DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS (MORe) and the REALTOR Association of Northwest Chicagoland (RANWC) today announced a proposed merger that would form the biggest REALTOR association in Illinois and the fourth largest in the nation.

The move would create an organization with 16,000 members serving 185 communities in Cook, DuPage and Lake counties. The boards of both organizations have voted to approve the merger this month, and are optimistic that members will follow suit in July.

Since the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS has already built a strong brand name in the REALTOR community as well as among consumers, RANWC’s board decided it would make the most sense to integrate under MORe’s banner.

“This year marks the 90th anniversary for the Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the occasion,” said Christine Chase, MORe president. “We will now have a more unified voice in the suburban Chicago real estate market.”

MORe, which already serves DuPage County and most of suburban Cook, would extend its reach into Lake County and northwest Cook. The association would be based in Downers Grove and serve members with additional offices in Arlington Heights, Chicago, Libertyville, Naperville and Tinley Park.

The merger promises to bolster the services the organization provides to local REALTORS, such as education and professional development, and create additional opportunities for networking and collaboration.

With an enhanced government affairs program, MORe would also be better able to monitor municipalities and protect homeowners from egregious taxes and regulation. Increased efficiencies, such as using a unified lockbox system, would also allow members to better serve their clients.

“This merger represents a great opportunity for a partnership between two of the strongest and most active REALTOR associations in the nation,” said RANWC President Bob Dohn.

“The leadership of both organizations has been on the same page during the entire discussion, and this promises to be a great fit. We look forward to building a regional presence that will allow us to better serve both members and homeowners.”

For nearly a century, MORe has been dedicated to anticipating and serving the needs of more than 11,500 REALTORS, affiliates and licensed appraisers in South and West Suburban Chicagoland. MORe is the second largest REALTOR member organization in Illinois, and the seventh largest in the nation. To learn what a REALTOR can do for you, visit www.succeedwithmore.com.

SOURCE Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS