Representing Pro Athletes in Real Estate: A Look Inside the Relocation Playbook
Today marks the start of the NFL’s new league year, when free agents can officially begin signing with new teams. For athletes, coaches, and front office staff, this moment often comes with a major life transition that extends far beyond the field. In many cases, it also means relocating to a new city on extremely short notice.
A recent article in Forbes Global Properties, “The Realtor’s Playbook for Representing Pro Athletes on the Move,” explores what it takes to guide professional athletes through real estate decisions during these high-pressure transitions. The piece features insights from our colleague Terry Sprague, CEO of LUXE | Forbes Global Properties, who has extensive experience advising athletes and high-profile clients.
While the article highlights Terry’s experience, the themes it discusses reflect how many top luxury brokerages approach these unique clients. At Busby Group, our team structure and services are designed to support similar needs. As Chicago’s representative for Sportstar Relocation, we are equipped to assist professional athletes, coaches, and sports industry professionals moving to and from Chicago.
One of the key takeaways from the article is how unique these transactions can be. Athletes often face compressed timelines, heightened privacy needs, and logistical considerations that require a broker with both discretion and strong operational support.
As Sprague notes in the article, representing professional athletes requires a different level of preparation and adaptability because timelines can shift quickly, and agents must be ready to act while maintaining strict confidentiality.
You can read the full article here:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-global-properties/2026/02/13/the-realtors-playbook-for-representing-pro-athletes-on-the-move/
Chicago and the Constant Movement of Professional Sports
Chicago is home to some of the most iconic franchises in professional sports, including the Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Sky, and Fire. With these organizations come athletes, coaches, executives, and support staff who relocate to and from the city throughout the year.
These moves rarely happen on a typical timeline. Trades, signings, and coaching changes can require housing solutions within days, not weeks.
That is where experienced relocation professionals play a critical role.
Busby Group and Sportstar Relocation
Busby Group is proud to serve as Chicago’s representative for Sportstar Relocation, a national network that specializes in assisting professional athletes and sports industry professionals with housing transitions.
Learn more about our role here:
https://sportstarrelocation.com/julie-busby/
Sportstar Relocation connects athletes and teams with trusted local experts who understand the unique demands of sports-related moves, including:
Privacy and discretion
Rapid timelines and off-market opportunities
Luxury property sourcing
Coordination with agents, teams, and family members
Concierge-Level Service and Discretion
At Busby Group, we understand that many clients in the sports world value both privacy and efficiency. Our team provides concierge-level service that supports every aspect of a relocation, from identifying homes that meet security and lifestyle needs to coordinating move logistics and trusted vendors.
Whether working with professional athletes, executives, or relocating families, our approach remains the same: thoughtful strategy, complete discretion, and full-service support throughout the process.
A Global Network of Trusted Advisors
Relocation is rarely limited to one city. Athletes and sports professionals often move across the country or internationally throughout their careers.
Through our relationships with relocation networks, brokerage partners, and industry professionals around the world, Busby Group is able to help clients transition smoothly whether they are moving to Chicago or from Chicago to their next chapter.
If you are relocating to Chicagoland, or know someone in the sports industry who may be making a move, our team is always happy to help provide insight, guidance, and trusted local expertise. Contact us today.