CR Magazine Summer 2015

WELCOME 

to the New! 

ChicagoREALTOR.com 

V o l u me 24 | Summer 2 0 1 5 

EXTEND YOUR REACH 

WITH HYPERLOCAL CONTENT 

P.2 0 

Branding Your 

Best Branding Self! 

Your 

Best Self! 

The Best 

REAL ESTATE 

COACH 

for YOU! 

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Permit No. 8 

Chicago REALTOR 

The Official Publication of the Chicago Association of REALTORS ®

Black Tie 

Fundraiser 

Present 

CASINO ROYALE 

OCTOBER 22, 2015 

an RPAC fundraiser 

A S S O C I A T I O N O F 

Join us at the 

THE CASINO CLUB 

195 E. Delaware Place, #1, Chicago 

7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. 

Glitz. Glamour. Casino Royale. “Shocking. Positively Shocking” (yet totally fabulous!) Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® Young Professionals Network (YPN) and the Women’s Council of REALTORS ® Chicago Chapter 

(WCR) invite you to an evening filled with laughs and spirits to benefit the REALTORS ® Political Action Committee (RPAC). 

Stand up for your industry and make your contribution to RPAC by attending this glamorous black-tie event. Schmooze with 

REALTORS ® , Affiliates and local politicos defending our business, every day. 

Cocktails “shaken not stirred,” hors d’oeuvres and more at this casino-style soiree. Bring a friend, “better make that two,” 

and invest in your industry. Don’t miss it. “The name’s Bond. James Bond.” 

Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. The Illinois REALTORS ® Political Action Committee (RPAC) collects contributions from members of the National Association 

of REALTORS ® (NAR) for political activities. A portion of each contribution will be used for state political activities; at least 30% will be used for federal campaign purposes. The federal portion will be charged against 

an individual's federal contribution limits under 2 USC 441a. Contributions are VOLUNTARY and refusal to contribute does not affect membership rights. A member may contribute more or less than the suggested 

amount. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board's official website www.elections.il.gov or for purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois. 

Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine 2. 

www.ChicagoREALTOR.com

46 

ChicagoREALTOR.com 

A Walk Through C.A.R.’s New Website 

Table of 

Contents 

V o l u me 2 4 | Summer 2 0 15 

42 

MEMBER PERK$ 

Discounts to Save You 

Time & Money 

4 PRESIDENT’S 

PERSPECTIVE 

Forging New Partnerships 

Hugh Rider 

2014-2015 C.A.R. President 

9 EVENT HIGHLIGHTS 

YPN Kicks-Off 2015 in Style 


2014 C.A.R. Sales Awards Celebration 

15 FEATURED TOPIC 

Top 10 Questions to Ask 

a Potential Real Estate Coach 

by Donna Stott, Your Coaching Matters 

Top 10 Things a Real Estate Coach 

Asks or Needs from Clients 

by Brian Buffini, Buffini & Company 

20 TECH TOOLS 

Unleash the Power of Your Own 

Local Knowledge with WikiRealty 

by Sanjay Kuttemperoor, WikiRealty, Inc. 

22 TECH TOOLS 

Dotloop: Take Your Business Paperless 

24 TECH TOOLS 

Top Three Benefits of CRM 

Software for REALTORS ® 


2015 Varsity Reunion and YPN Breakfast 

42 MEMBER PERKS 

Discounts to Save You Time & Money 

45 MRED UPDATE 

MRED’s Top Five Ways Listing 

Syndication Can Help Your Business; 

Have You Met MRED’s New 

President/CEO Yet? 

46 CHICAGOREALTOR.COM 

A Walk Through C.A.R.’s New Website 

48 HOT TOPIC 

Leveraging Technology 

to Land Listings 

34 

Young Professionals Network 

Managing Your Personal Brand 

6 FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Growing to Meet Your Goals 

Ginger Downs, rce, cae, cips, iom 

Chief Executive Officer 

7 EVENTS CALENDAR 

What’s Happening at C.A.R. 

July to October Event Schedule 

8 FROM THE EDITOR 

Signing Off, For Now... 

Barbara Matthopoulos 

VP of Communications & 

Media Relations 

26 WELCOME TO 

THE NEIGHBORHOOD 

A Visit to Bronzeville 

30 STRATEGIC PARTNERS 

Be in the Know with Our Strategic Partners 

32 COMMERCIALFORUM 

How Safe is Your Property? 

33 ASSOCIATION NEWS 

Member Announcements and Happenings 

34 YOUNG PROFESSIONALS 

NETWORK 

Managing Your Personal Brand 

36 GLOBAL REAL ESTATE & 

EMERGING MARKETS FORUM 

AREAA’s 2015 Global & Luxury Summit: 

EB-5 Update 

38 PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS 

Ombudsman Program has a 90% 

Success Rate 

40 GOVERNMENT 

AFFAIRS UPDATE 

Fighting for Private Property Rights; 

Don’t Miss Deadlines for Property Tax 

Appeals; and other GANews 

50 EDUCATION OFFERINGS 

New RRES Courses Take You to 

the Next Level 

IMAGE CREDITS ON THIS PAGE 

Device images from ThinkStockPhotos.com; Member Perks 

images courtesy of Dekke and Berco’s Popcorn; YPN Speakers 

photos courtesy of Matt Laricy, Americorp Real Estate, Erin 

Mandel, @properties, and Scott Newman, Newman Realty. 

ON THE COVER 

Chicago image from ThinkStockPhotos.com. 

3. 


PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE 

Forging New 

Partnerships 

HUGH RIDER 

2014-2015 President, Chicago Association of REALTORS ® 

When I began my year as president of the Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® , my overarching vision was 

to forge new partnerships with other Chicago-area 

real estate groups. 

This goal was built on an idea that our association and 

our entire real estate industry could benefit as a whole by 

working together rather than continuing down our separate 

paths. I feel too often our industry can appear scattered 

and fragmented since our various trade groups exist 

independently and often overlap in mission only. 

As real estate professionals, building relationships is part 

of our DNA. I have full confidence we can create a big tent 

for all real estate groups to work toward our mutual goals 

as one voice of real estate. 

I’m dedicated to forming more alliances, so we can advance 

and strengthen the industry, including building greater 

support for private property rights and other top issues. 

Bringing together organizations representing the greater 

real estate community represents a positive shift, and one 

that can serve as a platform for increasing opportunities. 

I’m pleased to report we’ve made significant progress. 

Our government affairs team worked in coalition with 

other real estate groups to propose changes to help 

minimize the negative impact of the city’s new Affordable 

Requirements Ordinance (ARO). As a result of this 

collaboration, the city also indicated a willingness to 

continue discussing our concerns. 

This past spring, we hosted an inaugural networking event. 

The organizations that attended represented the who’s 

who of the real estate industry: Chicagoland Apartment 

Association (CAA), Home Builders Association of Greater 

Chicago (HBAGC), Building Owners and Managers 

Association 

of Chicago 

(BOMA), 

Apartment 

Building 

Owners and 

Managers 

Association 

(ABOMA), 

Lincoln 

Park 

Builders 

of Chicago (LPB), Rogers 

Park Builders Group (RPBG) and the Edgewater Uptown 

Builders Association (EUBA). 

We came together to advance long-term dialogue with 

these colleagues from all corners of the real estate market 

to discuss how we can reach our collective goals. 

It was an important first step and one that I look forward 

to building on. If we can capture this momentum, we 

will achieve more for the real estate industry and our 

businesses. To quote Henry Ford, “Coming together is a 

beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together 

is success.” 

Hugh Rider 

Realty & Mortgage Co. 

Photo by Sofia Spentzas 

Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine 4.

Night 

The 

for 

Chicago 

Upcoming Events 

REAL ESTATE 

in 

132 nd Annual 

Inaugural Gala 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 | 

HILTON CHICAGO - 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago 

Visit www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 

or call 312/803.4900 for more information. 

For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact 

Mary Beth Durkin at 312/214.5530 or mdurkin@chicagorealtor.com. 

5. www.ChicagoREALTOR.com

FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

GROWING 

to Meet Your Goals 

I hope you’re having a successful 2015 so far, and that the 

Chicago Association of REALTORS ® has played a role in 

making that success possible. 

Whether you’ve attended one of our 

signature networking or member outreach 

events, furthered your education 

by taking a REALTORS ® Real Estate 

School (RRES) course or learned about 

a new tool to help your business in 

Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine or at 

www.ChicagoREALTOR.com – we 

hope you have made important new 

connections and been able to access 

the tools and tips necessary to 

strengthen your business. 

Every year, we seek your feedback 

in our annual membership survey 

on education, communications, and 

programs, services and member 

benefits. Thank you for taking time 

out of your busy schedules to answer 

our questions! 

• More than half of you (53.3 percent) 

said you take your continuing 

education classes at the 

REALTORS ® Real Estate School. 

• Approximately 42 percent prefer 

a classroom setting, with nearly 

one-quarter saying they prefer 

our online classes. 

• The biggest reason Chicago 

REALTORS ® choose to attend 

RRES is our convenient location 

(67.8 percent), followed by the 

quality of instructor (43.3 percent) 

and quality of education 

(43 percent). 

What we also found is how eager 

Chicago REALTORS ® are to expand 

their knowledge and skillset. When 

asked if you would take a class that 

was interesting and helped you be 

more profitable, even if it wasn’t 

eligible for CE credit, an overwhelming 

majority (90.3 percent) said yes. 

When you were asked what you enjoy 

reading most in our quarterly CR 

Magazine, you told us: 

• Real estate trends (i.e. distressed 

properties, online marketing) – 

76.4 percent 

· Business tips and tricks - 

74.3 percent 

· Feature cover stories - 

50.5 percent 

· Neighborhood profiles - Welcome 

to the Neighborhood - 50.1 percent 

• When seeking other real estate 

trade news, you most often visit 

Midwest Real Estate Data LLC 

(MRED) (60 percent) and 

Realtor.com (43.6 percent). 

You ranked the top five C.A.R. services or 

programs you value other than MLS as: 

· Forms, contracts and riders - 

77.9 percent 

· Education - 62.4 percent 

· Marketing ideas and tools - 

38.3 percent 

· Communications - CR Magazine, 

website and e-blasts - 35.4 percent 

· FastStats - statistical information - 

33.2 percent 

Of the 60 contracts, forms and riders 

that C.A.R. has developed, about twothirds 

of members use C.A.R.’s forms 

regularly, with approximately half 

using the Multi-board 6.0 Contract 

form regularly. 

By knowing what Chicago 

REALTORS ® want and need, we can 

better assess what we do well and 

better identify where we need to grow 

to help you meet your goals. Here’s to 

your continued success in 2015! 

Sincerely, 

Ginger Downs, rce, cae, cips, iom 

Chief Executive Officer 

Chicago Association of REALTORS ® 

Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine 

6.

