The Star Home Team has officially surpassed 4,000 closed real estate sales. As of August 31, 2026, Zillow reports 4,033 total sales for Jim Starwalt and The Star Home Team and specifically notes that its sales figures represent all team members. It is an important milestone built over decades of helping buyers and sellers throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
More Than 4,000 Closed Properties
Four thousand real estate closings is a number that is difficult for us to put into perspective.
Every transaction is different.
Some represented someone's first home. Others involved selling a longtime family property, moving into a larger home, downsizing, relocating, purchasing an investment property or simply beginning a new chapter somewhere else.
Together, they now add up to more than 4,000 closed real estate sales.
The milestone is also independently visible on our Zillow profile. Zillow currently reports 4,033 total team sales, along with 390 sales during the previous 12 months.
For us, the most important part of reaching 4,000 is not the number itself.
It is the experience represented by those transactions.
How Many Properties Has The Star Home Team Sold?
As of August 31, 2026, Zillow reports 4,033 total sales for Jim Starwalt and The Star Home Team.
Importantly, Zillow labels these as team sales and states that the sales numbers represent all team members. The Zillow profile also lists 43 members of The Star Home Team.
That means we can now officially say:
The Star Home Team has closed more than 4,000 real estate sales.
It is a milestone that reflects the combined work of many real estate professionals and support staff over many years.
Readers who want to know more about the people behind those transactions can meet The Star Home Team.
Building Real Estate Experience Since 1998
Jim and Susan Starwalt entered real estate in 1998.
Since then, nearly every aspect of the industry has evolved.
Consumers once relied heavily on newspaper advertising, printed property books and their real estate agent to discover homes for sale. Today, buyers can begin searching from their phones, explore interactive floor plans, watch property videos and receive new-listing notifications almost instantly.
Marketing has changed.
Technology has changed.
Mortgage environments have changed.
Housing markets have cycled from buyer-favorable conditions to intense seller markets and back again.
But the fundamentals of helping someone buy or sell real estate remain remarkably consistent.
Listen carefully.
Understand the client's goals.
Know the local market.
Communicate.
Identify potential problems.
Explain available options.
Help the client make informed decisions.
That experience has accumulated one transaction at a time since 1998.
You can learn more about The Star Home Team and how our organization has developed over the years.
What Can More Than 4,000 Transactions Teach a Real Estate Team?
Experience does not mean that every transaction becomes predictable.
In many ways, it teaches the opposite.
No two clients, properties or transactions are exactly alike.
Over thousands of sales, our agents have encountered different property types, inspection findings, appraisal situations, negotiations, financing challenges, closing timelines and market conditions.
That experience helps reinforce several principles.
Good communication matters.
Local market knowledge matters.
Details matter.
Timing matters.
And asking the right questions early can sometimes prevent much larger problems later.
Experience also teaches humility.
A real estate transaction may be one of thousands an experienced organization has participated in, but it may be one of the most significant financial and personal decisions a particular client makes.
We never want to lose sight of that difference.
Local Experience Across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin
The Star Home Team serves buyers and sellers throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, with significant activity across Lake County, McHenry County, Kenosha County and surrounding communities.
Our service area includes communities such as Grayslake, Gurnee, Lake Villa, Antioch, Fox Lake, Round Lake, Lindenhurst, McHenry and the Chain O'Lakes region, as well as Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie and other Southern Wisconsin communities.
Working throughout the region has taught us another important real estate lesson:
Real estate is intensely local.
Two homes several miles apart can be affected by different inventory levels, property characteristics, tax structures, buyer demand and competition.
Even within a single community, conditions can vary significantly between price ranges and property types.
That is why national housing headlines alone rarely tell a buyer or seller everything they need to know about their particular situation.
4,000 Sales Represent an Entire Team
The name The Star Home Team is intentional.
These 4,000-plus transactions were not completed by one person.
Today, our organization includes real estate agents, managing brokers and a staff providing support in areas including listings, transactions, marketing, technology, lead management, administration and field services.
Our agents remain the primary relationship with their clients.
Behind those agents, however, is an infrastructure designed to support them.
A listing may involve photography, marketing, online exposure, showing coordination, communication, transaction details and numerous deadlines before the closing is complete.
Our staff does not replace the client's relationship with an agent. It helps support the agent who is serving that client.
You can meet some of the staff supporting our real estate agents and learn more about how that structure works.
Zillow Shows More Than Sales
The 4,033-sales figure is an important third-party validation of our milestone, but Zillow currently provides several other indicators of the team's activity.
As of August 31, the profile reports:
4,033 total team sales
390 sales during the last 12 months
477 team reviews
4.9 overall rating
43 team members
Zillow states that both its team sales and team reviews represent all team members.
For prospective buyers and sellers researching a real estate professional, we believe transaction history and client feedback can both provide helpful context.
Neither replaces a conversation with the agent you are considering, but they can help consumers make a more informed comparison.
The Star Home Team's Recent Production Is Also RealTrends Verified
Our 4,000-plus figure reflects many years of transactions.
Our recent production has also been independently recognized.
RealTrends Verified reports that The Star Home Team completed 389.3 transaction sides and $142.09 million in sales volume based on 2025 production.
According to the 2026 RealTrends Verified rankings, The Star Home Team ranked:
#1 in Grayslake by transaction sides
#1 in Grayslake by sales volume
#3 in Illinois by transaction sides
#5 in Illinois by sales volume
among Mega Teams.
You can read more about our 2026 RealTrends Verified recognition.
We appreciate awards and rankings, but we view them primarily as another measure of the work our agents are doing for clients.
