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RE/MAX Analysis Offers County-by-County Look at Sales Activity in 3rd Quarter Metro Chicago Real Estate Market

2009-11-09T13:41:00.000-06:00

Read the full article here http://www.prweb.com/releases/chicago-real-estate/2009-housing-market/prweb3140334.htm

Marlene Granacki Of RE/MAX Exclusive Properties, Chicago, Honored For Luxury Property Sales

2009-11-09T13:36:00.000-06:00

Marlene Granacki,
RE/MAX Exclusive Properties, Chicago

LuxeHome Salutes Top Agents in Chicago Real Estate Market
Marlene Granacki of RE/MAX Exclusive Properties, Chicago, recently was honored by LuxeHome Chicago for her success in selling luxury residential properties in the Chicago real estate market. Granacki was among 25 Chicago Realtors® recognized on Oct. 28 for their 2009 achievements in marketing residences that sell for $1.5 million or more.

“Marlene is certainly deserving of this recognition because she embodies the commitment RE/MAX has made to the highly competitive city luxury home market,” said Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network. “Her professional accomplishments are remarkable.”

Through the first nine months of this year, Granacki ranked first among Chicago RE/MAX agents in sales productivity. She also has been recognized by the Chicago Association of Realtors® as ranking among the top 1 percent of agent members.

Granacki is a resident of Chicago’s Graceland West neighborhood. She has specialized in selling luxury properties there and in the adjoining Southeast Ravenswood neighborhood for nearly all of her two decades in real estate, most of which has been spent with RE/MAX.

LuxeHome is a collection of luxury boutiques at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. The Realtors® it honors receive special privileges at the Mart that they can share with their clients.

Merger Reshapes RE/MAX Presence In Aurora-Naperville Segment Of Metro Chicago Real Estate Market

2009-11-06T08:53:00.003-06:00

Broker/Owners Rich Conte and his daughter Jen Conte, RE/MAX Professionals Select, Naperville

The merger of two long established real estate firms in the Aurora-Naperville area has reshaped and strengthened the RE/MAX organization in that segment of the metropolitan Chicago real estate market. The merger involved the acquisition of RE/MAX Affiliates, with officesin Naperville and Aurora, Ill., by RE/MAX Professionals Select of Naperville, which also operates RE/MAX Professionals South in Plainfield, Ill.

For a number of years, RE/MAX has dominated the Naperville-Aurora real estate market, which now has a population of more 300,000. During the first half of this year, RE/MAX agents were number one in both markets, listing 26.4 percent of all homes sold in Naperville and 21.6 percent of the homes sold in Aurora.

“Given the strength of the RE/MAX brand in our area, we’re very excited about the prospect of expanding into the Aurora market,” said Richard Conte, who along with his daughter, Jennifer, acquired the two offices of RE/MAX Affiliates in late September. Its Naperville office has been merged into the RE/MAX Professionals Select office at 2272 95th St., Naperville, while the office at 4255 Westbrook Ave., Aurora, will now host more agents and continue operating under the RE/MAX Affiliates name.

Conte noted that even with existing offices in Plainfield and Naperville, the idea of adding an Aurora location was quite attractive.

“People like doing business with a real estate firm that has an office in their community, so even though the current business environment is not one that makes it easy to expand, we felt it was an opportunity we should not pass up to establish a presence in Aurora, which is the second largest city in Illinois,” he said.

The Aurora office will continue to operate as RE/MAX Affiliates under the direction of Christine Ruzich, an experienced manager who has been part of Conte’s organization for three years.

“She’s an excellent manager and terrific at recruiting agents, so we expect to see substantial growth at RE/MAX Affiliates over the next few years,” Conte said.

He noted that the Aurora office is also perfectly located because, like both of his two other offices, it is in the Ill. Hwy. 59 corridor.

“That really offers both our agents and customers a lot of convenience,” he said.

Conte has been affiliated with RE/MAX since 1992 and purchased an existing RE/MAX office in 1995. Three years later he expanded his operations to Naperville by opening RE/MAX Professionals Select. Then, in 2002 he and his daughter Jennifer Conte, along with Lisa Mulcahy, opened RE/MAX Professionals South in Plainfield. The Naperville and Plainfield, offices along with the Aurora office, currently have a combined total of about 90 agents.