Photo by Mar 

cell 

llo Ro 

darte 

Annual Inaugural Gala 

September 24, 2015 

HILTON CHICAGO 

720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago 

www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 

w. wCh 

.com 

events 

calendar 

July 

August 

September 

October 

August 

108 th Annual 

Golf Classic 

7/16 

Ruffled Feathers Golf Club 

YPN Breakfast 

Meet-Up 

7/29 

Manny’s Deli 

CommercialForum 

Networking 

Breakfast 

8/11 

The Cliff Dwellers 

YPN Breakfast 

Meet-Up 

8/26 


132 nd Inaugural 

Gala 

9/24 

Hilton Chicago 

YPN Breakfast 

Meet-Up 

9/30 


Casino Royale 

An RPAC 

Fundraising Event 

10/22 

Casino Club 

CommercialForum 

Networking 

Breakfast 

8/11 

The Cliff Dwellers 

YPN Breakfast 

Meet-Up 

8/26 


C.A.R. Member 

Outreach 

Event/Annual 

Business Meeting 

8/27 

ADA Conference Center 

C.A.R. Member 

Outreach 

Event/Annual 

Business Meeting 

8/27 

DoubleTree by Hilton 

Chicago North Shore 


FROM THE EDITOR 

Signing Off, For Now... 

After eight years at C.A.R., I have relocated to the 

Sunshine State to give love and marriage a try with a 

Greek-Floridian businessman, whose heart of gold made 

this relocation the right thing to do. That said, few things 

are closer to my heart than Chicago REALTORS ® , what 

we have accomplished, and the path your association 

has paved to ensure you have the tools and networking 

your business needs today and beyond. 

Our CEO, Ginger Downs, has been 

more than a boss to me –a true friend, 

a colleague, a cheerleader, and a 

second mother, who always trusted 

my judgment and guidance, and 

allowed me to work with our team and 

bring to you innovations that were 

always a little different than anyone 

else’s. Thankfully, our volunteer 

leadership over the years was equally 

enthusiastic and supportive. 

Some of my favorite initiatives over 

the last eight years include: 

The CR Magazine – You LOVE it in 

print, and we still bring it to you in 

print. It is really the heart of so many 

business-focused topics. I love this, 

and cannot wait to see what lies 

ahead in reshaping, redefining, and 

redesigning it for the next generation. 

Jim August, our 13 year graphic 

designer and for CR, our first labor 

of love – thank you for always being 

committed to do your best. 

Young Professional Network (YPN) 

– In 2009, my then-newest colleague 

(and soon to be right-hand on all 

things marketing communications) 

Jessica Kern and I took Matt Farrell, 

a newbie on our board of directors, to 

lunch at the bequest of then-president 

Genie Birch. Well, the rest writes itself 

– and this group STILL gets nationally 

recognized. 

A Revamped Sales Awards – The 

market changed, and so did we. Sales 

Awards, a once-coveted sit-down 

dinner, is now one of the hottest 

cocktail receptions of the year. 

Garnering nearly 1,000 people at 

each event, the energy is infectious; 

it has become a destination party for 

anyone in the business. Moreover, it 

is the perfect way to salute Chicago 

REALTOR ® Top Producers. Jeanne 

Darling, our events extraordinaire – 

for this, and every party – attendees 

thank you! 

Your Voice has become THE Voice 

– Chicago REALTORS ® are quoted 

constantly and consistently on the 

Chicago markets by local and national 

media. Nothing has made me prouder 

than to see so many of you be “The 

Voice” consumers see as preeminent 

for real estate in Chicago. 

Thank you C.A.R. for an incredible 

career. Thanks to my mom, Angela, 

for being just the best. Chicago will 

always be home. We will be shopping 

for an in-town soon, and fortunately, I 

know a few good REALTORS ® when 

we are ready! 

See you around town, 

Barbara Matthopoulos 

Vice President of Communications 

and Media Relations 


YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK 

YPN Kicks-Off 2015 in Style 

PARLIAMENT • FEBRAUARY 19, 2015 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

platinum Sponsor 

6. 

gold Sponsors 

1. Matt Silver, Urban Real Estate, and Martin Walsh, @properties; 2. Alex 

Stoykov, Advanced Brokerage Realty, Annie Kitchen, guest, and Greg Pekarsky, 

Vesta Preferred; 3. Chris Wilson, Citywide Title, Jim Nagrant, Citibank, and 

Kenneth Klank, Citywide Title; 4. Jim Miller, Jameson Sotheby’s International 

Realty, Alan Schapiro, Commission Express Diamond, and Elin Larson, Jameson 

Sotheby’s International Realty; 5. Guest, Daryn Peterson, Wintrust Mortgage, 

Jason Schram, Law Office of Jason Schram P.C., and Clayton Jirak, Redfin 

Corporation; 6. Jeff Shandling, Kiser Group, Holly Smith and Erin Mandel, both 

of @properties; 

Silver Sponsors 

Photos by: Lex Alexander, Lex Alexander Photography 

bronze Sponsors 

The Daryn Peterson Mortgage Group 

773-303-0036 

9. 


YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 10. 

11. 

12. 

Photos by: Lex Alexander, Lex Alexander Photography 


13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

18. 

More photos 

on Facebook! 

20. 

23. 

19. 

21. 

22. 

1. Sonia Anaya, America Real Estate, Bob Eby, Century 21 Alonzo & Associates, 

Mabél Guzmán, @properties, Ivette Hollendoner, @properties, and Mike 

Cuevas, Exit Realty Redefined; 2. Phil Gould, Buyers Protection Group, 

Katie Sinn, guest, Salvador Villalobos, Stearns Home Loans, and Martha 

Dominguez, Country Financial; 3. Deena Zimmerman, Sperry Van Ness, 

Greg Pekarsky, Vesta Preferred, Karla Mina, Coldwell Banker Residential, 

Sam Powell, Dream Town Realty, Jorge Vega, Newman Realty and Georgia 

Lee Wall, RE/MAX On The Lake; 4. Kat Barry, Maja Haggstrom and Lindsey 

Schendel, all of Newman Realty; 5. Jillian Naleck, guest, Dave Ousley, 

Building Specs, Clayton Jirak, Redfin Corporation, Matt Mika, Coldwell 

Banker Residential, Kristi Enzenbacher, guest, Kyle Capone, Baird & Warner, 

and Ron Haddad, guest; 6. Ivonne Payes, guest, and Junior Godinez, guest; 

7. Ksenia Yankilaytes, Gary Richter, and Matt Farrell, all of Urban Real 

Estate, Stephanie Weber, Coldwell Banker, Rebecca Thomson, @properties, 

and Joe Siciliano, Coldwell Banker; 8. Ian Brodsky, guest, 

and Candi Cann and Mike Wood, both of Acquest Title 

Services, LLC; 9. Alex Haralambakis, Leticia Andrade and 

Jennifer DeVries, all of Related Realty; 10. Jordan Enson, 

guest, Jonathan Svigos, guest, and Chris Mandly, guest; 

11. Jenny Bergen, guest, and Margaret Williams, Jeremy 

Gentry, Rebecca Thomson and Jonathan Missirlian, 

all of @properties, and Emily Ackerman White, guest; 

12. Catherine Holbrook, Americorp Real Estate, and 

Lindsey Schendel, Newman Realty; 13. Brett Decker, Exit 

Strategy Realty, Don Felton, Chicago’s Real Estate Agency, 

Karla Mina, Coldwell Banker Residential, and Jesse 

Lokken, Citibank; 14. Hani Ali, Guaranteed Rate, Tabitha 

Drevetzki, guest, and Andres Prieto, guest; 15. Nick 

Nastos, Chicago’s Property Shop, Inc., and Erika Villegas, 

ERA Mi Casa Real Estate; 16. Nick Nastos, Chicago’s 

Property Shop, Inc., and Matt Mika, Coldwell Banker; 17. 

Rose Paleczny, U.S. Bank, Samantha Lee, guest, 

Lauren Engelking, Manhard Consulting; 18. Ben 

Creamer and Ericka Rios, both of Downtown Realty 

Company; 19. Tommy Choi, Weinberg Choi Realty, 

Inc., Laura McGreal and Karen Schwartz, both of 

Chicago New Properties LLC, and Bill Markoutsas, 

Acquest Title Services, LLC; 20. Mario DiLorenzo, The 

Landview Group, Inc., Donna Zyrkowski, Keller Williams 

and Pamela Saul, Keller Williams; 21. C.J. Pruitt, Ideal 

Real Estate LLC, and Robin Balbo, Jameson Sotheby’s 

International Realty; 22. Laura Dantuma, Stonegate 

Mortgage, and Matt Koch, Fifth Third Bank; 23. Mayra 

Rubio, Neighborhood Loans, Javier Garcia, Federal 

Savings Bank, Joel Contreras, Neighborhood Loans, 

Jorge Flores, Neighborhood Loans, Ivette Hollendoner, 

@properties, Erika Villegas, ERA Mi Casa Real Estate, 

Gaspar Flores Jr., Su Familia Real Estate, Jessica 

Barrera, West Town Realty, Rocio Velazquez, West Town 

Realty, and Marc Hernandez, Alterra Home Loans. 


C.A.R. SIGNATURE EVENT 

2014 Sales Awards Celebration 

THE DRAKE HOTEL • MARCH 12, 2015 

1. 2. 3. 

4. 5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 9. 10. 11. 

12. 

13. 


14. 

1. Matt Farrell, Urban Real Estate, and Wayne Caplan, 

16. 

17. 

18. 

19. 20. 

21. 22. 23. 

15. 

Sperry Van Ness; 2. Tim Lambert, Michael Mazzei, and 

Aaron Share, all of Berkshire Hathaway HomeService; 

3. Jolanta Ciapala, Domain Group Realty LLC, and Anna 

Rynkiewicz, guest; 4. Sonia Anaya, America Real Estate, 

and C.A.R. President Hugh Rider, Realty & Mortgage Co.; 

5. Corey Singleton, Wintrust Mortgage, Frank Montro, 

Oak Realty of Chicago, Inc., Alderman Roderick Sawyer 

and Brian Sleet, guest; 6. Matt Farrell, Urban Real 

Estate, and Timothy Sheahan, Conlon: A Real Estate 

Company; 7. Lauren Mitrick and Charlie Wood, both of 

Newman Realty; 8. Matt Farrell, Urban Real Estate, and 

Coya Smith, Smith Partners & Associates; 9. Matt Farrell, 

Urban Real Estate, and Jeffrey Lowe, Berkshire Hathaway 

HomeService; 10. Matt Farrell, Urban Real Estate, 

and Emily Sachs Wong, @properties; 11. Matt Farrell, 

Urban Real Estate, and Chezi Rafaeli, Coldwell Banker 

Residential; 12. More than 700 real estate professionals 

filled The Drake Hotel; 13. Wintrust Mortgage’s After-Party 

had everyone dancing the night away; 14. Jan Kupiec, 

Heather Lally, Rebecca Cleal, Pamela Raia, Nicole Flores 

and Lisa Kon, all of Baird & Warner; 15. Matt Farrell, 

Urban Real Estate, and LaShandria Sanderson, Chicago 

Realty & Asset Management; 16. Corey Singleton, David 

Hrobon, Michael Black and Ryan Skaggs, all of Wintrust 

Mortgage; 17. Matt Farrell, Urban Real Estate, Mark 

Reiter, Millennium Properties RE, Inc., and Rob Thomas, 

Jameson Commercial; 18. Matt Farrell, Urban Real Estate, 

and Brad Lippitz, Berkshire Hathaway HomeService; 19. 

