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RE/MAX Honors Owners of Top Brokerage Group in the Metro Chicago Real Estate Market for Their Years of Distinguished Service

2013-06-19T11:59:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO, June 17, 2013 – The owners of RE/MAX Suburban, the largest independent RE/MAX franchise in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market and one of the most successful in the nation, recently received the prestigious RE/MAX Distinguished Service Award from the worldwide RE/MAX organization. The honor was conferred at the 2013 RE/MAX convention in Las Vegas, Nev.

The Distinguished Service Award honored owners Bob Baker, Jim Nelson, Jr., and Jim Nelson, Sr., for their pioneering spirit, vision and leadership in the industry and in the national and regional RE/MAX networks.

RE/MAX Suburban is the largest RE/MAX brokerage group in northern Illinois, with seven offices in six communities: Arlington Heights, Glen Ellyn, Libertyville, Mt. Prospect, Schaumburg and Wheaton. It leads all other RE/MAX firms in the region in annual sales transactions and closed sales volume.

Both the 2013 Power Broker Report from RISMedia and the REAL Trends 500 survey by REAL Trends magazine ranked RE/MAX Suburban 173rd in the nation for transactions closed among residential brokerages based on 2012 home sales activity. Both publications also look at firms based on their closed sales volume for the year. In that respect, RE/MAX Suburban ranked 183rd in the REAL Trends 500 and 173rd in the Power Broker Report.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties around the globe; www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S, and www.remaxcommercial.com displays commercial properties available nationwide and abroad. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Luxury Specialist Christos Papanastasatos Joins RE/MAX Premier Properties in Chicago’s Gold Coast, Bringing along $6.5 Million Listing in Burr Ridge

2013-06-18T12:55:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO, June 18, 2013 – RE/MAX Premier Properties of Chicago now has a new luxury specialist. Christos Papanastasatos, a real estate broker with six years experience in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market and a focus on high-end homes, joined the Gold Coast brokerage located at 1205 N. Dearborn Pkwy. in late May.

Papanastasatos is no stranger to the luxury end of real estate. As proof, he can point to the $6.5 million listing in the Chicago suburb of Burr Ridge that he is bringing with him to RE/MAX Premier Properties. The home is no ordinary residence. It boasts about 20,000 square feet of interior space, an indoor saltwater swimming pool, a half-court basketball court complete with a Chicago Bulls logo emblazoned on the floor and a theater room.

The home is situated on 2½ acres of land that include a scenic pond. For those who like spending time outdoors, there's a 4,000-square-foot patio. Chefs will be happy with the two kitchens, while those who entertain will appreciate the pair of bars.

“It is a thrill to see homes like these,” Papanastasatos said. “But I love homes of all kinds. I like helping people sell their homes and get into their dream homes. I enjoy talking to people and finding out what they like and what goals they have. You really do become an adviser to your clients, helping them make the right choices when it comes to selling or buying.”

For Papanastasatos, the move to RE/MAX Premier Properties makes sense. It gives him a chance to expand his presence in the city while still serving the suburban communities in which he has become a force. It also gives him the opportunity to take advantage of the resources and services offered by the national brand that is RE/MAX.

“I have friends who are agents working with RE/MAX. They have so many positive things to say about the brand. I wanted that for myself, too,” Papanastasatos said. “I also wanted a downtown office to serve as my base. From here I can work the suburbs as well as the city and continue to build my business.”

Papanastasatos is now settling into his new home with RE/MAX, and he's happy with his experience at the brokerage.

“This has been a very positive experience so far,” Papanastasatos said. “I like the systems that RE/MAX has in place. There is a positive mental attitude at this office. The people are friendly. It has been a very good move for me.”

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties around the globe; www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S, and www.remaxcommercial.com displays commercial properties available nationwide and abroad. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

May Home Sales Activity in Metro Chicago Real Estate Market Shows Condos Leading the Way to Higher Values, Accelerated Sales, Reports RE/MAX

2013-06-17T17:38:00.001-05:00

CHICAGO, June 17, 2013 – A renewed appetite for condominium purchases has become apparent in the metro Chicago real estate market through the first five months of 2013. That trend was especially clear in May when a 35 percent increase in sales of attached homes (primarily condominiums and townhouses) helped the overall residential market post a 30 percent gain in total sales when compared to May of last year. The detached-home segment of the residential market registered a 27 percent sales increase.

The month’s sales total of 10,822 units was the largest for May since 2006, and not only were more homes selling, but the pace of sales quickened considerably. For homes sold in May, the average number of days spent on the market before finding a buyer fell to 115 days from 160 days a year earlier.

The faster pace of home sales has substantially reduced the inventory of for-sale listings. At the end of May, the total inventory of listings was approximately half as large as it was just a year earlier. Based on the May sales pace, there is currently a three-month supply of homes on the market. A year ago, there was a six-month supply.

This tighter inventory and rising demand, coupled with mortgage interest rates that are less than 4 percent for many borrowers, led to a solid increase in home values across the seven-county metro Chicago area. The median sales price in May was $185,000, up 8 percent from the $171,000 median price recorded in May 2012.

Another factor helping to boost prices was the declining percentage of sales involving distressed properties (foreclosures and short sales). They accounted for 33 percent of May sales, down from 37 percent a month earlier and 36 percent in May of last year.

The median home sales price for May rose in all seven metro counties and in the City of Chicago. In fact, Chicago recorded the biggest increase, a 16 percent gain to $231,025, up from $199,000 a year earlier.

The May median home sales price for each of the seven metro counties was as follows: Cook was up 9 percent to $185,000; DuPage rose 8 percent to $225,000; Kane climbed 5 percent to $165,000; Kendall was up 14 percent to $180,250; Lake rose 2 percent to $189,000; McHenry gained 1 percent to $154,000; and Will had a 10 percent increase to $177,200.

All seven counties also notched substantial increases in transaction volume compared to the level of activity recorded a year earlier. Cook was up 28 percent to 6,185 units; DuPage up 32 percent to 1,327 units; Kane up 41 percent to 762 units; Kendall up 13 percent to 186 units; Lake up 39 percent to 1,025 units; McHenry up 46 percent to 482 units and Will was up 21 percent to 854 units. Transaction volume rose 30 percent in Chicago to 2,796 units.

Average market time for homes sold in May ranged from a high of 136 days in Will County to 109 days in Cook County and just 94 days in Chicago.

Attached Homes

The 35 percent increase in the number of attached homes sold in May and a reduced inventory of listings in the metro area helped generate an 8 percent rise in the May median sales price to $150,500. The average market time shortened to 116 days compared to 168 days in May 2012. During the month, 4,157 attached units changed hands in the metro area.

Transaction volume rose in all seven counties and in Chicago as follows: Cook up 33 percent to 2,971 units; DuPage up 37 percent to 482 units; Kane up 48 percent to 142 units; Kendall up 17 percent to 49 units; Lake up 30 percent to 226 units; McHenry up 92 percent to 100 units; Will up 38 percent to 186 units, and Chicago up 36 percent to 1,826 units.

Cook County led the way in terms of gains in the median sales price, with a 14 percent increase to $188,000. DuPage was up 2 percent to $120,000; Kane up 8 percent to $120,000; Kendall down 8 percent to $95,000; Lake up 4 percent to $130,000, and McHenry down 10 percent to $94,750, while Will County had an 11 percent increase to $127,175. The median price in the city climbed 11 percent to $272,500.

