The 3 Housing Market Questions Coming Up at Every Gathering This SeasonWhether it’s at a family gathering, your company party, or catching up with friends over the holidays, the housing market
Equity Realty Group Lenders
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About
Ryan Wohlert is a full-service mortgage lender with more than 26 years of experience helping borrowers navigate home financing with confidence. As Branch Manager of Homestead Financial Mortgage offices in Godfrey and Highland, Illinois, Ryan leads a knowledgeable, service-driven team that serves both local clients and borrowers across multiple states. His expertise spans a wide range of loan programs, including Conventional, FHA, VA & USDA, allowing him to tailor solutions to each client’s unique goals.
Homestead proudly maintains an A+ rating with the BBB and remains actively involved in the communities it serves. Ryan believes that strong relationships, clear communication, and fast turnaround times are essential to a positive mortgage experience, and his process reflects that commitment from start to finish.
Available 24/7, Ryan takes pride in being accessible when clients and referral partners need answers. Whether exploring financing options, learning about current rates, or simply asking questions, he welcomes the opportunity to help. His goal is to deliver a smooth, reliable, and transparent mortgage experience, and he encourages prospective borrowers to contact him
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About
Having a pre-approval in hand is part of making a strong offer. Jason shares, "In order to be competitive in a hot sellers' market, you will need to make sure you are ready to submit an offer as soon as you find a home of your dreams!" Before you shop for a home, unless you’re paying cash, mortgage pre-approval is your #1 home buying preparation tool. A preapproval tells you what price range you will wish to search so that you are comfortable with your monthly mortgage payment. A preapproval also tells sellers you are a serious buyer and will smooth the way to a faster transaction. Jason has worked in the financial industry since 2004. When he’s not helping his clients, Jason can be found coaching middle-school basketball for the New Horizon Crusaders or coaching baseball. Aside from working at Delmar, Jason is promoting Country Bob’s Sauce which his family makes out of their headquarters in Centralia, Illinois. Jason is licensed in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, and Alabama and is ready to assist you through the home buying process. "My goal in working with buyers is to make it a painless process; smooth with excellent communication, and customer service above the rest!"Testimonials
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Sue Wurth is the best! We love working with her!
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- Duane Happold
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She made it to EASY
This Young Lady was exceptional, awnsered any question I had anytime I had 1,she was down to earth,always positive,always with a smile and made our 1st experience so AWESOME,She took care of everything we needed and then some,I would tell you her negotiation skills was stellar(they was)but she didnt negotiate, instead she made us Happy,Super professionalism always talked about things in our favor and gave good advice,if I had to do all this again,I WOULD PICK HER EVERYTIME...REALTOR SCORE..100 outta 100...Thank you for all you did Mellissa,you made our 1st home buying PERFECT,im so Grateful you was our REALTOR in this Dream
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- Calvin Graham
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Patient, Knowledgeable, and Amazing for a First-Time Homebuyer!
As a first-time homebuyer, I started this process with very little knowledge about how everything worked, and I honestly felt overwhelmed at times. My realtor was incredibly patient with me from start to finish and took the time to explain every step along the way. No question ever felt too small, and she always made sure I felt comfortable and informed before making any decisions. Her professionalism, responsiveness, and dedication made what could have been a stressful experience feel smooth and manageable. I’m so grateful for all the guidance and support she gave me, and I truly couldn’t have asked for a better person to help me through buying my first home. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone—especially first-time buyers
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- Libby Erlinger
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I had the best! Sue Wurth has shown me properties previously. Sue and the Equity Realty Group team made the purchase of my new home easy, providing direction for each step of the process. But, I especially appreciated Sue's experience in the sale of my old home, with encouragement & must do vs. not required tasks. Communication was exceptional!
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- Bryan and Wilda
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Knowledge and Information
My husband and I knew very little about buying a home. Melissa was able to connect us to the right person and immediately began the process of buying our first home. Melissa kept us informed every step of the way. She is amazing at her job and I would suggest Melissa to anyone!
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- Anonymous
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Very easy to communicate with
Melissa is very kind, knowledgeable and understanding. Very good at communicating back and forth and putting at ease. Always got back in timely manner with questions or concerns. Very easy to work with.
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- Anonymous
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Very Considerate/knowledgeable
Melissa was AWESOME. Her knowledge of the marketing is impeccable.
