RE/MAX International welcomed India as the 73rd country in its global real estate network with a special ceremony held Jan. 20 at the RE/MAX International headquarters in Denver, Colo. The step could have important ramifications for those areas of the United States, such as the metropolitan Chicago real estate market, with substantial populations that have strong ties to India.
“Establishing a presence in a large and dynamic economy like India’s is obviously a plus for the RE/MAX International network. At the same time, it will benefit our local operations,” said Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network. “In Chicago and its suburbs thousands of residents have strong ties to India. Now, RE/MAX is better positioned than ever to help them deal with property in India or assist their family or associates in India who might want to invest in Illinois real estate.”
As the national anthem of India played, the Indian flag was raised in the lobby of RE/MAX corporate headquarters, the new owner of RE/MAX India, Samir Chopra, joined Dave Liniger, chairman and co-founder of RE/MAX, for introductions to more than 100 RE/MAX employees.
Chopra is a senior partner at PK Chopra & Company, a major accounting and consulting firm headquartered in New Delhi and has worked on several complex financial projects for leading international accounting firms, traveling extensively in Europe, Asia and North America.
He served as president of the Business Process Industry Association of India (BPIAI) for three consecutive years. Chopra also has completed the Human Settlement Management Institute certification course for real estate professionals through the National Real Estate Development Council of India.
India is recognized as the largest democracy and second-most populous country in the world, with more than 1.2 billion residents. Located in the Asian sub-continent, India consists of 28 states and seven union territories. Ambitious economic reforms in the last two decades have transformed India into one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
“We are very excited about the opportunity that exists for RE/MAX in India and hope that we can play a positive role in the development of their real estate industry,” Liniger said. “India has a large, well educated middle class, and under the direction of Samir, RE/MAX should be very successful there.”
RE/MAX India will be headquartered in New Delhi. The new organization plans to recruit and train numerous sales associates, and will open offices in a wide range of geographical regions.
“RE/MAX has instant brand recognition around the world, and its business model has been successful in numerous countries. India will be no different,” said Chopra. “I think the professional training RE/MAX offers will attract many sales associates, and our business practices will enhance the entire Indian real estate industry.”
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Addition Of India To RE/MAX Global Network Should Benefit Chicago Real Estate Market
RE/MAX Continued To Lead Will County In 2008, Closing More Than 3,000 Home Sale Transactions
RE/MAX Network Again Tops Metro Chicago Real Estate Market
RE/MAX agents once again led the Will County residential real estate market during 2008, representing either the buyer or seller in 3,047 home sale transactions, according to sales data available for Will County through Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC (MRED). Since 1989, RE/MAX has ranked number one in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market based on residential listings sold.
“In a challenging environment for Illinois real estate sales, RE/MAX continue to demonstrate their skills and commitment,” said Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network.
RE/MAX agents listed 1,741, or 29.2 percent, of all residential properties sold in Will County during 2008. They also led the county in buyer representation, assisting buyers with 1,337 transactions.
Home sales reported by MRED in Will County during 2008 totaled 5,956, a 26 percent decrease from the 8,042 homes sold in 2007.
The top five real estate organizations in Will County during 2008, in terms of listings sold, were RE/MAX with 1,741 (29.2 percent), Coldwell Banker with 1,135 (19.1 percent), Century 21 with 370 (6.2 percent), Realty Executives with 266 (4.5 percent) and Baird & Warner with 206 (3.5 percent). Data maintained by MRED may not reflect all real estate activity in a specific market area.
At the same time, RE/MAX agents led Will County in buyer representation, closing 22.4 percent of all sales made of listed homes in 2008, topping Coldwell Banker (18.4 percent), Century 21 (7.9 percent), Realty Executives (4.6 percent) and Baird & Warner (4.2 percent). Across the metropolitan area during 2008, RE/MAX remained the leader among real estate companies, completing 16.4 percent of all buyer transactions
RE/MAX Teams With Catylist To Offer Its Agents Enhanced Commercial Real Estate Tools
CIE a Plus for Agents Serving Chicago Real Estate Market
RE/MAX International, Inc., has announced the launch of the RE/MAX Commercial Information Exchange (CIE), a comprehensive marketing and research software tool for commercial real estate agents that should be especially welcome in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market and other large urban areas.
CIE, developed by Catylist Real Estate Software, Inc., of Chicago, IL, provides RE/MAX brokers and agents in the metropolitan Chicago real estate market and nationwide with access to a range of practical tools, such as property e-mail services, customizable marketing materials and financial analysis products.
“We are excited about being able to offer the CIE to our growing cadre of agents who specialize in the commercial sector of the Illinois real estate market,” said Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network. “It represents another important step forward for the RE/MAX Commercial brand in our Chicago real estate marketplace. It’s also great to see RE/MAX team up with a Chicago-based company like Catylist to provide this great tool. I think our agents will love it because CIE can help maximize their productivity.”
Through the CIE, sales associates can search for commercial properties currently for sale, list and market their own properties, utilize integrated mapping and aerial views, display basic demographics for listings and more.
“We're thrilled to launch the first Catylist-driven Commercial Information Exchange on a brokerage level,” said Mark Baker, vice president of regional and commercial development at RE/MAX International. “RE/MAX sales associates have been asking for a platform where they can enter commercial listings once and market them across dozens of other Web sites. Full access membership to the CIE lets them do that, and provides lead capture capabilities through online traffic reports.”
The CIE works in conjunction with the company's public Web site, www.remax.com, and all commercial listings in the CIE are available to millions of consumers worldwide.
The commercial division of RE/MAX has steadily grown over the past 20 years. Currently, there are over 3,700 commercial practitioners operating in 337 commercial offices and divisions in the RE/MAX network. RE/MAX Commercial spans 1,200 markets in 24 countries.
