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The Capital Area REALTORS® (CAR) announced a merger today with the West Central Illinois Association of REALTORS® (WCIAR) as well as both organizations’ Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
The combined organization, operating under the name Capital Area REALTORS®, will have 600 members, 700 MLS subscribers and an official website of www.seehouses.com.
The merger was approved March 9 and 11, respectively, by members of both groups. The merger has received approval from the National Association of REALTORS® and will become effective April 1, 2015.
The merger adds Warren, Henderson and Knox counties to counties already in CAR’s official jurisdiction (Sangamon, Menard and the northern portion of Macoupin). WCIAR will become the West Central Chapter of CAR. The chapter concept is relatively new – and although the two organizations will merge into one legal entity – it will enable WCIAR to maintain its own identity and continue many of the activities that it had enjoyed previously.
“I have always been a proponent of consolidation in business,” said Mike Buscher, CRB, GRI, president of CAR. “By combining the assets of both organizations and pooling resources, tools and expertise, we will be better able to provide improved services and support, thus elevating the value of local REALTORS® to consumers throughout Central Illinois.”
Stephen Daly, WCIAR president, said he and his leadership team have been seeking ways to add value to their members’ investment in the association. “By merging with the Capital Area REALTORS and becoming a chapter, our members will maintain their own identity but have access to additional programs, services, networking and referral opportunities to expand their business,” he said. Adding to the wide variety of expertise, qualifications and skills currently exemplified by the governing body of CAR, Daly will join the CAR Board of Directors.
In addition to the CAR office in Springfield, the WCIAR office located at 975 N. Henderson, Suite 4, Galesburg, will be maintained and staffed part-time as a CAR satellite office. The two organizations had discussed possible merger structures and options since late last year.