She listens and understands your concerns.
Melissa is very approachable and worked with us in every way.
If we needed to sell another home she would be are agent!
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- Robert J Mensen
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Great Experience, Wonderful Realtor
I wanted to move back to Illinois but had no idea what town I wanted to be in. Mark and I saw 19 houses all over the metro east area. He was always happy to drive no matter how far it was. He was knowledgeable, thorough, and reachable at whatever time I needed him. He also had contacts for other needs regarding the inspection. Mark is not only a great realtor but a great person. I would highly recommend him to anyone searching for a home.
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- Kellie Anderson
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Equity Realty Group has been the most professional and helpful realtor group that we have ever worked with. We will be glad to work with them in the future and recommend them to everyone.
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- Lisa Tebbe
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Couldn’t have asked for a better realtor!
She was absolutely amazing at her job. She easily explained everything to me and took her time explaining it all! Between listing my house and dealing with my confusion and frustration, she handled it perfectly! The level of professionalism was amazing. I would recommend Melissa for selling and or purchasing!
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- Preston Hill
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What a go getter!
From the moment we met Melissa we were very impressed and loved her uplifting personality. She got right after listing our house and covering all the bases for showing the positive details for future buyers. We would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an agent!
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- Beth A Mensen
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He is a good communicator with his clients and makes sure everything is taken care of for you.
He was good at being there on time. He was just a good person to help us sell the house.
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- Myra Sachtleben
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More than a realtor - Mark cared of our family's story every step of the way.
Selling our parents' family home after 65 plus years of memories was a difficult decision for us. Mark made the entire process easier with his professionalism, compassion, and expertise. His communication was always clear, prompt, and honest and was incredibly responsive whenever we had questions. Mark's knowledge of the market gave us confidence every step of the way, but what truly set him apart was his genuine kindness and sensitivity. He understood we weren't just selling a house - we were saying goodbye to a lifetime of memories. We are so grateful for his patience, care and guidance. If you are looking for someone who combines exceptional professionalism with heartfelt care, Mark is the realtor you want by your side. We are very grateful for everything he did for our family and recommend him without hesitation.
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- Michele Perez-Schulte
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Carl and Eli were the best!! Overall a great and easy experience as a buyer!
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- Cierra Hilmes
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The experience was amazing!
Melissa made buying a house so easy and she was very informative on houses, what we should look for or needed to ask to be done with a house. I HIGHLY recommend her!
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- Erika Starr
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Patient and considerate
Mark's work with our family was a long, drawn-out process with many setbacks, but he always remained patient and positive. Our family was blessed to have him helping us.
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- Mary Gaither
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Eli made the process 1,000 times easier. He was able to respond professional and in a timely manner.
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- Haley Ottenschnieder
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Melissa really cares that you get the house you need
When I was looking my needs included a large yard for my dogs, room for my crafts and canning, and not in town. My wants included being near water to go fishing. Melissa stuck with me until my wants as well as my needs were fulfilled. If I had questions, she’d learn the answers. We saw many houses that were great..except…too small of a yard, too small of a kitchen, too big of repairs needed. When we found the right one, we both knew it I think. My son and I are in the process of moving in now. We’ve already met great neighbors and contacts. Mostly, I feel like I have a friend for life. That’s how I can tell if I got the right realtor. I’m still friends with the realtor who sold me my previous home and that was 13 years ago.
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- Sherri Morris
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Handled the mess!
Started with us wanting this home at the beginning of our house journey to losing it twice and looking at other homes. Melissa did not fail us at all and exceeded expectations! From confused phone calls and showing up at showings and us immediately not wanting it! There was no complaining, no sigh nothing just hope! Always answered my calls, even when they were at 10 at night! After we finally got our accepted offer on our current home, understanding all the paper work and numbers were a breeze with Melissa. I can say that she not once left us stranded with our confusion! I seriously appreciate all the hard work and dedication that Melissa put into my family! We are super happy with our home and the buying process! Thank you Melissa!
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- Preston Hill
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A Wonderful Experience
Mark Fruend was such a great asset in buying my first home. He has tons of knowledge about the home buying experience, communicated very well, and was there every step of the way for all of the questions that arose. From our first conversation at the open house until closing on the house, Mark continued to show his passion for making our home buying experience as smooth possible. I truly could not have asked for better guidance from Mark through the entire process! I am extremely grateful for everything he has done for us!
