Randy Quigley wasn't aiming for a career in television when she heard about an opening for HGTV's “American Dream.”
Quigley, a well-known luxury real estate agent in the southern Manhattan suburbs, has built a reputation in the Chicago area selling homes ranging from $119,000 to $5.51 million.
Quigley, who has 19 years of real estate experience and makes $20 million to $30 million a year, was introduced to the show by a California real estate agent and host, and after auditioning, he was quickly offered the role of host for the Chicago area.
“I joined and fell in love with the program,” she says. “It just felt like a natural progression.”
“American Dream” premiered in 2018. The show invites real estate professionals to show viewers around different neighborhoods and teach them about cultures and lifestyles across the country, Quigley said.
Quigley's selection for the show came as no surprise to colleague and close friend Katie Bigham, who first met Quigley while working together in a restaurant during college. Today, they both work as brokers at eXp Realty, where their professional paths continue to intersect.
“She's unstoppable and has always accomplished anything she puts her mind to,” Bigham said, “so I have no doubt she'll be great on the show and that they've picked the perfect person.”
Bigham said Quigley didn't jump straight into real estate after earning his bachelor's degree in marketing, but once he got his real estate license, he used his marketing expertise to make a big impact in the industry and achieve remarkable success.
Orland Park native Randy Quigley was recently named the new Chicago-area host of HGTV's lifestyle show “American Dream.” (Courtesy of Randy Quigley)
“She really is the epitome of a real estate broker who has the courage and determination to weather all cycles in the real estate industry,” Bigham said.
Quigley, who has a large following on social media, said her marketing experience played a key role in her decision to audition for the show.
“You need to brand yourself,” she said.
Britny Duffy, who works with Quigley at eXp Realty, considers her both a mentor and a friend. When Duffy first reached out to Quigley early in her real estate career, she was drawn to Quigley's energetic personality and wanted to work with her.
“She's got such a big personality,” she said. “Oh, you're probably wondering what she's doing?”
In 2022, Quigley was nominated for Crain Chicago Business' Residential Real Estate Broker to Watch award.
Besides the personal branding benefits, Quigley is most excited about introducing viewers to some of Illinois' lesser-known towns.
“I'll be visiting and interviewing different communities and showcasing the local towns,” Quigley says, “and I'll also be including my own properties…within a range of values. I don't just want to do luxury homes. I want to show the different areas and towns in Illinois.”
Quigley said she will begin filming the show's first episode on Sept. 3, likely to air in October. The episode will feature one of her listings in Mokena, then tour the downtown Frankfort area, showcasing the many dog-friendly businesses and restaurants. She will also film some footage from the annual Frankfort Fall Festival, which takes place over Labor Day weekend, just before filming begins.
Other upcoming segments will feature Naperville, Hinsdale, Lemont and Chicago, she said.
Randy Quigley (left) and Brittney Duffy, real estate agents and colleagues at eXp Realty. (Courtesy of Randy Quigley)
Quigley hopes the show will inspire people to return to Illinois — he often encounters clients who leave because of Illinois' high property and income taxes, but to counter that trend, Quigley aims to highlight the state's unique charms.
“It's a great opportunity to raise awareness and also bring people back to Illinois,” she said.
She also aims to highlight various local businesses to help them grow and gain more recognition.
“I really believe in my community, so I feel like this is a great opportunity to showcase other businesses and support entrepreneurs,” she said.
For Duffy, working with Quigley has been an invaluable support in his career growth, and Quigley recently opened his own real estate office in Manhattan through eXp, with plans to return to a more traditional, in-person business model.
“She wants to know how she can help you. She wants us to be successful,” Duffy said, “and I've never seen that in a broker or mentor before.”
