"Out in the Suburbs" is a free monthly e-mail written by Fran Bailey, a REALTOR® with Baird & Warner. It's the result of Fran's desire to provide coverage of events in Chicago's suburbs of interest to Chicago's gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender community and their friends & families. On a monthly basis, "Out in the Suburbs" keeps them informed of events in the suburbs and major events in the city.

Fran holds a Real Estate Broker license in the state of Illinois and is a member of the National Association of Realtors. She works with both buyers and sellers in the north suburbs, northern part of Chicago & west suburbs.

Fran is also an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP)¹. She provides all her sellers home staging assistance.

Fran also writes the Chicago area's top real estate blog, ChicagoMetroAreaRealEstate.Com.

Since coming-out in college, Fran co-founded 2 GLBT organizations, edited 2 GLBT publications, and performed as an out lesbian standup comedian in several alternative and mainstream venues in the Midwest.

Fran is a member of many GLBT organizations in the Chicago area including:

• Human Rights Campaign (HRC)
  -2005 Illinois Gala Volunteer
  -Federal Club Member

• Lambda Legal

• North Suburban Gays

• Oak Park Area Gay & Lesbian Association (OPALGA)

• Parents & Friends of Lesbians And Gays (PFLAG) – Palatine

• West Suburban Gay Association (WSGA)

She knows what’s happening in Chicago’s real estate market and our community!

¹ Staging is a Federally Registered Trademark of StagedHomes.Com.

When Fran saw a Baird & Warner ad in a Chicago newspaper with 4 same-sex couples and the headline “At It’s Best, Real Estate is a Family Business”, she knew that B&W was the real estate company for her! View "Our Definition of Family is Inclusive" for additional information on B&W's commitment to the GLBT community.

BairdWarner.Com has the highest traffic of any Chicago area real estate website and includes:

• HomeFinder - gives buyers access to all homes listed in the Chicago area, not just those listed with B&W

• Interactive Mapping - lets buyers see schools, restaurants & other homes for sale in a neighborhood

• Multiple Photos & Audio Guided Tours for all B&W listings

• Appointment Scheduling - lets buyers schedule a showing of a home online

• Mortgage Calculators

• Ask Baird & Warner - provides comprehensive information on buying, selling, maintaining & financing a home

In addition, Baird & Warner:

• sold over $6.3 billion worth of real estate in 2005 ranking it in the top 15 real estate companies nationwide!

• celebrated its 150 year anniversary this year, making it the oldest real estate company not only in Chicago, but in the entire U.S.!

• B&W CEO, Steve Baird, was named one of the Best Bosses in America in 2004 by Fortune Small Business Magazine!