Carla and Jim Walker, Berkshire Hathaway HomeService; 

20. Matt Farrell, Urban Real Estate, and Timothy Gray, The 

Chicagoland RE Auction Co.; 21. Val Petkov, Associated 

Real Estate Group, and Nicole Petkov, guest; 22. Matt 

Farrell, Urban Real Estate, and Elizabeth Ballis, Coldwell 

Banker Residential; 23. Matt Farrell, Urban Real Estate, 

and Matt Laricy, Americorp, Ltd.; 24. Sarah Ware, Ware 

Realty Group, LLC, Linda Scott, Wintrust Mortgage, 

and Bruce and Ginger Downs, C.A.R. CEO; 25. Gerald 

McQuarter, GMC Capital, Kandis Robins, Robins Realty, 

LLC and James Webb, guest; 26. Jenny Caviedes, RE/ 

MAX 10, Carolina Dauksa, Su Familia Real Estate, Gloria 

Ulloa, guest, and Alicia Muratalla, Su Familia Real Estate; 

27. Kate Gallagher, Wintrust Mortgage, and Sara Benson, 

Association Evaluation; 28. Sonia Anaya, America Real 

Estate poses with her company’s giant CARLY. 

24. 25. 

28. 

26. 27. 

Photos by: Marcello Rodarte

4. 

1. 2. 3. 

7. 

6. 

5. 

8. 

After-Party Sponsor 

9. 

Platinum Level Sponsor 

Palm Court Dessert Sponsors 

Game Lounge Sponsors 

Silver Level Sponsor 

Supporting Sponsors 

Bronze Sponsor 

1. Amy Beyer, Nicole Laricy and Catherine Holbrook, all of 

Americorp, Ltd.; 2. Jeff Baasch and Wayne Caplan, both of 

Sperry Van Ness; 3. Millie Rosenbloom, Baird & Warner, and 

Justice John Simon; 4. Matt Farrell, Urban Real Estate, Lauren 

Mitrick and Scott Newman, both of Newman Realty; 5. Chicago 

Alderman Roderick Sawyer and Philip Williams Jr., Federal 

Savings Bank; 6. Matt Koch, Fifth Third Bank, Randy Thomas, 

Fifth Third Bank, amd Lydia Memeti, RE/MAX City; 7. Victoria 

Larionova, guest, Marisela Aguilar and Daniela Recillas, all of 

Parkvue Realty Corp.; 8. Leticia Rios, guest, Bob Eby, Century 21 

Alonzo & Associates, Darlene Kosin and Sara Hulsebus, both 

of Greater Illinois Title Company; 9. Sonia Anaya, America Real 

Estate, and Kelly Price, Wintrust Mortgage. 

Photos by: Marcello Rodarte 


Deciding to connect 

with a real estate 

coach to achieve your 

goals is just the first step. Now, 

you must find a coach who fits 

your needs. That’s the key to 

any success. 

Asking the right questions can 

make a difference to help you 

find the right coach to position 

your business where you want 

it to be. 

We want you to succeed in this 

relationship, so we’ve asked experienced 

coaches for their advice. 

Donna Stott, an Atlanta-based 

coach who runs Your Coaching 

Matters, gives us her top 10 

questions you need to ask a 

potential real estate coach to 

determine the best match. 

And, Brian Buffini, founder of 

Buffini & Company, one of the 

largest real estate coaching 

companies, tells us the top 10 

things a real estate coach asks 

or needs from clients. 

15. 19. 


Top 10 Questions 

to Ask a Potential 

Real Estate Coach 

1. 

What 

Support is the key to every person who 

does anything great in any business. 

Private real estate coaching evolved out 

of agents’ need to get more support to 

be the best they can be. When the face 

of real estate offices changed from a few 

agents in most offices to often dozens, or 

even hundreds, the office often could no 

longer provide this support. Real estate 

coaching was born. 

If you are seeing a gap between where 

you are and where you want to be, then 

you absolutely should consider hiring a 

professional real estate coach to provide 

that support you need. A recent RISMedia 

survey found real estate agents with a 

coach close more business. 

Real state coaching is an umbrella term 

that usually includes three things: coaching, 

consulting and training. All should be 

considered when interviewing a coach. 

Here are 10 questions you should ask to 

determine if a potential coach is a good 

fit for you: 

was your best personal 

production, or team production as 

a sales agent, and when was that? 

The best coaches tend to be ones who 

have personal success and experience 

in the business, and may still be selling 

today. 

2. 

How long have you been a 

coach? A new coach just out 

of full time sales, trained and 

obtaining a coaching accreditation can 

still be great right from the start, and 

could have more time to spend with you. 

However, a seasoned coach who has 

helped many others already could be a 

better choice. 

3. 

What coaching training and 

accreditation have you 

completed? The best coaches 

have gone through professional training 

and have higher-level skills to offer. You 

also may ask if all coaches have the 

same training and accreditation 

within the coaching organization. 


16.

4. 

Do you continue to pay 

for personal coaching 

yourself? Ask who their 

personal coach is and how often 

they meet. A coach who is paying 

for coaching really knows the 

power of it. 

5. 

What 

is included with 

your coaching contract? 

Is it a weekly, twice a 

month or monthly coaching call? 

Is it private or in a group? What 

else do you get for your investment? 

Many companies have number 

tracking programs, extra group 

calls, access to private chat groups 

and so on. 

6. 

How 

long is the contract 

and what is the policy 

on ending it early or 

changing programs? Do I need 

to sign a new contract when the 

minimum time period ends? Get 

clear before you start on the terms 

of your coaching contract. Ask what 

happens if you should need to end 

the agreement. 

7. 

How many agents do you 

coach now and may I talk 

with a few who started 

with you at my current level? Do 

your research. An over-eager coach 

selling you on their contract without 

allowing you due diligence can be a 

warning sign. By having conversations 

with existing agent-clients, you 

can get a candid assessment. 

8. 

Do you have any live 

events or classes available 

where I could meet you 

in person or deepen our training? 

Some get pumped by large events 

with hundreds or thousands of 

peers, and others thrive in smaller 

groups where they can talk with 

their coach personally for more 

than a “hello.” See what fits you 

best. 

9. 

Do you work with a lot of 

other people in my office 

or area? You may want a 

coach who isn’t providing the same 

services to a lot of your neighbors. 

A few in your market area can be 

fine and even encourage friendly 

competition. With options available 

for a coach anywhere in the country, 

consider time zone and choose 

the best for you. 

10. 

Do you have a system 

for me to follow, or will 

we be customizing one 

based on my strengths? This is 

really important. You want a coach 

who will not be trying to fit a round 

peg into a square hole. Discuss your 

strengths in the initial interview and 

see if the coach really wants to help 

you grow and improve, or if they are 

intent to change your entire way of 

doing business. 

Take notes and pay attention 

during the interview. Are you 

talking to the person who will 

coach you, or a salesperson for the 

company where you’ll be assigned 

a coach? Is this person a good 

listener and responding to your 

comments and questions, or are 

they using a canned script? Be sure 

they are focused on what you want 

from your coaching relationship, 

whether that be additional sales 

to pay for a lavish vacation, to 

raise your average per-transaction 

income, or to massively increase 

your business. 

Donna Stott was recently named 

a “Top 25 Coach” in North America by 

Inman News. She has been coaching 

since 2006, and started Your Coaching 

Matters with husband Mike Stott in 

2009. She publishes a free email 

newsletter for agents you may request at 

Donna.Stott@YourCoachingMatters.com. 

She welcomes your questions or 

comments. You may also visit her website 

at www.YourCoachingMatters.com. 


Top 10 Things 

a Real Estate Coach 

Asks or Needs from Clients 

Work the system. 

We ask clients to follow a very simple 

system for building relationships. It’s 

based on principles that don’t change, 

and how to take care of existing clients 

in such a way that they continue to use 

your services and refer you to others. This 

is the system, but clients have to work it 

every day. As the saying goes, “there is 

no elevator to success…you have to take 

the stairs.” 

Set goals. 

Agents need mindset, motivation and 

methodology in order to succeed. That’s 

why coaches should have every one of 

their clients set goals, both for their business 

and other areas of their life, so when 

times get tough, they know their “why” 

and their “how” to keep moving forward. 

Keep your competitive 

edge sharp. 

You can never stop training, refining 

and finding sources of motivation. The 

real estate business is hard. It can be 

an emotional roller coaster. Focus on 

your strengths and when you are enjoying 

what you are doing every day, you’ll know 

you’re staying sharp. 

Make Corrections 

to your plan. 

Just because you set up a plan at the 

beginning of the year doesn’t mean there 

won’t be mid-flight corrections. There 

will be as life and events intervene. Don’t 

be shy in discussing what changes you 

think you need to your plan as you 

execute on it. 


18.

Use technology to 

your advantage. 

If technology helps you optimize 

your tactical execution, advance 

your business strategies and 

objectives, then it makes sense. 

Invest in your 

business. 

Like any business, you have to 

invest in it. You have to invest time 

as well as money. You must run 

your business like a business, which 

means understanding the return on 

your investments. 

Don’t get lost in 

social media. 

Many people have succumbed to 

the “shiny object syndrome” 

of social media and technology. 

They invest hundreds of hours 

each year in these mediums, and 

have very little to show for it. 

Having a presence is important, 

but it can become a distraction 

to the real work of building 

relationships, generating referrals 

and making sales. 

Know what you want. 

Everybody’s expectations are 

different; coaches don’t define 

success, you need to articulate 

what success looks like for you. It 

may be more money, a balanced 

work-life schedule or more vacation 

time. From those making $ 85,000 

a year to those making $ 5.5 million, 

all clients want something different. 

Know what you want and a coach 

can help you get there. 

Make your focus small. 

Everyone needs a small win 

right now in the form of a good 

interaction with a client or maybe 

a referral. People should make a 

list of the top people they know 

or have done business with and go 

see them! Let them know you value 

the relationship. And oh, by the 

way…remind them you are never 

too busy for any of their referrals. 

Accept accountability. 

This is key because it’s far easier 

to come up with an excuse than it 

is to take action. 