“We expect to see some movement as some of our agents relocate to our new Aurora office because of its central location,” Conte said.

Merger Of Offices In South Holland And Flossmoor Positions RE/MAX For Strong Future In South Suburbs

2009-10-28T15:16:00.001-05:00

Tony Mitidiero, Broker/Manager
RE/MAX South Suburban, Flossmoor

Move Will Strengthen RE/MAX in Metro Chicago Real Estate Market

Two of the most prominent real estate offices in Chicago’s south suburbs, RE/MAX Excellence of South Holland and RE/MAX South Suburban of Flossmoor, merged their operations on Oct. 15, creating one of the most experienced and productive real estate brokerages in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market. The combined office will operate under the name RE/MAX South Suburban and remain at its location at 19740 Governors Highway, Flossmoor.

RE/MAX already is the market-share leader in most of south suburban Cook County, including Country Club Hills, Calumet City, Flossmoor, Homewood, Hazel Crest, Matteson, South Holland and Richton Park.
Tony Mitidiero, broker/manager of RE/MAX South Suburban, along with Ruth Grzyb and Paul Zielinski, broker/owners of RE/MAX Excellence, made the decision to join forces and position the combined organization for future growth.

“We are responding to the new realities of the real estate marketplace by building an organization that is more regional in scope and staffed by experienced, productive agents,” said Mitidiero. “The physical changes we made to our office about 18 months ago will permit us to accommodate the 12 agents joining us from the South Holland office quite easily.”

Consolidating the two offices to a single location provides several benefits, including reduced costs. More important, according to Mitidiero, putting all the agents under one roof will let them more effectively exchange ideas and develop new synergies.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the opportunities we see in this market going forward and about combining forces to provide the best service RE/MAX has to offer,” said Grzyb. “RE/MAX South Suburban has a proven record of delivering outstanding service to their clients. Now, with even more tools at our disposal, we’re confident we can build on their reputation as one of the most respected brokerages in the southern suburbs.”

In many ways the merger marks the beginning of a new era for RE/MAX South Suburban, which was established 30 years ago.
“To make this happen the month of our 30th anniversary makes it that much more special,” said Mitidiero.

Agents From Rockford, Sterling, Morris, Aledo, Viola, Freeport And Genoa Earn Spots In RE/MAX Top 10

2009-10-27T14:14:00.000-05:00

Tina Eisler
RE/MAX Property Source, Rockford

Sales Leaders in Illinois Real Estate Named for First 9 Months of 2009

Tina Eisler of RE/MAX Property Source in Rockford, Ill., again claimed the top spot among RE/MAX agents in northern Illinois who work outside the metropolitan Chicago real estate market based on sales closed through the first nine months of 2009. She also led the ranking at the end of the first half of the year.

Eisler’s performance topped both individual RE/MAX agents and RE/MAX sales teams based in the Illinois counties of Boone, Bureau, Carroll, DeKalb, Grundy, Henry, Jo Daviess, Kankakee, LaSalle, Lee, Mercer, Ogle, Putnam, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago. Teams involve the efforts of two or more licensed individuals. Rankings are based on commissions earned. Eisler also ranked 10th among all RE/MAX agents across northern Illinois during the nine-month period.

The Top 10 Non-Metro agents and teams for the January-September period this year are:

1. Tina Eisler, RE/MAX Property Source, Rockford;
2. Tim McCaslin (team), RE/MAX Sauk Valley, Sterling, Ill.;
3. Vicki Geiger, RE/MAX Top Properties, Morris, Ill.;
4. Starr Zook, RE/MAX On Track, Aledo, Ill.;
5. Eric Bird, RE/MAX Sauk Valley, Sterling;
6. Sharon Esslinger, RE/MAX Country Crossroads, Viola, Ill.;
7. Julie Wenzel (team), RE/MAX Town Lake and Country, Freeport, Ill.;
8. Patricia Kloepping, RE/MAX Town Lake and Country, Freeport;
9. Robert Nieman (team), RE/MAX Property Source, Rockford;
10. Tammy Engle (team), RE/MAX Classic Real Estate, Genoa, Ill.

In addition, two teams at RE/MAX Sauk Valley in Sterling were ranked among the region’s Top 10 commercial teams for the January-September period. The team led by Jim King, Jr., ranked third, while the John Rosengren team ranked seventh.

