Contact Me by E-mail
630-514-4306

City: WHEATON Price: $425,000 View Details View All Featured Properties

My Property Finder Returning customer login email Address  Remember me? Yes No

City: Price: Minimum Price No Minimum $1,000 $1,500 $2,000 $2,500 $5,000 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $45,000 $50,000 $55,000 $60,000 $70,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $325,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $650,000 $700,000 $750,000 $800,000 $850,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $2,250,000 $2,500,000 $2,750,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000   Maximum Price No Maximum $1,000 $1,500 $2,000 $2,500 $5,000 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $45,000 $50,000 $55,000 $60,000 $70,000 $75,000 $100,000 $125,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $225,000 $250,000 $275,000 $300,000 $325,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 $500,000 $550,000 $600,000 $650,000 $700,000 $750,000 $800,000 $850,000 $900,000 $1,000,000 $1,250,000 $1,500,000 $1,750,000 $2,000,000 $2,250,000 $2,500,000 $2,750,000 $3,000,000 $3,500,000 $4,000,000 $4,500,000 $5,000,000 $6,000,000 $8,000,000 $10,000,000 Beds: Beds 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ Baths: Baths 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+   Click here

Short Sale update 12/2009

Education and Experience is important when you select your Realtor. Read below for Lee's credentials

• To earn a designation, a REALTOR® a real estate agent has taken coursework and demonstrated specific skills, performance and knowledge in a particular area of the real estate industry. My Designations are:
• 1 - CDPE A Certified Distressed Property Expert® is a real estate professional with specific understanding of the complex issues confronting the real estate industry, and the foreclosure avoidance options available to homeowners. Through comprehensive training and experience, CDPEs are able to provide solutions for homeowners facing hardships in today’s market, specifically short sales.
• The prospect of foreclosure can be financially and emotionally devastating, and often homeowners proceed without guidance of any kind. The developers of the CDPE Designation believe that the best course of action for a homeowner in distress is to speak with a well-informed, licensed real estate professional. They have the tools needed to help homeowners find the best solution for their situation. Often, when other options have been exhausted, CDPEs can help homeowners avoid foreclosure through the efficient execution of a short sale.
• While enduring financial difficulties is challenging for any family, the process of finding a qualified real estate professional should not be. Selecting an agent with the CDPE Designation ensures you are dealing with a professional trained to address your specific needs. For more information, contact Lee Ernst at 630-968-2600
• CDPEs don’t merely assist in selling properties, they serve and help save their clients in need.
• 2 - e-PRO Is a technology designation specializing in web based communications and marketing. The National Association of REALTORS® ONLY Technology Certification Program. e-PRO® Certification is NAR's online training program to certify real estate professionals as Internet Professionals. Comprehensive and interactive. When you're on the Internet, you don't have time to waste on endless searches for useful real estate information. You want to get things done quickly and without hassle. So chances are you'd like a real estate agent who Answers e-mail promptly and professionally. Respects your on-line privacy. Offers home listings and other Internet tools to help you find or market a home. Less hassle Tired of struggling to find information? e-PROs are more likely to have access to the latest Internet utilities, making your life easier. These tools may include:
• On-line home tours Instant access to comprehensive neighborhood data Extensive property listings Immediate e-mail notification of just-listed homes meeting your criteria Referral networks and on-line forums, where e-PROs can quickly find information——even potential buyers——from other e-PROs Newsletters on current real estate conditions in your area Electronic faxes sent to you by e-mail Advanced software, PDAs, and laptops to find you answers on the spot The result: you get more information, more easily. With electronic files, you have less paperwork to deal with. And since your agent uses e-mail, you can even eliminate phone tag. The e-PRO streamlines your entire transaction, from showing to closing.
• Less expense An e-PRO's access to advanced technology can save you considerable expense. You have more tools to find or market your home, so you're likely to get a better price. With on-line home tours, you reduce in-person showings——and the costs involved. And by using e-mail, you save money on long-distance calls and fax charges.
• Relocating? An e-PRO is ideal for you. With the tools to do your research electronically, you can make a decision on a home the first day you're in town——or without traveling at all. You and your family save on travel costs. And after you've decided to buy, monitoring the sale by e-mail saves you even more.
• Should you use an e-PRO? Yes——especially if you're an Internet user. In this fast-paced age, technology has become a necessity. An e-PRO is someone who has recognized and responded to the needs of the new consumer. If you choose an e-PRO, it's a safe bet you'll get the kind of service you want——and need.
• 3 - Certified Staging Consultant (CSC) This certification is currently held by fewer than 300 agents in the state of Illinois. This certification educates students in recognizing other attractive alternatives to reach a SALE for their clientele, both the seller and/or buyer! It teaches them how to incorporate an array of staging services into their client service portfolio. From personally consulting the seller how to “de-clutter” the home or, if all fails, incorporating a variety of professional staging services to assist. • Optimum Home Appeal • Edge over Competition • Objectivity and Expertise • Minimize the Time on the Market • Get the Maximum Financial Return • My Experience and Expertise in Buyers/Sellers Consultation Fact: Staged homes have a 13% higher sold price! Fact: Staged homes sell 30% faster!
• 4 - Certified Negotiation Consultant CNC Now is a great time to buy real estate and a Certified Negotiation Expert agent can help buyers save even more. Do we negotiate? Yes! How about a Certified Negotiating Consultant (CNC) designation. I am one of the first 200 Realtors to receive this designation. I look forward to putting this skill to use for your next move.
• It will also benefit the real estate buyer to work with a Realtor that is a Certified Negotiation Expert. These real estate agents have gone through a special training program to help develop their negotiation skills so they can better help their buyer clients and sellers get the best possible price and terms.
• 5 - Broker Associate. Earned Broker License in 2005.
• 6 - Self employed business owner since 1989. Experienced people person having 16 employees with my previous business.

