The decision in front of you is whether one agent's calendar is enough for your move. With two licensed brokers, Steve Roake and Kimberly Genovese, your questions, showings, and paperwork have a second set of experienced hands, plus Illinois and Indiana coverage if your move crosses the state line.

Constellation Home Sales Two-Broker Team in NW Indiana

What does working with Constellation Home Sales mean for your Northwest Indiana move?

Working with Constellation Home Sales means two licensed brokers, Steve Roake and Kimberly Genovese, stand behind your transaction instead of one. Kimberly holds the Northwest Indiana side of the territory, Steve is licensed in both Illinois and Indiana, and together they cover buying, selling, and moves that cross the state line. You get continuity when one calendar fills up, and you should confirm exactly who does what in your written agreement.

Key Takeaways

• Valparaiso's median sale price for all home types sold July–September 2026 was $359,829, up 10.8% from $324,900 a year earlier, so pricing and negotiation mistakes cost real money.

• Homes in Valparaiso sold at an average of 97.6% of list price in that same window, with 59% selling below list, which rewards a team that can negotiate and respond quickly.

• Steve has been licensed since 2003 in Illinois and Indiana, and Kimberly has been licensed in Indiana since 2004, which gives you two brokers with 20+ years of licensed experience each.

• The team's stated model has Kimberly handling the Northwest Indiana side while Steve works across both states, which matters most if you're comparing homes near the Illinois–Indiana line.

• Indiana requires written listing agreements and written buyer-agency agreements, so how the two brokers serve you should be documented before they begin acting for you.

How do two licensed brokers split the work on your file?

They split it by design: Kimberly anchors the Northwest Indiana work, Steve works across Illinois and Indiana, and both are familiar with your file so a question never has to wait on one person's schedule. That's the team's stated operating model, not a promise that you'll hear from both brokers at every step.

Steve describes the split as intentional. Two brokers on one file means a showing request, a lender question, or an offer deadline doesn't stall because one calendar is full. For you, that's the practical value of choosing Constellation Home Sales over a solo agent: coverage, not complication.

What does the Northwest Indiana side look like day to day?

Kimberly, licensed in Indiana since 2004, handles the Northwest Indiana side of the territory. The team reports serving Lake, Porter, and La Porte counties, and the broader bio extends to Newton and Jasper counties as well.

Communities like Valparaiso, Chesterton, Crown Point, Schererville, Merrillville, Dyer, Munster, Michigan City, and La Porte all sit in that footprint. Confirm coverage and broker assignment for your specific property before you sign anything, because the answer depends on where the home is and what you need.

What changes if your move crosses the Illinois–Indiana line?

Steve's dual licensing is the difference. Many buyers and sellers near the state line compare Chicago-area suburbs with Northwest Indiana communities, and each side has its own licensing system, listing database, and contract practices. The team reports access to both the MRED system used in the Chicago area and the NIRA system serving Northwest Indiana.

That means you can compare homes on both sides of the line with brokers who aren't limited to one state. If you're moving from Illinois to Indiana or the other way around, you won't be handed from one agent to another midway through.

What do two brokers add when you're selling?

Two sets of eyes on pricing and preparation. Steve's pricing method is comp-driven and specific: a 1-mile radius, plus or minus 20% on square footage, plus or minus one bed or bath, matched as closely as possible on age, garage, and basement. He won't lead with a number he can't defend, and having a second broker in the conversation keeps that number honest.

If your sale is tied to a life change, the calm, unhurried approach matters just as much. Steve and Kimberly's approach to those situations is covered in Selling Your NW Indiana Home When It's Personal. For how they market a listing, see Market Your Home with Constellation Home Sales.

Why does a two-broker team matter in today's Northwest Indiana market?

It matters because the market punishes slow responses and loose pricing. Recent local market data for Valparaiso shows homes sold between July and September 2026 went under contract in a median of 22 days, and 35% went under contract within two weeks of listing.

Here are the Valparaiso figures for all home types sold July–September 2026, based on recent local market data:

• Median sale price: $359,829, versus $324,900 for the same window a year earlier (+10.8%).

• Homes sold: 131, versus 145 a year earlier.