Detached Homes

May sales activity resulted in increased transaction volume and a higher median sales price for detached homes in all seven counties and in Chicago. For the metro area as whole, detached sales totaled 6,666 units for the month, up from 5,234 in May of last year, a 27 percent increase.

The median sales price was $206,250, 11 percent more than in May 2012. Average market time was 115 days, down from 156 days a year ago.

Sales activity was especially robust in Kane County (up 40 percent to 620 units), Lake County (up 42 percent to 799 units) and McHenry County (up 37 percent to 382 units). Gains elsewhere were as follows: Cook County sales totaled 3,214 units, a gain of 24 percent; in DuPage County the gain was 29 percent on 845 sales; in Kendall County, 137 homes were sold yielding a 12 percent increase, and in Will County, sales rose 17 percent to 668 units. Chicago registered a 20 percent gain with 970 units sold.

Significant increases in the median sales price were registered in all seven counties and in Chicago during May, ranging from 5 to 14 percent when compared to May 2012 levels. Will County led the way with a 14 percent gain to $199,000, and Kendall County also posted a double-digit increase, rising 12 percent to $204,000.

Results for the other counties were as follows: Cook County up 7 percent to $181,575; DuPage County up 9 percent to $300,000; Kane County up 8 percent to $189,950; Lake County up 9 percent to $230,000 and McHenry County up 5 percent to $176,400. The median price in Chicago climbed 7 percent to $160,000.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties around the globe; www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S, and www.remaxcommercial.com displays commercial properties available nationwide and abroad. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Visits Young Elementary in Chicago’s

2013-06-05T10:45:00.001-05:00

CHICAGO, June 4, 2013 – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will pay a June 11 visit to the Ella Flagg Young Elementary School, 1434 N. Parkside Ave., Chicago, in the Austin neighborhood, where the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX real estate network in northern Illinois.

The RE/MAX balloon will be involved in more than 100 educational programs presented by its crew at schools across northern Illinois this year.

All 1,000 students at Young Elementary will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history and the scientific principles involved, and they will see a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will be presented twice beginning at 9 a.m. outdoors on the school grounds, weather permitting, with half the students attending each presentation. The balloon envelope will be inflated with hot air to its full 75-foot height if the program is held outdoors. If the program needs to be moved indoors due to inclement weather, the envelope will be inflated with cold air so that students can walk inside it as part of the educational experience.

Also on hand to enhance the occasion will be a “cold air” version of the RE/MAX Soaring Home Balloon, a house-like inflatable that has become a crowd favorite since being introduced a few years ago.

The RE/MAX balloon has become a nationally recognized corporate symbol since it was created 35 years ago and then combined with the now familiar RE/MAX “Above the Crowd!”® slogan. Today, the balloon enjoys great success in achieving both educational and promotional objectives, appearing frequently at festivals, parades and charity events.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties across the globe and www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Luxury Report on Chicago Real Estate: $1 Million-Plus Home Sales Outpaced Broader Market in January-April Period

2013-06-04T15:46:00.001-05:00

CHICAGO, June 3, 2013 – RE/MAX reports that the luxury segment of the Chicago real estate market, consisting of homes that cost $1 million or more, showed impressive strength through the first four months of 2013. The number of residential sales in that segment increased 32 percent during the period when compared to the same four months last year. In contrast, sales activity for all residential property in Chicago rose 23 percent on the same basis.

Chicago luxury home sales during the first four months of this year were at their highest level since 2008, with 203 properties changing hands, according to the RE/MAX Luxury Report on Chicago Real Estate, a new bimonthly analysis of home sales in the $1 million plus segment.

The median price of a luxury home held fairly steady from January through April. It was $1,383,900 during January and February and rose slightly to $1,395,000 during the March-April period.

While luxury home sales were up in both the attached and detached categories, attached units, consisting of condos, co-ops and townhouses, registered the greatest gains when compared to the same months in 2012. Sales activity rose 36 percent to 106 units, including a 39 percent increase in the March-April period.

The median price of an attached luxury home sold in March and April came in at $1.39 million, up from $1.32 million a year earlier.

The Near North area dominated the luxury attached market in the city, accounting for 77 of the 106 sales and generating a robust median sales price of $1,545,000 during March and April, which is 18 percent higher than during the same period last year. The Loop accounted for 15 of the remaining 29 sales in the luxury attached category, with the March-April median price coming in at $1,345,000, compared to $1,330,000 a year earlier.

Sales of detached luxury properties in Chicago increased by 28 percent to 97 units, and the median price for March and April reached $1.43 million, up 16 percent from the two-month period in 2012.

The two leading communities for luxury detached sales were Lincoln Park and North Center. Twenty-eight luxury homes were sold in Lincoln Park during the first four months of this year, compared to 32 a year earlier. In North Center, 27 homes sold during the period, up from 11 last year.

The March-April median price in Lincoln Park was $1,598,000, which represented a 25 percent increase from a year earlier. In North Center the median was $1,286,750, a gain of 4 percent. The highest median price for a luxury home was on the Near North Side, where five homes were sold at a median price of $2,125,000.

Overall, six communities accounted for 91 of the 97 detached luxury homes sold in the city from January through April. In addition to Lincoln Park, North Center and the Near North Side, those communities are Lake View, Logan Square and West Town.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties across the globe and www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Ultimate Professionals to Add Plainfield Office; Broker/Owner Views Metro Chicago Real Estate Market as Ripe for Expansion

2013-06-03T10:56:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO, May 31, 2013 – RE/MAX Broker/Owner Kathy McCauley-Dames will bring three decades of experience to the metropolitan Chicago real estate market of Plainfield, Ill., when she opens her newest RE/MAX Ultimate Professionals brokerage there this autumn. It will be the second RE/MAX office she has established in the past year. Her first office opened in Shorewood, Ill., last spring. It is located at 576 Brook Forest Ave., and now is staffed by 16 brokers.

Although still in the process of finalizing the location for her new Plainfield office, McCauley-Dames plans for it to be in the central portion of the village, conveniently serving the buyers and sellers of Will County as the residential real estate market there continues to soar. The strong pace of business in Will County convinced her that the time was right to expand her operation. In April, Will County home sales rose 8 percent and the median sales price climbed 10 percent compared to the same time period last year.

“My numbers for our Shorewood office are almost as good as some offices that have 50 agents. We’re doing phenomenally well,” McCauley-Dames said. “The office is bustling every day with brokers and their clients who are taking advantage of the strong housing market. Plainfield, with its excellent reputation as a residential community, seemed like a natural choice for an expansion.”

McCauley-Dames is fully committed to the success of her new office and agents. With Will County on the upswing, her plans for growth aren’t limited to the new Plainfield office. She plans to enlarge her roster of brokers to better serve the community, both in Shorewood and now in Plainfield, where she wants to quickly put in place a staff of 8 to10 brokers.

She will also continue to host classes offered by the Illinois Academy of Real Estate for those interested in earning a real estate broker’s license. So whether someone is interested in becoming a real estate broker or already is part of the RE/MAX Ultimate Professionals brokerage team, McCauley-Dames remains readily available to those who seek her mentorship.

