Illinois REALTORS® Podcast

This week on the podcast we welcome guest host Young Brockhouse, Illinois REALTORS® Vice President of Professional Development. Young hosts a special episode with longtime central Illinois REALTOR® Michael D. Oldenettel.
Michael is the designated managing broker of the Real Estate Group in Springfield, but many of you may have met him through his selfless volunteering on the local, state and national REALTOR association levels for many years. He was the 2013 Illinois REALTORS® President and the 2023 NAR Member Engagement Liaison. In addition, for many years he has played an important role in the professional development of colleagues as a classroom and online instructor for the Illinois REALTORS® school and he is here today to tell us more about why it's important to continue your education.

This week on the podcast we welcome back Senior Director of Advocacy Programs Gideon Blustein to discuss the massive amount of Let's Talk Real Estate events that have brought REALTORS® and legislators together in 2024. Gideon talks about the better understanding REALTORS® gain from these events and they earn the trust and respect of key decision makers – like state and federal legislators. NAR has even been so impressed with LTRE that it refers to the program as a best practice! Join us for a great talk about what this program offers you our members and why it is you that powers it.

This week on the podcast we welcome back Illinois REALTORS® General Counsel and VP of Legal Services Betsy Urbance to bring you some more updates on the industry-wide practice changes. Specifically, Betsy talks about recent media coverage regarding the standardized forms being offered to help REALTORS® deal with the new changes and why the media spin has been incorrect. She also offers advice on how to navigate these changes to make sure your business is protected.

This week on the podcast we have two very special guests. We have an in-depth sit-down with 2025 Illinois REALTORS® President Elect Jeff Kolbus and Treasurer Debbie Prodehl. Both of these REALTORS® have been in leadership for a while and have experiences and backgrounds that make them ready to take on the changing landscape of the industry and help lead all REALTORS® into a bright and vibrant future. Get to know their personal stories and how they plan to lead us into the future.

This week on the podcast we're celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. With a little bit of history at the start we then turn it over to REALTORS® Joe Castillo and Erika Villegas to tell what the month means to them, how they celebrate and why it is important for all to celebrate the month. We also draw attention to NAHREP and the HWP's most recent State of Hispanic Wealth Report and how the information can help all REALTORS® better serve the Hispanic community.
Erika Villegas is a Designated Managing Broker with RE/MAX In The Village and the President of the Chicago Association of REALTORS in addition to being a Director with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals. 
Joe Castillo is also a Designated Managing Broker and Co-Owner of RE/MAX In The Village and RE/MAX MICASA while also being a National Board Director for NAHREP.

This week on the Illinois REALTORS® Weekly Podcast we're bringing you a little taste of the Public Policy Forum from the 2024 Fall Business Meetings which was all about Zoning Reform and featured Angela Brooks, the 2024 President of the American Planning Association. She joined our CEO Jeff Baker on stage to talk about the origins of Zoning, the important role it plays in the future of the housing market and why REALTORS® are uniquely suited to help in that process.

After a week off we're back on the podcast and bringing you some of the vital info from the 2024 Fall Business Meetings! Today we're bringing you snippets from the Housing Forecast session featuring NAR's Dr. Jessica Lautz. Dr. Lautz goes into the latest economic and housing numbers and gives a forecast on where the market may be heading for the rest of the year and into 2025. 

This week on the podcast, sharpen your skills and reduce your risks when you choose the appropriate NAR safety resources for your business. You can't afford to let your guard down, even when key changes in the real estate market demand your attention. Strike a positive balance and use the NAR safety resources that fit your needs, whether you prefer watching videos, sharing documents or attending a live webinar.

On this week's episode of the podcast we're welcoming back 2024 President Matt Silver to talk all about the upcoming Fall Business Meetings! We take a look back at his first time attending the Meetings in the early 2000s, why this year's meetings are even more vital in the midst of the NAR Settlement changes and what specific sessions he's looking forward to!

Get the most out of the Fall Business Meetings by signing up in advance (and paying the fees) to take either of the two optional CE courses. But to get a seat for the latest recap of important legal issues, our free Legal Update, you'd better not be late for this ultra-popular session!