Leading Hinsdale Brokerage Leaves ERA to Join RE/MAX Network

News provided by

Oct 23, 2014, 05:58 ET

CHICAGO, Oct. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A prominent real estate brokerage in affluent Hinsdale, Ill., has joined the RE/MAX Northern Illinois real estate network and parted ways with ERA. Now known as RE/MAX Signature Homes and located at 22 N. Lincoln St., the brokerage, formerly ERA Team Feinstein, was the most successful ERA office, not only in the Hinsdale market, but in the metropolitan Chicago area. It has a staff of 54 affiliated brokers, a support staff of five and 2013 closed sales volume of $217 million.

Broker/owner Linda Feinstein said that her decision to join RE/MAX was based on the organization's progressive approach to all facets of the real estate business.

"I was especially impressed with the technology that RE/MAX provides," said Feinstein. "It is light-years ahead of the competition. I see this as an opportunity to grow my own business, but more importantly as a way to grow the business of every broker in our office."

Feinstein began working in real estate 27 years ago and has been among the top brokers in Hinsdale for much of that time. Moreover, she ranks among the nation's top 120 brokers in terms of annual sales. Feinstein and her husband, who is a physician, raised their seven children in Hinsdale, and two of their daughters now work at the brokerage.

"I decided to get my real estate license when our sixth child entered pre-school. It was just going to be a part-time thing," Feinstein recalled. "But I loved it from the start and still do. I enjoy all the aspects of the business, including some that most brokers dislike, the pressure in closing sales and even the rejection that we all experience at times."

After achieving success as an agent, where her clients over the years have included entertainment and sports celebrities and international clientele, as well as hundreds of more typical families, Feinstein opened her own office with a partner in 1999 as an ERA franchise, and she became the sole owner in 2009.

"Linda has all the characteristics of a strong and successful RE/MAX Broker/Owner," said Brian Reagan, president of RE/MAX Northern Illinois. "We had no doubt that the conversion would be most advantageous to her and her sales associates. Given the stability and long-term outlook for the continued success of RE/MAX in all regions across the globe, we saw the conversion as the ultimate vehicle for maximizing her business potential. We look forward to a long and productive partnership with her in the Hinsdale market."

Reagan's personal involvement in the negotiations played a key role, according to Feinstein.

"Talking to Brian was inspiring in helping me make the decision to join RE/MAX. I could sense that they really have a vision for the future of our business," she said.

The RE/MAX Signature Homes office is located in a vintage home, giving it a distinctive look and feel highlighted by such features as a conference room fireplace.

"The setting is traditional, but our approach is extremely contemporary," noted Feinstein, who serves as managing broker and is ably supported by Gail Jensen, the administrative manager. "Modern wireless communications have revolutionized the real estate business over the last decade, radically changing the way brokers work, and our office is in tune with that change."

The office is also in tune with its community. On Oct. 23, RE/MAX Signature Homes is holding a pumpkin pickup at the office, with hundreds of pumpkins available free of charge, one per family.

Feinstein personally hosts a series of special fund raising events each year for different charities, such as the local animal shelter or food pantry, as well as causes with a broader scope, such as breast cancer awareness.

"I encourage all our brokers to play an active role in their community," Feinstein said. "For me, that meant playing an active role in the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce for many years and making contributions elsewhere. We know that RE/MAX has long been a major supporter of Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, and we welcome the opportunity to be part of that effort."

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 mobile real estate app and www.illinoisproperty.com provide 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.