The Look Chicago

Meet Pongee Barnes

Pongee was raised on the south-side of Chicago, a political-science graduate of Southern Illinois University of Carbondale. I embarked on my real estate career as a college student in 2005 at the age of 20, buying my first condo in Chicago. After buying 2 condominiums during the most recent tumultuous real estate market collapse, I was able to endure and purchase flips and rentals.

As of late I have done both rentals and flipping, my current portfolio consists of properties with a mix of multi-family, commercial and single family. My competitive edge is building a real estate portfolio by buying undervalueddistress properties in urban areas. I am passionate about real estate, but most importantly inspiring millennials to invest in real estate.

This passion birthed my first book “Real Estate & Chill “ which was released in February 2018. My zeal for educating millennials on real estate investing led me to teach in Andre Hatchett’s “Black Real Estate School” and I was featured in Crain’s Chicago Business Newspaper. I was also featured on Dr. Boyce Watkins Intellectual Chocolate YouTube Channel as well a radio interview with 1690 AMin Chicago and recently published article for XoNecole and featured in Medium.

I have added the title author to my two sons Benjamin 9, and Franklin 6. Together, we have creating a series of children’s books, Little Owners focusing on entrepreneurship, financial literacy and community leadership. “Ben the Banker” and “Franklin the Franchise Owner” released December 2019 and “Riley the Real Estate Investor” and “Robert the Real Estate Investor” released January 2020. I enjoy raising my two sons in Chicago with my husband, who is also my business partner.