“I’m either in the office or the field,” she said. “Having 30-plus years of full-time experience affords me the opportunity to assist my agents in working through a variety of problems they might face in this fast-paced market. Usually, I can answer their questions, and if I can’t, I will find the person who can. I am eager to share my knowledge and business leads with our brokers so that they can reach new levels of sales achievement. When you combine that kind of supportive management style with a team of agents committed to delivering outstanding service, it makes RE/MAX Ultimate Professionals an extremely attractive and productive working environment."

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties across the globe and www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Plaza Announces Plans to Open Woodstock Office Soon; Another Sign of Recovery for Metro Chicago Real Estate Market

2013-05-29T11:40:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO, May 28, 2013 – A new RE/MAX Plaza office will open its doors in Woodstock, Ill., later this year in another sign that real estate professionals anticipate continued recovery in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market.

Rob Schaid, managing broker and owner of RE/MAX Plaza, called the move a logical next step for the brokerage firm, which already operates two offices in McHenry County. Woodstock, one of the largest cities in the county, has been a missing link.

That will change when Schaid opens his new Woodstock office, which he said will take place within the next six months.

“Woodstock is a great community in which to sell real estate, and RE/MAX already has a great market share there, Schaid said. “By opening an office in Woodstock, we are showing our commitment to helping the residents of that community meet their real estate goals.”

The existing RE/MAX Plaza offices in McHenry County are in Richmond and the City of McHenry. The brokerage also has a Wauconda office in neighboring Lake County, Ill.

Schaid hasn’t yet chosen a location for his new Woodstock office. He has, though, purchased the rights to open a RE/MAX franchise in the city, a move he said represents the latest growth strategy for his brokerage.

“Woodstock is the largest town in McHenry County without a RE/MAX brokerage,” Schaid said. “It’s nice to be able to bring the brand back to that community.”

Like many communities in the Chicago area, Woodstock is enjoying a brisk housing market this spring. Homes in the Woodstock area are selling quickly and in sizable numbers.

This appealed to Schaid, who plans to open his new Woodstock office with five brokers, then steadily grow to at least twice that number to better serve this growing real estate market.

“Woodstock is definitely in full recovery mode right now,” Schaid said. “Activity has been strong there for some time, and we expect the Woodstock market to continue seeing steady growth. It’s one of the reasons why it’s so important for us to open an office there.”

Schaid began his real estate career in 1999 and steadily expanded RE/MAX Plaza, which was founded by his father, adding a Richmond office in 2006 and opening the Wauconda office in 2012.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties across the globe and www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Suburban Brokers in Arlington Heights Plan June 8 Garage Sale to Benefit Lurie Children's Hospital

2013-05-28T16:34:00.001-05:00

CHICAGO, May 28, 2013 – The brokers at RE/MAX Suburban, 1808 Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, Ill., are planning a June 8 sidewalk garage sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of their office, with all proceeds benefitting Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH).

“We hope many families in the area will turn out to do a little bargain shopping and help a great local institution,” said Mary Zentz, the broker with RE/MAX Suburban who originated the garage sale idea.

“It occurred to me because I’m personally in the process of cleaning out two houses and consolidating them into a single residence. In talking with some of my office colleagues, we realized all of us had many salable items for which we’d like to find new homes, and a joint garage sale would be a good way to do it. Plus, we have been looking for ideas to continue our long-time support for Lurie Children’s Hospital.”

Anyone who has items they would like to contribute to the sale can find out more by contacting Zentz directly at the RE/MAX Suburban office in Arlington Heights, which is at the intersection of Arlington Heights and Palatine roads. She can be reached at 847-707-9507.

“We’re looking for items that would sell for at least $5 each, and would be happy to accept donations meeting that criterion. Anything that isn’t sold on June 8 will be donated to another local charity,” she said.

RE/MAX is a platinum sponsor of Lurie Children’s Hospital. RE/MAX associates in northern Illinois contributed $129,000 to the hospital last year and more than $2.6 million since it begans its relationship in 1992.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties across the globe and www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. Along with its support for CMNH, RE/MAX is the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Visits Jenner Academy of the Arts in Chicago’s Near North Neighborhood on June 5 for Educational Presentation

2013-05-24T10:25:00.004-05:00

CHICAGO, May 22, 2013 – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will pay a June 5 visit to the Edward Jenner Elementary Academy of the Arts, 1119 N. Cleveland Ave., Chicago, in the Near North neighborhood, where the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX real estate network in northern Illinois.

The RE/MAX balloon has become a nationally recognized corporate symbol since it was created 35 years ago and then combined with the now familiar RE/MAX “Above the Crowd!”® slogan. Today, the balloon enjoys great success in achieving both educational and promotional objectives, appearing frequently at festivals, parades and charity events.

The RE/MAX balloon will be involved in more than 100 educational programs presented by its crew at schools across northern Illinois this year.

Four-hundred students at the school will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history and the scientific principles involved, and they will see a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will be presented twice starting at 9:30 a.m. in the school gymnasium, giving all students a chance to participate. The 75-foot-tall balloon envelope will be inflated with cold air, permitting students to walk inside it. The presentation then will conclude outdoors with a demonstration of how the balloon basket and burners operate.

Also on hand to enhance the occasion will be a “cold air” version of the RE/MAX Soaring Home Balloon, a house-like inflatable that has become a crowd favorite since being introduced a few years ago.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties across the globe and www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Visits Rock Cut Elementary School in Loves Park on June 3 for Educational Presentation

2013-05-22T11:36:00.000-05:00

Students walk inside the RE/MAX hot air balloon's envelope during a special indoor educational presentation.

CHICAGO, May 20, 2013 – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will pay a June 3 visit to Rock Cut Elementary School, 7944 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park, Ill., where the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX real estate network in northern Illinois.

The RE/MAX balloon has become a nationally recognized corporate symbol since it was created 35 years ago and then combined with the now familiar RE/MAX “Above the Crowd!”® slogan. Today, the balloon enjoys great success in achieving both educational and promotional objectives, appearing frequently at festivals, parades and charity events.

The RE/MAX balloon will be involved in more than 100 educational programs presented by its crew at schools across northern Illinois this year. The balloon visit to Rock Cut was arranged by Shari Siracusa, a broker with RE/MAX Property Source in Rockford, Ill.

Three-hundred-sixty students at the school will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history and the scientific principles involved, and they will see a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will be presented twice starting at 8:45 a.m. in the school gymnasium, giving all students a chance to participate. The 75-foot-tall balloon envelope will be inflated with cold air, permitting students to walk inside it. The presentation then will conclude outdoors with a demonstration of how the balloon basket and burners operate.

Also on hand to enhance the occasion will be a “cold air” version of the RE/MAX Soaring Home Balloon, a house-like inflatable that has become a crowd favorite since being introduced a few years ago.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties across the globe and www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon to Visit Peterson Elementary School in Naperville on May 28

2013-05-22T09:35:00.000-05:00

The RE/MAX hot air balloon will visit Danielle-Joy Peterson Elementary in Naperville on May 28

CHICAGO, May 21, 2013 – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will pay a May 28 visit to Danielle-Joy Peterson Elementary School, 4008 Chinaberry Lane, Naperville, Ill., where the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX real estate network in northern Illinois.

