Paving the Way to Success - The National Association of Realtors

An expert real estate agent in the Chicago, Illinois, market, Anne Ewasko has completed transactions in conjunction with major corporations and celebrities, such as Elle Magazine and Michael Jordan. A broker with Baird & Warner, Anne Ewasko holds a number of professional memberships, including with the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Open to any member of a local real estate association, the NAR was founded in 1908. Now with more than a million members throughout the country, the NAR follows a comprehensive code of ethics that ensures Realtors work on behalf of their clients while also treating all parties involved in an honest manner. In addition to the assurances that the association offers its clients and customers, it provides a range of benefits to its members, including the NAR library and the Member Value Plus Program, among others.

The NAR also has a number of continuing education and certification courses. Continuing education courses are available to beginning and experienced Realtors, with topics that range from affordable housing and the appraisal process to urban planning and zoning. NAR certification courses connect Realtors with different societies specific to real estate sectors, giving members the resources that will help them succeed in the industry.

What is a Certified Residential Specialist?

Since 2010, Anne Ewasko has served as a real estate broker with Baird & Warner in Chicago, Illinois, where she assists clients with real estate sales and purchases. In addition to her experience in the field, Anne Ewasko is also a Certified Residential Specialist with the National Association of Realtors.

The Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) title isn’t just another honor to hang on a wall--it’s a message to clients that a realtor is a cut above the rest. Only members who have completed the requisite educational and professional achievements are eligible for CRS certification.

According to the National Association of Realtors, CRS designees earn three times as much as the typical realtor and are involved twice as many transactions on an annual basis. Only three percent of the one million realtors in the country have achieved the CRS distinction.

In addition to being recognized as one of the highest achieving realtors in the field, CRS designation comes with other benefits, including exclusive use of the CRS trademark, listing in the CRS referral directory, discounted professional development, and more. 

For realtors who want to know more about the program, call NAR Customer Service at (800) 462-8841.

Positive Trends in Chicago Mortgages and National Home Sales

An agent with Baird & Warner Real Estate, Anne Ewasko leverages extensive knowledge of the Chicago real estate market to serve her clients. In transacting properties, Anne Ewasko emphasizes a research-driven approach that takes into consideration the latest sales trends.

As reported in Chicago Agent Magazine, mortgage activity, a strong bell weather of overall market performance, is seeing robust gains. According to a U.S. Residential Property Loan Origination Report focused on the second quarter of 2016, Chicagoland mortgage activity rose 24 percent from the previous quarter, with refinance loans down by double digits.

At the same time, pending home sales, as tracked nationally, witnessed their second-highest levels over the past decade. This reflects a scenario of a strong labor market, coupled with increased affordability, as construction costs and sizes of homes have diminished. A key question is whether homebuilding activities can keep pace with demand and ensure that prices remain in the ballpark of what families looking to purchase can afford.