Get To Know Us
Fair Deal Home Buyers renovates and sells homes in Wisconsin
Who Are Fair Deal Home Buyers?
At Fair Deal Home Buyers, we are definitely on a mission. That's because we care about each individual we serve. We also care about the big picture: We’re willing to take a step outside ourselves and are conscious of what we bring. We feel if we can serve one person the best we can, we will be making positive waves that will impact the area where we live. We feel that our values are reflected in an hour interaction with our clients. By holding ourselves accountable and being our word, we’re always confident we can deliver our promise and give our customers peace of mind.
Our Values
Loyalty
Faithful adherence to a team and a cause. “Loyalty is the strongest glue which makes a relationship last for a lifetime.”Generosity
The quality of being kind. “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”Ownership
Commitment to accepting responsibility for one’s actions in a transparent manner. “Accept responsibility for your actions, be accountable for your results, take ownership of your mistakes.”Creativity
Innovation and progress coming from creative minds. “Creativity gives us a competitive advantage to find a solution for any situation.”Excellence
The quality of being outstanding or extremely good. To display hunger, relentlessness and continuous improvement. “Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.”Fellowship
A company where everyone feels like friends and family. “True friends who can hear you out, share your joy, and provide help when you need it.”HOW IT ALL STARTED
When Amir Erez and Erez Acuca were growing up together in Israel, they could not have imagined that decades later in 2012 they’d establish what would become the biggest home buying company in southeastern Wisconsin--Fair Deal Home Buyers.
Although they came from the same hometown, they took different paths to get here.
Amir, the CEO of Fair Deal, moved to Philadelphia in 2006 with only $365 in his pocket. In 2009, he settled in Milwaukee and opened a locksmith business. As a result of the housing crisis, Amir had the unenviable job of changing the locks on foreclosed homes. One day he encountered a sobbing man who had just been evicted because of foreclosure. Amir was deeply affected by the man’s story, as well as other stories he heard from people going through similar situations.
“I wanted to help these people, but I didn’t know how,” said Amir. “So, I started researching. I discovered there are ways people can avoid foreclosure and the pain that comes with it. If you are facing foreclosure, you can sell your home for cash and avoid having a terrible stain on your credit history. I also realized that buying distressed homes for cash was not only a business opportunity, but a way to help people in a difficult situation.”
Erez, who heads the restoration department of Fair Deal, had a slightly different journey.
“I started doing property renovations as a little kid with my dad,” he said. “I was always entrepreneurial and I knew there were bigger opportunities in America. So, in 2007, I moved to Brooklyn, New York.”
With English being a struggle at first, Erez migrated toward what he knew best--renovations. By 2008, he began flipping apartments and realized that was what he wanted to do. Meanwhile, Amir had become well acquainted with the real estate market in Milwaukee.
As Erez recalls: “Amir and I started talking about how we could team up, since our skills complemented each other. We pooled all our hard-earned money and bought a house in Bayview. We fixed it up with our own hands and sold it. I knew we were on to something. So, a year later, I moved to Milwaukee.”
Meet the Team
Amir Erez
CEOAs the CEO of the company, my role is to make sure we’re always moving forward. I’m constantly creating strategies to give our customers the highest level of service possible. My other role is that of team leader. I’m here to support the team and push everybody—including myself—to achieve our highest potential. I also push myself physically because I’m a health freak. I eat vitamins like popcorn and sleep in a barometric chamber (kidding, kind of). I’m a husband, father, and lifelong learner. I hope you have a great experience working with us!
Peter Jilk, Sales Manager
I’m Peter Jilk. I was born and bred in Milwaukee. Also, my last name rhymes with milk. And silk. But that’s not important. What’s important is I’ve worked in real estate for many years and in various roles. At Fair Deal, my job boils down to helping people. People come to us because they need to sell their home. But selling a home can be stressful. It feels good to simplify that process and help people solve their home-selling situation. In my free time I enjoy rooting for our local sports teams, attending festivals, concerts, and spending time with my family in our newly remodeled “family cave” in the basement.
Albert Medrano
Marketing CoordinatorI help the team in innumerable ways—from coordinating transactions, answering sellers’ questions about the closing process, to making lame jokes during meetings. (Just kidding; my jokes are funny.) After a long day of work in front of a computer screen, I like to play video games in front of a computer screen. To prevent my brain from turning into total mush, I make sure to spend quality time with my friends and family.
Gisselle De Leon
Customer Success ManagerWhen people are looking to sell their home, oftentimes I am the first person they will talk to at Fair Deal. My job is to understand each person’s unique situation and pave the way for them to have an in-depth conversation with one of our Home Buying Specialists. In my spare time I love cooking, a skill I learned from my father who is an international chef from the Philippines who has traveled all over the world. I’m also one year shy of graduating from law school.
Jess Anthonye
Disposition ManagerI’m originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil, which means I’m special 😉 and fun to be around =). After all, we Brazilians are famous for our passion for life! I also have a passion for real estate, with over 13 years of experience in almost every facet of the industry. What I love about Fair Deal is getting to use my knowledge to help educate our clients to make informed decisions when selling their homes. When I’m not working in real estate, thinking about real estate, or playing Monopoly and trying to buy all the real estate, I love to be outdoors with family and friends, relaxing on a beach, or dining at new restaurants.