The RE/MAX balloon has become a nationally recognized corporate symbol since it was created 35 years ago and then combined with the now familiar RE/MAX “Above the Crowd!”® slogan. Today, the balloon enjoys great success in achieving both educational and promotional objectives, appearing frequently at festivals, parades and charity events.

The RE/MAX balloon will be involved in more than 100 educational programs presented by its crew at schools across northern Illinois this year. The balloon visit to Peterson Elementary was arranged by Joe Kucharski with RE/MAX of Naperville in Naperville.

Ninety 5th grade students at the school will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history and the scientific principles involved, and they will see a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will be presented at 12:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium, giving all students a chance to participate. The 75-foot-tall balloon envelope will be inflated with cold air, permitting students to walk inside it. The presentation then will conclude outdoors with a demonstration of how the balloon basket and burners operate.

Also on hand to enhance the occasion will be a “cold air” version of the RE/MAX Soaring Home Balloon, a house-like inflatable that has become a crowd favorite since being introduced a few years ago.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties across the globe and www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Collection Unveils New Stand-Alone Website, New Resource for Buyers and Sellers of Luxury Homes

2013-05-21T15:34:00.000-05:00

The RE/MAX Collection website is a portal to luxury properties and real estate agents across the U.S.

CHICAGO, May 21, 2013 – RE/MAX has launched a new stand-alone website for luxury properties. The RE/MAX Collection, www.theremaxcollecton.com, is marked by a distinctive onyx and silver logo and presents high-end home listings across the United States in a format featuring a clean, simple design.

More than just a new look, the stand-alone site focuses on the needs of luxury market home buyers and sellers – offering simple search functions, stunning photography and easy navigation.

“The RE/MAX Collection website demonstrates the highest commitment by RE/MAX to serve this elite group of clients, giving them a unique portal to luxury properties and the RE/MAX brokers who are best able to help them with their needs in this specialized market,” said Laura Ortoleva, media spokesperson for RE/MAX in northern Illinois. Along with helping buyers and sellers as they navigate the high-end property market, the program also provides RE/MAX luxury specialists with exclusive training and marketing tools that allow them to deliver premier service to their clients.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties across the globe and www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Visits Scammon Elementary in Chicago’s

2013-05-21T11:25:00.000-05:00

The RE/MAX hot air balloon visits K-12 schools year-long in northern Illinois

CHICAGO, May 21, 2013 – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will pay a May 30 visit to the Jonathan Y. Scammon Elementary School, 4201 W. Henderson St., Chicago, in the Kilbourn Park neighborhood, where the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX real estate network in northern Illinois.

The RE/MAX balloon has become a nationally recognized corporate symbol since it was created 35 years ago and then combined with the now familiar RE/MAX “Above the Crowd!”® slogan. Today, the balloon enjoys great success in achieving both educational and promotional objectives, appearing frequently at festivals, parades and charity events.

The RE/MAX balloon will be involved in more than 100 educational programs presented by its crew at schools across northern Illinois this year.

Eight-hundred-fifty students at the school will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history and the scientific principles involved, and they will see a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will begin at 9 a.m. outdoors on the school grounds, weather permitting.

The balloon envelope will be inflated with hot air to its full 75-foot height if the program is held outdoors. If the program needs to be moved indoors due to inclement weather, the envelope will be inflated with cold air so that students can walk inside it as part of the educational experience.

Also on hand to enhance the occasion will be a “cold air” version of the RE/MAX Soaring Home Balloon, a house-like inflatable that has become a crowd favorite since being introduced a few years ago.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The www.global.remax.com website allows consumers to search properties across the globe and www.theremaxcollection.com is a specialized portal of luxury properties across the U.S. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

C.A.R. Awards for 2012 Success in Chicago Real Estate Sales Highlight Productivity of RE/MAX Brokers

2013-05-17T16:30:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO, May 17, 2013 – RE/MAX brokers claimed a substantial share of the honors when the Chicago Association of Realtors® (C.A.R.) announced its annual awards for sales accomplishments in 2012. The results were revealed a few weeks ago and underscore the outstanding productivity of RE/MAX brokers when it comes to Chicago real estate sales. RE/MAX brokers increased the number of C.A.R awards they took home at the Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze levels by 38 percent, compared to awards received a year ago.

Once again, Linda O’Donnell, broker/owner of RE/MAX Signature, 2411 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago, and Robert Padron, broker/owner of RE/MAX Cityview, 6430 N. Central Ave., Chicago, are among the 14 brokers honored with the Platinum Level Achiever Award for sales of 165 or more units. O’Donnell and Padron also earned the Silver Level Achiever Award for residential sales of $20-$30 million.

A Gold Level Achiever Award for sales between 115 and 164 units went to Angel Aguilar of RE/MAX Fidelity, 2137 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago, and Silver Level Achiever Awards for sales of 70 to 114 units were earned by Michael Scola and Allen Snyder of RE/MAX Partners, 6420 W. Cermak Road, Berwyn, Ill., and by Hasani Steele of RE/MAX Premier Properties, 1205 N. Dearborn Pkwy., Chicago.

Silver Level Achiever Awards for sales volume went to Kristi Gunther and Marlene Granacki of RE/MAX Exclusive Properties, 2951 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago.

Earning Bronze Level Achiever Awards for sales of 50 to 69 units were Ivana Shudnow of RE/MAX House of Real Estate, 3152 W. Devon Ave., Chicago, Jose Campoverde and David Piché of RE/MAX Signature, Martha Lozano of RE/MAX City, 7020 W. Higgins Ave., Chicago, Hector Garcia of RE/MAX Partners, Rita Neri of RE/MAX Vision 212, 1500 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, and Connie Abels of RE/MAX Edge, 3843 N. Broadway, Chicago.

RE/MAX brokers also captured two other top awards from C.A.R. John Kubacki of RE/MAX Signature and Mike Kravitz of RE/MAX Premier Properties were honored for their achievement in renting residential units.

C.A.R. also honored brokers who were top producers in either unit sales or dollar volume in each of Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods and six near-west suburbs. Winning in both the unit sales and dollar volume categories in a single neighborhood/suburb were Hector Garcia, RE/MAX Partners, for Berwyn; Connie Abels, RE/MAX Edge, for Rogers Park, and Julie Anderson, RE/MAX 10, 5601 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, for Clearing.

RE/MAX brokers were leaders for total units sold in five other Chicago communities: Robert Padron of RE/MAX Cityview for Portage Park, Angel Navarro of RE/MAX Signature for East Garfield Park, Hasani Steele of RE/MAX Premier Properties for Kenwood and Angel Aguilar of RE/MAX Fidelity for New City.

In seven other communities, including two suburbs, RE/MAX brokers who led in dollar volume sold were as follows: Marlene Granacki of RE/MAX Exclusive Properties for Uptown, Corina Flores-Moradi of RE/MAX Signature for Hermosa, Hasani Steele of RE/MAX Premier Properties for Grand Boulevard, Washington Park and Woodlawn, Angel Aguilar of RE/MAX Fidelity for suburban Forest View and Hector Garcia of RE/MAX Partners for suburban Stickney.

