brand power

Service value

Service: We evaluate whether the company provides standard full service, including a home valuation, staging advice, professional photography, MLS listing, open house management, negotiations, and help with paperwork. We also look at the quality of active and past listings (photos, listing descriptions, etc.) to see whether the company follows established best practices.

Cost: We determine whether the company charges market rates for commission (~2.5–3% listing fees) and whether customers get little or a lot of value for the fee.

Customer experience

Customer review analysis: We perform an in-depth analysis of recent customer reviews to determine trends and filter out spam reviews.

Agent quality

Overall agent team: We evaluate the chances of getting a solid realtor who will meet different needs, preferences, and availability.

Experience: We examine the entire team's average experience based on public agent data on sites like Realtor.com and Zillow. We also compare the average annual transactions per agent, sourced from RealTrends or brokerage-provided data, with the industry average.

Selection: We determine the total number of agents versus offices to gauge how wide the selection is.

Brand power

We evaluate overall brand power to see if the company can get more eyes on your listings, more showings, and quicker offers.

Social media presence: We consider the company's presence across all major consumer-facing social platforms (Facebook, X, and Instagram).

Online audience size: We determine the size of the company's online audience through web traffic volume and monthly Google searches for the brand name.

Marketing reach: We look at the company's listings on all major MLSs and populator listing sites like Zillow and Realtor.com.

Authors & Editorial History

Our experts continually research, evaluate, and monitor real estate companies and industry trends. We update our articles when new information becomes available.

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