Zak Mazur
Customer Success ManagerWhen I began working at Fair Deal, I didn’t just start a new job—I started a new career. Never would I have imagined my writing background would translate well in my role at Fair Deal, but it has! I really enjoy “interviewing” our clients and getting to know them as the unique, multidimensional people they are. It’s gratifying to help people find solutions to their home-selling situations. In my free time I love to read and learn. I have a passion for percussion and perform with a Brazilian samba percussion troupe. I also care for my menagerie of pets—domestic, aquatic, and exotic, i.e., reptiles!!!
Chris Reyes
Disposition CoordinatorI'm from the Philippines, where people are known for their hospitality. So, providing excellent customer service for our clients comes naturally. I've worked in the real estate industry for almost two years, and I’m excited to be part of the Fair Deal Home Buyers family. In my free time I love riding my Yamaha YZF-R3 2021 model. I’m a bit of an adrenaline junky and definitely have a need for speed. The fastest I’ve gone—so far—is 106 MPH. Needless to say, I always wear a helmet—and sometimes motorcycle body armor!
Erez Acuca
Restoration Division ExecutiveMy job is to make sure the houses we purchase from our sellers are transformed into somebody’s future dream home. I oversee our project managers and contractors to help them create unique, outstanding living spaces that will last for years to come. I love spending time with my family and helping to raise my two young sons, which I think I’m getting good at. When I’m not working or parenting, I enjoy DIY projects of all sizes. Tinkering is like meditation to me. But enough about that. Let’s get to work!
Jeanne M. Kautz
Transaction CoordinatorI’m originally from Southern California but moved to Wisconsin about a year ago partly for the weather (California heat waves are no joke!). I’m the point of contact between all the departments at Fair Deal. Basically, I make sure all our transactions are executed smoothly and efficiently. When I’m not at work or furthering my education, I enjoy being in nature or relaxing at a park with my two kids and our dog. I also enjoy cooking, baking, crafting, and reading. This SoCal girl is looking forward to a snowy winter! I think.
Jordan Stehofsky
TraineeI started working at Fair Deal as an intern in the summer of 2021. At first, the only thing I knew about houses was that people live in them. In just a few short months, however, I’ve learned TONS about real estate. Most surprising is how good it feels when I’ve helped somebody solve their home-selling situation. Even though I’m back at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, studying sales and marketing, I still work part time at Fair Deal. In my spare time I like to play soccer, hangout with friends, or do any activity that involves cars, except racing random people at stoplights. I would never do that because you can get a hefty speeding ticket.
Shiva Ji
Digital Marketing SpecialistI really love marketing. In fact, I started marketing when I was only 16 years old. I like to say that ignoring the power of online marketing is like opening a business and not telling anybody. I studied at Chandarigh University in India and obtained a degree in computer science. In my spare time I love to travel and spend time with my family and friends, although I admit sometimes it is hard for me to tear myself away from my laptop! I just can’t stop digital marketing!
Alan Gross
Home Buying SpecialistI live in Chicago, but I grew up in Wisconsin. So, working with Fair Deal is a homecoming for me. I thoroughly enjoy working with the people of Wisconsin and connecting with their kindness and hospitality. I have worked in several areas of the real estate industry over the years, both residential and commercial. Working on acquisitions, property valuation, property management and forming groups for syndication. I find property acquisition the most enjoyable aspect of the real estate process. It allows me to work with sellers in finding the most equitable exit strategy. Finding a solution that matches the sellers timeline and financial requirements is a challenge I find rewarding in making the best deal possible for the home owner.
Beza Bajo
Transaction Coordinator AssistantI was a Transaction Coordinator (TC) for over five years. I’ve worked as a TC for companies in New Jersey, Illinois, and California. I have a passion for real estate and love scrolling through photos of renovated homes. One day I hope to own such a home! In my spare time I love watching anime, playing online games, and cruising the open roads with my motorcycle gang. Just kidding! I’m not in a gang, but I love riding with friends—as long as they don’t go too fast!
Jon Willman
Home Buying SpecialistI’m a native of Appleton, Wisc., but I’ve called Milwaukee home for the last three years. After I started working as a Home Buying Specialist at Fair Deal Home Buyers, I moved back up north to cover my old stomping grounds for the company. Although my wife and I miss exploring Milwaukee and its restaurants and breweries, we really enjoy the many outdoor activities that northern Wisconsin has to offer.
I graduated from St. Norbert College and have extensive sales experience—from selling dental equipment, cars, to insurance, software, and more. I’ve been interested in real estate for a long time; so, working at Fair Deal has been an amazing opportunity and a great experience.
In my spare time I enjoy rooting for Wisconsin sports teams and spending time with my wife and our 1-year-old goldendoodle, Georgia. From time to time Georgia gets to spend time with dogs that we foster. She’s always such a good girl!