RE MAX Agents Help Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure with Short Sales. Ask Lee how he can help

RE/MAX Northern Illinois

• RE/MAX of Northern Illinois is one of the largest RE/MAX regions in the system and Chicagoland’s ongoing leader in real estate, closing more than $11.4 billion in sales in 2007. RE/MAX Northern Illinois agents average more experience and have more professional designations than other agents, plus they outproduce the competition in average units sold and dollar volume. The RE/MAX Northern Illinois network encompasses the top fourth of the state of Illinois and consists of 160 offices with 3600 agents.

The Latest Real Estate News

• News widgets and RSS

Discount Brokerages,FSBOs Are you getting what you pay for?

• As just about everyone knows – or will learn eventually – a bargain, either in goods or services, is not properly measured by what you pay, but by what you get in return. Despite that, the American public seems ever willing to pursue the “something-for-almost nothing” dream, and home sellers are no exception.
• A small, noteworthy number of them are currently opting for the services of so-called “discount brokers” in marketing their homes. These brokers provide limited assistance to home sellers who function, more or less, as their own selling agents. Here’s a basic question, followed by an honest answer: Can a home be sold without the help of a full, service Realtor? Of course it can, but rarely does it make economic sense to go that route, in terms of time, money and inconvenience.
• Now, before you dismiss my opinion as merely the self-serving view of an industry loyalist, please read on. If you’re ever going to sell a home, you’ll be glad you did! I’m assuming that, as a seller, you will be interested in receiving the highest price possible. That highest obtainable price can be realized only if you can expose the property to the biggest and best pool of prospects available, the facilities, skill and experience to first reach, then identify, satisfy and obtain a commitment from the best-qualified buyer.
• Limited exposure won’t do it! Consider the fact that, although full-service Realtors may spend thousands of dollars each month on advertising and may have hundreds of yard signs dotting the landscape, only about 20% of their actual buyers will likely be attracted by these media. Only a small slice of that portion of the market can be reached by the limited advertising budget (if any) provided by the discount broker or from your own resources and a single yard sign. To obtain that “highest price”, you must vigorously and effectively challenge the entire market.
• How do successful brokers reach that other 80% of buyers? In a typical full-service real estate firm, 30% or more of its buyers are brought to the table by cooperating brokers. The professionals who attract these buyers play for pay, and the good ones are worth every dollar they receive. They have neither the need nor the inclination to work for less than their stated fees. It takes skill, experience and objectivity to service and sell in a competitive area where so many homes, sellers and agents are vying for his or her attention. This level of service simply cannot be delivered at substantially reduced rates.
• In real estate, as in everything else, if you pay less, you must settle for inferior service, and if you do that, the cost to you in net proceeds and personal aggravation will almost always exceed the commission dollars you thought you were saving. Here’s the bottom line – ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WHEN A HOME IS SOLD, SOMEONE ALWAYS PAYS A FULL COMMISSION!
• Hire a professional Like Lee Ernst to ensure you are getting the most for your dollar.

Video Considering a Home Purchase?

Code of Ethics

• The Code establishes time-honored and baseline principles that come from the collective experiences of REALTORS® since the Code of Ethics was first established in 1913. Those principles can be loosely defined as:
• Loyalty to clients; Fiduciary (legal) duty to clients;
• Cooperation with competitors;
• Truthfulness in statements and advertising; and non-interference in exclusive relationships that other REALTORS® have with their clients.

$8000 First Time Home Buyers Credit

Get Preapproved for a Loan

• If you need a list of good high quality lenders, Let me know, I can help you with that.
• Determine Your Price Range and Area(s) in Which You're Interested
• By now you should have a good idea of how much home you can afford. I or a good lender can help with that. This helps you narrow down your home search. You should also begin researching the neighborhoods in which you might want to live.
• THE COMPARISON: Shopping will be simpler if you pick a specific kind of loan and look only for that, say a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with no points. Because rates (and terms) can change daily, take an entire weekday and make all your calls. This sounds severe, but there’s no other decent way to compare apples to apples.

