Raising the Bar in Real Estate RE/MAX Northern Illinois NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2015 NEWSLETTER
New Agent and Office Search Debuts
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NAHREP Annual National Convention
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RE/MAX Synergy Holds Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Celebration
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RE/MAX Hometown Properties to Open in Channahon, Illinois
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Connie Abels Co-Host of Chicago Radio Show
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RE/MAX ‘10’ Acquires RE/MAX Signature
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RE/MAX Northern Illinois Regional Office Welcomes Jodi Grant
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In Memoriam Awards and Honors Box Scores Office Events Balloon Sightings and Parades
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New Agent and Office Search Debuts on IllinoisProperty.com RE/MAX Northern Illinois recently introduced an extensive redesign of the Agent and Office Search tools of its popular website, illinoisproperty.com. The new look and feel of the search improves the navigation and sort ability for consumers to find the office or agent that best fits their needs.
Upon visiting the new Agents and Office Search page, users can search by office name, city or use the new Google Maps tool to find the nearest RE/MAX office. Located underneath the map are new RE/MAX Office thumbnails that provide a new and improved way to search through the RE/MAX Northern Illinois network of offices. Each RE/MAX Office features a brand new profile card equipped with the office’s name, office location photo, address and phone number, with links to the agent roster and website for that location.
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“This updated feature will not only benefit visitors of illinoisproperty.com, but our entire network of offices as well. By delivering an easier search tool for our offices and agents, we are better able to connect with the consumer’s needs of finding a better way to navigate the real estate market,” said Casey Reagan, Chief Technology Officer for the RE/MAX Northern Illinois network. Not only can visitors find the office information they are looking for in the updated search, but the ability to find agents is now even easier. Located in each office’s roster is a new business card design complete with each agent’s photo, phone number, email address, office location, website and current listings. These office rosters can be viewed in a randomized order, sorted by first name or sorted by last name. Illinoisproperty.com has long been one of Chicagoland and northern Illinois’ most popular real estate websites and has received industry awards for its popularity and ease-of-use technology.
NAHREP Holds Annual National Convention in Chicago The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) held their National Convention & Latin Music Festival on September 20-22 at the Chicago Hilton, attended by over 120 RE/MAX Affiliates. The three day event featured a full line-up of educational and networking opportunities, in addition to the convention being infused with key elements of Latino culture, from food to music. RE/MAX Chairman and Co-Founder, Dave Liniger wowed the NAHREP crowd during a special keynote luncheon on Monday September 21st, encouraging agents to be more than ordinary in their work. Liniger’s Q&A session recollected on his start to his 50-year career in real estate when he made his first sale as well as the major influences and successes in his life. Each member of the NAHREP crowd at the luncheon received a copy of Liniger New York Times bestseller, “My Next Step”, telling the story of his battle with a life-threatening infection and his return to work. Also honored during the convention were the NAHREP Top 250, the country’s top Latino agents. Seven brokers from the RE/MAX Northern Illinois network of offices were recognized including Luis Ortiz, RE/MAX Partners, Berwyn, Ill., who ranked #45; Robert Padron, RE/MAX Cityview, Chicago, at #57; Luigui Corral, RE/MAX United, Wheeling, Ill., at #91; Gloria Ulloa, RE/MAX 10, Oak Lawn, Ill., at #120;
Mark Santoyo, RE/MAX Loyalty, Chicago, at #126; Jacqueline Dix, RE/MAX Professionals Select, Naperville, Ill., at #163 and Maria Galindo, RE/MAX 10, Chicago, at #202. The rankings are based on 2014 sales activity.
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RE/MAX Synergy Holds Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening Celebration for Frankfort Office The ribbon cutting ceremony was held as a private business event with broker/owner Laurence Biscarrat, managing broker Renaud Biscarrat, fellow agents and the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce. The grand opening celebration featured plenty of entertainment and family fun over the course of the day including games and face painting for children, a concert by The Chico Smorgallees Jazz Ensemble, a raffle for a 50” HDTV and office tours.
“We were able to reach a large number of the residents who got to know that we are now in Frankfort. The grand opening celebration was great and everyone had a fun time,” said Renaud Biscarrat.
RE/MAX Synergy marked the grand opening of their third office location at 20529 S. LaGrange Road in Frankfort, IL with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, September 16 and a grand opening celebration the following month on Saturday, October 17.
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The new Frankfort office is a 1,200-square foot-facility intended to be by design, a modern and compact office. The space is equipped with three private offices, two conference rooms, four cubicles and three shared work stations that will allow their agents from any of their offices to stop by and take care of any printing or paperwork if they are in the area.
“Frankfort and Mokena represent a large and attractive market that many of our agents live in or have been covering for years from our Orland Park and Flossmoor offices. The new office provides local visibility and the convenience of nearby professional support for local agents and their clients,� said Renaud Biscarrat. Currently, there are seven agents and one office administrator working from the new location, although Biscarrat expects many of their agents from other offices to routinely use this office as well when they are in the area. Through their well-built infrastructure, the Frankfort office has full access to bookkeeping, marketing and agent services provided through the other RE/MAX Synergy locations in Orland Park and Flossmoor.
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RE/MAX Hometown Properties to Open in Channahon, Illinois The RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network will open its first office in Channahon, Ill., early in 2016. RE/MAX Hometown Properties, located at 25445 Pheasant Lane, near the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 6 and Ridge Road, will be owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Joseph and Julie McElyea. “Our goal is to open immediately after the New Year’s holiday but it could take a week or two longer to get ready,” said Joe McElyea in discussing their plans for the new 1,200-square-foot office. “We plan to hold a grand opening event in spring.” Julie McElyea will be managing broker of RE/MAX Hometown Properties. Joe will focus his efforts on the recruiting of additional brokers and on marketing properties. A graduate of Eastern Illinois University where she majored in political science and pre-law studies, Julie grew up in Elwood, Ill. Joe was raised in Illinois and Missouri and served seven years with the National Guard, including a year in Iraq, before earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s degree in biochemistry. He then worked in the biopharmaceutical industry as an operations manager. “This is a big step for both of us, and something we’ve been thinking about for several years,” said Julie McElyea, who worked as a paralegal at a large law firm where she specialized in real estate-related transactions before earning her real estate license. She then worked at brokerages in New Lenox and Mokena, Ill. According to Joe McElyea, the need for a locally based brokerage in Channahon became clear to the couple not long after moving there in 2013. “We noticed that a large percentage of the local real estate transactions were being handled by brokers affiliated with firms located quite a distance from
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our community, and we wondered how well those brokers understood our local market,” he said. “After some additional research, we decided that there was a real opportunity here if we wanted to open our own office and grow with our community where real estate activity is clearly on the upswing now.” “We find that prospect exciting, especially the opportunity to do it as part of the RE/MAX organization, which is probably the most widely recognized real estate brand in the world but also offers a personal touch that extends from the top of the organization all the way down to the individual RE/MAX agent.” According to Julie McElyea, her new office has been positioned to serve not only Channahon, but also the adjoining community of Minooka.
“We’re thrilled that we have been able to locate our office in the area where the two communities merge. It makes us easily accessible and very visible,” she said. “In the longer term, of course, we hope to enlarge our business footprint to serve such nearby communities as Elwood and Manhattan.” The first order of business for the McElyeas, however, will be building a strong team of brokers for RE/MAX Hometown Properties. “Our goal is not only to sell real estate but to make a real contribution to this community. We are not only trying to build a business but also raising our family here,” said Joe McElyea, noting that he and Julie have three children and are expecting a fourth.
“We also want to create a place where agents find the success they desire, and to do that we intend to offer unsurpassed training, dynamic systems and technology and leadership that provides clarity and vision for today and the future.”
