General

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.

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. 

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.  

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. 

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.

Illinois REALTORS® has appointed Jeffrey T. Baker as deputy CEO. Learn more about Baker's passion for politics and his journey to a role that puts him in line to be Illinois REALTORS® CEO. Also, Chief Legal Counsel Betsy Urbance walks members through the changes in the recently passed License Law. 

Illinois REALTORS® has members assigned to work with the state's lawmakers to help them better understand the impact of housing policy changes. These volunteers met with each of the state's congressional delegation in May as part of annual NAR meetings. FPCs Nykea Pippion-McGriff and Max Mitchell share why they are FPCs and why the role the program plays is so important.  

Southern Illinois is home to Scott Air Force Base. The military presence means there is a constant influx of families transferred to the base, and that means REALTORS® have to make sure they know how to meet the special needs of this group of homebuyers and sellers. Illinois REALTORS® talks with two REALTORS® who hold the Military Relocation Professional designation through NAR about what they do to make these moves successful. 

Illinois managing brokers had to renew their licenses by April 30, 2019. Most made the deadline, but if you were one of the few who did not, there are several immediate steps you need to take to comply with the state's license law. Illinois REALTORS® Director of Professional Development Young Brockhouse discusses the deadline and what can be done to address a missed deadline. 

Many Illinois communities have turned to crime-free ordinances in an effort to cut down on violations in and near rental properties. But these ordinances have to be carefully drafted to make sure that there is due process and transparency for private property owners.