Brian Buffini is chairman and 

founder of Buffini & Company, and 

internationally recognized as a real 

estate expert and master motivator. More 

than 3 million people have attended 

Brian’s events and seminars. He is the 

author of ‘Oh, by the way ® ..., Work by 

Referral, Live the Good Life!’, and ‘Takin’ 

Care of Business, the Big Idea for Small 

Business’. For more information, please 

visit www.buffiniandcompany.com. 


Unleash the Power 

OF YOUR OWN 

Local Knowledge 

with WikiRealty 

by SANJAY KUTTEMPEROOR, CEO & Founder of WikiRealty, Inc. 

It’s a fantastic time for real estate professionals in markets across the country, especially Chicago. Low 

unemployment, historically low interest rates and rising rent prices mean consumers are being bombarded 

with the message that “now is the time to buy!” As a relatively affordable metropolis compared to cities on 

the East and West Coasts, Chicago is highly appealing for both first-time buyers and foreign investors, two 

major demographics driving the market in 2015. 

In a thriving real estate market, how can professionals 

separate themselves from the crowd and get connected 

with consumers seeking their expertise? Content 

marketing - creating and distributing valuable, relevant, 

and consistent content - is the most effective tool a 

REALTOR ® can utilize to grow their business. Content 

marketing increases one’s digital footprint, leading to more 

DISTINGUISH YOURSELF 

FROM THE CROWD 

Share your local knowledge online. 

Online advertizing is hit or miss in targeting 

and largely ineffective. 

Consumers crave local information. Sharing 

hyperlocal content can help you rank ahead of 

major listing portals in search. 

WikiRealty offers a FREE way to share knowledge 

and brand yourself online as THE local expert. 

opportunities to connect with consumers searching for real 

estate information online. WikiRealty is an online platform 

for real estate professionals to share real-time, trusted local 

information that helps everyone make better decisions 

about where to live and work. Our web and mobile app 

offers C.A.R. members a quick and easy way to grow their 

digital footprint by sharing content that demonstrates their 

knowledge of Chicago. 

THE PITFALLS OF ONLINE ADVERTISING 

According to data tracker Borrell Associates, the real 

estate industry as a whole spent $ 27 billion dollars on 

advertising in 2014, with just over $ 16 billion spent online. 

Over the next two years, online advertising is expected to 

grow to over $ 19 billion. Despite enormous ad spends, hit 

or miss targeting of qualified clients is still a large source 

of wasted dollars. Even you (and probably most people 

you know) don’t click on online ads — at least not on 

purpose. The Internet has afforded us access to a wealth 

of user-generated content that helps us form our opinions 

about what to buy. We inherently trust this type of content, 

and it dwarfs the power of advertising. As The Atlantic 

succinctly stated: “We seek information, so we’re more 

likely to trust it; marketing seeks us, so we’re more likely 

to distrust it.” 

Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine 20. 24.

THE DEMAND FOR 

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE 

Consumers can’t get enough local 

knowledge; they crave it. Traffic to the 

multitude of listing portals on a yearly 

basis far exceeds the number of sales 

happening in a given year and even 

the total sales projected to happen 

in the next five years. PAA Research 

has estimated that only 45 percent 

of Zillow’s page views are of for sale 

homes. The remainder of views is on 

local information and user-generated 

content. Consumers are hungry for 

information about communities. The 

advantage to creating hyperlocal 

content is that it will often allow you 

to rank ahead of major listing portals 

in search. It’s nearly impossible to 

compete on generic terms and phrases 

against companies investing millions 

in SEO, yet there’s an opportunity to 

land at the top of search engines for 

specific, hyperlocal queries. When 

consumers know what they want, 

they are likely to search for specific 

information. For example, “River 

North condos without rental caps” is 

a more specific search. By sharing 

your hyperlocal knowledge online, 

you can dramatically improve your 

SEO rankings. 

HIGHLIGHT YOUR 

EXPERTISE ON WIKIREALTY 

As a C.A.R. member you already 

have access to WikiRealty. Join 

our vibrant community for free 

in Chicago by signing up at 

wikirealty.com/join-chicago. 

 

25. 17. www.ChicagoREALTOR.com

TECH TOOLS 

Dotloop: 

Take Your 

Business 

Paperless 

Imagine an online workspace that connects everyone and everything you need to 

complete a real estate transaction in one place. 

That’s how dotloop can help you keep 

all the information you need in one 

place. A dotloop account allows you 

to edit, complete, sign 

and share documents 

without ever needing 

to print, fax or email. 

As a Chicago 

REALTOR ® , you 

qualify for a free 

dotloop account with 

full access to C.A.R. 

forms and the ability 

to do a complete a 

transaction with esignatures 

and document sharing. 

“Dotloop is a timesaver for me and the 

client. For transaction management, 

it’s now all in one folder for them,” 

said Dave Naso of Keller Williams 

Preferred Realty. “I don’t have any 

paper files anymore. Our whole office 

is paperless. I love that you have a 

clean contract. Everything 

stays digital.” 

 

Agents who would 

like a premium 

account can subscribe 

for $ 29.99 a 

month, which includes 

the enhanced free 

account along with the 

mobile app. Sign up at 

www.dotloop.com. 

Brokers are invited to sign up for 

dotloop Business or Business+, which 

provides a premium account to all 

agents in the office plus the dotloop 

dashboard for file submission, review, 

compliance workflow and storage. Go 

to www.dotloop.com/brokers for more 

information or to see a demo. 

Pricing for dotloop 

Business is: 

0-25 Users – $ 299/month 

26-50 – $ 399/month 

51 – 100 – $ 499/month 

101+ – $ 499/month plus $ 5 for each 

additional user 

(i.e. 101 users = $ 504/month) 

Business+ – A more customized, 

personalized version of dotloop 

Business and sales can price that 

out accordingly. 

Dotloop is an official C.A.R. Member Benefit 


22.


Top Three Benefits of CRM 

Software for REALTORS ® 

The customer relationship management (CRM) software market is booming. Total 

sales in 2014 were in the neighborhood of $ 25 billion. Given the strength of CRM in the 

business world at large, it’s a good time to ask: What benefits does CRM software bring 

to the real estate industry? And how does it help individual REALTORS ® and agencies? 

Here we answer these questions with a look at the top three 

benefits of real estate CRM software. 

Better Organization, 

Greater Efficiency 

Through Unified 

Profiles 

At its most basic level, real 

estate CRM software helps 

collect and manage client 

information. The software 

integrates that information into 

a variety of workflow processes 

(such as responding to initial 

contacts, sending follow-up messages and updating MLS 

listings), which the software then helps track, schedule 

and automate. 

For example, InfusionSoft, a CRM platform designed for 

small businesses, offers lead-generation functionality that 

integrates with an agency’s website. When a visitor fills out 

a “Contact Us” form, a record is created for them in the 

system. The properties a visitor views online are then 

tracked and collated with their record. So instead of just 

forwarding that potential client’s contact information to 

the agency, the software provides a detailed profile of 

which properties, or types of properties, the client is most 

interested in. 

In this example, the CRM platform not only improves the 

organization of information by creating a unified client 

profile, it also improves the efficiency of communications 

with that client. The first conversation with the client 

doesn’t need to be, “What are you looking for?” Instead, 

it can begin with, “I see you’re interested in this property. 

Would you like to view it today? We could also look at 


three other very similar properties in the same 

neighborhood.” 

Marketing 

Automation Helps 

Strengthen Client 

Connections 

Successful REALTORS ® grow 

their businesses largely through 

referrals and repeat customers. 

For either of these growth 

strategies to work, it’s critical 

to maintain regular contact 

with former and prospective clients. This contact can be as 

simple as a note on the anniversary of a client’s closing, a 

periodic list of new properties the client might like or even a 

regular newsletter. 

It’s an organized method for finding, strengthening and 

growing client relationships all of which lead to more sales. 

Whatever form communication takes, CRM software can 

make it happen either automatically or with little manual 

effort. Products such as SimplyCast help connect with 

clients both before and after sales, with functionality such 

as automated open house reminders, follow-ups to listing 

inquiries and SMS (text message) property updates. If you 

already have a contact management system in place, there 

are stand-alone marketing automation products, such as 

Salesfusion, that can integrate with many existing platforms. 

A great resource for additional information is our CRM 

Buyer’s Guide (www.softwareadvice.com/crm/real-estate 

-crm-comparison/#benefits). 

Craig Borowski is a researcher at Software Advice 

(www.softwareadvice.com), covering technology and 

 

changing trends in the CRM market, with a focus on 

customer service, marketing automation and the 

impact of technology on CRM strategy. 

Instant Insight and 

Improved Oversight 

With Reporting and 

Analytics 

Ever wonder how you, your 

agency or specific agents are 

performing this year compared 

to last? Which of your outreach 

emails has the highest response 

rate? How many days you 

average between contract and closing? Without software, 

these questions could only be answered with tedious 

calculations. With CRM software, they can be answered 

with a few mouse clicks. 

Take, for example, Referral Maker, a CRM software designed 

for the real estate industry. Its “Business Dashboard” 

displays a variety of real-time metrics, including sales-toclose 

ratios, average commissions, outreaches per day and 

others. Individual agents can use this data for better insight 

into their long-term progress. Large agencies can gain 

better visibility into the company as a whole, or use it for 

better oversight of individual agents. 

While some look to CRM software simply to organize their 

contacts, it actually brings much more to the table. Smart 

REALTORS ® know that CRM is more than a software tool. 


Bronzeville is known for its stately greystones, including these along Prairie Avenue. 

Welcome to the Neighborhood: 

BRONZEVILLE 


26.

What’s Selling in Douglas? 

(including Bronzeville) FastStats 8035 — (Year to Date, February 2015) 

11 Units 

Median price: $ 69,000 

Attached Single Family 

2 Units 

Median price: $ 109,850 

Detached Single Family 

Check out neighborhood stats for all 77 Chicagoland neighborhoods and select suburbs at 

www.ChicagoREALTOR.com. FastSTATS consists of average sales price, median sales price, 

market time, units sold and percent change for Chicago and the suburbs. 

By Rebecca Boykin, Senior Public Relations Specialist 

Known as the birthplace of Chicago’s 

version of the Harlem Renaissance, 

Bronzeville appears to be enjoying 

a new renaissance in real estate 

and development. 

Chicago REALTORS ® who specialize in the 

Bronzeville neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side 

say it’s drawing more and more buyers with its 

convenient location and affordability – and this 

influx has helped drive new retail development. 

In the early 20th century, Bronzeville became 

known as the Black Metropolis and flourished 

between 1910 and 1920, during the peak of the 

Great Migration, when thousands of African- 

Americans left the south for Chicago in search 

of jobs. It became the city’s center for African- 

American culture, home to jazz clubs and the city’s 

African-American newspaper, the Chicago Defender. 

