CR Magazine - Summer 2018

CR 

Chicago REALTOR ® 

Magazine 

Optimize Your 

Open House 

V o l u m e 2 7 | S umm er 2 0 1 8 

Meet Our New CEO: 

MICHELLE 

MILLS 

CLEMENT 

The Official Publication of the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® 

Leverage Your 

LinkedIn into 

New Business 

www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 3

C E L E BR ATING OUR BRA ND N E W LOOK 

“Where Unique is Commonplace” is a figurative expression that through contradiction 

effectively conveys the firm’s unequivocal commitment to exceptional service to the 

public and its agents alike. The firm possesses an uncommon collegial environment that 

has nurtured and developed some of Chicago’s finest and most productive agents. 

With an agent to staff ratio of 8 to 1... the needs of every agent are customized. 

If you have the desire to grow and belong — there is no better collaborative environment 

to achieve your ultimate potential than Century 21 SGR. 

A RMANDO 

CHACON 

“Century 21 SGR has been a great 

partner and extremely supportive 

in helping me build a growing 

real estate business. This is at 

the core of what our company is.” 

QUINN 

GUAN 

“The support is superb; training 

exceptional; mentorship 

phenomenal; environment robust; 

and the support system 

comprehensive and unmatched.” 

L U MI 

ISPA S 

“I have been with SGR for 

15 years. Why? I love the partners. 

They have always been concerned 

about me as a person, not just 

an agent.” 

STE VE 

P OWER S 

“When I left the military after 

six years — I was somewhat lost. 

I found a new home at SGR 

with unparalleled support and 

have never looked back.” 

SOUTH LOOP 

1823 S. Michigan Ave. 

Chicago, IL 60616 

(312) 326-2121 

WEST LOOP 

1161 W. Madison St. 


(312) 455-3122 

LINCOLNWOOD 

6600 N. Lincoln Ave. 

Lincolnwood, IL 60712 

(847) 983-4477 

WWW.CENTURY21SGR.COM

Cover photo by Marcello Rodarte 

10. 

Optimize Your 

Open House 

in 2018 

OPEN 

HOUSE 

Summer 2018 

ChicagoREALTOR® 

MAGAZINE 

IN THIS ISSUE 

4 President’s Perspective 

6 From the CEO 

8 Editor’s Note 

9 What’s Online 

34 Well Read 

35 Listen Up 

42 Photo Album 

48 RRES Lineup 

50 The Buzz 

Leverage Your 

Presence into 

New Business 

Author: KEVIN ROCIO, @properties 

14. 

FEATURES 

34. 44. 

10 Optimize Your Open House 

14 Leverage Your LinkedIn Presence into New Business 

16 Q&A with Michelle Mills Clement 

21 Tools to Help Property Managers Reach Full Capacity 

22 Six Considerations to Make When Working with Investors 

24 Use these Apps for Wellness 

28 Six Steps to Avoid a Low Appraisal 

30 Welcome to Berwyn 

UPDATES 

7 Get Involved: Take on a Leadership Role in the Association 

36 CAR Bicentennial Garden Volunteer Day 

37 Association News 

38 Industry Partners 

40 Government Affairs Update 

48 Education Highlight: Get to the Top of Your Game 


PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE 

In our industry, when temperatures rise, patience often 

wanes. Tempers get tested with our clients, consumers, 

and our fellow REALTORS ® . At CAR’s Spring Market 

Trends event, our illustrious top producer panelists 

shared insights into how best to navigate this tricky market. 

Treat Others With Kindness 

It always comes back to the golden rule: treat others how you 

hope to be treated. It is tempting to fixate on what the other party 

is (or isn’t) doing, but kindness and patience go a long way. We 

often aren’t aware when others are dealing with health scares, 

family issues or even other transactions going sideways. In those 

moments, kindness is key. Transactions have high stakes, and with 

the sheer number of parties involved — agents, clients, attorneys, 

inspectors, lenders, family members and so on — there are many 

personalities at play. Try to keep your cool and you may be able to 

keep a deal together. 

Words Matter 

We need to own what we say. Before hitting send, it pays off to take a 

moment to re-read emails and text messages to assess tone. Feeling 

fired up? Save it as a draft and re-read after you’ve cooled down. 

