Real Estate Valuation Experts

Of Latin origin, Praedium means: Real Estate.

Founded in 2001, Praedium Valuation Group is a professionally-managed commercial and residential real estate valuation and consulting firm.  Since the firm’s founding, Praedium Valuation Group has completed more than 100,000 appraisal and consulting assignments for its clients in the Chicago area.

Praedium Valuation Group co-founders and owners, Joe Wallace, MAI, and Sara Chambers, SRA, met while attending the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Today, the two lead the firm’s talented team of 40 certified appraisers. Praedium Valuation Group’s professional appraisers include five MAI-designated commercial appraisers, four SRA-designated residential appraisers, certified Appraisal Institute course instructors, a State of Illinois Appraisal Board member, and qualified expert witnesses.  The team draws from years of experience, a deep well of knowledge, and extensive resources to ensure insightful and credible analyses.

In November 2019, Praedium Valuation Group acquired RJ Schmitt Valuation Group and Real Valuation Group. RJ Schmitt Valuation Group, established in 1964, was one of the first independent real estate appraisal firms in the Chicagoland area. More than 50 years later, RJS still has their first client. Real Valuation Group brought significant expertise in property tax appeal. The acquisitions provided Praedium Valuation Group’s clients with expanded geographic coverage, enhanced local expertise, and superior property knowledge.

Praedium Valuation Group is dedicated to developing long-term relationships with their best-in-class clients. Praedium maintains these relationships by providing superior-quality appraisals, exceptional customer service, and the highest level of professionalism. Clients include attorneys, developers, title companies, mortgage lenders, and public agencies, as well as corporate and institutional owners and investors.

Mr. Wallace and Ms. Chambers also personally invest in commercial real estate throughout the Chicago area. As property owners themselves, they bring to their clients the expertise and real-world insight that can only be obtained by both owning and valuing real estate.

Praedium is certified as a Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) by the nationally recognized Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council and holds a secondary certification awarded by the city of Chicago. Additionally, Praedium is certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and is approved as a prime contractor in the Small Business Set-Aside program through the State of Illinois.

“Praedium Valuation Group appraisers are very thorough, very meticulous and deliver excellent appraisal reports.”

Appraisal Officer

Bank Client

Mission

Praedium Valuation Group is a professionally-managed real estate valuation company. We provide our clients high-quality service at a fair price. We streamline our valuation processes in order to meet our clients’ timeframes while maintaining the highest professional standards. Our growth is aggressive, yet managed, so that we can ensure superior service at all times to our clients.

Vision

Praedium Valuation Group will radically change the way valuation companies are perceived within the Greater Chicagoland area.  Praedium Valuation Group will set the benchmark for superior quality, service and innovative business practices within the residential and commercial valuation industry.  Praedium Valuation Group will become the preferred valuation company among first-in-class banks, mortgage companies, law firms, government agencies, and prospective and current employees.