CHICAGO—Janice Corley has just become sole owner of RE/MAX Premier Properties, 1205 N. State Pkwy., after acquiring the ownership interest of her partner, Cynthia Bauer. Corley and Bauer established the brokerage in 2011. Today it has 75 affiliated brokers, and its 2015 closed sales volume was more than $170 million.
Corley has acted as managing partner of the brokerage, as well as the managing broker, since its founding. Bauer has been one of the leading sales producers in the office and will continue in that role.
“Our focus from the beginning has been on growth at this location, and while that will continue to be a priority, we hope to establish a presence in other parts of Chicago,” Corley says. “A real estate brokerage is most effective when it has a physical presence in the communities it serves. I think that tradition has been lost to some extent in our industry because contemporary technology gives brokers the tools to work from home or from their cars or in a coffee shop.
“While that trend has benefits, it also has limitations. Agents who don't see each other in the office are less likely to collaborate, share information or participate in the training programs that a brokerage like ours provides.”
Corley adds that many leading real estate organizations have reduced the number of offices they have across the Chicago area. “We see opportunities in a number of areas that would seem to be underserved by the major real estate brands,” Corley said. “My goal for RE/MAX Premier Properties is to fill that void with one or two new offices in the relatively near future.”
She plans to establish new offices by acquiring independent brokerages in these underserved communities.
Bauer says she sold her interest in the brokerage to devote more time to selling real estate, the aspect of her career she enjoys most.
“As an owner, you have to deal with a much broader range of responsibilities, and I thought that I'd like to simplify things. My relationship with Janice remains one of best friends, plus she is an outstanding manager. With our new arrangement, we'll still be collaborating, and I'll be able to focus on what I'm most passionate about.”
CHICAGO—Janice Corley has just become sole owner of RE/MAX Premier Properties, 1205 N. State Pkwy., after acquiring the ownership interest of her partner, Cynthia Bauer. Corley and Bauer established the brokerage in 2011. Today it has 75 affiliated brokers, and its 2015 closed sales volume was more than $170 million.
Corley has acted as managing partner of the brokerage, as well as the managing broker, since its founding. Bauer has been one of the leading sales producers in the office and will continue in that role.
“Our focus from the beginning has been on growth at this location, and while that will continue to be a priority, we hope to establish a presence in other parts of Chicago,” Corley says. “A real estate brokerage is most effective when it has a physical presence in the communities it serves. I think that tradition has been lost to some extent in our industry because contemporary technology gives brokers the tools to work from home or from their cars or in a coffee shop.
“While that trend has benefits, it also has limitations. Agents who don't see each other in the office are less likely to collaborate, share information or participate in the training programs that a brokerage like ours provides.”
Corley adds that many leading real estate organizations have reduced the number of offices they have across the Chicago area. “We see opportunities in a number of areas that would seem to be underserved by the major real estate brands,” Corley said. “My goal for RE/MAX Premier Properties is to fill that void with one or two new offices in the relatively near future.”
She plans to establish new offices by acquiring independent brokerages in these underserved communities.
Bauer says she sold her interest in the brokerage to devote more time to selling real estate, the aspect of her career she enjoys most.
“As an owner, you have to deal with a much broader range of responsibilities, and I thought that I'd like to simplify things. My relationship with Janice remains one of best friends, plus she is an outstanding manager. With our new arrangement, we'll still be collaborating, and I'll be able to focus on what I'm most passionate about.”
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Brian J. Rogal
Brian J. Rogal is a Chicago-based freelance writer with years of experience as an investigative reporter and editor, most notably at The Chicago Reporter, where he concentrated on housing issues. He also has written extensively on alternative energy and the payments card industry for national trade publications.