“We proudly congratulate these agents on their achievements. Day in and day out, they demonstrate the skills and dedication that has made RE/MAX the real estate leader and established them as among the best in their profession,” said Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX network in northern Illinois. “Outstanding agents are what make RE/MAX the most respected real estate organization across northern Illinois and around the world.”

RE/MAX Northern Illinois Names Top 10 Agents And Teams In Commercial Sales For First Nine Months Of 2009

2009-10-27T14:04:00.003-05:00

Kelly Dyson
RE/MAX Professionals Select, Naperville

Two from Metro Chicago Real Estate Market Lead Rankings

Two RE/MAX agents who work in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market earned number one rankings in commercial property sales in the RE/MAX northern Illinois real estate network for the first nine months of 2009. They are Kelly Dyson of RE/MAX Professionals Select, Naperville, Ill., and Basel Tarabein of RE/MAX At Home, Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Tarabein led the top ranked sales team, while Dyson ranked first among individual agents. Rankings are based on commissions earned.

A team involves the combined efforts of two or more licensed agents, while individual agents are the sole licensed contributors to their sales production.
“In a challenging commercial marketplace where financing has been in short supply, these agents have demonstrated the skills needed to get transactions completed, whether the property involved is vacant land, retail centers, industrial facilities or office properties. Those who achieve a Top 10 ranking have worked hard to do so, and we are proud to recognize their accomplishments,” said Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX network in northern Illinois.

The RE/MAX Commercial Top 10 individuals and teams for the first nine months of 2009 are:

TOP 10 COMMERCIAL INDIVIDUALS

No. 1 – Kelly Dyson, RE/MAX Professionals Select, Naperville;
No. 2 – Dave Shalabi, RE/MAX TEAM 2000, Orland Park, Ill.;
No. 3 – Deepika Syal, RE/MAX United, Wheeling, Ill.;
No. 4 – Mark Batinick, RE/MAX Professionals South, Plainfield, Ill.;
No. 5 – Damon Federighi, RE/MAX Vision 212, Chicago;
No. 6 – Gus Trantham, RE/MAX Suburban, Glen Ellyn, Ill.;
No. 7 – Chuck Nunley, RE/MAX Commercial Real Estate Services, Chicago;
No. 8 – Ron Bol, RE/MAX TEAM 2000, Orland Park;
No. 9 – Ben Henrikson, RE/MAX Professionals West, Elgin, Ill.;
No. 10 – Steven Sederquist, RE/MAX All Pro, Bloomingdale, Ill.

TOP 10 COMMERCIAL TEAMS

No. 1 – Basel Tarabein, RE/MAX At Home, Rolling Meadows;
No. 2 – Al Vallejo, RE/MAX TEAM 2000, Orland Park;
No. 3 – Jim King, Jr., RE/MAX Sauk Valley, Sterling, Ill.;
No. 4 – Jack Mansour, RE/MAX 10, Oak Lawn, Ill.;
No. 5 – Kathy McCauley-Dames, RE/MAX Realty of Joliet, Joliet, Ill.;
No. 6 – Beverly Labuda, RE/MAX TEAM 2000, Orland Park;
No. 7 – John Rosengren, RE/MAX Sauk Valley, Sterling;
No. 8 – Tim Binning, RE/MAX All Pro, Bloomingdale;
No. 9 – Al Snyder, RE/MAX Partners, Berwyn, Ill.;
No. 10 – Cliff Rago, RE/MAX TEAM 2000, Palos Heights, Ill.

RE/MAX Names Top 10 Residential Agents And Teams In Northern Illinois For First Nine Months Of 2009

2009-10-27T13:50:00.003-05:00

Jane Lee
RE/MAX Top Performers, Lake Bluff

Two from Metro Chicago Real Estate Market Lead Rankings

Jane Lee of RE/MAX Top Performers, Lake Bluff, Ill., and Edward Lukasik, Jr., of RE/MAX Professionals, Bolingbrook, Ill., ended the first nine months of 2009 atop the residential real estate sales rankings in the RE/MAX northern Illinois real estate network, just as they did at the end of the first half of the year. Both work in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market.

