Earlier this summer, the leadership teams at MKT Properties and Weinberg Choi Realty in Chicago announced a new collective market center opening in the flourishing neighborhood of Lincoln Park under the Keller Williams brand. This month, the newly-formed collective has revealed an additional alliance with The Apostal Group, which was previously under Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
In addition to Nicholas Apostal, Keller Williams’ Lincoln Park group is managed by Mary Haight and Joe Zimmerman of MKT Properties, along with Josh Weinberg and Tommy Choi of Weinberg Choi Realty. The market center is slated to open by the end of 2016.
“Our partnership with Joe Zimmerman and Mary Haight of MKT Properties and Josh Weinberg and Tommy Choi under the Keller Williams banner represents an opportunity to create a collaborative culture that will reinvent the residential real estate business in Chicago,” Nicholas Apostal said in a statement.
The Apostal Group’s history dates back 40 years ago with Apostal’s mother, Edie, who worked as an independent agent until she moved underneath the Coldwell Banker brand in 1993. The mother-son duo joined forces in 2001 and partnered to create an official team in 2006.
(From left) Tommy Choi, Josh Weinberg, Nicholas Apostal, Mary Haight and Joe Zimmerman / Business Wire
Along with MKT and Weinberg Choi Realty, all three entities sold more than 400 residential properties and $185 in sales volume last year. Choi said the three formerly independent organizations find common ground in training, customer service and community outreach, making the three-way partnership a good fit on all fronts.
“Niko is hands down one of the most respected agents in our industry, and he loves to give back and support others,” Weinberg said in a statement. “It’s always been a dream of ours to collaborate with him, and now our dream has come true.”
Keller Williams is based in Austin and currently holds the title of largest real estate franchise by associate count in the world. The brokerage is rapidly expanding its presence in the Chicago market, opening seven new launches throughout the Windy City region. The broader brokerage has plans for 16 additional centers in the near future, according to the initial announcement in June.
“This dynamic new partnership of three highly respected Chicago brokerage teams truly fulfills the Keller Williams model that has proven successful across the country and the globe,” said John Schumacher, director of the Keller Williams Mid-American region.
