People You Should Know: Niko Apostal
With a career rooted in helping clients grow their real estate portfolios, Niko Apostal has built a reputation as a specialized multifamily broker, guiding both first-time and seasoned investors through multifamily and income-producing property acquisitions across Chicago.
His approach combines hands-on market knowledge with a focus on education – empowering clients to make confident, informed decisions and build long-term value through strategic real estate investment.
As the newly appointed Managing Broker at Essex Three Twelve LLC, Niko brings a proven track record of leadership and growth within the Chicago multifamily investment market. In this Q&A, he shares his perspective on the evolving real estate landscape, the growing demand for investment properties, and how Essex Three Twelve is helping bridge the gap between everyday buyers and experienced investors.
Q: What made this the right time to join Essex Three-Twelve?
This transition felt like the natural next step in my professional growth. Over the past several years, I’ve focused on helping clients build wealth through real estate, particularly by guiding first-time and emerging investors into multifamily and income-producing properties. The demand for that type of expertise has never been higher.
The landscape has shifted. Interest in house hacking and investment strategies has surged across every platform, and with that comes a flood of information, not all of it reliable. Many people are eager to get started but don’t know where to begin. They’re looking for clarity, structure, and trusted guidance.
Essex Three Twelve provides the perfect environment to meet that need. It’s a platform designed for collaboration, education, and long-term client success – where we can combine local market knowledge with data-driven strategy to help investors make confident, informed decisions and scale their portfolios over time.
The Evolving Real Estate Landscape: Why Investment Properties Offer More Stability
Q: The residential real estate industry has changed dramatically in the last few years. How does focusing on investment properties offer more stability?
The residential real estate landscape is evolving quickly. From shifting legislation to growing corporate influence, the traditional home-buying experience looks very different than it did even a few years ago. These changes have prompted many professionals to rethink how they serve clients and where long-term opportunities lie.
The investment property space, however, offers a sense of steadiness and purpose that stands apart from those rapid shifts. Our clients aren’t just buying homes – they’re building wealth, creating stability for their families, and taking control of their financial future. Many of the industry changes that affect the owner-occupied side have less direct impact here, which allows us to focus on strategy, education, and long-term value.
That’s what drew me to this side of the business years ago, and it’s what continues to make it exciting. Working with clients who think like investors allows for deeper relationships, more creative deal structures, and a focus on results that extend far beyond the closing table.
Early Influences and Career Beginnings
Q: How did growing up in Chicago shape your approach to real estate investing?
My introduction to real estate started early. Growing up in Chicago, my parents were both teachers who managed small rental properties on the side. They involved me in the process, from simple maintenance to tenant turnover, which gave me a hands-on understanding of what it takes to own and operate real estate successfully.
After college, I earned my real estate license and quickly saw how much value professionalism and structure bring to this business. I approached every transaction as an opportunity to educate and advise, not just sell. That mindset shaped how I work today – focusing on relationships, transparency, and helping clients make confident, long-term investment decisions when purchasing an investment property.
Building and Scaling Real Estate Ventures
Q: Walk us through your experience building businesses in the real estate space.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to build and scale several real estate ventures from the ground up. One of the most meaningful experiences was co-founding Owl Management a property management company, that grew from a handful of units to hundreds under management. That journey taught me how to build strong operational systems, lead a team, and deliver consistent value for both property owners and residents.
Ultimately, that experience gave me a deep appreciation for the business side of real estate and how sound management, communication, and long-term relationships create lasting success. It also reinforced my belief that sustainable growth comes from collaboration and a commitment to doing things the right way, which aligns perfectly with what we’re building at Essex Three Twelve today.
House Hacking: The Gateway to Multifamily Investing
Q: Why is house hacking such a powerful entry point into investing in real estate?
House hacking is one of the most effective ways for new investors to begin building wealth through real estate. It allows buyers to leverage the property they live in to generate rental income, offset expenses, and begin creating long-term financial stability.
Having seen the model work firsthand, I’ve made it a core part of how I advise clients, particularly those looking to buy multifamily properties in Chicago for the first time. It’s a strategy that combines practicality with opportunity: you’re not just buying where you live, you’re investing in your future.
Many of my clients start with two- to four-unit properties and quickly realize how achievable multifamily investments can be with the right guidance. Helping people take that first step and seeing how it changes their financial outlook is one of the most rewarding parts of my work.
Leadership Philosophy: Team-Driven and Collaborative
Q: What does collaborative leadership look like day-to-day at Essex Three Twelve?
Collaboration is at the center of how I lead. I believe the best ideas don’t just come from the top; they come from creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute. To me, bottom-up leadership means understanding each person’s goals, giving them the tools and structure to succeed, and then aligning those individual strengths toward a shared vision.
It’s about hiring talented people, encouraging open dialogue, and fostering a culture where feedback and new ideas are valued. When everyone feels ownership in the process, we’re able to innovate faster, serve clients better, and build something that’s truly sustainable.
Three Essential Traits for Success in Real Estate
Q: What qualities do you look for when building your team?
For me, success in real estate comes down to three core traits:
- Hustle and grit. The most successful brokers are self-starters who take initiative, stay consistent, and push through challenges. Real estate is a business that rewards persistence.
- Resilience and adaptability. Every market cycle brings change. The ability to learn from setbacks, pivot quickly, and stay focused on the bigger picture is what separates long-term professionals from short-term participants.
- Optimism and attitude. Skills can be taught; mindset cannot. A positive, solutions-oriented attitude builds trust, drives collaboration, and ultimately creates better outcomes for clients.
When you combine those three traits, you get a team that’s not only high-performing but also motivated, supportive, and built to last.
How to Invest in Chicago Multifamily Properties: Bridging the Gap
Q: How does Essex Three Twelve serve as a bridge between everyday buyers and experienced investors?
Essex Three Twelve fills an important gap in the real estate market – we serve as the connection between everyday buyers who want to start investing and experienced investors who already understand the power of owning a multifamily building.
Our mission is to make real estate investing accessible, strategic, and sustainable. Many of our clients are first-time or early-stage investors seeking guidance on how to invest in Chicago multifamily properties. Whether they want to purchase their first two- to four-unit property or small apartment building, we guide them through every step—helping them evaluate deals, understand financing options, and manage assets for long-term growth.
At the same time, our team brings decades of experience from the commercial side of the industry. Every broker at Essex Three-Twelve owns investment property, so our advice comes from hands-on experience. We use data-driven insights, market knowledge, and proven systems to help investors explore Chicago multifamily investment opportunities and build generational wealth through real estate. As specialists in the multifamily space, we’re uniquely positioned to provide Chicago multifamily real estate expertise that goes beyond transaction management – we’re committed to your long-term success.
Contact Our Multifamily Brokerage Team:
About Essex Three-Twelve:
Essex Three-Twelve is Chicago’s first multi-family brokerage company focusing exclusively on servicing investors in the 3-to-12-unit market. Essex Three-Twelve brokers are highly trained, exceptionally focused, and extremely motivated. Whether clients are seasoned investors or new to the multi-family world, the team provides tailored service and market insights needed to help achieve real estate investment goals.