There’s nothing wrong with a rewrite. Having issues communicating 

or the email exchange is heating up? A phone call can quickly clear 

up misconceptions and save a headache, or even the deal. 

Check out Top Producers’ tips 

to navigate a busy market. 

While the phone is great, be sure to confirm everything in writing 

(email, too, not just text!). Protect yourself and protect your clients. 

It’s A Small Industry 

All three panels agreed on this one simple point: to be effective in 

this industry, good relationships with other REALTORS ® are essential. 

There are two sides to every transaction, and there is no telling 

who is going to be on the other side of your next deal. All we have 

is our reputation, so let your moral compass be your guide. When 

competition heats up, there is no benefit to knocking other brokers or 

companies. There is more than enough business to go around! 

I wish you the best this summer. Work hard, be good to others, and 

represent the best of our industry. When someone’s fuse is short 

or when their comments are out of line, take a breath and know, 

you’ve got this. 

Best, 

REBECCA THOMSON 

2017-2018 President 

Chicago Association of REALTORS ® 

4 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine

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FROM THE CEO 

Hello, Chicago REALTORS ® ! I’m Michelle 

Mills Clement, CAR’s new Chief Executive 

Officer. I’m excited to get to know you all a 

little better as I settle into my new role. 

A little about me — I’m a native Chicagoan but I’ve been in 

Washington state the past five years, predominantly working in 

commercial real estate. I’m excited for this opportunity to lead 

such a nationally renowned, well-run organization. I love what CAR 

represents, which is being the Voice for Real Estate in Chicago. 

You, our members, represent over 77 neighborhoods in the City 

of Chicago alone. Chicago REALTORS ® impact just about every 

aspect of life in our city because of the work that you do. People 

buy or rent a home. They shop in our stores. They work in our office 

buildings. We touch so many, and that’s why I truly love working 

in real estate. 

I look forward to working closely with you to better understand 

the unique challenges you face in your business and your 

communities, and the role your association can play in solving 

them. I want you to have full access to the services and resources 

you need. I plan on spending as much time in the field, getting to 

know you, as possible. If you see me around, please come say hi! 

Apply to serve on a CAR committee. 

Our work is made possible thanks to the volunteerism of the 

hundreds of members, just like you, who serve on our board of 

directors, committees and work groups. We need your voice at 

the table — and we’re accepting applications for our various work 

groups and committees. I highly encourage you to take an active 

role in your association — it’s just another way you can have an 

impact in your community and help shape our association’s future. 

I’m excited to be here and to learn from you all, and I look forward 

to working together in the years to come. 

MICHELLE MILLS CLEMENT, cae 

Chief Executive Officer 



Get Involved - 

Make a Difference 

Apply for a Committee 

or Work Group. 

Gain the most from your REALTOR ® 

membership by getting involved! There are 

many ways to volunteer at CAR. Rewards 

include personal and professional growth 

opportunities and the ability to contribute 

to the future of Chicago real estate. 

Here is a summary of Chicago REALTOR ® committees and work 

groups that welcome volunteers. To successfully apply for 

volunteer positions, you must be willing to attend committee 

meetings and actively participate. In most cases, you must also 

be a CAR member in good standing, though there are a few 

committees that represent a wider range of participants by 

including non-CAR members. 

Committee members are selected in September for terms that 

take effect on Oct. 1, the start of our fiscal year. See a committee 

that’s right for you? Click on “Get Involved” on the Membership 

page of ChicagoREALTOR.com. 

AUDIT COMMITTEE 

The audit committee oversees the integrity of the Association’s 

financial accounting process and systems of internal controls 

regarding finance, accounting and use of assets. They take an 

active role in the prevention and deterrence of fraud, as well as an 

effective ethics and compliance program. 

Term length: 2 years; Number of members: 5-7 

FORMS & CONTRACTS COMMITTEE 

Forms & Contracts Committee reviews and updates all approved 

CAR forms and contracts on a regular basis, as well as develops any 

forms and contracts that will enhance members’ businesses. 

Term length: 1 year; Number of members: 8-12 

COMMERCIALFORUM COMMITTEE 

CommercialForum creates educational and networking opportunities 

that build community among Chicagoland commercial real estate 

professionals and provide tools for their success. 


FINANCE COMMITTEE 

Along with senior management, the Finance Committee provides 

oversight of CAR financial management and the financial reporting 

function. 

Term length: 2 years; Number of members: CAR Secretary/Treasurer 

plus 12 members 

GLOBAL REAL ESTATE COUNCIL 

Forum members foster and provide a platform for global real estate 

business opportunities. They also seek out and create venues for 

networking with other relevant organizations. 


SPECIAL EVENTS ADVISORY GROUPS 

Advisory Group members focus on strategy and execution of 

generating sponsorship revenues and attendance for our special 

events. Special Events Advisory Groups: 

INAUGURAL GALA: Term length: 1 year; Number of members: 7-10 

CASINO ROYALE: Term length: 1 year; Number of members: 8-12 

GOLF OUTING: Term length: 1 year; Number of members: 7-10 

SALES AWARDS: Term length: 1 year; Number of members: 7-10 

RPAC FUNDRAISING WORK GROUP 

RPAC Committee members solicit RPAC investments annually. A 

key focus of the committee is securing Major Investors, as well as 

broad-based, lower-level investments from CAR members. 


GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE 

The Grievance Committee investigates complaints received 

from the public and members to determine if they have sufficient 

substance and merit to warrant an ethics or arbitration hearing, or 

mediation procedures. 


PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMMITTEE 

The Professional Standards Committee is responsible for enforcing 

the REALTOR ® Code of Ethics through the conduct of ethics and 

arbitration hearings. 


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

ADVISORY GROUP 

The Advisory Group identifies professional development topics, 

classes, events and programs that would be valuable to CAR 

members and the greater Chicagoland real estate community. Group 

members also help promote the offerings of the REALTORS ® Real 

Estate School and CAR Foundation. 


YOUNG PROFESSIONALS NETWORK 

WORK GROUP 

The purpose of the CAR YPN is to help young professionals excel in 

their careers with networking and education. 



EDITOR’S PICKS 

Leverage your LinkedIn Presence 

LinkedIn isn’t new. However, it isn’t always the 

shiny and new platforms that have the best 

ROI. After hearing Kevin Rocio speak at a YPN 

breakfast this spring on how nearly all of his 

international investment leads come from LinkedIn, we knew we had to get his insights. 

Learn how to utilize LinkedIn to become a trusted advisor and garner leads on page 14. 

Bicentennial 

Community 

Garden 

Volunteer Day 

Thursday, May 10, 2018 

9:30 AM-12:00 PM • GLOBAL GARDENS 

2954 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago, IL 60625 

RSVP to volunteer at www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 

On Camera 

We’ve hosted so many events this spring, the back half of our 

magazine could be an Instagram feed. We made new friends and 

connections at our Bicentennial Garden Build Out (pg. 36) while 

planting our community garden. 

Thank you to all who attended Sales Awards and special thanks to 

chair Sara O’Connor and vice-chair Nick Libert for helping us host a 

new format to celebrate all of you! Enjoy the memories on page 44. 

Protecting Private 

Leverage Your 

Presence into 

New Business 


Property Rights 

Fighting for private property rights is at the core of what we do. 

Thank your Federal Political Coordinators and all of those who 

took time away from their families and businesses to advocate for 

real estate at our state and national capitols this year. Highlights from 

Cap Con and NAR legislative meetings are on pages 42 and 43, and 

some of the issues we are fighting are broken down on page 40. 

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions 

or comments! 

Jessica Kern 

Vice President, Communications 

jkern@chicagorealtor.com 


Chicago REALTOR ® 

CR Magazine 

2017-2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

PRESIDENT 

Rebecca Thomson 

PRESIDENT-ELECT 

Tommy Choi 

TREASURER 

Maurice L. Hampton 

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT 

Matt Silver 

DIRECTORS 

Gaspar Flores, Jr. 