Tips for Sellers in a Buyers Market

SEE LEE for all your Real Estate Needs!

• Professional but easy going. Can describe my approach. Let me show you how Buying or Selling a home can be less stressful and more rewarding. It starts with explaining the buying and selling process from start to finish. I believe that an educated client can make the process smoother for all involved.
• RESOLVE Lee never forgets what is at stake; The equity for your next home, the nest egg for your retirement, and he never forgets that time is money. It may be an old cliche, but it is crucial for anyone selling a home. Far too many stay on the market for months before they sell. Far to many do not sell at all. Lee will help you sell yours as quickly as humanly possible, for the highest price possible. LEE Offers You: * Expert Product And Neighborhood Knowledge * Excellent Communication Skills * A Skillful and Effective Negotiator * Exceptional Personal Service and Commitment to Your Success * Innovative Marketing Ideas to Sell Your Home Quickly * Business Owner Since 1989
• “Total honesty is the key to all good relationships. I am committed to being 100% honest. You deserve a Realtor® you can count on. To produce the results you want. Real Estate is not only about helping people. I will be there from start to finish. That is my commitment to my clients.”
• KNOWLEDGE Lee knows the Real Estate market, its intricacies, its subtleties, intimately. Lee does his homework. No guesswork, no wishful thinking. Lee recommends realistic asking prices. Prices that will not turn buyers away. Lee invests the time, and the effort. Evenings, weekends, whatever it takes! He keeps you informed and in the picture. Regularly and without fail. You deserve nothing less.

A RE/MAX REALTOR®

• A REALTOR® is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
• Benefits and Competitive Advantages of RE/MAX Affiliation
• RE/MAX Relocation Generating new sources of buyers for your property RE/MAX Commercial A growing number of RE/MAX offices throughout the system are exclusively commercial or have commercial divisions. Many offices that are predominantly residential also have commercial specialists, providing additional opportunities. RE/MAX Renowned Properties The power of the RE/MAX brand is linked with the imagery and services of a high-end boutique. Approved Supplier Program You get to decide if you want to use these products, services, discounts and partnerships, with industry leaders in high-tech to high finance and everything in between.
• The power of market share RE/MAX has achieved 30-percent-and-higher market share in area after area across North America and is growing in market share around the world. Here are just a few of the major markets where RE/MAX has Premier Market Presence. National advertising Prime-time RE/MAX images fill television screens in homes across the United States and portions of Canada, generating more than 5 billion impressions annually. Public relations RE/MAX public relations takes many forms - from charity sponsorships to sports marketing through the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship and auto racing. International referral program The RE/MAX Referral Program has proved to be more successful than any other referral system in North America. Full-time quality Associates sending leads directly to other full-time quality Associates provide better service for customers.
• Most recognized logo in real estate The RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon is one of the most recognized symbols in real estate, a reflection of large market share. The "Above the Crowd®" logo soars on RE/MAX advertising and promotion worldwide. More signs, more ads, more prospects When an office is filled with top-producing agents, the result is more yard signs and advertising throughout the market and more customers walking into or calling the office. Momentum picks up even more because only competent professionals handle the floor - converting a high percentage of off-the-street business into listings and sales. Experiment and be creative RE/MAX Associates are innovators. They were among the first to aggressively embrace personal promotion and buyer agency, and to adapt technology to the real estate sales process. New ways of doing business don't depend on top-down approval. The innovations start in the field and the RE/MAX system responds with support. RE/MAX Affiliates are encouraged to be the first to pioneer trends that lead to increased productivity.
• The Real Estate Leaders® RE/MAX was the first network in the industry to pass the sales milestone of 1 million transaction sides in a single year. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX.

6 Hot Topic videos to view below

Awards & Achievements

• Remax 100% club Remax Executive Club Are my favorite business Awards. I have personal awards in Bmx racing and Kart racing that I am equally proud of.
• The Achievement I am most proud of, is in mid 2008 devoting myself to be a full time Real Estate Professional and with that taking my career in 2009 to a level that is on par with agents 10 or more years in the business. Like a lot of agents I got licensed in 2005 and was balancing my employees from my other business with my new found Real Estate business. The best feeling of accomplishment happened when I was able to say in 2008 that my real Estate clients are all I have to focus on. I closed down my business that I started in 1989! Being able to put my time and energy into my clients needs has been such a blessing. I can say proudly I have developed strong relationships with my clients by being able to provide my time; energy, my abilities and great follow up. In turn, this has led to a business that I will do for the rest of my life. Seeing a happy client at the end of a closing is enough motivation to keep me in the business until I cannot physically do it anymore. See Lee for all your real estate needs!

Lee Ernst, Action | Corporate Office - 1550 Maple Avenue, Lisle, IL | 630-968-2600