Bronzeville’s lush history earned it Chicago 

Landmark status as the Black Metropolis- 

Bronzeville District. The neighborhood is located 

in the Douglas and Grand Boulevard community 

areas on the South Side. The Illinois Institute of 

Technology (IIT) and Illinois College of Optometry 

are based in the neighborhood. It’s centrally located 

to public transportation, accessible via the Green or 

Red Lines of the Chicago Transit Authority or the 

Metra Electric District Main Line, and the Dan Ryan 

Expressway. 

Continued on page 28 

Chicago Blues District 

27. 


Continued from page 27 

Sanina Ellison of Chicago Homes Realty Group is a 

Bronzeville resident who has specialized in the neighborhood 

for 14 years, and says buyers appreciate its historic 

roots. “It’s been what Harlem represented in New York City. 

That’s what Bronzeville is to Chicago,” Ellison said. 

Statue of the late Mayor Harold Washington 

Bronzeville mural (49 th Street and Wabash Avenue) 

Many pivotal figures in African-American culture 

called Bronzeville home, including Andrew “Rube” 

Foster, founder of the Negro National Baseball League, 

Ida B. Wells, a civil rights activist, journalist and 

organizer of the NAACP, Bessie Coleman, the first 

African-American woman pilot, Gwendolyn Brooks, 

famous author and first African-American recipient of 

the Pulitzer Prize, singers Sam Cooke and Lou Rawls 

and legendary trumpet player Louis Armstrong. 

That history continues to propel its future. 

“Now, we’re also seeing a lot of new single-family homes,” 

Ellison said. “It’s a nice mix of old and new properties. 

Older residents have seen the neighborhood change. A 

lot of new residents are looking to make sure Bronzeville 

returns to what it once was. They want to make sure 

there’s a bustling community for our children as well.” 

In 2006, Bronzeville experienced a condominium boom 

when a lot of residential apartments were converted. 

Then, the Great Recession caused a new construction 

cool down. 

In addition to new construction returning, other redevelopment 

projects are lovingly restoring historic properties. “A 

lot of older buildings are being renovated. They’re keeping 

the integrity of the community yet making it more modern, 

and exterior to keep the neighborhood,” Ellison said. 

Jazz sculpture outside Harold Washington Cultural Center 

In 2013, This Old House magazine ranked the neighborhood 

as the Midwest’s best neighborhood for finding 

a historic home with a lot of heart. Bronzeville is home 

to an array of period homes, including Queen Anne and 

Richardsonian Romanesque-styles built from 1881 to 1910 

during the Great Migration. 

Sheila Rugege Dantzler of Related Realty works and lives in 

the area, and says she’s seeing a resurgence in the market. 

“I started selling in Bronzeville in 2007. Developers were 

doing new construction and condo conversions. Then, 

condos everywhere took a hit. It’s been tough for the last 

couple years. However, it’s coming back,” Dantzler said. 

Less than 5 miles from the downtown and close to the 

lakefront, Bronzeville’s location and its affordability are 

strong selling points. The 31 st Street beach is just a jog 

or bicycle ride away. 

Pearl’s Place, 3901 S. Michigan Ave., is a popular Bronzeville restaurant 


Tynisha Belk of Coldwell Banker Residential sees many 

first-time buyers drawn to Bronzeville, including renters 

deciding to buy.

Bronzeville is drawing new retail, including this Walmart Neighborhood Market 

Bronzeville bench 

Victory monument 

“It’s very close to downtown. It takes 

30 minutes tops to get downtown and 

offers affordable prices,” Belk said. 

With the IIT campus (3300 S. Federal 

St.) nearby, many of Bronzeville’s 

residents work or go to school there. 

Ellison sees a wide variety of clients, 

including those who are moving from 

out of town and looking to be close to 

transportation. 

Similarly, Dantzler is seeing a mix of 

clients. 

“It’s a diverse community and they want 

to stay,” Dantzler said. “They’re waiting 

for retail and commercial – so it can 

pick up the slack for the sparse lots.” 

Retail development also is gaining 

momentum in Bronzeville. A new 

Walmart Neighborhood Market opened 

last fall at 47 th Street and Cottage Grove 

Avenue. The neighborhood’s past and 

future converge at Pershing Road and 

King Drive, where a Mariano’s grocery 

store will be built on the land that once 

housed Chicago Housing Authority’s Ida 

B. Wells housing development. 

The planned Mariano’s is luring other 

retail to the area. More retail space is 

planned in a vacant lot across Martin 

Luther King Drive from the site where 

a new Mariano’s grocery store will be 

built. Mariano’s held a groundbreaking 

ceremony in January. 

Great Migration Sculpture 

“It’s just what the neighborhood needs 

– for more retailers to come in and 

populate the market,” Dantzler said. 

To catch a bite or coffee, locals 

frequent Ain’t She Sweet Café (526 

E. 43 rd St.), Sip & Savor Chicago (528 

E. 43 rd St.) and Pearl’s Place (3901 S. 

Michigan Ave.). 

Other popular spots around Bronzeville 

include the Harold Washington Cultural 

Center (4701 S. Martin Luther King 

Jr. Drive), which hosts movies, live 

jazz, blues and more. Washington Park 

is known for its numerous festivals, 

sporting events and performances 

throughout the summer. 

Other attractions are the Victory 

Monument, built in the late 1920s to 

honor African-Americans in the Illinois 

National Guard and the former location 

of the Sunset Café, a once prominent 

jazz club that’s now a hardware store. 

Bronzeville’s history, location and 

affordability continue to lure more 

residents who are increasingly engaged 

in the community. A group of residents 

formed the Bronzeville Neighborhood 

Collaborative to help restore parks for 

children in the neighborhood. With 

more retail on the way, signs point to 

a real estate resurgence. 

“It’s prime real estate. It’s centrally 

located,” Dantzler said. “Bronzeville is 

a good bet for people who want more 

space and more affordability.” 


STRAT 

EGIC 

PART 

EVENTS 

WED, 

AUG. 19 

WCR Clash of 

the Titans: Are 

You Man Enough 

WCRChicago.org 

THURS, 

AUG. 27 

DRB Annual 

Golf Outing 

ChicagoRealtist.com 

THURS, 

SEPT. 

10-12 

FIABCI 

Asia Pacific 

Real Estate 

Congress 

“Success Across 

the Pacific – New 

Development Concepts” 

Hilton Hawaiian Village, 

Honolulu, HI 

FIABCI-USA.com 

NERS 

BE IN THE 

GREATER 

Asian Real Estate Association 

of America (AREAA): 

• Hosted approximately 800 attendees at Global 

& Luxury Summit at Trump International Hotel 

& Tower Chicago in April, marking the first 

time this international event has been hosted 

in Chicago. 

• Chicago REALTOR ® Vicky Silvano of Century 

21 S.G.R., Inc. will be installed as the 2016 

National Chairperson at the 2015 National 

Convention in San Francisco in October. 

• Developed a group for young professionals 

called “theEDGE” (Empower.Develop.Give. 

Educate) – Find them on Facebook. 

Dearborn Realtist Board (DRB) 

• In 1941, became founding chapter of the 

National Association of Real Estate 

Brokers (NAREB). 

• Actively works with legislators to promote 

and support initiatives that ensure the 

availability of fair and affordable housing 

for all Americans. 

• Longest-running minority trade professional 

association in America with 80 U.S. chapters. 

FIABCI-USA Chicago Midwest 

Council (The International 

Real Estate Federation) 

• FIABCI has more than 3,000 members in 65 

countries with 100 professional associations. 

• Awarded the Grand Prix Award of Real Estate 

to Roosevelt University’s Wabash Building 

(425 S. Wabash Ave.). This national award 

recognizes outstanding projects in the industry, 

and is evaluated by an international panel of 

real estate professionals and experts. 

• U. S. Chapter held a luncheon in the private 

delegates’ dining room at the United Nations to 

directly address the continuing need for 

cross-border cooperation in international 

property markets. 


SUN, 

SEPT. 20+ 

NAHREP 

National 

Convention 

NAHREPChicago.org 

CONNECT TODAY! 

Visit ChicagoREALTOR.com > 

Groups & Networks > 

Industry Partners 

to learn more about 

joining. 

THURS, 

NOV. 5 

RTTR 1 st 

Annual 

Bark Ball 

RealtorstotheRescue.org 

KNOW WITH OUR STRATEGIC PARTNERS 

National Association 

of Hispanic Real Estate 

Professionals (NAHREP) 

• Will host the NAHREP National Convention on 

Sept. 20-22 in Chicago – which is expected to 

draw more than 3,000 attendees. 

• Chicago Chapter currently has more than 1,000 

members – the largest U.S. NAHREP chapter. 

• With more than 16,000 members, NAHREP is 

currently the largest minority trade group in 

the real estate industry. 

REALTORS ® to the Rescue (RTTR) 

• Donated approximately $ 15,000 this past year 

to area animal shelters and rescue groups 

• Helped place 25 senior dogs from Chicago 

Animal Care & Control into foster homes in 

December 2014, about four times the number 

of dogs rescued in December 2013. 

• Since 2003, RTTR has saved the lives of more 

than 1,000 animals through its partnerships 

with 30 animal shelters. 

Women’s Council of REALTORS ® , 

Chicago Chapter (WCR) 

• Chicago Chapter has grown by nearly 30 percent 

in the first three months of 2015, and continues 

to grow. 

• WCR members earn an average income at least 

$ 

100,000, higher than the 2013 typical REALTOR ® 

income of $ 47,700. 

• Provides statewide and nationwide memberto-member 

referral opportunities with an 

average annual value of $ 19,040 in WCR-to-WCR 

commissions. 

C.A.R. partners with the local chapters of other real estate associations, in order to enhance opportunities for 

professional development, networking and advocacy efforts for our mutual members. 

31. 


COMMERCIALFORUM 

How Safe is Your Property? 

Put a safety strategy in place to help protect properties against threats. 

That’s the message Michael Masters, executive director 

of the Cook County Department of Homeland Security 

& Emergency Management, delivered to attendees at 

the CommercialForum Breakfast in April. 

Here are some key points from his talk: 

Build a Strategy 

1. Deter – Create a proactive environment. 

2. Detect – Cameras are great but they don’t stop 

anything. Make it difficult to get into building. 

3. Delay – Create barriers. 

4. Defeat – When all else fails, be ready. 

C.A.R.’s CommercialForum Director Robert Thomas of Jameson Commercial, and Michael Masters, 

Excutive Director of the Cook County Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management. 

Security Solutions 

There are simple tools that are generally effective. People 

live less in fear when they have a plan. 

• Put film on glass – For $ 26/square foot, help save 

somebody’s life. This guards an area from an 

assailant’s view. From a marketing standpoint, see 

a return on your investment by making the safety 

and security of a building your selling point. 