C.A.R. also recognized other top producers for both unit sales and dollar volume. RE/MAX affiliates honored were as follows:

Top Producers – Residential Unit Sales
40-49 units
Luis Campoverde, RE/MAX Signature
Michael Zapart, RE/MAX City
Regina Zak Tomas, RE/MAX City
Mera Kordic, RE/MAX Signature
Marek Prus, RE/MAX City
Jack Stempien, RE/MAX City
Kristi Gunther, RE/MAX Exclusive Properties

30-39 units
Angel Navarro, RE/MAX Signature
Corina Flores-Moradi, RE/MAX Signature
Maria Rodriguez, RE/MAX Partners
Jack Kosycarz, RE/MAX City
Mark Zipperer, RE/MAX Edge
Marcin Krempa, RE/MAX Edge
Juanita Flores, RE/MAX 10
Jose Luis Miranda, RE/MAX 10
Alejandra Benitez, RE/MAX Partners
Michael Gerhardt, RE/MAX Edge
Ted Krzysztofiak, RE/MAX City
Liz Sidorowicz, RE/MAX Signature

20-29 units
Michael C. Sorensen, RE/MAX City
Adam Rodriguez, RE/MAX Signature
Karen Breen Elia, RE/MAX Exclusive Properties
Carmen Rodriguez, RE/MAX Signature
Dorota Gessek, RE/MAX City
Hugo Rodriguez, RE/MAX Signature
Andy Kordic, RE/MAX Signature
Cynthia Bauer, RE/MAX Premier Properties
Nick Steffes, RE/MAX Vision 212
Michael Michalak, RE/MAX Signature
Kelly Klaff, RE/MAX Vision 212
Pedro Rosales, RE/MAX Signature
Ivan Santiago, RE/MAX Cityview
Jose Tenezaca, RE/MAX City
Scott Foster, RE/MAX Edge
Monica Luterek, RE/MAX City
Kinga Andrzejewska, RE/MAX City
Sylvia Martinez-Johnson, RE/MAX Platinum, Chicago
Marisa Macchione, RE/MAX Vision 212
Andrzej Swiderski, RE/MAX City
Julie Anderson, RE/MAX 10
Elena Dan, RE/MAX 1st Class Realty, Skokie, Ill.
Ricardo Morales, RE/MAX Signature
Lydia Memeti, RE/MAX City
Grace Wnuk, RE/MAX City
Jennifer Tapia, RE/MAX 10
Andrew Filipowski, RE/MAX City
Yolanda Zapiain, RE/MAX 10
Mark Bystrowicz, RE/MAX City
Dean Chowaniec, RE/MAX 10
Eduardo Padro, RE/MAX City
Santiago Valdez, RE/MAX Signature
Edyta Moczybroda, RE/MAX Signature
Michael Nardella, RE/MAX Vision 212
Gustavo Vargas, RE/MAX Partners
Teresa Slowinski, RE/MAX City
Marlene Granacki, RE/MAX Exclusive Properties
Jacqueline Betancourt, RE/MAX Signature
Barbara Augustyn Rago, RE/MAX City

Top Producers -- Residential Sales Volume - Team
$10+ million
Michael Scola, RE/MAX Partners
Mark Zipperer, RE/MAX Edge
Residential Sales Volume - Individual

$14+ million
Cynthia Bauer, RE/MAX Premier Properties

$13+ million
Hasani Steele, RE/MAX Premier Properties

$12+ million
Rita Neri, RE/MAX Vision 212

$11 million
Angel Aguilar, RE/MAX Fidelity

$7+ million
David Piché, RE/MAX Signature
Ivana Shudnow, RE/MAX House of Real Estate
Martha Lozano, RE/MAX City

$6+ million
Jose Campoverde, RE/MAX Signature
Marcin Krempa, RE/MAX Edge
Marek Prus, RE/MAX City
Karen Breen Elia, RE/MAX Exclusive Properties
Angel Navarro, RE/MAX Signature
Allen Snyder, RE/MAX Partners
Hector Garcia, RE/MAX Partners
Luis Campoverde, RE/MAX Signature

$5+ million
Regina Zak Tomas, RE/MAX City
Connie Abels, RE/MAX Edge
Brian Ban, RE/MAX Exclusive Properties
Michael Zapart, RE/MAX City
Michael Michalak, RE/MAX Signature
Elizabeth Sidorowicz, RE/MAX Signature
Irene Kwasny, RE/MAX Vision 212
Jack Stempien, RE/MAX City
Michael Gerhardt, RE/MAX Edge
Kelly Klaff, RE/MAX Vision 212

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Visits Harrison Elementary School in Wonder Lake on May 24 for Educational Presentation

2013-05-17T16:19:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO, May 16, 2013 – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will pay a May 24 visit to Harrison Elementary School, 6809 McCullom Lake Road, Wonder Lake, Ill., where the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX real estate network in northern Illinois.

The RE/MAX balloon has become a nationally recognized corporate symbol since it was created 35 years ago and then combined with the now familiar RE/MAX “Above the Crowd!”® slogan. Today, the balloon enjoys great success in achieving both educational and promotional objectives, appearing frequently at festivals, parades and charity events.

The RE/MAX balloon will be involved in more than 100 educational programs presented by its crew at schools across northern Illinois this year.

Four-hundred-thirty students at the school will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history and the scientific principles involved, and they will see a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will be presented twice starting at 9:30 a.m. in the school gymnasium, giving all students a chance to participate. The 75-foot-tall balloon envelope will be inflated with cold air, permitting students to walk inside it. The presentation then will conclude outdoors with a demonstration of how the balloon basket and burners operate.

Also on hand to enhance the occasion will be a “cold air” version of the RE/MAX Soaring Home Balloon, a house-like inflatable that has become a crowd favorite since being introduced a few years ago.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

20 RE/MAX Brokerage Firms in Metro Chicago Real Estate Market Point to Acceleration in Housing Recovery, RE/MAX Reports

2013-05-17T15:45:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO, May 16, 2013 – Twenty RE/MAX brokerages serving the metropolitan Chicago real estate market as part of the RE/MAX network in northern Illinois were among those recognized in the 2013 REAL Trends 500 analysis of the nation’s most productive residential real estate firms. Compiled annually by REAL Trends magazine, it is perhaps the most comprehensive annual comparison of real estate brokerage sales performance.

REAL Trends ranks the top 500 firms nationwide based on both closed transaction sides and closed sales volume during the prior year. It also recognizes all brokerage firms that close at least 500 transaction sides and uses the data it collects to measure brokerage performance in a number of other ways.

Several Chicago-area RE/MAX brokerages were ranked by REAL Trends as among the Top 50 firms nationally in specific performance categories.

RE/MAX Professionals Select of Naperville was ranked 24th in terms of closed transaction sides per associate with an average of 24.4. It also ranked 26th nationally in sales volume per associate.

RE/MAX Synergy of Flossmoor and Orland Park ranked 40th in closed transactions sides per associate, with an average of 21.5. In addition, the firm was among the 50 brokerages recording the largest percentage increase from 2011 to 2012 in both closed transactions and closed sales volume. RE/MAX Synergy was 13th in transactions with an 89 percent gain and 19th in sales volume with a 70 percent increase.

Also ranked in the Top 50 for percentage increase in closed transaction sides was RE/MAX 10, which has offices in Oak Lawn, Palos Heights and Chicago. It ranked 46th with a 45 percent increase.

Seven RE/MAX brokerages serving metropolitan Chicago ranked among the top 500 firms based on closed transaction sides. Three of those firms also were among the top 500 for closed sales volume.