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- Anonymous
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A Wonderful Experience
Mark Fruend was such a great asset in buying my first home. He has tons of knowledge about the home buying experience, communicated very well, and was there every step of the way for all of the questions that arose. From our first conversation at the open house until closing on the house, Mark continued to show his passion for making our home buying experience as smooth possible. I truly could not have asked for better guidance from Mark through the entire process! I am extremely grateful for everything he has done for us!
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- Grace Meade
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Excellent communicator, kept us informed every step of the way.
The selling of our parent's home was a very emotional experience for us and we can't thank Mark Fruend enough for making the process so much easier. From day one, he was professional, knowledgeable and always available to answer our questions. He kept us informed every step of the way, handled every detail with care and worked hard to get us the best possible outcome. His dedication, honesty and expertise gave us confidence throughout the entire process. Mark ensured everything went smoothly, and we're so grateful for all his efforts. I highly recommend Mark to anyone looking to buy or sell a home. He exceeded our expectations, and we couldn't be happier with the outcome. We couldn't have asked for a better agent!
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- Terri Perez-Yates
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Sue is amazing! We have used her multiple times for our home buying and selling.
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- Jay and Jill Bloemker
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Supportive buying agent
Melissa was patient and supportive through the arduous process of helping us find the right home for our family. She was consistently supportive as we changed direction a couple times, even when we re-viewed the same house multiple times. And that support never failed, even after the sale as she bent over backwards to help smooth out the move-in process.
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- Phil & Lorena Rittenhouse
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Melissa literally helped us make our dream come true ..
Committed, professional, punctual,honest, very knowledgeable with a great personality. She helped us in every possible way she could .. as 1st time home buyers we had ALOT of questions she explained it all .. lept us up to date on everything day or night she was there .. we can NOT express the thanks that we want to give to her in helping us along our journey .. if i could id give her a 10☆ rating .. 10 out of 10 highly recommend
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- Tara Ramsey
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Excellent!
My husband and I were in the market to sell and find a new home with more space! Mark delivered on every aspect we requested. He was very knowledgeable and explained things to us in an easy to understand manner. I would recommend Mark to anyone!
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- Breanna Nunn
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Mike was very attentive to our needs - followed up with answers to our questions quickly!
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- Kenneth & Judith Littlejohn
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Melissa Jarrell was amazing. I would highly recommend her and will use her again!
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- Saegan Phillips
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Absolutely Amazing
We couldn't have been happier with anyone other than Melissa! She is amazing! Helpful, patient, knowledgeable, and always answered calls and text, no matter the time. Will be referring everyone looking to buy or sell to her!
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- Ian H.
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Susan Kroll is an asset to your team - she's knowledgeable.
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- James & Denise Benson
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From Start to Finish — Exceptional Service
Buying my home was a great experience! The process went smoothly, and having Melissa involved was helpful, professional, and fun!
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- Saegan Phillips
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Melissa Jerrell is a highly recommended real estate agent
Working with Melissa was a wonderful experience. She was extremely professional throughout the entire process and consistently communicated with us so we always knew what to expect. Melissa was very respectful of our needs and truly dedicated to ensuring the smooth sale of our home. We felt fully supported every step of the way. We highly recommend Melissa to anyone looking to buy or sell a home!
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- Julie Holland
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Above and Beyond
I can’t say enough good things about Mellisa. She went above and beyond to help me find the perfect home out in the country. From the very beginning, she listened to what I wanted, stayed patient, and worked tirelessly to make it happen. She was always available to answer my questions, kept me updated through every step, and truly cared about finding a place that fit me perfectly. Thanks to her hard work and dedication, I’m now living in a home that I love. If you’re looking for a realtor who will go the extra mile, I highly recommend. Closing today she spent 8 hours with me to make it happen.
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- Scott Kerns
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Ed and Lisa provided great service, thank you!
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- Gary Schultz
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Melissa is the best
I can't say enough about Mellisa ,she stayed with us every step of the way . It was not easy for her to get us to closing but she never gave up even when we did. She kept the hope when we had lost it. She's was very professional and kind. She worked hard to get us into our home she truly was a blessing to our family, if the time ever comes that we want to sell or buy again I will definitely be hiring her for the job . She cares about her clients and never steered us in the wrong direction. Thank you melissa for everything we appreciate everything you went through with us to get us to the finish line.
