ABOUT US

Ongena Group

In 2010, Jim Ongena joined @properties.

In less than three years, Jim became one of the Top Producers of the Chicago Association of Realtors. The following year he created Ongena Group, setting out to achieve his next realtor milestone: joining the Top 1% of Chicagoland realtors.

One of Jim’s passions is client education, even if that means presenting hard truths about real estate facts, be they from historical data, construction quality, current fads and trends, or the always discussed unknowns within the real estate industry. These topics are extremely important, prior to purchase, because they are the key points that will give one the ability to resell when that time arises.

Jim returned home to Chicago in 1998 and has planted permanent roots. He now lives with his growing family in the Southport Corridor neighborhood within Lakeview.

Jim Ongena

About @properties

Established in 2000, @properties was built around a simple but elusive concept: provide brokers and clients with the highest level of service in the industry through cutting-edge sales and marketing programs and a culture that values innovation, relationships, and a strong local focus.

In less than ten years, @properties became the #1 brokerage firm in Chicago. Today, @properties is one of the top eleven residential brokers in the U.S. by sales volume and the second largest brokerage firm on Chicago’s North Shore.

As a locally-owned company, @properties is deeply committed to supporting the communities and clients we serve. We are constantly evolving, but we remain focused on that one simple idea behind our founding.

Meet our Founders

Michael Golden is co-founder of Chicago-based @properties, a full-service real estate company that is the No. 1 residential broker in the city of Chicago, the second largest brokerage firm in Illinois and the 11th largest broker in the United States.

Golden grew up in the Boston area and graduated from Bates College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and economics. He began his professional career in Chicago in the early 1990s as a human-resources consultant to Fortune 500 companies. In 1995, Golden started selling real estate part-time and within three years had become the top-producing REALTOR® in the City of Chicago.

In 2000, Golden and fellow broker, Thaddeus Wong, established @properties. Over the past 16 years, the company has successfully completed more than 55,000 real estate transactions valued at over $32 billion. Today, @properties has more than 2,000 licensed real estate brokers in 15 offices in the city, surrounding suburbs, Southwest Michigan, and Lake Geneva, Wisc.

Golden is also one of the most trusted advisors to developers, investors and institutions managing large-scale residential real estate developments. He has led the sales and marketing programs for more than 100 new-construction projects and condominium conversions from small neighborhood developments to 350-unit high-rises.

He has also guided the firm’s expansion into commercial sales and leasing, commercial and residential property management, and institutional/bank-advisory services.

In 2010, Golden and Wong established @gives back, a 501(c)3, which raises money for local charitable organizations. Past and present beneficiaries include: Keith Relief, Noah's Arc Foundation, Teen Living Programs, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship, Street Level, the Lincoln Park Community Shelter and Deborah’s Place. Golden also sits on the board of directors of Maryville Academy, a childcare organization for families and children in need.

Golden is a past president of the Chicago Association of Realtors, and was honored as the 2011 CAR REALTOR® of the Year. He and Wong have received numerous honors including: the 2013 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award – Midwest; recognition on the “Inc. 500/5000” list of the fastest growing companies in America; Crain’s Chicago Business “Fast Fifty” list of the fastest growing companies in Chicago; induction into the Chicago Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame; and the Impact Award from the Lincoln Park Builders Club.

Golden lives in Winnetka, Ill., with his wife, Kelly, also a successful entrepreneur, and their three children.

Michael Golden

Thaddeus Wong is the co-founder of @properties, the largest independently owned residential real estate brokerage firm in Illinois and one of the 11 largest brokerage firms in the U.S. by sales volume.

Wong began selling real estate in the mid 1990s and quickly established himself as one of the top selling brokers in the city of Chicago. During the early years of his career, he earned four consecutive Golden Eagle Awards from the Chicago Association of REALTORS® as the top-producing broker among the organization’s 10,000+ members.

In 2000 Wong and business partner Michael Golden established @properties, and in 16 years have grown the company from $40 million in sales to over $7 billion in annual sales. Today, @properties has 23 offices in the city of Chicago, surrounding suburbs, southwest Michigan and southeast Wisconsin. The firm has divisions for residential and commercial brokerage, development marketing, relocation, property management and institutional-advisory services.

A highly energetic and creative entrepreneur, Wong is focused on implementing his vision for a real estate company in which both the broker and client experience the highest level of service and support. He is primarily responsible for the recruitment and retention of @properties’ more than 2,000 brokers, as well as the development and implementation of the firm’s award-winning marketing programs. Wong also created and oversees the company’s signature training, education and performance-coaching programs utilized by hundreds of brokers per year.

Wong is also one of the industry’s most valued advisers to developers of new-construction and condominium conversion projects in the Chicago area. He takes an active role in all facets of his clients’ projects, including design, promotion and sales. Under Wong's direction and leadership, @properties has successfully marketed more than 100 developments representing more than 5,500 units valued at over $2.6 billion.

Wong’s accomplishments have been widely recognized by the real estate industry and the broader business community. Honors include: the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Midwest; Inc. Magazine’s “Inc. 500/5000” list; inclusion on Crain’s Chicago Business’ “Fast Fifty,” “40 Under 40,” and “Largest Privately Held Companies” lists; Inman News’ “100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders”; induction in the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame; the Impact Award from the Lincoln Park Builders Club; and the Damen Award from the Loyola University of Chicago School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Wong and @properties support a number of charitable and civic organizations through @gives back, a 501(c)3. Past and present beneficiaries include: Keith Relief, Noah's Arc Foundation, Teen Living Programs, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Off The Street Club, and Community Partnership for Affordable Housing.

Separately, Wong sits on the board of the Chicago Police Foundation and the Chicago Children’s Museum. He is also a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation, and co-chairs the annual Beelzebub Halloween Bash and Fundraiser.

Wong resides in Lincoln Park with his wife, also a successful REALTOR®, and their four children.

Thaddeus Wong