Another 13 RE/MAX brokerage firms in the Chicago metro area qualified for the REAL Trends Up-and-Comers list by closing 500 or more transaction sides. Four-hundred-sixty-three RE/MAX brokerages nationwide were identified by REAL Trends as having closed at least 500 transaction sides last year.

The 20 Chicago-area RE/MAX brokerages recognized by REAL Trends represent a significant increase relative to last year, underscoring the strong rebound in local real estate sales activity.

The RE/MAX brokerages in the 2013 REAL Trends 500 are as follows:

RE/MAX Suburban, with offices in Arlington Heights, Glen Ellyn, Libertyville, Mt. Prospect, Schaumburg and Wheaton, ranked 173rd in closed transaction sides and 183rd in closed sales volume.

RE/MAX Synergy, with offices in Flossmoor and Orland Park, ranked 328th in closed transaction sides.

RE/MAX of Naperville in Naperville and RE/MAX Enterprises of Downers Grove ranked 348th in closed transaction sides and 333rd in closed sales volume.

RE/MAX 10, with offices in Chicago, Oak Lawn and Palos Park, ranked 426th in closed transaction sides.

RE/MAX Professionals Select of Naperville ranked 457th in closed transaction sides and 464th in closed sales volume.

RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest, with offices in Algonquin, Crystal Lake, Huntley, Lake Zurich and Palatine, ranked 480th in closed transaction sides.

RE/MAX Showcase, with offices in Gurnee, Long Grove and Waukegan, ranked 500th in closed transaction sides.

The following metro Chicago RE/MAX brokerages qualified as Up-and-Comers and are listed in descending order based on closed transaction sides:

RE/MAX All Pro, Bloomingdale and Sugar Grove – RE/MAX Great American North, St. Charles
RE/MAX City, Chicago
RE/MAX Action, Lisle
RE/MAX Signature, Chicago
RE/MAX of Barrington in Barrington – RE/MAX NOW in Lake Barrington
RE/MAX Excels, Geneva
RE/MAX Vision 212, Chicago
RE/MAX Experts, Buffalo Grove
RE/MAX Horizon, Elgin
RE/MAX Central, Roselle
RE/MAX 2000, Crete
RE/MAX Plaza, McHenry, Richmond, Wauconda and Woodstock
RE/MAX Advantage Realty, Antioch
The 2013 REAL Trends survey underscored the overall strength of RE/MAX nationwide. Associates at RE/MAX brokerages averaged 17.1 transaction sides last year. That figure was more than twice the 7.9 average of all competing agents in the survey. It was also twice as high as the averages posted by national competitors such as Coldwell Banker (8.5), Century 21 (8.2), Prudential (8.1) and Keller-Williams (7.3). When the survey’s top 500 brokerages were ranked by per-agent transaction sides – one of the most meaningful measures of productivity – RE/MAX claimed 40 of the spots on the Top 50 list.

Overall, 118 RE/MAX brokerages qualified to be ranked among the top 500, or nearly 24 percent, a percentage greater than any competitor. RE/MAX agents averaged $3.4 million each in sales volume, which is 60 percent more than the average of all other agents in the survey. Even with their status at the top of the industry, RE/MAX agents improved their performance over the prior year’s survey, closing 13 percent more transaction sides and 12 percent more sales volume.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Strong April Gains for Metro Chicago Real Estate Market Point to Acceleration in Housing Recovery, RE/MAX Reports

2013-05-15T16:59:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO, May 15, 2013 – After months of making steady progress, the housing recovery in the seven-county metropolitan Chicago real estate market kicked into a higher gear in April, according to an analysis by RE/MAX. Compared to the previous April, total sales of attached and detached homes increased 32 percent, while the median price of a home sold during the month climbed 9 percent, and it took an average of 44 fewer days for those homes to find a buyer.

The RE/MAX analysis is based on home sales reported by Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC, the regional multiple listing service. Home sales reported for the month of April totaled 9,046 units, up from 6,869 a year ago. The median sales price rose to $175,000 from $160,000 a year earlier.

Sales activity rose in all seven counties in the metro Chicago market last month when compared to activity levels of April 2012, with Lake County turning in especially impressive results. Lake County sales were up 49 percent to 877 units, while the median sales price rose 15 percent to $187,000. Sales gains elsewhere in the metro area were as follows: up 31 percent in Cook County to 5,207 units; up 29 percent in Chicago to 2,373 units; up 37 percent in DuPage County to 1,076 units; up 31 percent in Kane County to 640 units; up 25 percent in Kendall County to 180 units; up 43 percent in McHenry County to 408 units, and up 8 percent in Will County to 657 units.

In addition to Lake County, the median home sales price climbed in four counties and Chicago. Cook County recorded a 12 percent increase to $172,750. In DuPage, the median price climbed 3 percent to $215,450. In McHenry, it was up 2 percent to $148,950, and in Will it advanced 10 percent to $170,000. Chicago enjoyed the largest increase in the April median price with a striking 22 percent gain to $219,900.

The median price declined 2 percent in Kane to $151,950 and fell 4 percent in Kendall to $156,650.

“One likely factor in the general increase in median price was that short sales and foreclosures accounted for a lower percentage of total sales this April than they had a year ago,” said Laura Ortoleva, media spokesperson for RE/MAX in northern Illinois. “Sales of those distressed homes represented 37 percent of all April home sales, down from 40 percent in April of last year and 43 percent in March of this year.”

Detached Homes

April sales of detached homes in the metro area totaled 5,678 units, compared to 4,312 a year earlier, an increase of 32 percent. The median sales price for those homes rose 8 percent to $190,625, its highest level since last July. Average market time continued to shorten, coming in at 128 days compared to 165 days during the prior April.

Both sales activity and the median sales price registered strong gains in the detached-home segment in all seven metro counties, as well as in Chicago. Transaction activity rose 53 percent in Lake County to 671 units and 45 percent in McHenry County to 329 units when compare to April of last year. Transaction gains in the other counties were as follows: 32 percent in Cook to 2,836 units, 37 percent in DuPage to 703 units, 29 percent in Kane to 508 units, 18 percent in Kendall to 125 units and 3 percent in Will to 506 units. Transactions climbed 24 percent in Chicago to 926 units.

As for median prices, the largest gain was 22 percent in Lake County to $227,701. Results for the other counties were as follows: Cook up 9 percent to $172,218; DuPage up 2 percent to $270,000; Will up 11 percent to $185,000; Kendall up 5 percent to $190,250; McHenry up 5 percent to $170,000, and Kane up 2 percent to $179,950. In Chicago, the median price of a detached home increased 16 percent to $155,000.

Attached Homes

April sales of attached homes also were up 32 percent compared to the same month in 2012. Closed sales totaled 3,368 units in the metro Chicago real estate market, and the average market time shrank to 129 days from 186 days last year, meaning that homes required nearly two months less time to sell than they did a year ago. The median sales price climbed 8 percent to $140,000, the highest median price recorded since June of last year.

All seven counties and Chicago registered gains in transaction volume with gains of at least 19 percent. Kendall County led the way with a 45 percent increase to 55 units. Cook County, which is the dominant county for attached-home sales in the metro area, had a 30 percent increase in activity to 2,371 units, including 1,446 in Chicago, where the increase was 32 percent. Results in the other counties were as follows: DuPage up 37 percent to 373 units; Kane up 38 percent to 132 units; Lake up 36 percent to 206 units; McHenry up 34 percent to 79 units, and Will up 28 percent to 151 units.