• Average sale price as a share of list price: 97.6%, versus 99.2% a year earlier. 18% sold above list and 59% sold below.

• Months of supply: 2.4, versus 2.8 a year earlier.

• Listings with a price cut: 37%, with an average cut of 2.8%.

Those are area-level figures. Your home's value depends on its condition, street, build year, and timing, which is why a custom comp analysis beats any headline number.

Here's how several Northwest Indiana areas compare for all home types sold in the same window:

Source: aggregated public listing data, all home types sold July–September 2026, as of November 2026.

The spread from Michigan City to Chesterton is wide, and the right comparison depends on your property type and location. That's where having two brokers pays off: one can be at a showing while the other pulls comps or answers your lender.

When most Valparaiso homes sell below list, negotiation is where money is kept or lost. Steve's approach to that is laid out in Protect Your Equity: Real Estate Negotiation Secrets. For statewide context, the Indiana Association of REALTORS® Data Hub publishes monthly and detailed market reports, though your local comps will always tell you more than a statewide average.

What should you confirm in writing before hiring any Indiana brokerage?

Confirm who your brokers are, what they'll do, and how long the agreement lasts, in writing. Indiana requires written listing agreements and written buyer-agency agreements, according to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, so this isn't optional.

Before you sign with Constellation Home Sales or any other team, review these points:

1. The parties and services. The agreement should name who represents you and what they'll do.

2. The duration and terms. Know how long you're committed and how the agreement can end.

3. The office policy. Under Indiana Code Title 25, Article 34.1, a broker must disclose the brokerage's written office policy at the start of an agency relationship, before you share confidential information about your transaction.

4. Who your broker is. Indiana law distinguishes between a managing broker and a broker who personally represents a client. A managing broker doesn't automatically represent every party unless there's an agency relationship with that client, so ask how the team's agreement handles this.

5. Compensation. Broker fees are fully negotiable and not set by law. Get the terms from the brokers directly, in writing, before you commit.

No blog post can tell you what your agreement will say. Steve and Kimberly will walk you through the document before you sign, which is the point of a strategy session. When the closing date arrives, your Indiana title company handles the settlement and the funds, and your brokers keep the file moving until then.

The team has closed 615+ transactions representing more than $113 million in sales volume. Those are team-reported cumulative figures, not an audited market statistic, so judge the fit by how the first conversation goes. You can read what past clients say on Google, Zillow, and Realtor.com.

FAQ

What does it mean to have two brokers working on my Northwest Indiana real estate transaction?

It means two licensed brokers know your file and can act on it, so your questions, showings, and negotiations don't depend on one person's availability. Steve has been licensed since 2003 and Kimberly since 2004. Ask how the two will divide your specific file when you sign the agreement.

Will I work with both brokers or mainly one?

You'll typically work most closely with whoever fits your property and location, and the other is there as backup and a second opinion. The team's published model has Kimberly handling the Northwest Indiana side and Steve working across Illinois and Indiana. That's a division of responsibilities, not a guarantee that you'll hear from both at every step.

Is Constellation Home Sales licensed to handle an Illinois-to-Indiana move?

Yes. Steve is licensed in both Illinois and Indiana, so he can work with you on both sides of the state line. Kimberly is licensed in Indiana only and covers the Northwest Indiana side. The team reports access to both the MRED and NIRA listing systems.

Do both brokers represent me under the same agreement?

That depends on how the written agreement is drafted, so review it with the brokerage before you sign. Indiana requires written buyer-agency and listing agreements that identify the parties and services. Indiana law also treats a managing broker differently from a broker who personally represents a client, so ask the team to explain exactly how your agreement names the brokers.

Who is responsible for my transaction if one broker is unavailable?

The other broker can step in because both are familiar with your file. That's the main reason the team works in pairs. Confirm the handoff in your agreement, along with communication preferences, so you know who to call about showings, offers, and paperwork.

Ready to see how the two-broker model fits your move?

The advantage is simple: two licensed brokers, coverage in Illinois and Indiana, and a Northwest Indiana market where speed and pricing precision matter. Steve and Kimberly will tell you exactly how they'd divide the work on your file before you commit to anything.

Schedule a Strategy Session to talk through your plans, or Get a Free Home Valuation to see where your home stands today.