Two area real estate schools merge
The recent merger of two schools that train real estate agents creates one of the largest private real estate education programs in Illinois with more than 10,000 alumni.
The Illinois Academy of Real Estate in Aurora, one of the oldest real estate schools in Illinois, has merged with Your House Academy in Bloomingdale.
The merger was announced by Mike Fair, president and director of the Illinois Academy, and Vince DePaul, CEO and director of Your House.
The Illinois Academy of Real Estate was founded in 1979 by Fair’s father, Roy, a real estate professional and educator and past president of both the Aurora Board of Realtors and the Illinois Association of Realtors. Mike Fair was appointed director in 1984 and has helped thousands of students begin their real estate careers.
“This partnership means our expanded school is better able to provide an outstanding educational experience for our students now and throughout their real estate career,” said Fair, who has served as content adviser for some the nation’s leading publishing and testing companies.
DePaul started his real estate career in the West suburbs in 1976 and has been teaching real estate at the college level for more than 30 years. DePaul has won numerous awards and boasts one of the highest exam passing rates in the state.
For 10 years, DePaul hosted a weekly live call-in radio program called “Your House” where he was known as “Mr. Real Estate.” As a feature of the program, he started Your House Academy to help listeners interested in a real estate career. Since then, DePaul has placed more than 500 students in Chicago-area real estate offices.
“Our new partnership with the Illinois Academy means more convenience for our students with over 15 classroom locations with more to come,” DePaul said.
The merged schools will continue to operate under their own brands and are headquartered in expanded office facilities in Bloomingdale. The school offers pre-license, post-license and continuing education courses plus motivational and educational seminars. Call (630) 307-3493 or visit YourHouseAcademy.com.