About CRER

About CRER

Founded in 2004 by Chicago real estate veteran Eric Janssen, CRER specializes in a multitude of services including investment real estate sales, retail, office and industrial leasing, tenant representation, receivership services and property management. 

CRER (Chicago Real Estate Resources Inc.) is a full-service, commercial real estate firm licensed in Illinois and Indiana, devoted to providing exceptional service for your every real estate need. From new regulations to emerging technologies, the commercial real estate market is constantly changing. It’s our job to simplify that complexity and empower you with clear information so you can make the best decisions for your investment portfolio. Our extensive experience, personalized attention, reliability and market knowledge are just a few of the characteristics that set us apart from other real estate firms.

Founded in 2004 by Chicago real estate veteran Eric Janssen, CRER specializes in a multitude of services including investment real estate sales, retail, office and industrial leasing, tenant representation, receivership services and property management. CRER President Eric Janssen, has been appointed receiver in Illinois and Indiana State and Federal courts in over 1,800 cases for the past 20+ years involving assets valued in excess of $2 billion. Collectively, our team has sold more than $3 billion in commercial real estate assets.

At Chicago Real Estate Resources, we understand the unique needs of each individual or business involved in the buying/selling or leasing process. With such a comprehensive understanding of each step of a real estate transaction, our team can deliver results while exceeding our customers’ expectations. By recognizing opportunities and developing effective strategies to satisfy your unique needs, CRER delivers results no matter how difficult the assignment. We take pride in providing our clients with the level of service that we would expect to receive ourselves.

Partial Institutional Client List

Client Testimonials

Steve Rapoport was instrumental in successfully moving through the real estate process of selling our previously owned building, as well as finding and closing on a new facility. He handled himself and our deals with professionalism and represented the Little City Foundation aggressively to reach an agreement favorable to us. I highly recommend Steve and would happily use him again in the future.

Bill Brennan | Chief Facilities and Environmental Quality Officer | Little City Foundation

Tuyen is the best agent out there so great and wonderful to work with!! She makes my experience of opening a business for the first time feel amazing. She always goes out of her way to help with everything. I really can’t say enough good things about working with Tuyen.! You won’t regret working with her. Highly recommend!!

Dai N.

The Board of Directors and I were very pleased with Nate’s expertise and support throughout the entire process of seeking a tenant to fill our pending commercial vacancy.  He was incredibly responsive to all of our needs and questions and was able to procure several offers for the space in a very short amount of time even in the midst of a very difficult and unique time of the pandemic.

Dee Rickhoff, MCA, ILCAM, Park Place Chicago Condominium Association

Steven Rapoport helped me navigate a very difficult purchase. Without his help and expertise, I doubt the deal would have gotten done.

Harold D. Rider, Jr., CPM, RPA, Realty & Mortgage Co

We listed a mixed-use building with Steven with retail on the first floor and apartments above. The market insight and analysis Steven provided was thorough and extremely helpful. Thanks to Stevens connections and diligence, our property sold over the asking price after less than two weeks of marketing. Stevens professionalism was greatly appreciated.

Dr. Anthony and Mrs. Mary Lam

Steven recently helped me sell a six unit investment property. As an out of state real estate investor I know that I can count on Steven for local market insights and accurate property valuation. Steven is extremely professional and has great connections to qualified buyers.

Bassem Victor, CEO BBGIP, Inc

Great service… Great execution…. Great results……. Need I Say More?

Robert J. Walter, Executive Vice President, First Bank and Trust Company of Illinois

Steven Rapoport isn’t your typical salesman, he wants what is best for you and is never forceful. If he feels a deal doesn’t seem right, he will let you know. He knows what you want and won’t let you accept anything less. He is your honest real estate agent.

Heather Olker, Learning and Development Specialist at Equity LifeStyle Properties

Eric Janssen does a great job getting maximum value out of real estate, his experience combined with fair dealing makes his company an asset to the real estate world.

Peter J. Haleas, President, Bridgeview Bank Group

Steven Rapoport was great from the start! He was professional, hard-working and personable. The price we got on my property was at the high end of the market; I could not have been happier with Steven’s services.

