Is it the official Web site of one of the nation's leading real estate companies ... or is it the ultimate sports challenge? Log on to RE/MAX Online, and you'll find that the team spirit exuded by RE/MAX International agents and principals reaches far beyond the real estate arena. Little wonder that this company of 50,000 associates calls itself "Team RE/MAX." They've embarked upon such adventures as NASCAR racing, competitive golf, and -- perhaps the most outrageous adventure to date -- a round-the-world hot air balloon trip. The journey, if successful, will be the world's first manned balloon trip around the world. Once the balloon takes flight over Alice Springs, Australia, in December 1998, Web users will be able to track its progress, minute by minute, via the RE/MAX Web site. The balloon is expected to reach a cruising altitude of 24 miles above the earth for approximately 16 to 18 days.

Although the efforts of many Team RE/MAX members are helping make the balloon trip possible, the only RE/MAX executive who will actually make the journey is none other than Dave Liniger, RE/MAX International co-founder and chairman. It's more than just a sense of adventure that has led Liniger to make this voyage. In addition to serving at the helm of RE/MAX, Liniger is an instrument-rated multi-engine commercial pilot who first became involved with ballooning in 1978, the year when the red, white and blue RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon made its first appearance at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Today, RE/MAX maintains a fleet of almost 90 RE/MAX hot-air balloons throughout the world. In fact, RE/MAX has the world's largest corporate balloon fleet.

Believe it or not, Liniger also drives on the Team RE/MAX NASCAR racing team -- in addition to being a certified scuba diver and Arabian horse breeder. (Is a Team RE/MAX horse racing team on the horizon?) The company's NASCAR racing team was established in 1996. And again, the company set a precedent, becoming the first real estate firm to seek brand awareness through such unorthodox (and successful) means. Since a company's leader sets the tone for the entire organization, you'd expect RE/MAX to approach its business much the same way as Liniger approaches life -- in a grandiose yet successful manner. The company's Web site is an excellent, comprehensive resource, but it's obvious its business philosophy isn't oblivious to our universal need to have a little fun, too.

The company's site includes a link to the RE/MAX Times, a company newspaper that briefs both consumers and agents on the latest RE/MAX news, including calendar events, employee achievements, sales landmarks, commercial real estate news, technology news, international expansion reports, and marketing tips.

A link for buyers and sellers passes along advice on such topics as "Why Choose a Realtor?," "How to Pick a Realtor," "Pricing Guidelines," "Home Improvements," "Environmental Issues," and information about designations and the advantages of selecting relocation specialists. The link also provides information about a RE/MAX video series for buyers and sellers, including "Survival Guide to Buying a Home," "Lead-Based Paint: Buyer Options/Seller Responsibilities," "Kids Survival Guide to Moving," and just as important, "An Adult's Survival Guide to Moving."

Users may search either for RE/MAX sales associates or for offices. An office search produced impressive results. Although it sounds simple, many real estate companies fail to provide adequate contact information on their Web sites -- sometimes failing to provide a phone number, the most basic item of information. RE/MAX, however, provided an extensive list of offices within each of its branch cities. Each office had its own link, to which users were given a list of associates, a map to the office, telephone and fax numbers, and the areas served by that office. While all of this might seem like rudimentary information, it's critical and too often forgotten by real estate companies. And giving consumers all of this information up front not only saves them time; it saves Realtors time, as well.

A mortgage information link includes interest rates and weekly mortgage rates; a loan prequalification calculator and accompanying information; a breakdown of mortgage types and mortgage service providers; advice on paying your monthly mortgage payment; and (a rare feature) a loan calculator in both U.S. and Canadian versions.

Users also may browse RE/MAX properties through one of three engines: RE/MAX CyberHomes, RE/MAX Regional Property Listing Links, or RE/MAX on HomeWEB. Collectively, they contain thousands of properties and price ranges.

This site is easy to use and extremely straightforward. Best of all, it goes a step beyond "just the facts," exuding the company philosophy and team spirit that's brought RE/MAX to the top of its industry. RE/MAX International is on an aggressive campaign of expansion, adding offices throughout the world (for proof, check out the site's "RE/MAX regions" link). Liniger isn't just blowing hot air. He thinks big, and it's paying big dividends for this company.