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.

We asked, and our readers answered: the following 15 companies and agents are the best of the best in the Chicagoland real estate industry. Chicago Agent’s fifth annual Agents’ Choice Awards survey winners were all selected by our readers,

2010 Agents’ Choice Awards Peter Moulton, @properties Evanston Peter Moulton was born and raised on the North Shore, living in Winnetka, Wilmette and Evanston. In 1998, he became a real estate agent beginning his new career in Downtown Evanston.

2010 Agents’ Choice Awards Chuck Goro, Coldwell Banker Lincoln Park Plaza Chuck Goro’s enthusiasm for life, for his work and for Coldwell Banker comes through from the first moment you meet him. For more than 30 years, Goro has

2010 Agents’ Choice Awards Guaranteed Rate Guaranteed Rate was founded in 2000 and has since then become one of the largest independent mortgage lenders in the country. Today, Guaranteed Rate is licensed in 46 states and has over 70

2010 Agents’ Choice Awards Baird & Warner For over 150 years, Baird & Warner has been a force in Chicagoland real estate, building a record of success and longevity unparalleled in the industry, with five generations of family ownership

2010 Agents’ Choice Awards Lori Neuschel, @properties North Shore Lori Neuschel’s successful business career spans 31 years, and her success comes from her passion to provide exceptional service and exceptional results. Neuschel obtained her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate

2010 Agents’ Choice Awards Millie Rosenbloom Millie Rosenbloom is recognized as an exceptional real estate broker whose volume rates in the top 1 percent among over 14,000 brokers. A broker associate with the Baird & Warner’s Lincoln Park office,

2010 Agents’ Choice Awards Heritage Luxury Builders Heritage Luxury Builders specializes in building the highest quality luxury homes in the most exclusive locations on Chicago’s North Shore. Over the past 20 years, the company has built over 100 beautiful

2010 Agents’ Choice Awards The Trump Organization Throughout its dramatic history, Chicago has been a symbol of growth, energy, innovation and, most significantly, American architectural traditions. As a thriving center of culture and commerce, Chicago’s unique can-do spirit serves

2010 Agents’ Choice Awards Prudential Rubloff In February 2007, Michael Pierson and Chris Eigel, both long-time veterans of the Chicagoland real estate market, acquired Prudential Preferred Properties (PPP). At the time, the company had 200 agents and 10 Chicagoland