Rose Albun

I don’t even know where to start. Tuyen is not only an excellent broker but also an amazing person. She will go out of her way to help you with whatever you need. Doesn’t matter if the issue has to do with her expertise or not, she will find ways to help answer all of your questions and concerns. She is quick, responsive, and effective. I’ve never seen a person so passionate about what they’re doing. We were looking for a location to open our very first business and Tuyền really went above and beyond the call of duty to help us. She made it very easy for us during the process. I was able to get the lease I desperately wanted to thank her excellent negotiating skills. I’m very thankful to have met this smart and sweet lady. If you work with her, you are in absolutely good hands!

Van Thien Ho

While marketing a difficult commercial property on our behalf, Eric Janssen and his staff were a pleasure to work with and responded quickly to our changing needs.

Sandra Spivey, U.S. Bank, Las Vegas, Nevada

I have sold a number of properties, and after working with Steven Rapoport, I’ll never use another broker. He worked unremittingly throughout the entire transaction, from valuation through closing, making the process very easy for me. He has my highest recommendation.

David, Chicago Personal Injury Attorney

Having worked with Eric Janssen over the years, particularly on difficult projects, I have found Eric and his crew to be on top of any REO problems, ready to provide technical help to resolve maintenance and construction issues, and he has always responded in a timely fashion.

Fred Lindstrom , ABN-AMRO/ LaSalle Bank Chicago, IL

Steven Rapoport’s approach to listing and selling my property was conducted in the most professional manner. Pricing and marketing the property to get me maxim value. He is highly recommended.

Rose Vaccaro, Owner of Cobblestones Bar & Grill

We have worked with Eric Janssen and his team for over 5 years. They have served on our behalf as a Receiver on many occasions and have managed and sold several properties for us. Their passion for the business of real estate is what sets them apart.

David Heyson and Michael Warren, US Bank

Steven Rapoport sold two properties for me, both of which were marketed expertly and sold for more than I thought possible.

Scott Frayn, MAI Appraiser

I have used Tim Keenan’s commercial brokerage service for the past two years. The great energy and passion he puts in everything he does has been the key for me to achieve my real estate goals. As a foreign investor, Tim has always been there to represent me and defend my opinion as if it was his own project. Real estate is a very challenging business and working with him has made me feel that we can find solutions to any problems that arise. And when such problems did come along, together we did! Not only is Tim a professional and passionate, he is also one of the most entertaining brokers I’ve had the pleasure of working with. When traveling to Chicago for business, Tim always ensures that I’m well taken care of.

Benoit Chrétien, Canadian Investor

Nathan Gautsche is a true real estate professional. When we needed to execute on some challenging properties he was able to find the right buyer and make the sale from beginning to end as smooth as possible. I would recommend Nathan to anyone who needs a detailed and focused real estate professional that wants results

Molly O’Farrell, Managing Director at The PrivateBank

Tim Keenan has been a pleasure to work with over the past several years and has been a great asset for our company. The tenacity at which he attacks a task has been very impressive and his results have been outstanding. From start to finish, for both acquisitions and dispositions, Tim has been the most well-rounded and talented broker we have dealt with. We look forward to doing more deals with him in the future.

FC Realty Chicago

Mike Weaver is an astute and persistent real estate professional that has achieved great success in the liquidation of our OREO.

Patrick T. McShane, Chairman, President & CEO American Metro Bank

If there was a better rating than ‘A’, Tim Keenan would get it. He was absolutely instrumental in helping with the purchase of several multi-unit buildings throughout the Chicago area. He is always quick to respond to emails and patient as we tour property after property. When it’s time to put an offer on a building, he always prepares a fantastic package for me. As a Canadian investor, I am absolutely positive that I would not have gotten the same success in a foreign market if it wasn’t for Tim.

Louis Gagne, Canadian Investor

Eric Janssen has provided us with a variety of services including marketing REO residential and commercial properties, asset management, and acting in court-appointed receivership capacities for several years. We call Eric for our more “challenging” properties as he provides professional, timely, and thorough services. We have found Eric and his team to be affable and experienced.