The median price climbed in five counties and in Chicago, with Chicago turning in the best performance. There the median sales price rose to $270,250, up 22 percent from April 2012. Results for the seven counties were as follows: Cook up 17 percent to $175,000; DuPage up 2 percent to $125,000; Kane down 16 percent to $108,750; Kendall up 21 percent to $110,000; Lake up 10 percent to $120,875; McHenry down 23 percent to $78,000, and Will up 10 percent to $121,000.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 91,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Visits Jesse Owens Community Academy in Chicago’s West Pullman Community on May 21 for Educational Presentation

2013-05-15T10:34:00.001-05:00

The RE/MAX hot air balloon and Soaring Home cold air balloon visit K-12 schools year-long.

CHICAGO, May 10, 2013 – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will pay a May 21 visit to the Jesse Owens Community Academy, 12450 S. State St., Chicago, where the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX real estate network in northern Illinois.

The RE/MAX balloon has become a nationally recognized corporate symbol since it was created 35 years ago and then combined with the now familiar RE/MAX “Above the Crowd!”® slogan. Today, the balloon enjoys great success in achieving both educational and promotional objectives, appearing frequently at festivals, parades and charity events.

The RE/MAX balloon will be involved in more than 100 educational programs presented by its crew at schools across northern Illinois this year.

"The RE/MAX hot air balloon and Soaring Home cold air balloon visits K-12 schools throughout the year in northern Illinois. There is no charge for the program and we encourage schools to contact us for more information. We love teaching children about the science of ballooning," stated Laura Ortoleva, media spokesperson for RE/MAX in northern Illinois.

Three-hundred-fifty students at the school will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history and the scientific principles involved, and they will see a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will be presented twice starting at 1 p.m. in the school gymnasium, giving all students a chance to participate. The 75-foot-tall balloon envelope will be inflated with cold air, permitting students to walk inside it. The presentation then will conclude outdoors with a demonstration of how the balloon basket and burners operate.

Also on hand to enhance the occasion will be a “cold air” version of the RE/MAX Soaring Home Balloon, a house-like inflatable that has become a crowd favorite since being introduced a few years ago.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 89,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Visits Timber Trails Elementary School In Hoffman Estates on May 20 for Educational Presentation

2013-05-14T17:24:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO, May 9, 2013 – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will pay a May 20 visit to Timber Trails Elementary School, 1675 McDonough Road, Hoffman Estates, Ill., where the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX real estate network in northern Illinois.

The RE/MAX balloon has become a nationally recognized corporate symbol since it was created 35 years ago and then combined with the now familiar RE/MAX “Above the Crowd!”® slogan. Today, the balloon enjoys great success in achieving both educational and promotional objectives, appearing frequently at festivals, parades and charity events.

The RE/MAX balloon will be involved in more than 100 educational programs presented by its crew at schools across northern Illinois this year. The balloon visit to Timber Trails was arranged by Broker/Owner John Rosengren of RE/MAX Sauk Valley in Sterling, Ill.

Five-hundred-eighty students at the school will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history and the scientific principles involved, and they will see a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will begin at 9 a.m. outdoors on the school grounds, weather permitting.

The balloon envelope will be inflated with hot air to its full 75-foot height if the program is held outdoors. If the program needs to be moved indoors due to inclement weather, the envelope will be inflated with cold air so that students can walk inside it as part of the educational experience.

Also on hand to enhance the occasion will be a “cold air” version of the RE/MAX Soaring Home Balloon, a house-like inflatable that has become a crowd favorite since being introduced a few years ago.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 89,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Illinoisproperty.com Listings Now Part of Remax.global.com

2013-05-03T17:22:00.001-05:00

www.global.remax.com now carries illinoisproperty.com listings

CHICAGO, May 6, 2013 – The website for the RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, Illinoisproperty.com, has announced that its listings are now part of the first truly global online real estate resource for consumers: www.global.remax.com, which hosts hundreds of thousands of listings in more than 81 countries and territories around the world. The site features customized search tools that allow buyers to seek out properties in 36 languages, translate 40 currencies and find the latest international real estate news. The closest competing website offers properties in only 35 countries, 11 languages and 20 currencies.

Global.remax.com has seen unprecedented success and growth since its launch and has drawn in more than 3 million unique visitors, who have generated more than 93 million page views. The majority of visitors are from China. The most searched city is London and the most searched country is the United States. When international buyers and renters wish to search properties in northern Illinois, they will go to www.global.remax.com, enter United Sates in the search box and the town or MLS ID number for the area in which they wish to buy or rent a property. The site also has additional search parameters, such as type of property, number of rooms, etc., that allow consumers to refine their search. To watch a video about global.remax.com go to: (http://youtu.be/CezOE8J__xA)

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 89,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Mother-Daughter Team from RE/MAX Plans 3rd Annual Michelle Radke Benefit on May 19 in Libertyville to Aid Lurie Children’s Hospital

2013-05-03T14:54:00.000-05:00

CHICAGO, May 3, 2013 – The 3rd Annual Michelle Radke Benefit in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) and Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago will be held from 12:30 to 6 p.m. on May 19 in the Austin’s Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville, Ill.

Music always plays a big role in the event, and this year three top flight local bands are donating their performances to the cause. They are the Michael Lescher Band, the Suburban Cowboys and the Buckley Road Band. Tickets to the event are $10 each and can be purchased online at www.3rdannualmichelleradkebenefit.eventbrite.com or at the door. Along with great music, there will be a silent auction and a raffle where tickets cost $1 each and an array of outstanding prizes can be won, including gift certificates to health clubs, restaurants, a skating rink and much more.

The benefit is a highly personal effort by Donna Radke and her daughter, Jennifer Radke, to honor the memory of Michelle, Donna’s daughter and Jennifer’s sister, whose untimely death at 29 resulted from complications of diabetes, which was first diagnosed when she was 2 years old. Michelle was treated at Milwaukee Children’s Hospital for many years.

“When Michelle was a child dealing with that disease, we came to understand the role that CMNH plays in making sure that many families with sick or injured children don’t have to face those difficulties alone,” said Donna Radke, who is the managing broker of RE/MAX Center in Grayslake, Ill., where Jennifer also works as a broker associate.

The two earlier editions of the Michelle Radke Benefit, which Donna and Jennifer organized on their own, have raised nearly $12,000 for Lurie Children’s Hospital.

All funds raised at the event will benefit Lurie Children’s Hospital.

The following is the tentative music schedule for the event:

12:30 p.m. – doors open

1 to 2 p.m. – Michael Lescher Band

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Buckley Road Band

4 to 5 p.m. – Suburban Cowboys

RE/MAX is the exclusive real estate sponsor of CMNH, an organization that provides funds to more than 170 children’s hospitals in the United States and Canada. Nearly all funds raised by RE/MAX in the Chicago area benefit Lurie Children’s Hospital. Last year RE/MAX associates contributed $129,000 to the hospital.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 89,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest Sets Open House to Celebrate New Huntley Office; Firm Now Has Five Locations in Metro Chicago Real Estate Market

2013-05-02T15:53:00.001-05:00

CHICAGO, May 2, 2013 – The public can visit the newest RE/MAX brokerage in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market, RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest in Huntley, Ill., during an open-house event on May 16.