• Add locks to doors. 

• Advertise counter-surveillance measures to make 

sure potential assailants know they’re being watched. 

• Change routines in case someone is taking note. 

• Challenge people who come into your space not 

wearing proper IDs. 

Dollars and Sense 

• Roughly one-third of every dollar we spend on school 

construction goes to one form of fireproofing. Yet, 

there’s not the same financial commitment for 

countering target violence. This requires a multidisciplinary 

approach, and asking ourselves, “what 

can we do?” 

• There can be a negligence issue when you’re 

not prepared. We all have a responsibility 

to take proactive measures – not because of 

the balance sheet, but because of safety and 

security. Not doing so will impact balance 

sheets down the road. 


ASSOCIATION NEWS 

Chicago REALTORS ® 

Attend International 

Real Estate Event 

Chicago REALTORS ® showcased regional opportunities on a global stage 

at the international real estate show MIPIM in France in March. 

The spring event brought together representatives from all international 

property sectors – office, residential, retail, healthcare, sport, logistics and 

industrial – to access a broad variety of development projects and sources 

of capital worldwide. 

 

 

C.A.R. President-elect Dan Wagner of The Inland Real Estate Group, Maurice Hampton of Centered 

International Realty Corp. and Jim Kinney of Baird & Warner were part of an IAR group promoting 

the value of Illinois real estate for personal and business interests. 

Men’s Book honors 

C.A.R. “Visionaries” 

A panel of real estate visionaries, moderated by Chicago Association of REALTORS ® President 

Hugh Rider, discussed valuable real estate insights at a June 6 th Men’s Book event. The panel 

was an extension of the “Faces & Places Shaping Chicago” feature in the June issue, which 

profiled these and other real estate professionals, and also highlighted the list of C.A.R.’s 2015 

Industry Advocates. 

From left ot right: Tommy Choi, Weinberg Choi Realty, Patrick Ryan, Related Realty, Maurice Hampton, Centered International 

Realty, Danny Glick, @properties, Nick Libert, Exit Strategy Realty, Aaron Galvin, Luxury Living Chicago Realty, Debra Dobbs, 

@properties, Matt Farrell, Urban Real Estate, Samuel Ciochon, Coldwell Banker, and Hugh Rider, C.A.R. President. 

Photo by: Rebecca Ickes. 

C.A.R. Presidentelect 

Supports 

New 1031 Study 

The repeal of Section 

1031 like-kind exchanges 

would cause 

the nation’s economy to 

shrink by an estimated 

$ 

8.1 billion even when 

combined with lower tax 

rates, an analysis found. 

Wagner 

C.A.R. President-elect 

Dan Wagner of The 

Inland Real Estate Group spoke at a Washington, 

D.C. news conference announcing the 

findings of the Ernst & Young Section 1031 

Economic Study on Tuesday, March 17. 

Section 1031 like-kind exchanges spur 

investment and reinvestment in U.S. assets, 

and make it easier for taxpayers to relocate 

or upgrade into assets that better meet their 

business needs. 


Managing Your 

Personal 

We were fortunate to have three of our YPN all-stars join us to provide tips for 

managing your personal brand, on and off-line, at our March YPN Breakfast. Their 

tips were too good not to share with you. 

MATT LARICY 

of Americorp Real Estate 

uTake advantage of online ads – It’s 

the best way to grow your online 

presence. 

uBe consistent – Use the 

same photos and bio points 

in your profiles. 

uUse video for listings 

and to deliver market 

updates to position 

yourself as an expert. 

ERIN MANDEL 

of @properties 

uAdvertise in a medium that best 

speaks to your target audience. 

uEngage your sphere of influence 

with client success stories. 

uSocial media is a popular 

platform. Be sure to appear 

honest and professional. 

Your clients, peers and 

potential new business 

are dialed into the 

same network. 

uDon’t just say you love 

your job – use social 

media to show it. 

uDress how you want to 

be perceived and how you 

want the industry portrayed. 

uCheck in with clients who 

haven’t submitted reviews yet. 

uOnly delegate if the transaction 

doesn’t hinge on you being 

involved in that task. 

uDress to impress! 

Remember the first 

impressions are important; 

however, comfort is key. 

uThis business is hard 

work. Learn good systems, 

practice with passion and 

learn something new every day. 

uSurround yourself with 

positive, energetic people. 

Your immediate sphere of 

influence will elevate you 

to the next level. 


34.

Brand 

Wednesday, 

SCOTT NEWMAN 

of Newman Realty 

uAll marketing can be effective but we prefer digital 

because the results are measurable so we can calculate 

the expected ROI for each dollar spent. 

uYour social media presence is about 

showing the best version of yourself 24/7. 

uOnly post content which will further 

your social media marketing goals – if 

the post doesn’t further that objective 

it shouldn’t go up. 

uCustomize content for the unique 

users of each social media platform 

while being sure to stay true to 

your brand. 

uSell the value of working with 

your team to potential clients and 

operate under the 5 percent rule 

– the idea that only 5 percent of a 

transaction requires your personal 

attention and specific expertise to 

be handled properly and that the 

rest can be handled by someone 

else specifically trained to do that 

job on your behalf. 

June 24 th 

Become a 

Win-Win 

Negotiator 

Wayne Paprocki 

Wednesday, July 29 th 

Know When 

You Need 

Help! 

What Will 

Your Team 

Look Like? 

Tommy Choi & 

Josh Weinberg, 

Weinberg Choi Realty 

Mary Summerville, 

Jameson Sotheby’s 

International Realty 

Wednesday, August 26 th 

Reducing 

Market 

Time By 

Going 

Green 

Pamela Brookstein, 

Elevate Energy 

Wednesday, September 30 th 

Professional 

Development 

“Build A 

Better You” 

James Ascot, 

Ascot Realty Group 

 

Help support a great cause! Our 

breakfasts are free, giving you 

all the more reason to donate to 

our partnered charity this year, 

the Habitat for Humanity Youth 

Board! At each monthly breakfast 

we will be accepting donations. 


GLOBAL REAL ESTATE & EMERGING MARKETS FORUM 

AREAA’s 2015 Global & Luxury 

Summit: EB-5 Update 

For 25 years, the EB-5 visa program has worked as a catalyst to attract foreign 

investment in projects that create jobs for U.S. citizens. 

A packed room at the Asian Real Estate Association of 

America (AREAA) 2015 Global & Luxury Summit in 

April learned important updates about where the program 

is today. 

Launched in 1990 by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Service (USCIS), the program provides U.S. residency 

to investors who commit $ 500,000 to $ 1 million to a new 

business or project that will create at least 10 jobs. 

After approval, an investor receives conditional U.S. 

residency – with permanent residency possibly granted 

after two years. 

New Global Forum Video 

Be sure to check out our new Global Real Estate & Emerging Markets 

Forum video! Now available at www.ChicagoREALTOR.com groups-andnetworks/global, 

the video features forum members sharing their insights 

on what makes Chicago a world-class city. 

EB-5 benefits 

• Investors receive conditional green cards for 

themselves, their spouse and children under the 

age of 21. 

• U.S. developers gain access to low-cost international 

capital. 

• Economically depressed Targeted Employment 

Areas (TEAs) get jobs. 

• Real estate agents may also benefit because EB-5 

visa holders must establish a U.S. residence, and may 

become prospective home purchasers. 

Here are some takeaways from the 2015 

Global & Luxury Summit session on EB-5: 

• For your clients who want to come to the U.S. and 

want permanent residency, this is the best program. 

It’s the fastest and best way for clients to get a U.S. 

green card; What they need to do is just invest. 

• Currently, there are 600 regional EB-5 centers. These 

are entities that control investment in a geographic 

area, and control and manage the asset. 

• Be aware the EB-5 program has exploded, as have 

options for you and your clients to invest. You need 

to know as much as you can about the owner, 

operator and asset being developed before you 

recommend a client’s investment. 

• Finder’s fees – To take commission, you need to be 

licensed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange 

Commission (SEC). Get registered so you can legally 

accept the income. 

• Three professionals are necessary for a successful 

EB-5 transaction: 

o Immigration lawyer – Never give your own legal 

advice to clients. 

o Tax attorney – Make sure clients know the tax 

implications if they become residents. 

o Investment adviser – Stay up to date on 

industry changes. 

For additional information, see www.eb5projects.com. 


AREAA Global & Luxury Summit 

APRIL 19-21, 2015 – TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & TOWER, CHICAGO 

1. 2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

1. Dr. Margot Weinstein, Metropolitan Real Estate 

Group, Ahmed Badat, AMB Realty & Investment, 

and Marsha Collins-Mroz, HOMESMART Connect Real 

Estate; 2. Ginger Downs, Chicago Association of 

REALTORS ® , Maurice Hampton, Centered Realty, and 

Dr. Weinstein, Metropolitan Real Estate Group; 3. 

C.A.R.’s Global Real Estate & Emerging Markets 

Forum helped welcome attendees; 4. Paul Boomsma, 

Luxury Portfolio International, and Dr. Weinstein; 

5. Jakeeva Lee, Chicago Association of REALTORS ® , 

and Dr. Weinstein; 6. Dr. Weinstein, and Don Pasek, 

Omniterra Real Properties, Inc. 

Try a 360˚Approach 

to Your Marketing 

PRINT AND ONLINE ADVERTISING 

{12,500 MEMEBERS STRONG} 

CONTACT MARY BETH DURKIN 

312/214.5530 OR EMAIL: mdurkin@chicagorealtor.com 

37. 


PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS 

Ombudsman Program has a 

90% Success Rate 

Who’s Using the 

Ombudsman Program 

Complaints We’re 

Helping to Resolve 

7.5% 

19.5% 

6% 

34% 

Unhappy with broker (Such as trying to get out of listing, etc.) – 30 percent 

Unethical/unprofessional conduct 18 percent 

Commission dispute 15 percent 

Earnest money concerns or fraud – 10.5 percent 

Misrepresentation of property – 9 percent 

33% 

Managing broker/broker dispute – 4.5 percent 

Lockbox violation – 4.5 percent 

Unrelated to C.A.R. or its members – 4.5 percent 

Member 

Seller 

Buyer 

Tenant 

Landlord 

Discrimination – 3 percent 

Issues with getting offer presented – 1 percent 

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 

What is the Ombudsman program? 

Now in its second year, the Chicago Association of 

REALTORS ® Ombudsman program has been successful 

in clearing up various disputes and misunderstandings 

and bringing the parties to a successful resolution. This is 

a free service that offers guidance on next steps to take, 

resources for information and can act as an intermediary 

in some disputes. This is an effective way to address 

disagreements before they escalate to a formal arbitration 

and/or ethics violation filing. 

How does it work? 