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- Renee Hoskins
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Eli was awesome and a perfect fit for me! Great experience!
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- Ann Wienkler
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Very smooth and wonderful experience!
Mark was great to work with! He was very responsive with all the questions I had and being this was our first time buying a home, I definitely had a lot! When we found the house we wanted, he made sure any repairs were well negotiated with the seller. He was very thoughtful, considerate, and treated us as if we were his own family ensuring we found the perfect home for us! Highly recommend! Thanks Mark!
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- Amber Cotton
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Melissa, A Real Estate Queen
Melissa braved a snow storm and gas station pizza to help our family find just what we were looking for, despite how picky we were! Any question we had was answered quickly, and she was super thorough in explaining the ins-n-outs of the buying process to Illinois newcomers.
I would definitely recommend Melissa for your home search and realty needs. Thanks again, Melissa! You rock!
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- Sarah
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Mark was amazing to work with. It took a while to find me my first house. When I did find the perfect house mark was a great help in walking me through the whole process. I found him very knowledgeable and an amazing resource. I put him through it with all my questions and frustrations. None of the frustrations were Marks fault and he was great at helping me through them all.
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- Sarah Kennedy
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Melissa Jarrell
Melissa Jarrell was very helpful throughout the whole process. She was very reliable and respectful. Melissa was the type of person who goes out of her way to get answers that you need to help you make a well informed decision 👍.
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- Anonymous
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One of the best
We couldn’t be more grateful for our experience with Mark as our realtor. From start to finish, he was knowledgeable, patient, and always had our best interests at heart. As first-time homebuyers, we had a lot of questions and concerns, and he took the time to explain everything clearly and honestly, which made the entire process feel much less overwhelming. He was always quick to respond, advocated for us when it mattered most, and truly went above and beyond to make sure we felt comfortable and confident every step of the way. We highly recommend Mark to anyone looking for a realtor who genuinely cares and works hard for their clients!
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- Chloe Deien
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Highly recommend !!! Awesome to work with.
Selling our family home was an extremely emotional task, but Mark made it easier. He always answered every question we had and kept us updated through every step of the process. He was always very responsive, very kind, and explained everything clearly. We always felt he had our best interest at heart from the beginning to the end. Thank you, Mark!
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- Mitzi Perez-Hawley
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Excellent!
My husband and I were in the market to sell and find a new home with more space! Mark delivered on every aspect we requested. He was very knowledgeable and explained things to us in an easy to understand manner. I would recommend Mark to anyone!
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- Anonymous
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Outstanding Realtor!
Melissa Jarrell did an outstanding job on my home purchase. She was responsive, knowledgeable, and stayed on top of every detail from start to finish. The entire process was smooth and stress-free because of her. Highly recommend.
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- Abbs
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Kris was so helpful throughout this home buying process. She could not have been more prompt or accommodating which eased a lot of the stress of viewing homes and making offers virtually!
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- Katherine Rakers
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Went above and beyond
Always kept in touch on any offers made. Knowledgeable about pricing and sold house quickly.
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- Jesse White
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Tenacious seller!
Melissa really went to bat for us in the sale of our home and stuck with us through every wrinkle and complication. Her knowledge of the market and the way she went so far above and beyond to locate just the right buyer was fantastic!
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- Philip C Rittenhouse
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We couldn’t be more grateful for our experience with Mark as our realtor. From start to finish, he was knowledgeable, patient, and always had our best interests at heart. As first-time homebuyers, we had a lot of questions and concerns, and he took the time to explain everything clearly and honestly, which made the entire process feel much less overwhelming. He was always quick to respond, advocated for us when it mattered most, and truly went above and beyond to make sure we felt comfortable and confident every step of the way. We highly recommend Mark to anyone looking for a realtor who genuinely cares and works hard for their clients!
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- Chloe Deien
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Jayme was exceptional with everything through the whole process!
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- Cole Trinkle
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A down to earth Realtor and easy to work with!
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- Bryan Cotton
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Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed.
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumer's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of the Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Equity Realty Group may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. Copyright ©2026 All rights reserved.Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of September 10, 2026 1:43 PM UTC All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by broker or MLS GRID. Supplied Open House Information is subject to change without notice.
Data is updated as of September 10, 2026 1:43 PM UTC