Antje Gehrken 

Heather Gustafson 

Drussy Hernandez 

Kris Keller, ccim 

Nick Libert 

Dave Naso 

Christopher Pezza 

Nykea Pippion-McGriff 

Hugh Rider 

Andy Shiparski 

Vicky Silvano 

Kevin Van Eck 

Marty Walsh 

Sarah Ware 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

Michelle Mills Clement, cae 

The Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine is published 

quarterly by the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® 

for its members. Advertising is purchased and 

does not necessarily represent the position of the 

Chicago Association of REALTORS ® . 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Michelle Mills Clement, cae 

michelle@chicagorealtor.com 

EDITOR 

Jessica Kern 

jkern@chicagorealtor.com 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Maria Dickman 

mdickman@chicagorealtor.com 

ART DIRECTOR 

Jim August 

jaugust@chicagorealtor.com 

For advertising information please contact 

Mary Beth Durkin 

at (312) 214-5530 or ads@chicagorealtor.com 

C.A.R. LOCATIONS 

C.A.R. Central: 430 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 800 


Ph: (312) 803-4900 

Fax: (312) 803-4905 

C.A.R. West Towns: 6017 W. 26 th Street 

Cicero, IL 60804 

Ph: (312) 803-4900 

www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 

NOTICE TO MEMBERS 

Under long established policy of this Association, the Illinois Association 

of REALTORS ® and the National Association of REALTORS ® : 

1. The broker’s compensation for services rendered in respect to any 

listing is solely a matter of negotiation between the broker and his or 

her client, and is not fixed, controlled, recommended or maintained by 

any persons not party to the listing agreement. 

2. The compensation paid by the listing broker to a cooperating 

broker in respect to any listing is established by the listing broker and 

is not fixed, controlled, recommended or maintained by any persons 

other than the listing broker. 

Videos 

Videos 

What’s Online @ 

ChicagoREALTOR.com 

Photo 

Videos 

Resources 

Videos 

Galleries 

Links 

Photo 

Resources 

Galleries 

Links 

Photo 

Photo 

Galleries 

Galleries 

Videos 

• Learn Top Producers’ tips to navigate the busy housing market. 

• Check out the Agent EDU videos. 

• Watch as we transform the CAR Bicentennial Garden at our 

Spring Volunteer Day. 

Resources 

Videos 

Resources 

Videos 

• Apply to serve on a CAR committee or work group. 

• Download wellness apps to help you with work-life balance, on the go. 

Resources 

Resources 

Photo Galleries 


• Listen to how Kevin Rocio leverages LinkenIn to grow his business. 

• Find out Megan McCallum’s investing tips from the recording of 

her YPN presentation. 

• Register for summer classes and amp up your skills. 

• Mark your calendars and register for upcoming events. 

Links 


Links Photo Galleries 

• CAR Bicentennial Garden Spring Volunteer Day 

• 2018 NAR Legislative Meetings In D.C. 

• 2018 Capitol Conference 

• 2017 Sales Awards 

Links 

Links 

• Social media content, curated and ready for you! 

Digital Resources 

Extras 

Resources 

Look for the icon throughout the magazine for 

content with digital bonuses! 

Videos 

Links 

Links 


OPTIMIZE YOUR 

OPE 

HOU 

Trends show some traditional practices REALTORS ® have relied 

on for decades are becoming more popular, such as the open 

house. More than half of all 2017 homebuyers visited an open 

house as part of their home search, according to a study from 

NAR, a seven percent jump from just five years ago. Even a 

tried-and-true tactic like an open house can be refreshed to 

better engage interested buyers and leverage new technology 

available. Here are some tools REALTORS ® can use to upgrade 

the open house experience. 

ALEXA: YOUR DIGITAL 

LISTING ASSISTANT 

Amazon’s cloud-based voice service, Alexa, is a powerhouse 

nestled in light, portable speakers. Several versions are 

available at different price points: 

• Echo Dot: $ 49.99 

• Echo: $ 99.99 

• Echo Spot: $ 129.99 

• Echo Plus: $ 149.99 

Since bursting onto the scene in 2014, app developers have 

created over 25,000 skills, or voice prompts, that allow users to 

engage with the smart speaker. One of these skills, Talk to The 

House, transforms Alexa into a virtual listing agent. 


weighing in at a breezy 2.3 pounds, won’t require detangling a 

mess of cords or multiple calls to tech support. All it requires is 

Wi-Fi, an outlet and a script prepared for the listing. 

N 

SE 

AUGMENTED REALITY: 

HOW TO STAGE YOUR HOME 

WITH PIXELS 

First things first: augmented reality (AR) is a live view of the 

real-world “augmented” with the addition of computer-generated 

images — think the Instagram and Snapchat filters that add puppy 

ears to whomever stares into a phone’s front camera. 