Any REALTOR ® or member of the public who has concerns 

involving a REALTOR ® or a real estate-related dispute can 

file for Ombudsman assistance. The case will be assigned 

to an Ombudsman – typically a member of the Professional 

Standards or Grievance Committees – who will contact 

the complainant. The Ombudsman will then contact the 

REALTOR ® respondent to inform them of the issue. 


A REALTOR ® who has a dispute with another REALTOR ® 

also can request assistance. An Ombudsman is extensively 

familiar with the REALTORS ® Code of Ethics and state real 

estate regulations; however, they do not provide legal advice. 

What are the results so far? 

In the past year, we had 67 formal requests for 

Ombudsman assistance – with more than 90 percent 

resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant. In many 

instances, the disagreement was due to a breakdown in 

communications between the parties. Our Ombudsman 

are able to act as an intermediary between the parties to 

find a successful resolution. 

Go to www.ChicagoREALTOR.com for more information, 

or contact our Professional Standards staff at 

ps@chicagorealtor.com with questions.

EVENT HIGHTLIGHTS 

2015 Varsity Reunion 

FEBRUARY 25, 2015 – PEGASUS RESTAURANT & TAVERNA, CHICAGO 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

1. Beth Babcock, @properties, and Jeanine McShea, Related Realty; 

2. Phil Bournstine, guest, Frank Mitrick and Cheryl Mitrick, both of 

Real Tek Realty; 3. Linda Broznowski, @properties, Jeanine McShea, 

Related Realty, and Karen Peterson, Coldwell Banker Lincoln Park; 

4. Guest, Margie Boyle, Baird & Warner, and Guest; 5. Phyllis 

Jacobson, Baird & Warner, and Judith Pielet, Baird & Warner. 

Photos by Mary Beth Durkin, Chicago Association of REALTORS ® 

YPN Breakfast 

MARCH 25, 2015 – MANNY’S DELI, CHICAGO 

1. 2. 3. 

6. 

4. 

5. 

7 

1. Leticia Andrade, Related Realty, Erika 

Villegas, ERA Mi Casa Real Estate, Nick Nastos, 

Chicago’s Property Shop, Inc., and Erin Mandel, 

@properties; 2. Scott Kabel, Newman Realty, 

Michael Del Preto, LoanPath, Lindsey Schendel 

and Scott Newman, both of Newman Realty; 

3. Leticia Andrade, Related Realty, Sanina 

Ellison, Chicago Homes Realty Group, Rachel 

Scheid, Jameson Sotheby’s Realty, Kelly Celli, 

Coldwell Banker Residential, and Clayton Jirak, 

Redfin Corporation; 4. & 7. A full house at the 

March YPN Breakfast learned tips on how to polish 

their online reputation; 5. Nicholas Apostal, 

Coldwell Banker Residential, asks the panel 

questions; 6. Scott Newman, Newman Realty, Erin 

Mandel, @properties, and Matt Laricy, Americorp 

Real Estate. 

Photos by Jessica Kern, Chicago Association 

of REALTORS ® 


Government Affairs Update 

Chicago 

The Chicago Association 

of REALTORS ® (C.A.R.) is 

dedicated to advocating 

for REALTORS ® and their 

clients. We utilize several 

different committees and 

coalitions and a full-time 

professional staff to 

effectively and efficiently 

achieve this goal. 

The C.A.R. Governmental 

Affairs department lobbies 

legislators and regulators 

to help pass laws that 

maintain a healthy 

business environment for 

our members and for their 

clients, and works to defeat 

laws which increase 

the cost of housing and 

inhibit the growth of the 

real estate industry. 

BRIAN A. 

BERNARDONI 

Senior Director of 

Government Affairs 

and Public Policy 

KRISTOPHER J. 

ANDERSON 

Director of 

Government Affairs 

Fighting for Private 

Property Rights 

Rounding out a busy spring, we took action on 

pro-landlord changes by fighting for judicial 

discretion and working in collaboration with the 

Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago, 

the Apartment Building Owners and Managers 

Association, the Chicagoland Apartment 

Association and the Chicagoland Chamber of 

Commerce. Together, we advocated for over two 

dozen changes to the Affordable Requirements 

Ordinance (ARO) that aldermen approved in March. 

We continue to look for ways to minimize the 

negative impact of residential energy benchmarking 

rules on developers for high-rise buildings. New 

private property rights issues continue to rise up, 

including smoke-free condo buildings, rules on 

medical marijuana and flight paths at Midway 

and O’Hare International Airports. 

Our aggressive lobbying was met with resistance 

in many cases by various interest groups that seek 

to reduce the role of REALTORS ® in real estate 

transactions. We are fortunate, thanks to your ideas 

and financial contributions to RPAC, to have held 

the line for REALTORS ® in every fight. In the 

coming weeks and months, we will be at the table 

fighting for you and your clients. Please continue 

to reach out to us about your ideas and issues. 

Don’t Miss Deadlines for 

Property Tax Appeals 

Have you considered letting your past clients know 

about the Cook County property tax assessment 

appeal process? Property tax appeals are in full 

swing as Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios 

has started releasing the triennial property tax 

assessment notices for Chicago. Owners have 

just 30 days to appeal these notices. It’s important 

to note the assessor’s office won’t increase 

assessments simply because you appealed. If 

you have clients who are selling their property, 

appealing an assessment is a great opportunity 

to reposition a property more favorably from a 

property tax perspective. 

Educating clients with a simple reminder about 

the critical dates and process can help position 

new homeowners with a lower assessment and the 

potential for a lower rate. There is no doubt that 

your clients will see value in appealing ‒ and also 

in you as a REALTOR ® . Reach out to us and we 

can help you understand the process, or go to 

www.cookcountyassessor.com for more details. 

Chicago 


40.

G ANews 

Get Involved in Your 

Association’s Advocacy 

Please take time to attend our Government Advocacy and Property 

Management Forums to learn more about important current issues. 

Our CommercialForum also hosts events throughout the year that 

focus on economic development and commercial corridor issues. We 

encourage you to take a role in the RPAC fundraising committee and 

other workgroups, where the ideas you have become the policy of the 

membership. And those are just opportunities available at C.A.R. 

Through IAR, there are great events like the Public Policy meetings 

and the annual Capitol Conference, as well as opportunities to be a 

State Legislative Contact to get closer to those who represent you in 

Springfield. If national politics is your passion, you can work with 

your congressional representatives through our various programs 

and attend the REALTORS ® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in 

Washington, D.C. every May. 

There are so many ways for you to get involved, and we hope you 

take advantage of them. Check out www.ChicagoREALTOR.com for 

more information. 

New Cook County Zoning Rules 

A new rule requires the seller of any property in unincorporated 

Cook County to apply to the Cook County Department of Building 

and Zoning for a zoning use certificate. This excludes condominium 

or coop units. The requirement will help ensure that the parties in a 

real estate transaction have knowledge of the zoning and permitted 

use of the parcel in the transaction. We played a role in providing 

input to the building commissioner’s office on the new form, excluding 

condominium and extending the life of the certificate to six months. 

Go to www.cookcountyil.gov/building-and-zoning to access the form, 

and learn more information. 

Cook County Rental Regulations 

The Cook County Board is focusing again on unincorporated 

Cook County to tighten up rental housing regulations. Recent 

meetings between C.A.R., the Illinois Association of REALTORS ® 

and the county have set a platform for future discussions focusing 

on building code, fair housing and other aspects of rental 

conditions. We will keep members advised as the issues and 

potential ordinance emerge. 

Land Bank Hires New Executive Director 

Robert Rose is the new executive director of the Cook County 

Land Bank. Rose comes to the Cook County Land Bank from 

the Chicago Community Loan Fund where he served as chief 

operating officer. He has a background in finance, underwriting 

and community development. The Chicago Association of 

REALTORS ® continues to work very closely with the land bank, and 

C.A.R. board member Sarah Ware holds a seat on its board. 

Capitol Conference in Springfield 

APRIL 14, 2015 – STATE CAPITOL BUILDING, SPRINGFIELD 

1. 2. 

3. 4. 

1.& 2. Chicago REALTORS ® showed up in full force for the 2015 Capitol 

Conference; 3. C.A.R. President Hugh Rider and Ron Abrams, Silver 

Property Group, Ltd.; 4. Many Chicago REALTORS ® boarded a bus to 

travel to Springfield, networking along the way. 

Photos by: Ginger Downs, Felicia Yonter, and Jakeeva Lee, all of the Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® 


MEMBER PERKS 

Discounts to Save You 

Time & Money 

Our Member Perks are chosen by REALTORS ® for REALTORS ® . Visit www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 

and click the Member Perks button to access these discounts and more. 

The Slope Tablet Stand 

An elegant tablet stand with a stunning feel: Slope gets entirely out of the way of the 

tablet, gripping it from behind. Its supremely minimal form makes it easy to use at 

your open house or any time you need an easy way to 

display your phone or tablet. Chicago REALTORS ® 

receive an exclusive 15 percent discount. 

Berco’s Popcorn Tins 

Looking for a gift for your client? Berco’s Popcorn tins make 

a fantastic closing or check in gift to maintain and build 

relationships throughout the year. Chicago REALTORS ® will 

receive an exclusive 15 percent discount on any Berco’s Popcorn 

tin purchase. 


Windsor Vineyards 

— Personalized Wine 

Windsor Vineyards has award-winning wines not available 

on the retail shelf - and you can customize them with your 

logo or message, right on the wine bottle. Make a lasting 

impression with your clients. The best part is personalized 

labels are free. Etching is also available for an additional cost. 

Chicago REALTORS ® 

can choose from three 

different discounts 

available for up to 20 

percent off wine. 

“I absolutely love their products! Elegant, 

affordable, easy to order and convenient. I 

gift a case, or half depending on the client, 

with customized labels (which are FREE!) to 

my clients as a closing gift. The labels I 

choose are printed with the client name or 

monogram, property address and closing 

date. I’ve also done photographs of the 

clients at closing and/or a pic of the home on 

the label. My clients love these. They keep a 

bottle for the anniversary and they “recycle/ 

reuse” the bottles, thus keeping me in front 

of them throughout years to 

come! 

” 

~ Evelyn Fred, 

ABR,CREN,SFR,ADPR 

Jameson Sotheby’s 

International Realty 

Carlease.com 

This exclusive benefit can be used to offset the first month’s lease payment of a vehicle 

leased through Carlease.com. Available to Chicago Association of REALTORS ® members and 

their families, Carlease.com will cover your first month’s lease payment up to $ 500, excluding 

one-time fees for license, title, and registration. 

Carlease.com offers unlimited “no-haggle” 

pricing quotes on all makes and models, free home 

delivery and handles all paperwork. 

Zipcar 

With Zipcar for Business, you can head to a meeting, take your clients to showings or explore 

the city. Zipcar is like having your own car, without 

the hassle. Smarter transportation is right 

around the corner. Chicago REALTORS ® will receive 

a waived application fee and discounts on annual 

fees and hourly rates. 

