The Leigh Marcus Team, of @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, is expanding business to the Chicagoland suburbs, adding veteran Realtor Peter Cummins to bolster its brand outside the city. Currently, they are focusing on the North Shore with hopes to grow even farther.

To accomplish this, team leader Leigh Marcus knew he needed someone with extensive knowledge of the suburbs. And in Cummins, he found an “amazing solution.” Cummins is considered something of a suburban expert. He has worked in the real estate industry for 20 years, building up his name in the Winnetka area.

His new alliance with the Leigh Marcus Teams aims to help suburban clients find homes in the city, and vice versa, cutting back on the middle-man process. “We are excited to take Peter’s extensive knowledge of the suburbs to amplify our capabilities to better serve our clients and expand our community,” Marcus said in a statement. “His passion and enthusiasm are unmatched and his reputation in the industry and the communities he serves, both personally and professionally, is impeccable.”

Cummins also expressed his excitement. “I have worked with Leigh collaboratively over the years to make sure our individual clients were being served by community experts … [and] it has been such a terrific partnership,” Cummins said. “We have now joined together formally to facilitate exciting yet challenging real estate transactions in the most comprehensive and seamless way possible.”

Cummins was already an agent with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate, so the transition has been especially smooth. He will continue working in @properties’ Winnetka office as well as @properties downtown office. Meanwhile, Marcus will remain based in the team’s Roscoe Village office.

The team, which now includes 17 agents, is headquartered in Roscoe Village.