Lukasik is the sales leader among individual agents, while Lee leads the top ranked sales team. A team involves the combined efforts of two or more licensed agents. Individual agents are the sole licensed contributors to their sales production. Rankings are based on commissions earned.

“The individual agents and team members in our Top 10 have developed the real estate skills needed to effectively represent their clients while helping RE/MAX remain the leader in the northern Illinois real estate market,” said Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX network in northern Illinois. “We are proud to recognize their outstanding performance.”

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS

No. 1 – Edward Lukasik, Jr., RE/MAX Professionals, Bolingbrook;
No. 2 – Connie Ritchie, RE/MAX Suburban, Schaumburg; Ill.;
No. 3 – Mimi Burke, RE/MAX of Barrington, Barrington, Ill.;
No. 4 – Sharon Gidley, RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest, Algonquin, Ill.;
No. 5 – Rozanne Kurman, RE/MAX Showcase, Long Grove, Ill.;
No. 6 – Marlene Granacki, RE/MAX Exclusive Properties, Chicago;
No. 7 – Bert Gor, RE/MAX Professionals Select, Naperville, Ill.;
No. 8 – Larry Leibovitz, RE/MAX Experts, Buffalo Grove, Ill.;
No. 9 – Robert O’Hara, RE/MAX Southeast, Lansing, Ill.;
No. 10 – Tina Eisler, RE/MAX Property Source, Rockford, Ill.

TOP 10 TEAMS

No. 1 – Jane Lee, RE/MAX Top Performers, Lake Bluff;
No. 2 – Leslie McDonnell, RE/MAX Suburban, Libertyville, Ill.;
No. 3 – James Kennedy, RE/MAX TEAM 2000, Orland Park, Ill.;
No. 4 – Marge Pawlak, RE/MAX Enterprises, Downers Grove, Ill.;
No. 5 – Linda O’Donnell, RE/MAX Signature, Chicago;
No. 6 – Cindy Banks, RE/MAX Cornerstone, West Chicago, Ill.;
No. 7 – Alex Rullo, RE/MAX Great American North, St. Charles, Ill.;
No. 8 – Marco Amidei, RE/MAX Suburban, Libertyville;
No. 9 – Andee Hausman, RE/MAX Experts, Buffalo Grove;
No. 10 – Bernie Cobb, Jr., RE/MAX of Naperville, Naperville.

RE/MAX Agent Makes Haunting Experience In Addison A Halloween Treat For Children’s Memorial

2009-10-22T13:57:00.012-05:00

Rita Neri, left, of RE/MAX Vision 212 in Chicago,and Nick
Castaldo of United Mortgage Services in Addison are two
of the four partners who created Disturbia, Torment of Fears.

Chicago Real Estate Agent Scaring Up Funds for Kids Health Visitors to “Disturbia: Torment of Fears,” a haunted entertainment at 880 W. Lake St. in Addison, Ill., can support the good work of Children’s Memorial Hospital while enjoying some scary Halloween fun, thanks to the efforts of Rita Neri, a sales associate with the Chicago real estate firm RE/MAX Vision 212.

Disturbia will offer a $2 discount on the $18 admission fee to anyone mentioning Children’s Memorial or the Children’s Miracle Network (also known as CMN) when purchasing their ticket. In addition, $1 of the ticket price will be donated to the hospital.

Presented inside the Links and Tees Golf Dome of the Addison Park District, Disturbia was created by Neri and her three partners. The idea of benefitting Children’s Memorial grew out of her involvement in the extensive fundraising efforts for the hospital that RE/MAX offices in the Chicago area undertake each year.

The haunted environment of Disturbia features 15,000 square feet of high-quality, heart-pounding attractions in 25 rooms. More than 40 live actors, animatronics and special effects within secret passages, tight spaces and darkness are all designed to generate a genuinely terrifying Halloween tingle of fear in those brave enough to enter.

It is open through Oct. 31, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursdays, 5 p.m. to midnight on Fridays, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturdays and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sundays. RE/MAX is the exclusive real estate partner of CMN, and a Platinum sponsor of Children’s Memorial Hospital, which is the beneficiary of all funds raised by Chicagoland RE/MAX offices for CMN.

The 2,800 RE/MAX associates in northern Illinois are pleased to support the efforts of the hospital through a variety of fundraising activities as they continue to lead the Chicago metropolitan area in residential real estate.