Though the technology has been around since the 1960s, AR 

is emerging as more than a novelty thanks to updates by Apple 

and Google. As many as 800 million smartphones and tables 

could support AR apps by the end of 2018, according to an 

analysis by Deloitte. The impact AR could have on real estate 

depends on how popular these apps turn out to be, but the 

sky’s the limit in terms of what they can do. 

One way AR can boost an open house is through staging. 

Staging a home can make it easier for a buyer to visualize 

the property as their future home. A recent study from NAR 

found staged homes spend less time on the market and get 

higher offers compared to similar homes. But for listings that 

can’t spare the budget to be staged, AR apps from furniture 

companies Wayfair or IKEA can save the day. A potential buyer 

can point their smartphone’s camera at the master bedroom 

and see the space filled with a Wayfair bed and matching 

nightstands – all personalized to taste. 

360 DEGREE CAMERAS 

AND FACEBOOK LIVE: 

A 24-HOUR OPEN HOUSE 

360-degree cameras debuted at a cost that priced out all but 

the most ardent early-adopters. But the price of these orbs on 

a stick has dropped considerably, allowing a much larger group 

to try them out. 

IN 2018 

As a potential buyer inspects the master bedroom, Alexa can 

highlight the lakefront view — while a different Echo device talks 

area schools and access to amenities, or gives a final sales pitch 

to a couple about to complete the walkthrough. 

Interested buyers can simply tell the speaker their phone 

number and email address and be sent a message with an 

agent’s contact information. Setting up the Amazon device, 

Here’s how they work: the camera records everything except 

for what’s directly below it, live. Those watching aren’t limited 

to what is directly in front of them. If a bay window in a listing 

catches the eye, a viewer can turn the lens to focus intently on 

their potential future reading spot. 

So, how can a camera elevate the experience for those at an 

open house? Truthfully, it doesn’t. Its utility for REALTORS ® is as 

a tool to attract buyers right before and right after the showing 

— which truly shines with Facebook Live. 

Continued on page 12 


11

Continued from page 11 

Once an open house is set up and about to begin, a REALTOR ® 

can set the stage for the showing with a walkthrough on a 

360-degree camera on Facebook Live. Free from the constraints 

of editing video and pictures, this is a perfect opportunity to nail 

your first pitch of the day with live narration. As more viewers join 

the stream, a REALTOR ® can answer questions from the crowd 

(useful for predicting future open house or showing questions) 

and talk up the excitement of the event about to happen. 

Once the video is wrapped up, accessing it after the open 

house is a cinch. Facebook removes the technical headache of 

uploading a video and saves it in on the user’s page. The best 

part of all: REALTORS ® have a 360-degree experience of the 

home for interested buyers who weren’t able to attend the open 

house. All they have to do is provide a link to the website more 

than a billion people use every day. 

SNAPCHAT FILTERS AND 

GEOTARGETING ADS: 

MARKETING BY THE INCH 

People ages 20-27 made up eight percent of homes purchased 

in 2017, according to NAR. As they age into homeownership, 

REALTORS ® should adjust some of their social media marketing 

dollars to coincide with the shifting habits of young buyers. 

a Pew Research Institute survey released in March, but among 

those buying age, Snapchat is used by more than three quarters 

of U.S. adults aged 18-24, and most use the app every day. 

Though the app is famous for being difficult for older adults to 

use, marketing on Snapchat is a snap. 

One data-driven and cost-effective way to drive traffic to your 

open house is through a custom Snapchat Filter. Snapchat 

Filters are designs and text that border the camera within the 

app, appearing for all users in a designated area for a scheduled 

amount of time. 

Creating one doesn’t require a professional graphic designer. The 

company allows anyone to design their own filter at Snapchat.com 

by customizing provided templates with a simple message such 

as, “Open House at 123 Elm Street, 2-5 PM!” 

Next comes geolocation, which requires some strategy for 

maximum impact. 

Geotargeted ads appear to users who are on their phone within 

a designated area for a certain amount of time. Snapchat filters, 

like other geotargeted ad providers, charge by square footage 

and how long it’s scheduled to appear. If an open house is 

planned for an attached single-family home from 3 PM to 5 PM, 

scheduling the filter to appear at 1 PM within a 46,000-square 

foot radius would provide two benefits. 

