Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois says area commercial market remains strong

Special to the Illinois Business Journal
    Commercial real estate is everywhere — the local coffee shop, industrial park, downtown main street, even the office where you work.
    “There are many steps in buying and selling real estate, whether it is commercial or residential.  That’s where a Realtor becomes priceless in a transaction,” says Deb Frazier, CEO of the Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois, based in Belleville.  
    According to the National Association of Realtors, the last quarter of 2018 registered a solid increase in the volume of sales transactions in commercial markets, closing the book on the year on a high note. Investment volume in the large commercial space totaled $160 billion during the fourth quarter, a 20 percent jump from the same period in 2017, according to Real Capital Analytics.  
    Commercial real estate is on the rise and the outlook continues to be positive, she said.
    “The commercial market continues to be strong in our area, and Realtors in the Metro East look forward to more years of a strong market,” says Frazier.  “I am honored to be part of an association that has such strong commercial and residential Realtors.”
    RASI is part of the National Association of Realtors, which is the largest trade association in the United States. The national association, together with its 1.3 million members, is actively engaged in the effort to make sure consumers can benefit from using a Realtor.  The association has a broad array of resources to help provide the best service to clients, she said.
    RASI covers St. Clair, Monroe, Clinton and Randolph counties in Illinois.  
    “RASI is the voice for real estate in Southwestern Illinois with approximately 1,000 members,” Frazier said.  “Our mission is to empower members to succeed into the future. Our members are made up of Realtors that specialize in commercial real estate, property management, home selling, and home buying.”
    Affiliate members are comprised of experts in all areas of the real estate industry. They provide services and products to homeowners, often during the home-buying process investors, developers and real estate agents.
    Service categories include (but are not limited to): appraisal, attorney mortgage, banking/lending, builder/developer, home inspection, home repair/supplier, home warranty, marketing services, mold testing, mold remediation, photography/videography, radon mitigation, radon testing, termite inspection, title insurance, and water damage restoration.
    Frazier said there are many reasons to turn to her members, including guidance on the many facets of developing properties, buying and selling property, community advocacy, community involvement, tools to promote properties if selling, tools to find properties if buying, and knowledge of the market.

    (The term REALTOR is a registered trademark.)