Staples Advantage Program 

The Staples Advantage program provides total cost management and services not available 

through any other office supplier. This program offers next day delivery and a sophisticated 

online ordering platform, with billing and approval flow capabilities that will positively 

impact your ordering process. Contract pricing has been established on a core list of items 

that you order consistently. Our contract prices are built into our online ordering program. 

Staples Advantage participants on average save 

15 percent over retail pricing. 

“I LOVE shopping online through Staples 

for my office products. I save travel time, 

get FREE SHIPPING and get discounts on 

products I use regularly, all because I’m a 

C.A.R. member. Sweet. 

” 

~ Jean-Marie Minton 

Keller Williams Preferred Realty 

RE Technology 

We have teamed up with RE Technology to provide you access to comprehensive product and 

company directories, news, webinars, product descriptions and more. This service, which normally 

costs $ 149.95/year, is being offered to our subscribers free of charge. Our goal is to help you find 

technology that works for you, not technology 

that makes you work to understand it. 

 



MRED UPDATE 

MRED’s Top Five Ways LISTING 

SYNDICATION Can Help Your Business 

Listing syndication is the distribution of 

a brokerage’s listing content to different 

websites, including Zillow and Homes.com. 

This can be done in many cases by a syndication company, 

but may also be done by an MLS, like MRED. 

How can listing syndication help your business? 

1. Distribution of your listings on the Internet gives 

them wider exposure to the visitors to the websites 

where your for-sale properties appear. 

2. By syndicating through MRED or a syndication 

company, you strategically decide where you want 

your listings to appear in a way that is most 

beneficial to your business and clientele. 

3. MRED syndicates the most accurate and timely data. 

4. You save time by not having to manually enter 

your properties into listing aggregator websites or 

enter changes to update listing content. 

5. MRED can – and does – negotiate agreements with 

individual sites that provide benefits for its 

brokerages that are not available to individual 

companies or agents. 

Managing brokers should visit syndication.MREDLLC.com 

for more information regarding how MRED can help place 

their company’s listings online. 

 

Have You Met MRED’s 

New President/CEO Yet? 

Rebecca Jensen is the new 

president/chief executive officer 

of Midwest Real Estate Data 

LLC (MRED). Jensen has 

worked in the MLS industry 

since 1998, including eight years 

as the CEO of Utah’s regional 

MLS, UtahRealEstate.com. 

During her tenure at 

UtahRealEstate.com MLS 

(URE), she led the effort to 

develop and successfully deploy 

a new in-house MLS platform, including an integrated 

public-facing website and mobile apps. URE grew to 

provide service for over 90 percent of Utah’s Realtors ® 

due to the MLS consolidation efforts she led. Jensen also 

diversified the MLS’s offering by expanding services to 

 

property managers. This enabled her to create the Property 

Pond Rentals Platform, which included a consumer-facing 

website for rental properties and mobile apps. 

Jensen graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s 

degree in computer science, and has an MBA in technology 

commercialization from Westminster College. She is a 

member of the Executive Committee for the COVE MLS 

group, serves on committees at the National Association 

of REALTORS ® , and she is a member of the MLS 

Executive Advisory Board at Realtor.com. Rebecca is one 

of Inman News 100 Most Influential People in Real Estate, 

Swanepoel 200 Most Powerful People in Residential Real 

Estate as well as being a Utah Business Magazine Forty 

Under 40 Honoree. 


Chicago Association of 

You’re a busy professional who needs to 

access information and resources quickly. 

Our revamped ChicagoREALTOR.com has a 

new look and fresh content to help fulfill your 

business needs on the go. Here are the new 

website’s top features and where to find them. 

UNIVERSAL ACCESS 

Now, you can easily hop on ChicagoREALTOR.com 

from all your devices. Whether you’re mobile 

or at your desktop, the fluid design makes sure 

you’re experiencing all features optimally. 


REALTORS ® — Website 

News 

From member news updates 

to industry news, get up to speed 

on the latest tools and tips to help 

your business. 

Must Reads/Most Read 

This is where you’ll find the 

news you need to know, as well as 

the news that has generated the 

most interest. The Must Reads are 

extremely newsworthy articles about 

association updates and industry 

changes. The Most Read section 

features the articles other Chicago 

REALTORS ® are reading the most. 

Groups and Networks 

Discover ways to engage 

with C.A.R. special interest groups, 

including CommercialForum, Young 

Professionals Network 

(YPN) and the 

Global Real 

Estate & 

Emerging 

Markets 

Forum. Our 

Industry 

Partners are 

also featured. 

Live Chat 

Connect with our member 

services team to help answer your 

questions – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

weekdays. 

Connect with C.A.R. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, 

Instagram and LinkedIn to be in the 

loop and easily share content with 

your clients, including event photos 

and online updates. 

 


Leverage 

EDUCATION 

Technology 

to Land Listings 

By 2017, the number of connected devices is expected to 

equal three times the number of people on earth, according 

to Intel. 

It’s more important than ever to know how to leverage 

your mobile device in a listing presentation to present real 

time information. Our new Listing Presentations from Any 

Device class will cover more than 26 apps to help you get 

that listing. 

Here’s a preview from instructor Marki Lemons-Ryhal on 

the top five apps she will highlight in this new class to 

improve your real estate business. 

2. 3. 

1. 

4. 5. 

1. Evernote — With Evernote, you can 

create an online file or storage cabinet for 

each client that contains Word documents, 

audio clips, video and photos. Use the 

Evernote app as a business card scanner and 

place business cards in the folder or storage 

cabinet of people who viewed a property. 

2. Dropbox — There is nothing better 

than being able to access and share all of your 

files, no matter where you are located. As a 

REALTOR ® , Dropbox allows you to share listing 

photos automatically with your assistant as you 

are taking them, and she or he can change the 

file name of the picture to use your keywords 

and give your photos the best SEO before you 

post them to the Internet. 

3. IFTTT — Prepare to fall in love with 

IFTTT. It’s an application recipe site that makes 

your applications do things automatically to 

save you time. Recipes are simple connections 

between products and apps. For example, if 

you use Gmail, you can instruct IFTTT to save 

a copy of the email in your client’s folder on 

Evernote any time you receive an email from a 

client – and it’s done automatically. 

4. Google Calendar — Planning 

is essential to a successful business, and 

Google Calendar allows you to set up 

individual calendars for each of your clients, 

starting with their executed contract, to set 

up notifications for any contingency dates 

that need to be met. 


5. Instagram — Think about the 25 

photos you just took at a listing appointment 

that you want to share with the world. Instagram 

allows you to share those photos with five 

additional websites: Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, 

Flickr and Foursquare. If I add a few recipes from 

IFTTT, I can also share that photo on LinkedIn 

and additional Facebook Business Pages. 

More information on the next page. 

To register, visit 


Mobile devices (iPad, Tablets and phones) have become a favorite tool of consumers looking to purchase real estate. 

It’s time to leverage your mobile devices in listing presentations to present real time information to today’s customers. 

Learn how iPad and Android 

apps can simplify the real 

estate transaction. 

The listing presentation is THE TIME to 

show your seller how you incorporate 

26 apps to get their deal closed. 

26 apps to help you 

secure the listing. 

Find out how mobile devices 

will save all parties time, 

money and energy. 

Learn how to secure 

and protect electronic 

signatures and online 

documents. 

Set up devices for 

real time delivery 

of information to 

the seller. 

Get the latest mobile apps 

and strategies to be prepared 

to bring all you need into a 

client’s home. 

UPCOMING COURSE 

LISTING PRESENTATIONS 

FROM ANY DEVICE 

Taught by Marki Lemons-Ryhal 

July 27, 2015 

C.A.R. Central 

SEMINAR TUITION: 

Member: $ 55 

Non Member: $ 59 

9:00am – 4:00pm 



EDUCATION COURSE OFFERINGS 

Broker Licensing 75 Hour Course 

7/6 – 7/15 All-day Session 8:30am - 5:30pm C.A.R. Central 

7/11 – 8/29 Saturday Session 8:30am - 5:30pm C.A.R. Central 



8/17 – 10/7 Evening Session 5:30pm - 9:30pm C.A.R.Central 


9/28 – 10/7 All-day Session 8:30am - 5:30pm Rolling Meadows 

Broker Licensing 15 Hour Applied RE Principles – Interactive Course 



8/5 – 8/12 Evening Session 5:30pm - 9:30pm C.A.R. Central 


9/12 – 9/19 Saturday Session 8:30am - 5:30pm C.A.R. Central 


10/8 – 10/9 All-day Session 8:30am - 5:30pm Rolling Meadows 

10/8 – 10/15 Evening Session 5:30pm - 9:30pm C.A.R. Central 

Managing Broker 30 Hour Pre Licensing Course (1 st half of 45 Hr) 

8/3 – 8/5 All-day Sessions 8:30am - 5:30pm C.A.R. Central 

Managing Broker 15 Hour Applied Management and 

Supervision – Interactive (2 nd half of 45 hr) 

8/6 – 8/7 All-day Sessions 8:30am - 5:30pm C.A.R. Central 

Leasing Agent 

8/24 – 8/25 All-day Sessions 9:00am – 4:00pm C.A.R. Central 

90 Hour Replay Course 

7/18 All-day Session 8:30am - 5:30pm C.A.R. Central 

9/26 All-day Session 8:30am - 5:30pm C.A.R. Central 

Hot Topics/Designations 

The Chicago Association of REALTORS ® Hot Topic Series provides educational programs 

to help our members stay on top of the industry. 

Accredited Buyer Representative 

(2 Day Core Course) 

8/26 – 8/27 9:00am – 5:00pm C.A.R Central 

12/2 – 12/3 9:00am – 5:00pm C.A.R Central 

Short Sales and Foreclosures: What 

Buyer’s Representatives Need to Know 

(ABR Elective & SFR Certification) 

8/28 9:00am – 5:00pm C.A.R Central 

BPOR (Broker Price Opinion Resource) 


E-PRO (Day 1) 

7/1 9:00am – 5:00pm C.A.R. Central 


Income Property Analysis 

9/15 - 9/16 8:30am - 5:00pm C.A.R. Central 


Social Media Setup for Real Estate 

(Now with 3hrs Elective CE Credit!) 



Social Media Ethics for Real Estate 

7/2 1:00pm – 4:00pm C.A.R. Central 

10/2 1:00pm – 4:00pm C.A.R. Central 

Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) 

7/30 – 7/31 9:00am – 5:00pm C.A.R. Central 


Sales Skills Workshop 

9/17 8:30am - 4:30pm C.A.R. Central 

Essentials of Property Management 




Instructor Development Workshop 

(CE Licensing for Instuctors) 


C.A.R. New Member Orientation 





10/14 8:30am – 4:00pm C.A.R. Central


Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine

CR Magazine Summer 2015

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