Our Agents

SHIRLEY VASILEFF, Broker

Prior to opening Vasileff Realty in the fall of 1992, Shirley spent the previous 18 years working with Coleman A Young as a Mayoral Appointee, as well as selling real estate part-time mostly in the Downtown Detroit area. She was active in politics over the past 30 years, including managing the law firm of Jerome P. Cavanagh, a former mayor of Detroit.

Shirley attended Wayne State University, and Stenotype Commercial College for court reporting. Shirley also worked at several large Detroit law firms – Dickinson, Wright, Dykema, Gossett & Hongiman, Miller, giving her an extensive legal background.

After Shirley began selling real estate part-time, she soon realized how much she enjoyed making a difference in a person’s life by helping them buy a home, particularly in the Downtown Detroit area. As she got closer to retiring from the City of Detroit, Shirley began making plans to open her own firm to do just that, with her main focus on specializing in marketing the Downtown Detroit area.

Shirley has lived in Lafayette Park in Downtown Detroit for over 30 years, raising her daughter, Jill, there. She feels Lafayette Park is a community that offers the “best of both worlds” for children as well as adults – diversity and a safe environment.

svasileff@vasileffrealtydetroit.com

JILL VASILEFF, Sales Associate

Jill grew up in Mies van der Rohe’s celebrated ‘glass’ townhouses in Downtown Detroit’s LAFAYETTE PARK. After spending 10years in New York City studying painting & design, she came back to Detroit and began selling real estate in 1992 when Vasileff Realty opened it’s doors.

Jill developed a sales approach which combined her attention to factual details, love for architectural integrity and enthusiasm for the diversity of Downtown Detroit’s residential communities to intuitively & concretely match a property with the needs & ideals of the buyer.

In 1998 & 1999 Jill worked for The Farbman Group as Director of Sales for the condominium conversion of Indian Village Manor. She was responsible for all details pertaining to the sale of each unit as it converted from rental to condominium ownership. She worked closely with Building Management, financing institutions, Construction Management & the Executive Offices to ensure the closing of over 7 million dollars in sales. When the project was nearing it’s completion, Jill returned to Vasileff Realty and continued to sell Detroit properties until 2002.

She currently lives in Northern California with her husband & two daughters and is a Marketing & Sales consultant for Vasileff Realty and working artist. She has a BFA from Parsons School of Design, NY, NY & an MFA from Bard College, Annandale, NY.

jillvasileff@sbcglobal.net

BARBARA HAINES, Associate Broker

Barbara was educated at Indiana University and the Academy of Music, and has been an Associate Broker marketing and selling properties in Lafayette Park for over 20 years. She is very knowledgeable in the aspects of real estate and financing of cooperatives and condominiums.

LOUIS VANCE, Associate Broker

Lou Vance has been selling real estate, residential and commercial, since 1977. Prior to joining Vasileff Realty, Lou had his own brokerage firm selling commercial property, as well as owning and managing several apartment buildings in the Detroit area.

DAVID HALL, Sales Associate

David, educated at Alfred University, NY, as a Ceramic Engineer, has spent the past 18 plus years working as a glass engineer and scientist for Guardian Industries. He also traveled on special assignments to China, Indonesia, India, China & Venezuela.

For the past seven years David has lived in Downtown Detroit, and is frequently seen bicycling through the many forgotten residential neighborhoods, often passing the ‘silent gems’ of Detroit. David is dedicated to assisting everyone with the rediscovery of what Deroit has to offer, as well as helping you with your real estate needs.

DAVID WARD, Sales Associate

David is excited about working with Vasileff Realty, a company with 13 years of professional service, as its newest sales representative. He retired from General Motors as an Engineering Administrator with the Interior Design Engineering Group. He was educated at Wayne State University in the curriculum of Business Management.

David is a long time resident of the State of Michigan and is looking forward to assisting you with your real estate needs.

davidward1210@msn.com

KAREN GOODYKE BARNEY, Sales Associate

Karen graduated from the University of Michigan with a background in Housing Development and Urban Planning. She has also lived and worked in the downtown Detroit community for over five years.

After school, working with Jergensen & Associates, Karen managed the State of Michigan’s Revitalife Program; she marketed and sold thousands of State-owned properties to non-profit organizations and others throughout the City of Detroit.

Additionally, Karen has hands-on experience in the mortgage industry, both as a loan officer and as a mortgage processor.

With her commitment to revitalizing the City of Detroit, Karen offers unique insight and assistance to clients with all their real estate needs.