Prices More Stable In Chicago Real Estate Suburbs Served By Metra Trains, Reports RE/MAX

2009-10-16T17:40:00.001-05:00

Read the full article here http://www.prweb.com/releases/chicago-real-estate/public-transit/prweb2998784.htm

You can also click here to see the Metra Study http://content.illinoisproperty.com/media/downloads/remaxil/20091016034033.pdf

More Food Drive Success

2009-10-08T16:20:00.000-05:00

RE/MAX Properties of Western Springs, delivered a van full of food to a local food pantry, concluding their very successful food drive effort, which was part of a region wide campaign by the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network. Pictured (left to right) are the coordinators of the RE/MAX Properties, Western Springs’ food drive, RE/MAX agents Jan Schwenke and Mary Devereux.

FHA Delays New Rules In Move That Will Help First-Time Buyers Qualify For Tax Credit - RE/MAX Reports Substantial Impact on Metro Chicago Real Estate Market Possible

2009-10-07T15:31:00.000-05:00

Read full article here http://www.prweb.com/releases/chicago-real-estate/fha-loan/prweb2947044.htm

Consolidation Gives RE/MAX Office In Addison A Larger Footprint In Metro Chicago Real Estate Market

2009-10-01T14:46:00.005-05:00

Broker/Owners Peter and George Dravilas
RE/MAX Preferred Properties, Addison

The RE/MAX offices in Addison and Bensenville, Ill., joined forces on Sept. 1 in a move designed to streamline operations and reduce overhead. Agents from the Bensenville office have now joined RE/MAX Preferred Properties of Addison, which will have an expanded footprint in the west suburban segment of the metropolitan Chicago real estate market.

Established 25 years ago, RE/MAX Preferred Properties is now jointly operated by Peter Dravilas, its founder, and his son, George Dravilas. The office is located at 715 Lake St. in Addison.
“We’re happy to welcome the agents from Bensenville, including Mike Loiacono and Adam Vena, the broker/owners of that office, to our RE/MAX Preferred Properties team and to our Addison office, which was extensively updated just a year ago,” said Peter Dravilas. “We’ve built a strong reputation for service and professionalism during the past quarter century, and these new agents will allow us to leverage that by providing a greater presence in a vital and growing segment of the market.”

Dravilas noted that in a real estate market where total transaction volume, and thus commission levels, are down, real estate brokerages are seeking out ways to reduce overhead and maximize productivity and that office consolidation is an important tool in that effort.

“We are able to capitalize on the fact that in this era of the Internet and wireless communications, agents use their offices less and spend more time in the field. We have ample room for future growth and also can give our agents the technological tools they need to be maximally productive,” he said.

The consolidation of the two offices comes at a time, Dravilas reports, when the DuPage County residential market is showing signs of a rebound.
“The commercial market is facing issues related to the availability of financing that may not be solved this year, but the residential market is definitely on the upswing,” Dravilas said. “I think we’ll really see that become apparent next spring when the housing activity traditionally peaks for the year.”

RE/MAX Office in Huntley Donates a Quarter Ton of Food to Grafton Township Food Pantry

2009-10-01T14:32:00.001-05:00

During the month of September, participating RE/MAX offices in the northern Illinois area conducted a food drive to help replenish local food pantries that were challenged to stay stock due to the current, challenging economic circumstances. RE/MAX Superior Properties in Huntley, collected 572 pounds of non-perishable items, which they donated to Grafton Township Food Pantry in Huntley on the last day of the drive.

Commuter Catches RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon on Film

2009-10-01T14:23:00.001-05:00

A commuter en route to work early in the morning on September 30 in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, was able to catch the RE/MAX hot air balloon on film and provide enjoyable commentary as it descended to its landing.

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon To Make Educational Visit To Rhodes School In River Grove On OCT. 15

2009-09-30T12:51:00.002-05:00

Presented By the RE/MAX Metro Chicago Real Estate Network

Students at Rhodes School, 8931 W. Fullerton Ave. in River Grove, Ill., will get an exciting introduction to hot air ballooning thanks to a visit from the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon and its crew on Oct. 15. The visit is part of an on-going interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX metro Chicago real estate network.