One growing presence is Snapchat, which is more popular among 

teens aged 13-17 than the monolithic Facebook. Facebook is still 

the most used network among all adults over 18, according to 

Those living in the building who see the filter have enough time 

to tip off a friend looking to enter the condo market, or ride the 

elevator a few floors to engage with the REALTOR ® to discuss 

For listings that can’t 

spare the budget to be 

staged, AR apps from 

furniture companies 

Wayfair or IKEA 

can save the day. 

Photo courtesy of Wayfair.com 


houses. Boost automates advertising through social media 

networks such as Facebook, Instagram and Waze by creating 

ads, publishing them and tracking their performance. Boost’s 

algorithm also does the work of finding your audience. Once the 

open house is over, Boost gathers data to make it easy to judge 

what worked and what didn’t. Some larger firms have similar 

software in-house, but Boost is a great option for REALTORS ® 

interested in growing their digital reach. 

New technology is emerging all the time. REALTORS ® shouldn’t 

be afraid to “disrupt” their methods to try out a digital tool that 

can help grow their business — even if they’re successful now. 

Ultimately, clients are looking for someone they can trust to 

guide them through one of the biggest decisions of their life. 

That can’t be replaced by a computer. 

listing their condo for sale. How much did this 

example Snapchat Filter cost? Just $ 5.00. 

Though Snapchat is a growing presence among 

younger users, REALTORS ® shouldn’t divest 

from Facebook’s marketing. Facebook Business 

has a suite of geotargeting tools. Open house 

announcements can be sent to everyone who lives 

within 5 miles of the listing address, or specifically, 

to people who have visited the area recently who 

may be looking to move or buy. 

BOOST: OPEN HOUSE 

MEETS AUTOMATED 

MARKETING 

The success of an open house is predicated on 

it leading to a successful bid or generating a new 

lead — the only way to get either is by boosting 

attendance. The information we share online allows 

for highly-targeted marketing, such as identifying 

potential homebuyers who recently Googled 

properties nearby and sending them an ad for 

your listing. But for REALTORS ® with many open 

house showings, it may not be feasible to spend 

hours targeting and tracking online marketing. 

Enter: Boost. 

Talk To The House 

transforms Alexa into a 

virtual listing agent. 

Boost is a tool from Homespotter, a real estate 

software developer, designed to help REALTORS ® 

juggle multiple listings and promote multiple open 

Amazon Echo photo courtesy of Amazon.com 


13

Leverage Your 

Presence into 

New Business 


If you aren’t generating clients from LinkedIn, you might be missing 

out. Nearly all our international clients have come from LinkedIn. 

If you follow me on LinkedIn, you would understand why someone 

from another country would be reaching out on a daily basis. 

Like many others in the real estate world and beyond, I actively 

use social media. But I do it with intention. Though social media 

platforms are similar, I use them for different purposes. Outside of 

LinkedIn, I also manage a Facebook and Instagram account. 

LinkedIn 

Think of LinkedIn as your professional resume — everything 

you do will be reflective of what kind of person you are and how 

you operate within your industry. I suggest REALTORS ® create 

two pages: a page for their business and a personal page. A 

business page adds legitimacy to your business and can help 

direct clients to your website and office. A personal page allows 


REALTORS ® to create a profile to share their credentials, post 

content and network. 

Your profile gives you a chance to promote yourself and make a 

case for why you are the ideal real estate broker. If you intend to 

generate clients, you should first consider your areas of strength 

in real estate. To stand out online and in the market, you need to 

play to these strengths. You will never see me sell a condo. You 

will never see me sell a single-family home. I don’t know that 

market. I don’t want to know that market. 

I decided I wanted to be a specialist on LinkedIn for investment 

sales. International clients are coming to Chicago in droves, which 

is starting to shake things up for local investors. Part of why I’ve 

been successful attracting international clients is because 

everything on my account and everything I post communicates 

my specialization in investment sales. 

Grow Your Audience 

When a potential client views my posts, they aren’t seeing “selling” 

posts. While everyone else is posting, “Just closed. Just closed. Just 

closed” — the content on my page isn’t “Just closed.” I’m posting new 

listings and information about properties that is useful to local and 

international investors. I’m building an audience by simply sharing 

my knowledge and advising on Chicago’s investment market. 

