RE/MAX Suburban Named Among Nation's Best

Agents at RE/MAX Suburban Shine in 2017 REAL Trends 500 Survey

MT. Prospect, Illinois May 20, 2017 – RE/MAX Suburban ranks among the top 50 large brokerages in per-agent productivity, based on home sales data from 500 top firms in the prestigious 2017 REAL Trends 500 Survey.

When the Top 500 large brokerages in the U.S. are measured by transaction sides per agent, RE/MAX suburban ranked in the top 50 in the country with an average of 19.7 per agent.

“RE/MAX agents sell more real estate than other agents,” said Chad Gilbert, Owner of RE/MAX Suburban. “Ranking in the top 50 for agent productivity among the REAL Trends top 500 is an extraordinary achievement for RE/MAX Suburban. We have some of the most dedicated and productive Realtors® in the business, and we’re honored to assist so many homebuyers and sellers with 8 locations in the greater Chicagoland area, and growing.”

Now in its 30th year, the REAL Trends 500 ranks the performance of the top residential real estate brokerage firms in the country. Brokerages needed to close a minimum of 1,843 transaction sides in 2016 to place in the top 500.


Associates affiliated with the RE/MAX network regularly average double the number of transaction sides per agent when compared with competitors in the annual survey of large brokerages. RE/MAX agents averaged 17.2 transaction sides among all 2017 REAL Trends 500 qualifiers (1,705 firms that closed at least 500 transaction sides each) while agents with competitors averaged 7.8. RE/MAX Suburban consistently ranks as one of the best RE/MAX brokerages nationally.


RE/MAX Suburban has 8 office(s) across the Chicagoland area. For more information, to see the latest property listings, or to contact an agent, please visit www.remaxsuburban.com


About RE/MAX Suburban:

RE/MAX Suburban is an independently owned and operated full-service real estate brokerage with 8 locations in Libertyville, Buffalo Grove, Mt. Prospect, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg, Wheaton and Glen Ellyn. Founded in 1978, the brokerage has 250 Realtors® and specializes in residential and commercial real estate. RE/MAX Suburban is a proud supporter of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals®. To learn more, please visit www.remaxsuburban.com.

Chicago - April Housing Report

Chicago-area home sales soared in March, and home values continued to advance as the residential real estate market closed the first quarter of 2017 on an extremely positive note.

March home sales in the seven-county metropolitan area were 14.8 percent higher than during March 2016, with 9,556 units changing hands and the median sales price gaining 10.4 percent to $234,000. As a result, home sales activity in the first quarter totaled 21,584 units, 5.6 percent higher than last year despite declining slightly in the January/February period.

Homes sold during March spent an average of 100 days on the market before going under contract, 10 days less than the prior March. For the entire quarter, average market time was 102 days, eight days faster than the same quarter last year.

Chicago's fast-paced market far exceeds the national housing averages (see numbers below), so buyers will need the expertise of RE/MAX agents, the strongest in the market, to help them get into the right home quickly with a low supply of homes available.

RE/MAX April National Housing Report

RE/MAX Suburban honors top associates for 2016 residential sales achievement

CHICAGO -- The RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network recently honored its associates whose 2016 residential sales achievements earned them coveted spots in its year-end Residential Top 20. 

Among residential teams, RE/MAX Suburban teams made up 7 of top twenty. Congratulations to the Sarah Leonard Team, The Leslie McDonnell Team, Homes By Marco, The Lance Kammes Team, The Andee Hausman Team, The Pickard Group and The Lekatsos Team.

Also, congratulations to Cindy Purdom for making the top 20 individual broker ranking.

Several members of RE/MAX Suburban were also recognized by the worldwide RE/MAX organization for ranking among the Top 100 sales producers of 2016 in the global RE/MAX network for combined sales of residential and commercial properties. The Sarah Leonard Team was #64, and the Leslie McDonnell Team was #72. 

RE/MAX also gave special recognition to its Top 100 Individuals and Teams based solely on residential sales in the United States. The Leonard Team was #33, the McDonnell Team was #36 and the Homes by Marco Team was #51.