The 700 students at Rhodes, which serves the villages of River Grove and Melrose Park, will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history, the scientific principles involved and a demonstration on how the balloon functions.

The program will be presented at 8:30 a.m. outdoors on the school grounds, weather permitting, but can be moved indoors if required. The balloon envelope will be inflated with hot air to its full 75-foot height if the program is held outdoors. If the program moves indoors, the envelope is inflated with cold air so that students can walk inside it.

Consolidation Will Help RE/MAX C.R.E.S. Serve Broader Segment Of Metro Chicago Real Estate Market

2009-09-30T12:44:00.002-05:00

Broker/Owners John O’Hara and Chuck Nunley
RE/MAX Commercial Real Estate Services, Chicago.

RE/MAX Commercial Real Estate Services, 120 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, the only RE/MAX office in the metro Chicago real estate market that focuses exclusively on commercial properties, recently consolidated its operations with those of its sister firm, RE/MAX Gateway of Gilberts, Ill. Both firms were owned by Charles Nunley and John O’Hara, and the two men will continue to operate RE/MAX C.R.E.S.

Nunley explained that changes in the commercial marketplace made the consolidation a logical step.

“We were fairly new to the RE/MAX system and the real estate brokerage business when we opened the Gilberts office three years ago,” he said. “We wanted to focus on Chicago commercial real estate but weren’t sure what the best approach to that segment would be for us. Over the last several years, that has become clearer, especially since we opened the downtown office last year.”

According to Nunley, the firm has won a substantial number of tenant representation assignments, while also marketing hotels and developable land. Another area of concentration has been consulting with owners of distressed properties, which have been growing in number as commercial vacancy rates rose during the last several years.

“We came to realize that we needed access to properties throughout the metro Chicago real estate market, from Lake County to the south suburbs, and a downtown location makes that much easier from a geographic perspective than our initial location in Gilberts,” he said.

Another advantage of the consolidation, Nunley noted, is that it will increase the synergistic interactions between agents in the office.

“Success in commercial real estate is often about finding the right way to help a client company or property owner achieve its objectives, so the more our agents can share ideas and information, the better the results,” he said.

RE/MAX has been systematically expanding its presence in the commercial real estate market in recent years both nationally and in the Chicago area. Its www.illinoisproperty.com Web site offers hundreds of commercial property listings, and earlier this year RE/MAX announced the launch of its Commercial Information Exchange (CIE), a comprehensive marketing and research software tool for commercial real estate agents.

Bloomingdale Acquisition Raises RE/MAX All Pro To New Heights In Metro Chicago Real Estate Market

2009-09-29T15:06:00.021-05:00

Broker/Owner Tim Binning,
RE/MAX All Pro, Carol Stream/Bloomingdale

RE/MAX All Pro of Bloomingdale, Ill., recently raised its profile in the metro Chicago real estate market to new heights through an acquisition of RE/MAX Accord, also located in Bloomingdale.

“We are especially pleased with this expansion, our second this year, because we’re confident it will make our Bloomingdale operation the dominant real estate office in the northwest DuPage County market area that includes Carol Stream, Glendale Heights, Bartlett and Hanover Park, along with Bloomingdale,” said Tim Binning, broker/owner of RE/MAX All Pro. Earlier this year, Binning’s firm acquired RE/MAX Great American North in St. Charles, Illinois.

Twenty-two agents from RE/MAX Accord, including broker/owner Terry White, relocated to the RE/MAX All Pro office at 450 W. Army Trail Road, bringing the total agent count at the office to 49. In addition, the firm has 40 other agents divided between the St. Charles office and another location in Sugar Grove, IL, which added 15 agents earlier this year.

“These steps have allowed us to triple our agent count since the beginning of the year from 30 to 90 professionals. That leaves us well positioned to increase our market share as home sales trend upward again, which they are starting to do,” Binning said, who acquired RE/MAX All Pro in Bloomingdale in 1997.

Binning reports that the residential market in northwest DuPage County has been looking stronger for the last four or five months.

“Pending sales have been increasing each month, which means buyers are returning to the market in greater numbers,” he said. “We attribute that to the improved affordability of homes today, which is created by a combination of somewhat lower prices and extremely attractive mortgage interest rates. Another factor, of course, has been the tax credit available to first-time buyers, which expires at the end of November.”