Suzon Lanz, Default Administration Supervisor MB Financial Bank

Tim Keenan has been great to work with. He has brought us exciting opportunities that fit the model of what we are looking for. He is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of the business and we feel like he is a partner in these deals as opposed to a broker. Lastly, he has proven in a very short time to be a person of integrity and honesty. He is our broker of choice and we will continue to work with him.

Patrick McCoy, Labrynth, Inc.

Mike Weaver was instrumental in all facets of the purchase of our first industrial building. He is a great broker.

Jolanta Kozlowska, President JPT Carpenters, Inc

Steven Rapoport is a broker who gets deals done. He is honest and straight to the point. It’s obvious that he tries to get what’s best for both the buyer and seller, so that everyone comes out ahead.

Mike Tadin Jr., Owner of TD Capital Investments, LLC

Mike Weaver was great, he was able to negotiate a great deal on the acquisition of an industrial building for my company. Thanks again Mike.

Joe Spagnoli, Owner Yak-Zies Bar & Grill

Steve Rapoport worked diligently to find suitable commercial tenants for retail spaces that have been extremely difficult to rent. We’re very happy with the work he has done.

Andrew Calcutt, Vice President Clark Street Capital

Mike Weaver has been a great asset in selling bank owned real estate. Thanks, Mike.

Fred Shaw, President & CEO Union National Bank of Elgin

I represented a buyer that purchased one of Steven Rapoport’s commercial listings. He didn’t hesitate when my client requested a last minute request to view the property. Steven drove 30 miles within the hour of the request to accommodate us. That’s impressive service.

Rick Petesch, Attorney in Aurora, IL

I was glad that I met Mike Weaver, he worked diligently to find us space and negotiated a great lease for our company.

Jay Janese, State Farm Insurance

It was a pleasure working with Steven Rapoport. My real estate transaction was quick and easy, thanks to his help.

Alan, Owner of AAIM Development Inc.

I can recommend Nate Gautsche without qualification. Nate recently assisted our company with a real estate acquisition in Chicago. As we are out of state, Nate was required to do all the “heavy lifting” from scouring the market based on our criteria, to keeping track of multiple properties of interest, leading the bidding process on our behalf and ultimately assisting with due diligence and the closing process. Even after we closed, Nate continues to follow up with us, even periodically driving by the property and reporting back, which is greatly appreciated and above and beyond his responsibility. Throughout the entire deal process Nate remained professional, responsive and on top of all the details. We look forward to closing many future deals with him

Zachary Chan, President, Loka Properties

I am very happy to have worked with Steven Rapoport. He is an honest and professional broker that knows how to get deals done.

Tan Tahiri, Owner of Berdica Transport Inc

I had the pleasure of working with Steven Rapoport, both when I purchased my investment property and during the subsequent leasing process for a vacant storefront. He represented both sides of the leasing transaction. Not only did he introduce me to a well-qualified lessee, he did an amazing job closing the deal with terms under which we were both thrilled.

Chip Eggleton, Owner of Apex Investment Corp

Steven Rapoport listens. I told him I needed to be in downtown Chicago and the idea of what I had in my head, knowing nothing about price, location, etc. Steven lined up multiple properties to visit in a matter of days, took me on the most fun “shopping” experience I could’ve had, and asked my opinion after every visit, while at the same time being brutally honest about his thoughts and how it would affect my business. I absolutely fell in love with a location and Steven quickly helped me finalize the deal at a great price. He made the experience easy and fun, something I never expected, and I would recommend and have recommended his services to any of my clients.

Joshua B. Smith, CPA, MAS, President at JBS Life Chartered

I thoroughly recommend Steve for your next real estate deal. I had interviewed several brokers to list a property that I owned for 31 years; I am happy that I choose Steve. Throughout the process, I found him to possess deep market knowledge, strong analytic skills, and be well versed in problem-solving. He ensured the sales transaction and closing were flawless. Would I hire Steve again? Absolutely! I have just listed another property with him. Do yourself a favor and go with Steve.

Ray Naegele, Seller Wrigleyville Apartment Building