Name
Chris McAuliffe
Job Title
Owner, CM Real Estate Development, LLC
What I Do:
As an eco-friendly real estate developer, I focus on rehabbing vintage bungalows near Chicago, many of which are in foreclosure. I upgrade the houses with green features while maintaining a strong commitment to the home’s history. Often the houses I rehab are in bad condition. My goal is to save the homes from being torn down and preserve their character, such as real oak floors, and then upgrade them with eco-friendly materials, including soy-based paints and tankless water heaters. By buying green products locally, I’m able to save money on shipping costs and do all of my rehab work on a budget, which means I can th
How I Got Here:
After graduating from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, I served as the Assistant Commissioner of the Illinois Office of Banks and Real Estate under Governor Jim Edgar and then worked in the banking industry. As the country's financial markets collapsed, I grew weary of the banking profession and made a career move to home renovations. I have a longtime interest in eco-friendly construction and wanted to couple that interest with my desire to save vintage homes from being torn down due to foreclosures. Bungalows are one of my favorite types of architecture. I also have a love of history and many of the bungalow homes I rehab have a past with original wood floors and doors. I launched my company, CM Real Estate Development, LLC, in 2009.
Advice
When buying a property that may need rehab work, don’t piecemeal your construction projects. Put a budget together you can handle and that’s realistic. Don’t let your renovation work become a blackhole for you that drains you financially. One way to green your house on a budget is to rehab your bathroom, which is a project small in scope that yields value to your home. You can add in Kohler low-flow faucets, which will lower your water bill. In the kitchen you can save on your electric bill by replacing older appliances with GE Energy Star appliances, such as from GE, which is an affordable brand.