Chicago Real Estate Leader, RE/MAX, Announces September Food Drive for Northern Illinois Food Pantries

2009-09-25T14:47:00.000-05:00

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/chicago-real-estate/food-drive/prweb2787484.htm

RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon To Make Educational Visit To MacArthur School In Prospect Heights On Oct. 2

2009-09-21T14:38:00.019-05:00

Presented By the RE/MAX Metro Chicago Real Estate Network

Students at MacArthur Middle School, 700 N. Schoenbeck Road in Prospect Heights, Ill., will get an exciting introduction to hot air ballooning thanks to a visit from the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon and its crew on Oct. 2. The visit is part of an on-going interactive educational program developed and sponsored by the RE/MAX metro Chicago real estate network.

The 550 students at MacArthur will learn about various aspects of ballooning, including its history, the scientific principles involved and a demonstration on how the balloon functions. The program will be presented at 8:20 a.m. outdoors on the school grounds, weather permitting, but can be moved indoors if required. The balloon envelope will be inflated with hot air to its full 75-foot height if the program is held outdoors. If the program moves indoors, the envelope is inflated with cold air so that students can walk inside it.

Metro Chicago Real Estate Offices To Square Off In Softball Game In Itasca To Raise Funds For Children’s Memorial

2009-09-21T14:26:00.002-05:00

Agents from two RE/MAX Chicago real estate organizations will square off for their second annual softball game at 6 p.m. on Sept. 26 to raise funds for Children’s Memorial Hospital of Chicago. The game will be played at the Itasca Park District Softball Complex, 650 N. Rohlwing Road.

The defending champions from RE/MAX Destiny in Elk Grove Village, Ill., will battle a combined team from RE/MAX Vision of Elmwood Park, Ill., and RE/MAX Vision 212 of Chicago. Each player will make a contribution to Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) to benefit Children’s Memorial, and spectators will be asked to make a donation.

“We had a great time last year and were able to raise a substantial sum for CMN and Children’s Memorial. Not only that, we have an outstanding team and really like our chances to win again this year,” said Angie Palazzolo, broker/owner of RE/MAX Destiny.

Jason Palermo, broker/owner of the RE/MAX Vision offices has other ideas.
“We’ve added some talented players and expect to see a different result this time, but either way, we know the real winners will be the children who benefit from the outstanding work of Children’s Memorial,” he said.
Following the game, both teams will celebrate with a party at Venuti’s Ristorante in Addison, Ill.

RE/MAX is the exclusive real estate partner of CMN and a Platinum Sponsor of Children’s Memorial Hospital, which is the beneficiary of all funds raised by Chicagoland RE/MAX offices.

The 2,800 RE/MAX associates in northern Illinois real estate market are pleased to support the efforts of the hospital through a variety of fundraising activities as they continue to lead the Chicago metropolitan area in residential real estate.

RE/MAX Sauk Valley Celebrates Grand Opening Of Its New Sterling Office

2009-09-18T09:26:00.010-05:00

Gathering to help celebrate the grand opening of the new RE/MAX Sauk Valley office at 110 W. Lynn Blvd., Sterling, Ill., on Sept. 11 were its three owners, Tim McCaslin (left), Jim Cesarek (center) and John Rosengren (second from right). With them were two representatives of the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network: Senior Franchise Sales Consultant Jeff Metz (right) and Regional Director Jim Merrion.

Enhances RE/MAX Leadership of Northern Illinois Real Estate Market

The northern Illinois real estate office of RE/MAX Sauk Valley celebrated the opening of its new office at 110 W. Lynn Blvd., Sterling, Ill. The grand opening reception for more than 350 guests was held on Sept. 11 and featured a flyover by the 75-foot-tall RE/MAX hot air balloon.

Owned by partners Jim Cesarek, Tim McCaslin and John Rosengren, RE/MAX Sauk Valley is now home to 23 agents and a support staff of four. The newly renovated office occupies approximately two-thirds of a 6,700-square-foot building acquired earlier this year.

“We absolutely had to find larger office space, and now we have a great facility that offers us ample room to accommodate future growth as the real estate market continues to strengthen over the next several years,” said McCaslin. “We had been in our old office at 3200 E. Lynn Blvd., for eight years, but when we added 11 agents earlier this year after the Mel Foster Company closed its Sterling office, it was obvious we needed more space.”

