About Ed Schwind
Ed Schwind grew up with a diverse background coming from a family owned greenhouse business. Ed learned from a young age about construction by helping build the newest sections to his families’ greenhouse business in 1972 by doing everything from laying cement, installing work benches, building storage buildings, operating tractors, and even building a private road. Since the late 1800’s Ed Schwind’s family resided in Evanston, IL and has owned and rehabbed numerous houses throughout his upbringing. Both of Ed’s brothers where in the trades, one as a carpenter and the other as a plumber. While working as Programmer Analyst for Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Company, Ed’s professional Investment/Real Estate career began in 1989 as a foreclosure investor. Ed’s desire to be an entrepreneur was preempted by the draw backs of the corporate world. Everyday Ed would go to sheriff’s sales/foreclosure auctions at the Daley Center and Inter-County Title for divorce sales. While attending these auctions, Ed quickly realized that they where attended by either a real estate agent, and appraiser, or an attorney. Therefore Mr. Schwind decided to obtain a license as well, and received his Real Estate License in 1991, as well as an appraiser’s license in 1992. Ed remained in the real estate industry from that point forward. In the beginning of his career, Ed bought foreclosures with his father; while his brothers assisted with rehabbing these properties. Ed began his real estate sales career originally with a Century 21 office, and quickly became the top producer of a 50 agent office. He was ranked in the top 1% of all agents within the Century 21 System. Ed quickly spearheaded all the new construction projects for Century 21 S.G.R. Inc., and was instrumental with relations between the City of Chicago, Alderman Schulter’s office, and many community groups. In addition to the knowledge of the community, Ed was frequently called by a number of writers from the Chicago Tribune and Booster newspapers for neighborhood real estate information. Ed’s knowledge has been used for numerous articles over the years as an expert on the North Side of Chicago. Mr. Schwind was one of the first agents in the Century 21 system to become a “Mega-Broker”. He had 2 agents as well as 1 assistant working specifically for his personal real estate business. This preempted Ed to open up his own real estate office, Schwind Realty & Development in 2000. Schwind Realty & Development, a boutique office with 12 agents and 2 employees specializing in residential and investment real estate. Throughout his career, Ed has trained numerous agents on how to invest in real estate as well as buy/rent/resell multiple properties in an effort to gain greater returns other than just receiving commissions. In addition, he has spoken for numerous neighborhood and community groups, a number of businesses, and for a few colleges and business groups for DePaul University. Ed has represented a multitude of developers, private investors, and groups of investors in the purchase of real estate on many new construction, rehab, and existing properties in Chicago. Ed was involved in development projects in the Bucktown and West Loop communities during the preliminary stages, which were some of the first townhome developments in each of those locations. Mr. Schwind has purchased and sold properties all over the City of Chicago giving him a well rounded knowledge of the city. In addition, Ed personally has managed a number of rehabs and conversions as a General Contractor for condo conversions and 2 flats to single family conversions. He has redesigned many projects/blue prints that have been instrumental to increasing the value and sales of those specific projects. Ed has owned up to 20 investment properties at one time that he has purchased rehabbed, rented, sold, or managed. Over the years, Mr. Schwind has maintained in close contact with many city departments such as the zoning department and building departments, which has been proven to be instrumental in getting some projects done in time or ahead of schedule. Over the past year Ed has attended seminars, online classes, and created numerous investment vehicles to invest in REOs, foreclosures, and short sales. Presently, he is in contact with 20 different bank presidents that are past/current business contacts in an effort to build relationships for buying distressed properties. The following is only a short sample to provide you with an understanding of the kind of diverse knowledge Ed possesses, which can help take investors to incredible levels of wealth. Ed is a full time agent at the South loop office. Below is a brief summary of his background.
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