Connie Abels, RE/MAX NorthCoast Broker/Owner, Tabbed as Co-Host of Chicago Radio Show Broker/Owner of RE/MAX NorthCoast, Connie Abels, has been named a co-host of 560AM The Answer’s Sunday real estate show, Real Estate Revealed. The show dives through the ins and outs of buying or selling a home, mortgages, appraisals, investment advice, insurance advice and legal advice. You can catch Real Estate Revealed every Sunday at 8 a.m. in the Chicagoland area on 560AM and listen live online at realestaterevealed.net.
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RE/MAX “10” Acquires RE/MAX Signature RE/MAX “10” recently acquired RE/MAX Signature of Chicago from broker/owner Linda O’Donnell, bringing the “10” network to a total of five locations. Welcoming another location into the RE/MAX “10” family is something that makes Managing Partner Laki Hatzelis excited about the business’ future. “Coming to Lincoln Park was a great opportunity for our Company. We had been looking to make a move up North for quite some time and it worked out merging with Signature. We acquired a great group of agents, and we’re excited to have them as part of “10”, we are looking to make a big statement in the city of Chicago and couldn’t be happier with the team that we have,” says Hatzelis. In addition to their new Chicago location, RE/MAX “10” also has locations in Chicago near Midway, New Lenox, Oak Lawn and Palos Park.
RE/MAX Northern Illinois Regional Office Welcomes Jodi Grant We are happy to welcome Jodi Grant, the new regional assistant to the team here at the RE/MAX Northern Illinois regional office. Jodi worked as an administrative assistant for many years before, during and after college but then left that position to start a family. After her sons started school, she switched fields to begin work as a paraprofessional at their elementary school working with special needs children. After twelve years, she is excited to be back in an office environment. Jodi is anxious to learn all there is about the real estate industry and is especially happy to be with RE/MAX because of their connection to the Children’s Miracle Network, a cause that means a lot to her after spending many years working with children. She currently lives in Cary, IL with her husband, two teenage sons and three-year-old Labrador.
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In Memoriam - Our Heartfelt Condolences Go Out To:
Alfred “Al” Novy
Mary Lestarczyk
The family, friends and colleagues of Alfred “Al” Novy, RE/MAX Excels, who passed on October 21. Novy joined RE/MAX as a broker in 1982.
The family, friends and colleagues of Mary Lestarczyk, RE/MAX “10” of Palos Park, who recently passed. Lestarczyk joined RE/MAX in 2009.
Mark Zurek “The family, friends and colleagues of Mark Zurek, husband of Cherie Smith Zurek of RE/MAX Unlimited Northwest, who passed on September 27. The family asks that a charitable donation be made to Anderson Home for Horses (and dogs) and Children’s Miracle Network.”
Roger Erdmier The family, friends and colleagues of Roger Erdmier, husband of Barb Erdmier of RE/MAX Property Source, who passed on November 20.
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RE/MAX Named Top Real Estate Franchise by Franchise Times Top 200 for Seventh Consecutive Year For the seventh consecutive year, RE/MAX, LLC ranked as the leading real estate franchise in the 2015 Franchise Times Top 200. The annual survey includes franchisors from a variety of business sectors. RE/MAX moved up to #11 overall on the Top 200 list, up from #12 in 2014 and #14 in 2013. In January, RE/MAX was the leading real estate franchise for the third consecutive year in another respected survey, Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500, a position it has held for 12 of the last 16 years. In addition, RE/MAX was the only real estate franchise included among the 2014 50 Top Franchises for Minorities compiled by the World Franchising Network. The 2015 Franchise Times Top 200 marks the 20th year producing one of the most respected rankings in franchising. The Top 200 is an annual ranking of the 200 largest franchise systems in the U.S. The overall standings included top 10 rankings for McDonald’s, 7-Eleven, Ace Hardware, Hertz and Marriott Hotels and Resorts.
