Edina Realty Realtor Named a Finalist for 2011 Good Neighbor Award

Edina, Minn. – Aug. 29, 2011 – LeRoy J. Bendickson, a Realtor with Edina Realty's 6800 France Ave. Edina office and a resident of Mahtomedi, Minn., has been named a finalist for REALTOR® Magazine's 2011 Good Neighbor Awards.

Bendickson has been with Edina Realty since 1992. For more than 20 years, he has led bike teams to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Minnesota Chapter. Altogether, his teams have raised nearly $1 million. He founded the "Real Estate Riders" team in 1995; this year, this team of 251 riders rode the two-day, 150-mile race and raised $146,000. Bendickson recruits riders from across the state, coordinates their training, obtains sponsors, organizes lodging and transportation for his team and, with the generous help of volunteers, provides a hospitality tent with food and entertainment during the race.

"LeRoy is a great example of how Edina Realty Realtors play a meaningful role not only with buyers and sellers, but in building stronger communities," said Bob Peltier, president and CEO of Edina Realty.

Bendickson is one of 10 Realtors across the U.S. who was named a finalist in the Good Neighbor Awards program. Now in its 12th year, the program recognizes Realtors who volunteer to serve the needs of those who are less fortunate. Realtors acknowledged by this program over the years have donated their time, money and efforts to help improve the quality of life for others in their communities.

In November, five winners will be selected from among the 10 finalists and will receive travel expenses to the 2011 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Anaheim, Calif. Winners will also receive national media exposure for their community cause and a $10,000 grant for their charity. Five honorable mentions will receive a $2,500 grant. The winners will be announced in the November/December issue of REALTOR® Magazine.

Edina Realty is continuously adding new features and functionality to its website. In April of this year, Edina Realty began displaying price history in the details for every active listing, and in March, sales prices and other data for homes that sold in the last two years was incorporated into searches. Users can simply change the search criteria from "active" to "sold" on the property search page.

For more information on Edina Realty, to get in touch with LeRoy Bendickson or another Realtor, or to view homes for sale and property listings, visit www.edinarealty.com or the mobile website, m.edinarealty.com.

Edina Realty, a subsidiary of HomeServices of America, is one of the nation's largest real estate companies with approximately 60 real estate offices throughout Minnesota, North Dakota and western Wisconsin and nearly 2,300 REALTORS®. Edina Realty's family of companies includes Edina Realty, Edina Realty Title, and Edina Realty Mortgage. Edina Realty handled more than 25,000 transactions and $5.3 billion in sales volume in 2010. For more information, visit www.edinarealty.com.

REALTOR® Magazine's Good Neighbor Awards is sponsored by Lowe's and HouseLogic. In addition to the grant awards, each of the Good Neighbor Award winners will receive a $2,000 Lowe's gift card. Nominees were judged on their personal contribution of time, as well as financial and material contributions, to benefit their cause. To be eligible, nominees must be NAR members in good standing. More information about the Good Neighbor Awards finalists is available at www.realtor.org/realtormag.