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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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