The RE/MAX National Housing Report, January 2017

Home sales finished strong in December, helping make 2016 the best year for U.S. home sales since the recession, according to the January 2017 RE/MAX National Housing Report, an analysis of MLS data from 53 metro areas. In fact, home sales in 2016 were the highest in the housing report's eight-year history.  The Chicago-area housing market continued to strengthen in 2016, according to a year-end sales analysis by RE/MAX. Home sales in the seven-county metro area totaled 114,569 units, 4.5 percent more than in 2015 and the most sold in any year since 2006 when 117,503 units changed hands. Here are key points from January's report:

1. Homes are still selling fast

In December, homes spent an average of 62 days on the market. That's the shortest time of any December in the report's history.

2. Prices are rising 

The median sales price of a home sold in December was $216,000. That was nearly 5 percent higher than the median sales price in December 2015.

3. Inventory continues to shrink

The inventory of homes for sale dropped nearly 18 percent between last December and December 2015, continuing a year-long streak of double-digit declines. Given the current pace of home sales, the inventory equals 4.2 months of sales. To put that in context, a supply of six months is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers. In December, 47 of the 53 metro areas surveyed reported a supply of less than 6.0 months. That's usually considered a seller's market.

4. Slightly fewer transactions occurred

The overall average number of home sales fell 1.8 percent compared to December 2015. However, almost half of the 53 metro areas showed an increase in sales year-over-year. Growth in markets across the country was in the double digits. Home sales in the Wilmington/Dover, Delaware market shot up by about 21 percent. Sales in Honolulu, Hawaii grew by 19.7 percent and sales in Augusta, Maine, rose by about 16 percent.

What's the upshot of all this research? "Much like 2015, we saw a mostly healthy housing market in 2016 that posted steady growth in sales and prices," said Dave Liniger, RE/MAX CEO, chairman of the board and co-founder. "We're back to pre-recession levels in many markets, with 2017 forecast to be another solid year. We'll have to wait and see what impact rising interest rates will have." In December, the Federal Reserve raised interest rates for only the second time since 2006.

Creating a bathroom that maximizes safety without sacrificing style

For today's generation of aging adults, individuality and independence are values they've lived out for decades. As the years go by, lifestyle changes become a necessity, due to limited mobility and health concerns, but it doesn't necessarily mean giving up personality.



Aging in place, in the comfort of your home, is a priority for countless people. That often means making adjustments to your home, but some alterations can contribute to making your space feel more institutional and less "you." A balance between style and safety is the key - and finding it is easier than you might think.



One of the most hazardous rooms in the home is the bathroom. Its slippery surfaces and tendency to be crowded with products and objects makes it a hazard for slipping, tripping and other mishaps. As you consider making alterations to your home that enhance security and safety, it's the logical place to start.



* Clear away clutter. Bottles and jars and grooming tools frequently crowd counters, closets and the corners of tubs and showers. Make use of hangers, shelves and wall-mounted baskets to keep things neatly tucked away, providing a cleaner environment that's also better looking and less likely to cause trips or spills.



* Bathe in safety. With limited mobility, moving in and out of the tub can be difficult, if not downright dangerous. One renovation solution to that problem is installing a walk-in tub. Walk-in baths and EasyAccess showers configure to your existing space and allow you to maintain the look of your bathroom while enjoying greater ease.



* Choose rugs carefully. Bath mats and rugs are both functional and decorative. They can add a splash of color while also effectively collecting water that might otherwise pool on the floor and lead to slipping. However, rugs that don't stay in place can present a problem of their own and lead you to trip. Opt for mats and rugs that have non-skid backing, but which still look harmonious with the rest of your bathroom decor.



* Bring things up to the right height. Your bathroom routine can be an active one, which can present problems if your health limits your ability to move or bend easily. Having a commode and a sink at a higher level that prevents you from overexertion during your daily routine will add to the comfort and safety of your bathroom. And with options like Premier Care in Bathing's easy-access sink, you can integrate these new fixtures into your room while maintaining your existing decorative theme.



One of the most important parts of maintaining independence throughout aging is being able to uphold your sense of self. Taking a holistic approach to creating a home environment that meets your needs but still expresses who you are enables you to live life as you choose for a long time to come.

Ideas for flooring in your home

Your home is your paradise, and if you are planning to renovate your home, go for the changes that not only catch your eye, but that they are also comfortable for you and your family. Remodeling is associated with adjustments in every nook and cranny of the home. If you are going to change the flooring of your home, there are some tips for flooring different parts of your house.