The open house will run from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the newly opened office, located at 12376 Princeton Dr. All of the office's brokers will be available to discuss housing trends, both in the Huntley area and across the nation, said Dennis White, one of the owners of RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest.

Visitors can enjoy a casual lunch, including hot dogs and beef sandwiches. Throughout the day, office staffers will give away prizes during an event-long series of raffles.

"It should be a nice day for all," White said. "We hope the event gives everyone a chance to meet us and learn about the commitment we have to homebuyers and sellers in this community."

The new office, the fifth in the RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest chain, boasts an open layout and high-end technology. Brokers here have access to flat-screen Internet-capable televisions that allow them to take clients on virtual home tours or to display and discuss key market data with their buyer and seller clients.

White said the new office has the feel of a friendly café.

"We were aiming for an inviting, open feel with this office," he said. This doesn't mean, though, that the Huntley office isn't equipped for business. It features a traditional conference room where brokers can hold private meetings with their clients.

White hopes, too, that the office becomes an important part of the Huntley community. He is inviting community groups to use the facility for their own meetings and events when RE/MAX brokers aren't using the space.

In addition to the new Huntley facility, White and co-owner Mike Origer have RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest offices in Algonquin, Palatine, Lake Zurich and Crystal Lake.

"We think this is a great time to expand," White said. "The real estate industry here is in a period of strong growth. We thought it was the right time to give the people of this community their own RE/MAX office."

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 89,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

Metro Chicago Real Estate Luxury Home Specialist Lissa Weinstein Puts Real Market Advice on YouTube to Reel in Home Sales

2013-05-01T11:27:00.000-05:00

Lissa Weinstein, RE/MAX Premier Propertise, Chicago

CHICAGO, May 1, 2013 – Lissa Weinstein, a Chicago real estate broker and luxury home specialist with RE/MAX Premier Properties in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, relies on two strategies to serve the owners and buyers of high-end homes in the city, one comfortingly old-fashioned, the other high-tech.

First, Weinstein focuses on providing a high quality service for her clients as her primary objective.

"My focus is on quality rather than quantity, which is unique in the Chicago market. I try to limit the number of listings I take so I directly manage marketing and the client relationship."

Second, she's become a busy presence on YouTube, creating a series of videos providing advice to homeowners and sellers and highlighting the different Chicago neighborhoods that buyers can target.

This combination has made Weinstein, who has more than nine years of residential real estate experience, a productive luxury specialist in the city.

This approach is not new for Weinstein. It's one she's practiced during her career, and one that she brought with her when in mid-November of last year she joined RE/MAX Premier Properties, the Gold Coast brokerage located at 1205 N. Dearborn Pkwy.

What is newer, though, is Weinstein's commitment to YouTube, one that's been growing for the last three years. Weinstein today has her own channel on the site, which now boasts more than 60 videos. One of Weinstein's most recent videos highlights the many reasons why 2013 is a good time to buy or sell real estate (http://youtu.be/K8fOc7N0mKE). In the video, Weinstein says she considers 2013 to be the best time for a real estate purchase or sale since the end of the housing downturn.

Other videos provide tips to sellers. One, for example, provides a brief summary of what Weinstein calls San Francisco or California pricing. Sellers who price their homes just a fraction below what they are actually worth can quickly generate intense interest in their properties, a strategy often used in competitive West Coast markets.

Then there are the neighborhood videos in which Weinstein explores the restaurants, housing stock and public places of Chicago's top neighborhoods. Weinstein has created videos exploring the Gold Coast, Lake View, Lincoln Park and other city communities.

"I made a determination about three years ago that this was where the market was heading," Weinstein says of her devotion to YouTube. "My goal with the videos is to provide real information to people who are thinking about moving to Chicago and want to understand the neighborhoods and lifestyles. I want people to recognize me as someone who understands these markets."

Creating the videos does take time. Weinstein hires videographers to shoot them, writes the scripts herself and edits the videos herself. Her goal is to create videos that look professional and are informative.

"Editing a video is like staging a home," Weinstein said. "It's not that far removed from the skill set you need to make a home look its best.”

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 89,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Visits Wildwood Elementary School in Edgebrook Area of Chicago on May 15 for Educational Presentation

2013-05-01T10:48:00.000-05:00

The RE/MAX hot air balloon visits K-12 schools throughout northern Illinois including the city of Chicago.

CHICAGO, May 1, 2013 – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will pay a May 15 visit to Wildwood Elementary School, 6950 N. Hiawatha Ave., Chicago, where the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network.

The RE/MAX balloon has become a nationally recognized corporate symbol since it was created 35 years ago and then combined with the now familiar RE/MAX “Above the Crowd!”® slogan. Today, the balloon enjoys great success in achieving both educational and promotional objectives, appearing frequently at festivals, parades and charity events.

The RE/MAX balloon will be involved in more than 100 educational programs presented by its crew at schools across northern Illinois this year.

Three-hundred-forty-five students at Wildwood school, located in the Wildwood-Edgebrook neighborhood on the city’s Northwest Side, will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history and the scientific principles involved, and they will see a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. outdoors on the school grounds, weather permitting. The balloon envelope will be inflated with hot air to its full 75-foot height if the program is held outdoors. If the program needs to be moved indoors due to inclement weather, the envelope will be inflated with cold air so that students can walk inside it as part of the educational experience.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 89,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon Visits Aurora Christian School on May 14 for Educational Presentation

2013-04-30T14:15:00.003-05:00

The RE/MAX hot air balloon visits K-12 students in northern Illinois throughout the year.

CHICAGO, April 30, 2013 – The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon will pay a May 14 visit to Aurora Christian School, 2255 Sullivan Road, Aurora, Ill., where the balloon crew will present an interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX northern Illinois real estate network .

The RE/MAX balloon has become a nationally recognized corporate symbol since it was created 35 years ago and then combined with the now familiar RE/MAX “Above the Crowd!”® slogan. Today, the balloon enjoys great success in achieving both educational and promotional objectives, appearing frequently at festivals, parades and charity events.

The RE/MAX balloon will be involved in more than 100 educational programs presented by its crew at schools across northern Illinois this year. The balloon visit to Aurora Christian was arranged by Broker Associate Dave Richert of RE/MAX Town and Country, Aurora.

Two-hundred-twenty-five students at the school will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history and the scientific principles involved, and they will see a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will begin at 8:15 a.m. outdoors on the school grounds, weather permitting.

The balloon envelope will be inflated with hot air to its full 75-foot height if the program is held outdoors. If the program needs to be moved indoors due to inclement weather, the envelope will be inflated with cold air so that students can walk inside it as part of the educational experience.

RE/MAX has been the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market since 1989. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network, with headquarters in Elgin, Ill., consists of 2,000 sales associates and 100 individually owned and operated RE/MAX offices that provide a full range of residential and commercial brokerage services. Its www.illinoisproperty.com and www.remax.com websites are leaders in consumer visits among real estate franchise brands. The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX LLC, a global real estate organization with 89,000 sales associates in 90+ nations. The RE/MAX organization has been recognized for numerous industry honors for excellence, and its Associates continue to lead the industry in professional designations, experience and production. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX. RE/MAX is the official real estate partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the national sponsor of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.