Option Premier August 2026 Sales Recap: The Cory Tanzer Group and Brokerage Close Across Chicagoland

The Option Premier August 2026 sales recap covers 17 transactions totaling over $5 million in closed purchase and sale volume across Chicago neighborhoods and the surrounding suburbs. Led by The Cory Tanzer Group and supported by the broader Option Premier brokerage, August demonstrated the team's reach from University Commons condos to Wheaton single-family homes.

What Option Premier Closed in August 2026

August was a productive month for the full Option Premier brokerage. Across 15 purchase and sale closings plus 2 rental transactions, the team represented buyers, sellers, landlords, and renters throughout Chicagoland. Total closed purchase and sale volume came in at $5,088,110.

The Cory Tanzer Group drove a significant portion of that volume, particularly in the University Commons and University Village corridors along West 15th Street. Cory Tanzer personally closed four University Commons units, with sale prices ranging from $305,000 to $568,000. One of those, the unit at 1000 W 15th St Unit 328, was notable: Cory represented both the seller and the buyer on the same $568,000 transaction, reflecting his deep familiarity with the building and his trusted standing with clients on both sides of the table.

Other University Commons closings by Cory included:

• 1069 W 14th Pl Unit 332 at $525,000 (seller side)

• 1071 W 15th St Unit 314 at $305,000 (seller side)

• 1150 W 15th St Unit 238 at $410,000 (seller side)

Cory also closed 811 W 15th Pl Unit 804 in University Village at $292,000 on the seller side. His positioning as the neighborhood specialist in this pocket of Chicago's Near West Side continues to be one of the brokerage's strongest differentiators.

Neighborhood Breakdown: South Loop, Suburbs, and Beyond

While University Commons dominated the volume count, August closings stretched well beyond that corridor.

South Loop contributed three purchase closings:

• 1255 S State St Unit 1213 at $262,000, where Cynthia Covian-Hernandez represented the buyer

• 1720 S Michigan Ave Unit 2404 at $262,000, with Dream Irby on the buyer side

• 100 E 14th St Unit 1808 at $340,000, with Rick Coppola representing the buyer

Jamie Jordan also secured a South Loop rental at 1 E 8th St Unit 405, placing a renter at $3,050 per month.

Suburban activity was equally strong. Kurt Holland closed a buyer-side transaction at 2910 Worcester Ln in Aurora for $425,000. Valerie Sangermano represented the seller at 1482 Stonebridge Cir Unit C-6 in Wheaton at $236,000. Dream Irby handled two additional buyer-side closings: 17936 Hickory St in Lansing at $144,900 and 664 E 142nd St in Dolton at $140,000.

Serena Phillips-Dunn, Option Premier's Chief Operating Officer and Team Lead, represented the buyer at 11659 S Ada St in West Pullman, closing at $277,500. Brian Caron closed a buyer-side deal at 4060 N Melvina Ave in Dunning for $500,710.

Gretchen Ashley, an Option Premier broker, closed the seller side at 1454 Sedona Avenue in Aurora for $400,000. Gretchen is part of the Option Premier brokerage but operates independently of The Cory Tanzer Group. Her Aurora closing is included in the overall brokerage volume.

Cory Tanzer also represented the landlord at 1109 W 16th St Unit 1 in Pilsen, placing a tenant at $4,400 per month.

Things to Know

• The Cory Tanzer Group operates under Option Premier LLC, which is based at 1021 W Adams St, Suite 200-300, Chicago, IL 60607.

• Gretchen Ashley is an Option Premier broker but is not affiliated with The Cory Tanzer Group. Her $400,000 Aurora closing is counted in overall brokerage totals only.

• Cory Tanzer's double-sided closing at 1000 W 15th St Unit 328 appears once as a property but represents two transaction sides.

• Rental transactions are tracked separately from purchase closings. August included 2 rentals: one in Pilsen and one in South Loop.

• Dream Irby had the highest individual transaction count for a single agent in August, closing three buyer-side deals across South Loop, Lansing, and Dolton.

For buyers curious about how Chicago's condo market works or what to expect when buying in a specific neighborhood, the blogs section on optionpremier.com covers a wide range of topics from financing to building-level market data.

Who Drove the August Volume

To recap the key contributors across Option Premier's August 2026 sales recap:

• Cory Tanzer: 5 purchase/sale closings + 1 rental (University Commons, University Village, Pilsen)

• Dream Irby: 3 purchase closings (South Loop, Lansing, Dolton)

• Brian Caron: 1 purchase closing (Dunning, $500,710)

• Kurt Holland: 1 purchase closing (Aurora, $425,000)

• Cynthia Covian-Hernandez: 1 purchase closing (South Loop)

• Rick Coppola: 1 purchase closing (South Loop)

• Valerie Sangermano: 1 sale closing (Wheaton)

• Serena Phillips-Dunn: 1 purchase closing (West Pullman)

• Gretchen Ashley: 1 sale closing (Aurora, Option Premier only)

• Jamie Jordan: 1 rental (South Loop)

According to the National Association of Realtors, summer months typically see elevated transaction volume in Midwest markets, and August 2026 was consistent with that pattern for the Chicago metro area. The Illinois Realtors association also tracks monthly closed sales data statewide for added market context. For buyers considering financing before their next purchase, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau mortgage resources offer guidance on loan options and qualification steps.

Find Out What Your Home Is Worth Before the Fall Market Heats Up

If August's activity has you thinking about selling or buying before the end of the year, now is the time to get clarity on your property's value. The Chicago market moves quickly, and pricing your home correctly from day one is the single most important factor in maximizing your sale price. Use our free home valuation tool to get a data-backed estimate in minutes, then connect with our team to build a strategy tailored to your neighborhood.