Brian Henry of RE/MAX Excels Named Realtor of the Year for Realtor Association of the Fox Valley Brian Henry of RE/MAX Excels was honored with the Realtor of the Year Award on Monday, September 28, by the Realtor Association of the Fox Valley, INC. The Realtor of the Year Award is presented for “outstanding service and contribution to the real estate profession”. The announcement was made in downtown Elgin at The Centre of Elgin. Henry has been a Realtor in the Fox Valley since 1981. He has served on numerous real estate committees and boards and was Chairman of the Professional Standards Committee. Henry has also been president of various non-profit organizations including the St. Charles History Museum and the Exchange Club of the Tri-Cities.
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Christopher Tenggren of RE/MAX Great American North Receives 2015 EverGreen Award Christopher Tenggren, broker at RE/MAX Great American North and vice chairman of the 2016 IAR REALTORS® Political Involvement Committee (RPIC) received the 2015 EverGreen Award at the NAR REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Diego on Saturday, November 14. The EverGreen Award is given to agents who show exemplary work that has helped green building practices and the industry grow and flourish. Tenggren was an early adopter of green building concepts and participated in the first NAR Green Designation program in 2009. In addition, he has been an active member of the GRC, and was instrumental in greening the MLS through his work with MRED’s (Midwest Real Estate Data) MLS Green Committee. Tenggren works closely with builders on green home construction and renovation projects and he’s recognized as a force for the green home movement in Chicago’s western suburbs. He also has first-hand knowledge about living the green lifestyle because he lives in an Energy Star-Certified Home that was custom built for his family in 2006.
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Two RE/MAX Excels Brokers to be Installed as President, President Elect of Women’s Council of Realtors Rita Rae Schoenthal has been installed as President of the Fox Valley Chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors and Dorothy Kolschowsky was installed as President Elect for the 2016 year during the 2016 Offer Installation ceremony on November 19 held in Geneva. Schoenthal has been with RE/MAX Excels since 1998, while Kolschowsky has been with RE/MAX Excels since 2003.
Rita Rae Schoenthal
Dorothy Kolschowsky
101 RE/MAX Northern Illinois Network Brokers Honored with 2015 Five Star Professional Award Five Star Professional conducts research to help consumers with the important decision of selecting a service professional. The Five Star award is presented to wealth managers, real estate agents, mortgage professionals, home/auto insurance professionals and dentists in more than 45 markets in the U.S. and Canada. The Five Star award recognizes service professionals who provide quality services to their clients. A complete list of the 101 RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate Brokers who were recently recognized with this honor can be found at: http://rem.ax/1PqzQjX
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Box Scores RE/MAX Northern Illinois*
September 2015
Number of Offices
104*
Top Office (Closed Transactions)
RE/MAX Action, Lisle
Number of Agents
2,260*
Largest Commission Check
$82,809
Closed Sales Volume (YTD)
$7,477,153,578*
Largest Referral Check
$20,313
Total Residential Transactions
3,415 78
RE/MAX, LLC Number of Offices
6,800+
Total Commercial Transactions
Number of Agents
100,000+
October 2015
Number of Countries
99+
Top Office (Closed Transactions)
RE/MAX Synergy, Orland Park
Largest Commission Check
$50,000
Largest Referral Check
$12,360
Total Residential Transactions
3,304
Total Commercial Transactions
60
*Through October 2015
2015 Calendar of Events
Click Here
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Office Events RE/MAX At Home To Host Holiday Party RE/MAX At Home will be holding their annual Holiday Party on Thursday, December 10 from 5-8:30 p.m. at their Rolling Meadows office located at 3215 Algonquin Road. They expect over 600 attendees and invite you to join them for their fantastic networking event which includes food, drinks and entertainment. To RSVP, please call 847-255-1000.
RE/MAX Center Hands Out Pumpkins During Fall Season Brokers from RE/MAX Center in Grayslake went door to door giving away pumpkins in local neighborhoods during the Halloween season. Pictured is broker Ben Hickman distributing a pumpkin to a local resident.