Bedroom flooring:



There are plenty of options when it comes to flooring in your bedroom. Being the most private and personalized part of your home, your bedroom is the place which uses a big part of your budget whenever you are remodeling your home; you can use carpet, tile, hardwood, bamboo, cork or laminate. Play with different materials in different rooms; you can opt for striped light and dark shades in your boy's room so that if your son is going to create mess ( which is unavoidable),the flooring can withstand the burden, and also the flooring can bear heavy traffic of the folks coming in the bedroom. For more powerful scratch and water resistant flooring, you can choose laminate.



Living room flooring:



Most of the traffic in a home happens in the living room, with people coming in and out of the house. It is highly recommended that the flooring should be strong enough that it can endure all such wear and tear done with your furniture, or to the increasing and decreasing ratio of visitors. For this purpose you can opt for hardwood flooring. Being classy and sophisticated in look it is the perfect choice for your living room whenever you are remodeling your home.



Kitchen flooring:



Design the floor of your kitchen in such a way that it not only looks pretty, but also gives a practical impression. You can choose from vinyl, tile, natural stone, wood, cork or laminate. A floor covering that is water resistant and durable such as tile, is the best choice to protect against potential water damage. Make sure when you choose your floor to order a little extra of the product, in the event that you drop something like a pot on your floor. If the flooring material is damaged, you will be sure to have enough to repair the floor because often, floor manufacturers have high turnover of their products, to insure a continual buying cycle. Most flooring contractors add 5-10% additional square footage of the flooring product to their purchase order to insure they have enough for the project and to provide the client with a little extra flooring for future use.

Home improvement tips that instantly lower your energy bill

Heating, cooling and water heating are the top three energy drains in a home, accounting for 60 percent of a home's energy bill according to ENERGY STAR, so it's wise to focus your home improvement efforts on those areas. A few simple steps and some strategic investments can lower your monthly bill significantly, plus you'll reduce your carbon footprint. Here are some tips for giving your home an energy-efficient facelift:



Change your home's air filter regularly



Smart homeowners will check their home's air filter every month to see if it needs replacing. How can you tell if it's time to swap in a new one? Look at the color - if it appears gray or brown, or you can visibly see particles or pet fur, it's time for a fresh one. A filter helps keep air flowing in your home and takes out dust, dander and other microscopic debris floating in the air. A dirty filter slows air flow, making your heating and cooling system work harder, costing you more money. Air filters should be replaced every one to three months.



Go beyond tankless: consider an integrated heating and water heating system



Many homeowners have heard about the advantages of tankless water heaters, but now there's a way to be even more efficient by using the Rheem Integrated Heating & Water Heating System, which uses a Rheem tankless water heater to heat both the air and water in your home with maximum efficiency. How does it work? The system matches a hydronic air handler with a tankless gas water heater.- When there's a demand for heat, hot water is circulated through the air handler to produce heat and is then re-circulated back to the tankless water heater to ensure that no water is wasted. This pairing of products provides a soft, comfortable heat to the home while maintaining comfortable humidity levels regardless of the climate. Also, the heating function of the system operates at the same efficiency as the tankless water heater - which could be as high as 94 percent efficient.



Lower the temperature on your water heater



To lower energy costs, consider lowering your water heater's temperature setting. Try somewhere around 120 degrees Fahrenheit and see if that is sufficient in supplying your home with hot water for showers, laundry, dishes, etc. Each 10 degree reduction in water temperature can save 3 to 5 percent, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. If you go on vacation, remember you can turn your water heater down to the lowest setting to save even more while you're gone and it's not in use.



Install a programmable thermostat



Adjusting your thermostat a few degrees during the day can have a big impact on your utility bill. For example, during cold months, turn your thermostat down when you're away from the house, such as during work. Programmable thermostats work perfectly for this - you can set your preferred temperatures throughout the week to fit your schedule and it adjusts automatically. About one-third of American homes have programmable thermostats, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. If you turn back your thermostat 10 or 15 degrees for periods of 8 hours or more, such as when you're at work, you can save 5 to 15 percent a year on your heating bill, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.



From changing your air filter on a regular basis to selecting an integrated system to heat your home's water and air supply, these changes can have a big impact on your utility bill, plus they're environmentally friendly too.