About Us

Great Western Properties is one of Chicagoland’s most unique real estate brokerages.  As real estate attorneys, we have negotiated on behalf of some of the largest real estate companies in the world in some of the most complex transactions.  Thus, our agents are some of the most sophisticated and qualified real estate experts you will find representing home buyers and sellers and small-to medium sized business owners.  We feel that our level of expertise is unmatched in our market.  You can rest assured that we will negotiate the best deal possible for you. 

In addition to our expertise, we take pride in our commitment to our clients.  It may sound simple, but when our clients call, we answer the phone.  When our clients email, we return a message quickly.  When our clients have requests or demands, we do all that we can to satisfy them.  In short, we treat our clients the way they should be treated.

Cody Salter is the President of Great Western Properties.  He is a graduate of the University of Illinois, with Honors, and of the UCLA School of Law, one of the nation’s top law schools.  While at UCLA, Mr. Salter studied real estate law and property law under two of the top law school professors in those disciplines.  For several years, Mr. Salter worked as a real estate attorney at two of Chicago’s most well respected law firms.  He has represented some of the country’s most powerful real estate players, including large real estate developers, national and regional home builders, and owners and investors of trophy high-rise office buildings and large retail shopping centers.  Mr. Salter now focuses on representing purchasers and sellers of residential real estate and business owners seeking to purchase, sell, or lease commercial space.  He has lived on the north side of Chicago, the southwestern suburbs and the western suburbs.  He founded Great Western Properties in 2005 and currently lives with his wife, Kathryn, and their daughter Jillian, in St. Charles. 

Brian Funk has been a real estate broker with Great Western Properties for several years and has actively represented buyers and sellers of real estate throughout the Chicagoland area.  Mr. Funk graduated from the University of Illinois in 1998 with a degree in Finance, where he was also a member of the Fighting Illini baseball team.  He then earned his law degree from St. Louis University School of Law in 2002  and also received a master's of law degree in real estate, with Honors, from The John Marshall Law School in 2009.  Mr. Funk has worked as an attorney in Chicago for six years and has experience in residential real estate transactions, property tax, land use and zoning law, litigation and municipal law.  In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Funk is also an active investor, buying and selling real estate in the City of Chicago.  Mr. Funk prides himself on servicing his clients, addressing issues and requests immediately and providing prompt responses.

Ronald Hardesty has been a real estate salesperson for over 20 years. He began with Century 21 then after two years joined RE/MAX until his move to Great Western Properties. Ron enjoys the thrill of finding that right home for the new family, or putting together the perfect commercial deal to assist a company to grow. He has experience with residential transactions, including new construction, short sales, foreclosures, rentals and your every day resale. Commercial real estate has been his enjoyment too, including apartment buildings, gas stations, strip malls and vacant land sales. Ron is dedicated to work until the customer is happy and moved in, then he still keeps in touch to ensure everything is pleasing to the homeowners. He also served as a COO and the Interim CFO for a publicly traded company for two years until it was sold. He is currently pursuing the Illinois Real Estate Broker’s License.