Established across nearly 20 years of experience in various fields, Mariyana Hilco has held the position of real estate agent with Keller Williams North Shore West since 2024. In this capacity, she expertly handles buyers and sellers, conducts comprehensive market analyses, organizes open houses, and collaborates closely with lenders, title companies, and lawyers. Ms. Hilco’s responsibilities include educating clients throughout the real estate process and providing detailed assessments for comparison. Her expertise in residential real estate, market analysis, and buyer and seller representation is widely recognized. Ms. Hilco has been praised for her ability to guide first-time buyers through the complexities of renting and purchasing homes, ensuring they are financially prepared and well-informed at every stage. Her approach is characterized by genuine care for her clients’ best interests, treating each transaction with equal care.
Ms. Hilco’s passion for real estate began when she purchased her first home, sparking a deep and lasting interest in property investment. She subsequently acquired additional properties, including one for her parents, and gained valuable insights into the business. Born in Bulgaria, Ms. Hilco’s early studies in her home country included coursework toward a broker’s license and training in lending and underwriting. This foundation provided her with a strong understanding of brokerage operations, which she still utilizes to assist many first-time buyers, investors and clients interested in multiunit properties, while simultaneously expanding her own portfolio with rental units.
Concurrently with her real estate career, Ms. Hilco has served as a safety manager at Carrier Management Inc. since 2012. In this role, she has made significant contributions to finance and management within the trucking industry. Previously operating as a safety manager at Capital Trucking Inc. and DH Trucking LLC, Ms. Hilco played a pivotal part in helping multiple companies maintain compliance with safety regulations and educating organizations on essential standards that were often overlooked or misunderstood. Her efforts have led several companies from conditional status to full compliance within short time frames, earning her recognition for outstanding safety performance.
Among her earlier professional experiences, Ms. Hilco worked as an accounts payable specialist at Graham C-Stores Company and a general manager at Supreme Ice Cream LLC. Her journey began in 2008 as an industrial production manager at Popsy Pop LLC, where she coordinated production processes and contributed to organizational efficiency.
Before venturing onto her vocational path, Ms. Hilco set a foundation in her studies. She obtained a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from the Technical University of Sofia in 2006. Subsequently, Ms. Hilco earned a master’s degree in industrial management from the same institution in 2008. She became licensed in real estate in Illinois in 2024, solidifying her qualifications in the field.
Distinguished throughout the field in several capacities, Ms. Hilco is affiliated with multiple professional organizations. She maintains membership in the National Association of Realtors and Illinois Realtors. Ms. Hilco attributes her success to her extensive experience across industries, strong motivation to achieve results and well-developed negotiation skills. Her meticulous attention to detail ensures that every aspect of a transaction is handled flawlessly, as she takes on significant responsibility so that clients experience a smooth process without feeling overwhelmed.
Beyond her career pursuits, Ms. Hilco is civically engaged as a volunteer with a tutoring program. In her personal life, she is a devoted wife and a loving mother to three children. She enjoys spending time with her family — including their King Charles spaniel dog — as well as traveling, practicing Zumba, walking outdoors, playing games and meeting with friends.
As she moves forward, Ms. Hilco is eager to help many more individuals achieve their goals in finding ideal homes. She aims to educate her clients at every step of the real estate process with minimal stress. Ms. Hilco also plans to expand her licensure into Wisconsin due to client demand near the border. She aspires to obtain her managing broker license as she advances in her career — a goal that reflects her ambition and commitment to making a positive impact on others’ lives.