It’s important to keep your audience in mind when posting on social 

media. When writing the content, ask, “Is this information my clients 

or colleagues would find interesting and useful?” Likely no one is 

going to be very interested to read about who you voted for, where 

you dined or who won the playoff. Once your content is focused 

on your real estate specialty and useful to clients or colleagues, 

consider adding mentions and tags before hitting send. 

Use @Mentions and #Tags for Posts 

Mentions and tags are very useful for getting your content shared 

and growing your audience. Mentions, shown as an “@,” add 

people into your content and link to that person’s profile. Those 

mentioned also typically get a notification. If you’re sharing a 

colleague’s success story or a referral that led to a win, make 

sure you’re mentioning that person. Adding analysis on a Chicago 

market report? Don’t forget to mention friends, clients and industry 

professionals you admire so they’re aware of your content. 

Tags, shown as a “#,” add searchable keywords to your posts. You 

should also be tagging your posts for the topics you’re covering. 

Why is this useful? I’ve tailored my LinkedIn profile to investment 

sales, so two of my favorite tags are #internationalinvestors and 

#globalinvestors. This lets my content show up more easily when 

someone searches for either of those terms, including to people 

outside of my network. 

On my LinkedIn page, I share: 

• New listings and other open house information 

• Chicago real estate news 

• Market-related and other real estate information 

• Colleagues’ success stories 

• Articles I’ve written 

LinkedIn has a built-in publishing platform called Pulse to share 

professional insights. I’ve published 17 Pulse articles on topics 

such as the benefits of multi-family investment for renters, what 

international investors are looking for in the Chicago market and 

condo deconversions. Pulse takes my LinkedIn strategy a step 

further, allowing me to become a thought leader. 

LinkedIn Content I Avoid: 

• LinkedIn Groups — If ten agents are in a group discussing 

the market, how does this help grow your business? 

• Asking for referrals — If you are actively sharing valuable 

content and information, you will be viewed as a trusted 

advisor and the referrals will come to you. 

• Closing stories that aren’t compelling. 

Vet Your Responses 

Vetting a potential client is important both from a liability standpoint 

and to make sure you’re making the best use of your time. When 

international clients first started reaching out a few years ago, I would 

think it was spam or someone was trying to hack into my account. 

One of the first questions to ask someone reaching out via LinkedIn is 

if they have an attorney or lender they’re working with. If not, I would 

make that introduction. Once vetted by the attorney or lender, I 

then step back into the buying process with a potential investor. 

Don’t Sell and Be Patient 

I start my day at 3 AM to work with international clients within their 

time zones. On a recent morning, I was trading emails with a client 

from Austria regarding insurance information needed for his five 

upcoming property closings (81 units). My Austrian client is a great 

example of what can happen when you have patience. We just 

traded emails back and forth for the first nine months. But since 

then, he has purchased more than 100 units. And to my surprise, 

he even flew into Chicago recently to attend the 

grand opening of my other business. 

Kevin Rocio 

CNE - Commercial Broker 

@properties Commercial 

Check out the recording of Kevin’s YPN breakfast 

presentation on how he attracts global investors.

16 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine 

Photo by Marcello Rodarte

Q&A with 

MICHELLE 

MILLS 

CLEMENT 

Being born and raised 

here, I have a different 

appreciation for what 

Chicago’s been and what 

it is – to have a hand in 

shaping our city’s future 

through our work at 

CAR is incredible. 

In mid-April, the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® 

welcomed our new Chief Executive Officer Michelle 

Mills Clement, CAE. Michelle joins us after five 

years in Seattle, first as the executive director of 

NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate & Development 

Association, and then as president and CEO of the 

Commercial Brokers Association. As an association 

executive, she’s won numerous awards, including 

being named as a 2014 Forty Under 40 by Association 

Forum of Chicagoland and a Woman of Excellence 

in Male-Dominated Careers by the Women of 

Color Empowered and Northwest Asian Weekly. A 

native Chicagoan, Michelle shares how her diverse 

professional experiences will help shape our 

association moving forward. 

CR: How do members describe you, and what do they 

like about working with you? 

MMC: Members feel like they are part of my team. My 

goal is to help increase productivity and make things 

easier for them to do their work. I’ve been told I’m a big 

picture thinker, very collaborative, organized, driven 

and efficient. If I don’t know the answer to something, 

I’ll do the research and get myself up to speed. 