RE/MAX Sauk Valley has long been one of the outstanding offices in the RE/MAX northern Illinois real estate network. Earlier this year the office was honored for recording more closed sales (457) and more closed sales volume (more than $58 million) in 2008 than all other RE/MAX offices in northern Illinois that are outside the Chicago metropolitan area.

It was also recognized as a CMN Miracle Office, meaning that every agent made a 2008 contribution to the Children’s Miracle Network.

McCaslin emphasized that the new office, located just a block from Ill. Hwy. 40 on the north side of Sterling, positions RE/MAX Sauk Valley for the future even as it solves its need for immediate space.

“This community will continue to grow, and we have been fortunate that our local real estate market has outperformed much of the nation over the last several years. We now expect home sales activity and interest in commercial properties to increase in the coming months,” he said. “In fact, we are seeing some early signs of what we believe will be an upward trending market.”

RE/MAX Food Drive in Northern Illinois Off to a Great Start

2009-09-16T15:44:00.009-05:00

Linda O’Donnell (left) broker/owner of Chicago real estate office RE/MAX Signature, 2901 N.Clybourn Ave., Chicago, helps Bob Krawitz, manager of the office, set up a display of some of the contributions received during the RE/MAX September food drive. More than 70 RE/MAX offices across northern Illinois are serving as collection points for food contributions to assist local pantries meet the increased demand caused by rising unemployment. A list of RE/MAX offices accepting contributions to the food drive can be accessed at http://www.illinoisproperty.com/food-drive.aspx.

RE/MAX Reports That Rebound In New Franchise Sales Will Be Early Sign Of Metro Chicago Real Estate Market Resurgance

2009-09-11T12:28:00.000-05:00

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/chicago-real-estate/real-estate-franchise/prweb2848074.htm

RE/MAX Excels In Geneva Expands To Become Largest Real Esate Office In Central Fox Valley

2009-09-11T12:09:00.006-05:00

Hank Erwin, Chris Hansen

Combined Office Will Be Key Player in Metro Chicago Real Estate Market

RE/MAX Excels, 1772 S. Randall Road, Geneva, Ill., became the No. 1 real estate office in the central Fox Valley, as well as a larger force in the metro Chicago real estate market, when it officially combined on Sept. 4 with RE/MAX Professionals East of nearby St. Charles, Ill. The two offices have been under joint ownership since 2005 when Chris Hansen and Hank Erwin acquired RE/MAX Excels.

“We will now be the number one office in the area by any measure, whether that is the number of units sold, total annual sales volume or number of affiliated agents,” said Hansen. “Creating a single office just underscores how much business we were doing as two offices.” Through the first seven months of 2009, the two offices combined to list and sell more than 450 homes.

Consolidation of those two offices into a single facility reflects the changing realities of the marketplace, according to Hansen.

“With the number of homes being sold in our area down substantially from the peak experienced a few years ago, every real estate organization is looking for ways to reduce overhead and be more efficient. This consolidation does both for us,” he said.

The 6,400-square-foot Geneva office has the space needed, including ample parking, to accommodate the 75 agents now based there, and it offers a central location from which to work.

“In recent years, our business has expanded south toward North Aurora and Aurora, which made a St. Charles location less than optimal for many of our agents,” said Hansen.

Another factor, he explained, is a basic trend seen throughout the real estate industry – agents need less office space.

“Real estate was, historically, a rather paper-intensive business, and agents needed large offices to accommodate their files. Now, thanks to computers, documents have become electronic and listings are viewed via the Internet,” he said.

“At the same time, improved communications mean that agents can be in touch no matter where they are – at home, in their car or out of town. So, they spend less time in the office and more time in the field helping clients, prospecting for business or looking at properties for sale.”

Hansen and Erwin have been RE/MAX broker/owners since acquiring RE/MAX Professionals East in 1999. Both are residents of St. Charles.

RE/MAX Only Major Competitor To Increase Share Of Sold Listings In Chicago Real Estate Market During First Half Of 2009

2009-09-04T11:56:00.000-05:00

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/chicago-real-estate/market-share-leader/prweb2826044.htm