November 7, 2019
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has proposed a real estate Transfer Tax which will hit many commercial and residential investment properties hard.
The proposal, as outlined in a speech several weeks ago, would decrease Transfer Taxes paid at closing on properties valued at less than $500,000, but it would significantly boost the taxes on properties valued at more than $1 million.
Greg St. Aubin, senior vice president for governmental affairs for Illinois REALTORS® discusses the tax proposal which is expected to come up in the Illinois General Assembly’s veto session which is back in session the week of Nov. 11.
St. Aubin, a longtime lobbyist for the association, said the Transfer Tax places an unfair burden on property owners who are already saddled with high property taxes. He notes that if a burdensome Transfer Tax passes and is signed into law, the ripple effects could be felt throughout the state, not just in Chicago.
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October 21, 2019
Eddie Garcia, NAHREP [6:50], Curtis Hunt, NAGLREP [17:12], Nykea Pippion McGriff, WCR [27:56], and Peter De Jong, AREAA [40:04] share their story of their organizations and how getting involved has helped shape leadership and business skills for a successful career in real estate.
October 1, 2019
Illinois farmland forms an important, but sometimes overlooked part of the real estate economy. Illinois REALTOR® Luke Worrell of Worrell Land Services in Jacksonville discusses what he's seeing with farmland prices, and where the market could be headed in a year where wet weather wreaked havoc with planting schedules. Worrell is president of the Illinois chapter of the REALTORS® Land Institute.
September 30, 2019
Ed Neaves has worked in many roles over the years. He's built homes, co-owned radio stations, run restaurants and now oversees a real estate business. The 2020 Illinois REALTORS® president talks about his vision to promote the value of the trade association he leads in the year ahead.
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September 6, 2019
Illinois REALTORS® has a program which seeks to build and support new leaders. Called the Leadership Development Program, this series of courses provides insight into association management, advocacy an communication skills necessary for volunteers. Illinois REALTORS® Bob Eby and Debbie Pawlowicz talk about what they got out of the program, and why Illinois REALTORS® should consider applying.
August 12, 2019
Illinois YPN: Brian Kwilosz on being deliberate in your networking [1:27]; Connie Vavra on building your referral network at REALTOR® events [4:43]; Rasheed Shofidiya on networking is your net worth [12:13]; Christine Coleman says don’t be a secret agent [19:20].
August 7, 2019
Caton Commercial CEO Bill Caton discusses Expo REAL, which is a massive European real estate trade show and conference held in Munich, Oct. 7-9. Caton says that the visit to Munich would benefit a commercial practitioner, no matter what stage of their career they are in. Illinois REALTORS and NICAR are offering stipends to cover the cost of registering for the event. Illinois REALTORS® can register here.
August 1, 2019
The Illinois REALTORS®' advocacy team is working with the Cook County Human Relations Committee on a new Just Housing ordinance which was passed by the Cook County Board earlier this year.
In the August edition of the Illinois REALTORS Podcast, Mike Scobey, Illinois REALTORS senior director of local advocacy and global programs explains the ordinance, and why members engaged in property management and leasing should pay close attention to the ordinance.
July 16, 2019
Jeffrey T. Baker will be only the fourth leader in Illinois REALTORS® history when he takes over as CEO in 2021. Baker shares with us his professional journey from working in public policy, to a legal career and now preparing to lead a 50,000-member association.
July 15, 2019
The Real Estate License Act went through its once-a-decade rewrite in the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly. Illinois REALTORS® Chief Legal Counsel Betsy Urbance discusses what changes are in store in this latest version of the Act, from education requirements to the age at which someone in the state can obtain a real estate license.
