Brian Goldberg: Partner, LG Development Name three people/businesses that you are watching in 2011. President Obama, the new Chicago mayor and local banks and mortgage companies . . . . . . . What plans do you have for

Loretta Alonzo: Broker/owner, CENTURY 21 Alonzo & Associates, President-Elect, IAR Name three people/businesses that you are watching in 2011? I’m not so much a people or business watcher as I am an industry watcher. I like to keep an eye on

Dave Rank: Area sales manager, Mortgage Services III Name three people/businesses that you are watching in 2011. One business that I will be watching in 2011 is a company called Cartavi (cartavi.com). Cartavi makes web-based software that allows you

Mabél Guzmán: President of Business Development and sales, ENvision Real Estate; 2010-2011 president, CAR Name three people/businesses that you are watching in 2011. When looking at businesses that could positively impact mine, they are not related to real estate but

Russ Bergeron: CEO, MRED Can you clarify what MRED is doing right now and plans to do in the future? Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is the premier Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for the Chicagoland area. By definition, an

Throughout the country, everyone has an opinion about the housing market and where it is heading. From unemployment rates to consumer confidence, the different stats, figures and charts can be overwhelming. To help make the future appear clearer, we

by Michael Michalak Working with landlords is a great way to supplement your sale business in the current market or add a prospecting element that you hadn’t considered. Offering a tenant finder service to property owners can be lucrative

by Daniel Sullivan My first-ever residential real estate client was a friend from college. While riding around the city in search of his first condo, he told me a story that stuck with me. When his father arrived to

by Daniel J. Hyman Register your client: Do you want to get paid? If so, then the most important step is to register your client. Make sure you specifically follow the rules the auction company requires in order to

by Rick Levin In today’s real estate market, values of properties are harder than ever to determine by agents and appraisers. The old adage “something is worth what someone is willing to pay for it” has never been more

by Bill Knapp After all efforts to collect payments, modify the loan and/or selling the property short have failed, a property usually ends up as bank owned, aka “real estate owned,” or an REO. An REO is not a

by Joe Stacy Helping your clients purchase an REO property creates a great financial opportunity for them. Here are some tips to increase your chances of success. Be organized. REO agents have several properties they are dealing with. Providing

by Stephanie Andre, Jeannine Prombo and Maggie Antillon Distressed property made up over 35 percent of all sales in Cook County in the first quarter of 2010. Foreclosure filings are on the rise in the six-county Chicago region, which

by Jim Murrin In order to be successful in today’s challenging real estate market, it is critical for a real estate agent to adapt to the ever-changing industry environment. This means an agent must stay educated on recent trends

By Mike Cuevas It’s not uncommon these days to walk into a seller’s home for a traditional listing presentation and find out how much the seller owes on the property. Oops, what do you do now? This just turned

In the current economic climate, real estate agents must take extra steps to continue to be profitable. To succeed in 2010, agents have to work harder and more often. Also, some have taken the time to explore new ways to make money, aside from the standard residential sales transaction. Opportunities like auctions, foreclosures, short sales, REOs, commercial transactions and rentals are giving agents the boost they need during these difficult times. In the following pages, we’ve asked experts in each field to explain how agents can make the current market work for them.