If you've been reading The Weekly Welcome for a while, you know me as the person breaking down Lake County's housing market every week. But you might not know how I got here — so here's the fuller story.
From Burbank to Libertyville
Before real estate, I spent years in the music industry, working out of a recording studio in Burbank, California, where I collaborated with Grammy-nominated artists as a guitarist, songwriter, engineer, and producer. It wasn't real estate — but it taught me something that shows up in every transaction I run today: how to actually listen. Producing a record means hearing what an artist is going for, even when they can't quite articulate it yet, and helping them get there. Buying or selling a home isn't so different.
I made the move into real estate on Valentine's Day, 2011, and I've been serving Lake County, Illinois ever since — going on 15+ years now.
What I Do Today
I'm a REALTOR® and Designated Managing Broker with Keller Williams North Shore West, based at 350 N Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, IL (IL License #471.020008). I hold the ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative), GREEN, CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert), e-PRO, and PSA (Pricing Strategy Advisor) designations, and I work across Lake County — with the heaviest focus in Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Grayslake, Round Lake, Wadsworth, Gurnee, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Antioch, and Ingleside.
Outside of real estate, I'm a dad first — family's the thing everything else gets built around. When I'm not working, I'm usually cooking something vegetarian or out for a run.
Why I Write The Weekly Welcome
Most real estate content is either a sales pitch or too dry to finish reading. I started The Weekly Welcome to do something different: give Lake County homeowners, buyers, and the simply curious a no-fluff, genuinely useful read on what's actually happening in this market — almost 1,000 local subscribers get it every week.
If you've got a question about your home or the local market, there's no pressure and no sales pitch. Hit reply on any newsletter — I read every response.
Quick Facts
Who is Michael Steber?
Michael Steber is a REALTOR® and Designated Managing Broker with Keller Williams North Shore West in Libertyville, Illinois, serving Lake County since 2011.
What areas does Michael Steber serve?
Primarily Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Grayslake, Round Lake, Wadsworth, Gurnee, Lake Villa, Lindenhurst, Antioch, and Ingleside, along with the broader Lake County, Illinois market.
What designations does Michael hold?
ABR (Accredited Buyer's Representative), GREEN, CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert), e-PRO, and PSA (Pricing Strategy Advisor).
Let's Have That Conversation
If you're thinking about buying or selling anywhere in Lake County, I'd genuinely like to hear about it — no pressure, no script. That's basically the whole philosophy behind The Weekly Welcome and everything else I do here.
I also back every client relationship with three concrete guarantees:
Home Buyer Protection Plan — if you're not satisfied with your purchase within the first year, I'll sell it and waive my listing-side brokerage fee, provided you buy your next home with me.
Easy Exit Guarantee — as a seller, you can cancel our listing agreement at any time before receiving an offer. No penalties, no obligations.
Community Guarantee — every home I help buy or sell contributes a portion of my commission to the Northern Illinois Food Bank's fight against hunger.
Follow Along
I post day-to-day market updates and behind-the-scenes stuff outside the newsletter too — find me on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
About Michael Steber
Michael is a licensed REALTOR® and Designated Managing Broker with Keller Williams North Shore West, working exclusively with buyers and sellers across Lake County, Illinois. He writes The Weekly Welcome, a newsletter on local real estate, homeownership, and the occasional thing that has nothing to do with either.
Michael and The Weekly Welcome serve homeowners and buyers across Grayslake, Libertyville, Gurnee, Winthrop Harbor, Wadsworth, Round Lake, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, North Chicago, Waukegan, Zion, and surrounding Lake County communities.