4 New RE/MAX Franchises Sold in Chicago and Suburbs in March and April; Housing Rebound Brightens Real Estate Business Outlook

CHICAGO, May 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- RE/MAX Northern Illinois, based in Elgin, Ill., has announced that it has sold four new franchises during the months of March and April.  The new offices are evenly divided between the city and suburbs.  

"We have had an explosion of interest from experienced real estate professionals.  They see the housing slump is definitely behind us and this is a perfect time to open their own RE/MAX franchise," said Jim Merrion, regional director of the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate organization. 

Merrion noted that when real estate brokers want to go into business for themselves or independent operations wish to convert to a bigger brand, affiliating with RE/MAX, a top global brand and real estate leader, is more attractive than ever.

"To compete successfully in real estate now, you need a strong technological and educational advantage.  RE/MAX has invested heavily in both.  It's difficult for other brokerages, especially independents, to do the same because of the resources and effort required, plus RE/MAX is unique in the fact that there are no middle-man referral fees," he said.

Ample resources and innovation are the primary reasons owner Matthew Skiba decided to turn his Landmark, Realtors office, established in 1993, into RE/MAX Landmark on May 1.  The new office is located at 6020 W. Higgins Ave., in Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood.

"We did well as an independent for many years," said Skiba, "but the business has changed.  The visibility and resources that RE/MAX offers, and its ability to keep us at the forefront of technology, are so important.  It makes us more productive as brokers and allows us to give our customers the best possible service."

Another new franchise, RE/MAX Loyalty, will open June 1 at 3046 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago.  It is an exciting new venture for Broker/Owner Mark Santoyo, who has been a Chicago-based agent for 14 years, and for his partner, Broker/Owner Augustina Campos, who will also serve as managing broker of the new office.  Her sister Ashley will also be part of the team. 

"We're thrilled with this opportunity," said Santoyo, "especially our chance to be involved in the continuing revitalization of the Logan Square and Humboldt Park areas.  We like the rich diversity and the fact that a lot of new real estate development is on the near-term horizon.  We plan to contribute to that process."

A new office in Burr Ridge represents an expansion for RE/MAX Professionals, based in Bolingbrook, Ill., and headed by Broker/Owner Edward Lukasik, Jr., who acquired the Bolingbrook franchise in 2010.  The new office is located at 90 Burr Ridge Parkway in the Village Center and is expected to open soon. 

"This is a great opportunity for us to expand and diversify our operations.  We will continue to build a strong presence in a market area with a large component of luxury homes and a tradition of being stable across the full economic cycle," said Lukasik.  

Michell Lukasik, his sister, will serve as managing broker of the new office, while his father, Edward Lukasik, Sr., will help the new office get off to a great start.

The fourth new RE/MAX franchise sold recently is owned by Kathy O'Radnik, broker/owner of RE/MAX 1st Service in Orland Park.  She is operating her franchise of 30 brokers currently and temporarily in nearby Homer Glen.  She expects to open doors in Orland Park sometime this summer.

"Our location in Orland Park will allow us to offer our brokers a greatly expanded choice of office accommodations, from private offices to work stations, as well as enhanced facilities for working with their clients," O'Radnik said.  "We haven't made a final site selection yet, but that should happen soon." 

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 provides comprehensive information about residential and commercial property for sale in the region.  The northern Illinois network is part of RE/MAX, LLC, a global real estate organization with 90,000+ sales associates in 90+ nations. 

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SOURCE RE/MAX Northern Illinois