What Does 4,000+ Sales Mean for Someone Selling a Home?
Experience becomes valuable long before a home reaches the closing table.
A seller needs to make decisions about pricing, preparation, repairs, photography, marketing, showing strategy and timing.
Then an offer arrives and another series of decisions begins.
Is the price competitive?
How strong is the financing?
What contingencies are included?
What closing date is being proposed?
How do the terms compare with the seller's goals?
Once a contract is accepted, inspections, financing, appraisal, attorney review when applicable and closing preparation can introduce additional questions.
Having a real estate professional backed by an established organization can provide useful perspective throughout those stages.
If you are considering selling a home in Northern Illinois or Southern Wisconsin, understanding your property's specific local market is a good place to begin.
What Does 4,000+ Sales Mean for a Home Buyer?
Buyers encounter a different set of decisions.
What communities should they consider?
How much competition exists for a particular property?
How does one home's value compare with another?
What should they consider when preparing an offer?
What happens after the seller accepts?
Experienced representation can help buyers understand each stage rather than simply focusing on finding listings online.
This can be particularly useful for first-time buyers or people relocating to Northern Illinois or Southern Wisconsin who may be unfamiliar with local communities and real estate practices.
Experience Should Lead to Better Questions, Not a One-Size-Fits-All Approach
One lesson becomes increasingly clear after thousands of transactions:
There is rarely one real estate strategy that works for everyone.
A seller who needs to move quickly may need a different plan from someone with complete flexibility.
Someone selling a waterfront home near the Chain O'Lakes may face different considerations from an owner selling a condominium.
A first-time buyer may need a different level of explanation than someone purchasing their fifth property.
A buyer moving from Illinois to Wisconsin may have questions that are different from those of someone moving within the same community.
Experience provides a larger foundation from which to evaluate those differences.
The Star Home Team's Perspective
Passing 4,000 sales is a milestone we are extremely proud to reach.
But what makes the number meaningful are the individual transactions behind it.
Each represented someone trusting a member of our organization during an important transition.
Some clients have returned years later for another move. Others have introduced us to friends, relatives, neighbors and coworkers.
Those relationships helped a business that began with Jim and Susan entering real estate in 1998 grow into The Star Home Team of today.
We are grateful to our clients, agents, staff, partners and communities for being part of that history.
And while 4,033 is worth celebrating, we are already working on the next closing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many homes has The Star Home Team sold?
Zillow currently reports 4,033 total sales for Jim Starwalt and The Star Home Team as of August 31, 2026. Zillow specifically identifies these as team sales and states that the sales figures represent all team members.
Has The Star Home Team really sold more than 4,000 properties?
Yes. Zillow now publicly reports 4,033 total team sales for Jim Starwalt and The Star Home Team. The profile also separates those sold transactions from properties currently listed for sale or rent, making the 4,033 figure specifically the team's total sales count.
How long has The Star Home Team been in real estate?
Jim and Susan Starwalt entered the real estate business in 1998. The organization has since developed into The Star Home Team at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Star Homes, serving buyers and sellers across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
Where does The Star Home Team sell real estate?
The Star Home Team serves Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, including communities throughout Lake County, McHenry County, Kenosha County and surrounding areas. Examples include Grayslake, Gurnee, Lake Villa, Antioch, Fox Lake, McHenry, the Chain O'Lakes area, Kenosha and nearby communities.
Does The Star Home Team work with buyers and sellers?
Yes. The Star Home Team works with buyers and sellers, including first-time buyers, repeat homeowners, people relocating, sellers preparing for their next move and clients purchasing a variety of residential property types.
How many reviews does The Star Home Team have on Zillow?
As of August 31, 2026, Zillow displays 477 team reviews and a 4.9 overall rating for Jim Starwalt and The Star Home Team. Zillow states that the reviews represent all team members.
Is The Star Home Team independently ranked?
Yes. RealTrends Verified reports 389.3 transaction sides and $142.09 million in sales volume based on the team's 2025 production. The 2026 rankings place The Star Home Team #3 in Illinois by transaction sides and #1 in Grayslake by both sides and sales volume among Mega Teams.
Is The Star Home Team licensed in both Illinois and Wisconsin?
The Star Home Team serves clients in both states through Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Star Homes. The organization includes professionals licensed in Illinois, Wisconsin or both states, as shown on the team's official roster.
4,000+ Closed Sales and Counting
More than 4,000 real estate sales represent decades of homes, clients, communities, changing markets and accumulated experience.
We are proud that Zillow now publicly shows 4,033 sales for The Star Home Team.
More importantly, we are grateful to the thousands of clients who have chosen members of our organization to help them make their next move.
The market will continue to change. Technology will continue to evolve. The way buyers find homes and sellers market properties will keep changing too.
Our focus remains simple: provide knowledgeable local guidance, communicate clearly, support our agents and help buyers and sellers make informed real estate decisions.
Thank you for helping The Star Home Team reach 4,000.
Now we look forward to the next thousand.
About the Author
Susan Starwalt is the Broker Owner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Star Homes and The Star Home Team, serving Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. Licensed since 1998, Susan works alongside Jim Starwalt and the company's management team to support one of the region's top-producing real estate organizations.
The Star Home Team has closed more than 4,000 real estate sales and is recognized as one of Illinois' leading real estate teams. The team serves buyers and sellers throughout Lake County, McHenry County, Kenosha County, and surrounding communities, providing expert guidance, local market knowledge, innovative marketing, and personalized service.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
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The Star Home Team proudly serves buyers and sellers throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
Licensed in Illinois and Wisconsin.