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RE/MAX Experts Holds Annual Client Party RE/MAX Experts of Buffalo Grove held their annual client party in Lake Villa on Sunday, October 25 with a “Halloween Hoedown� theme. They welcomed 50 people to the event which included several festivities for brokers, clients and their families to enjoy. Among the festivities were a bouncy house, hayrides, face-painting and pumpkin-painting.
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Office Events RE/MAX Sauk Valley Throws ‘Christmas Party’ in October Broker owners Tim McCaslin, John Rosengren and Jim Ceserak of RE/MAX Sauk Valley in Sterling & Dixon decided to have their annual Christmas Party in October this year in what they call their most exciting, fulfilling party ever. The festivities were held at the Rochelle airport, and included airplane rides, tethered hot air balloon rides courtesy of the RE/MAX Northern Illinois balloon team and Skydiving with Chicagoland Skydiving. In all, about 14 Broker Associates and support staff made the jump out of the airplane.
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Balloon Sightings and Parades REMAX Broker Participates in Shannon Labor Day Parade RE/MAX Town Lake & Country broker Tim Steidinger, new to the office, introduced himself to the community by joining the annual Labor Day Parade in Shannon, IL. Steidinger was accompanied by his family along the route.
REMAX 10 Marches in Palos Park Parade Members of RE/MAX “10”’s Palos Park office walked in the community’s Autumn in the Park parade on Saturday, September 19. The RE/MAX Soaring Home balloon was also featured at the parade which drew over 2,000 people.
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REMAX Hot Air Balloon Flies in the Quad Cities Balloon Fest The RE/MAX Hot Air balloon took flight and lit up the skies at the Quad Cities Balloon Fest at the Rock Island County Fairgrounds on September 25-26. Over 6,000 people attended the event which featured a late night balloon glow, flights taking off from the fairgrounds and tethered rides that allowed visitors to learn more about ballooning.
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Balloon Sightings and Parades Balloon Program Visits Wheaton Christian School The RE/MAX Northern Illinois Balloon Team visited Wheaton Christian School in Winfield for an outdoor School Balloon program on Monday, September 28. The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon was up and running while students were making their way into school that morning before the special presentation took place. The event was hosted by Cindy Banks, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Cornerstone in West Chicago.
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The REMAX Balloon Makes a Stop at the CMN Torch Relay in Chicago The Children’s Miracle Network Torch Relay in Chicago was held Friday, October 9 as thousands marched around Solider Field to help raise money for Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. RE/MAX Northern Illinois participated as a Top Market Sponsor of the event which helped raise thousands towards the great cause. The RE/MAX Cold Air balloon served as one of the main markers outside of the stadium as participants made their way through the 5K fun run.
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Balloon Sightings and Parades Locust Elementary School Sees the RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon in Flight The students and staff at Locust Elementary School in Marengo were treated to an outdoor School Balloon presentation on Wednesday, October 14. Over 200 students watched as the balloon went up for a tethered ride with their principal, Suellen Lopez. RE/MAX Connections II of Marengo sponsored the event.
School Balloon Program Wows Crowd at Kendall Elementary The RE/MAX Northern Illinois Balloon Team held a special School Balloon presentation at Kendall Elementary School in Naperville on Friday, October 23 in front of the students and their families. Children and parents had the opportunity to take photos in the balloon basket and walk around the inflated balloon during the school’s Student Night event.
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Balloon Team Lights Up the Skies in Galena for Halloween Illinois’ largest Halloween Parade takes places every year in Galena in front of nearly 9,000 attendees on Saturday, October 31. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois Balloon Team participated in the big event, blasting the hot air balloon basket’s burners in front of the crowd while handing out candy along the route. The team also ran a hot air balloon tether and flight over the Halloween weekend in the northwestern Illinois town.
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