They also think I’m funny! I’m pretty laid back and I joke around a 

lot. I connected well with members in Seattle because they could 

stop by and see me. I’m not formal and I’m not untouchable. 

CR: What has been most instrumental to your professional success? 

MMC: I’m a listener. I like to listen to the needs of staff and members 

— you learn more from listening than you do from talking. 

I also have good instincts. I’m good at elevating strengths as well 

as complementing weaknesses. I like to create an equal playing 

field — working with everyone from the board of directors and 

executive team, to the front-line staff. I see great value in what 

different people and viewpoints can bring to the table. 

CR: How did you know association management was what you 

wanted to do? 

MMC: I was working at a TV station as an associate producer in 

college at Bradley University in Peoria. I remember walking out of 

the station and another producer’s car was smoking in the parking 

lot. As he slammed the hood of the car down, he said, “If you stay 

in tv, this is what you’re looking forward to!” I was like, “I definitely 

don’t want that. I need to find another job!” 

I enjoyed event planning and working for nonprofit organizations 

in college, so I looked for a job that had that. I ended up at the 

Boy Scouts of America doing fundraising, volunteer management, 

training and working with the board. It was all encompassing, 

which I loved. From there, I took on another fundraising and 

volunteer management position with the Muscular Dystrophy 

Association. My commitment to association management 

came when I went to work with the world’s largest association 

management company, SmithBucklin. SmithBucklin manages 

more than 200 different associations, and they train you to be as 

effective and valuable as possible for those association clients. 

It’s basically a crash-course in board governance, volunteer 

management, member relations and leadership training at a 

fast pace — and I loved it. To have my career focus on helping 

people be the best they can be, and have the best resources and 

experience they can have in their professions, means a lot to me, 

so I made a strategic decision to stay in that realm. 

I am not the person that likes to sit behind a computer all day — 

I’m a people person, and associations give you that opportunity 

to meet with members and engage one-on-one. My mom still 

doesn’t entirely understand what I do [laughs] but she recognizes 

the REALTOR ® brand. 

CR: What drew you to real estate? 

MMC: When I moved to Seattle, association management wasn’t 

viewed as a career the way it is here in Chicago and in Washington, 

D.C. So, I got a certificate in commercial real estate from the 

University of Washington, which solidified my interest in the industry. 

I started at NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate & Development 

Association, working with developers. I’d walk around my Seattle 

neighborhood and identify new projects that were going up. 

Seattle is booming in commercial real estate, and we watched 

the Amazon campus grow up around us. It underscored the 

importance of the real estate industry to everyone’s lives. 

Then, when I switched over to working with brokers and was 

introduced to the MLS system, that was intriguing. I had been on 

the consumer end, in going through the homebuying process, 

and I’ve seen real estate from the developer perspective and 

the commercial broker perspective. Real estate touches so 

many people, and I love being able to continue to educate 

people on the industry and its importance. It came out the blue, 

but it’s been such a good fit. 

This role at CAR — I wasn’t looking for it. I was content in Seattle. 

But, CAR is an organization that is so well respected — not just 

in real estate but throughout the association world. I love what 

CAR represents in being the Voice for Real Estate in Chicago — 

and Chicago’s such a major market. It’s a real honor. 

CR: What opportunities do you see for CAR to expand our influence 

and better provide resources and services for our members? 

MMC: I’m excited to be back in my hometown and learn more 

about what’s coming down the pipeline in real estate. It’s exciting 

to see how the city is poised to transform and how the market 

could react to that, good and bad. Being born and raised here, I 

have a different appreciation for what Chicago’s been and what it 

is — to have a hand in shaping our city’s future through our work at 

CAR is incredible. 

The REALTOR ® organization is the largest trade organization with 

an outsized lobbying influence. In Chicago, the political machine, 

tying the REALTOR ® brand to that is very impactful — we can have 

a positive influence on the issues that can negatively impact the 

community. 

Our government affairs directors are good at looking at, “What’s 

the impact of this ordinance on REALTORS ® as well as the 

community?” I want CAR to be at the forefront of working to 

educate the community on these issues and how it can affect 

them. Homeownership in general is a win-win for everyone. So, 

how can we put our resources and membership to work for the 

community? I want the community to know that if they work with 

a REALTOR ® , they’ll be taken care of and have all the information 

they need. 

As I learn more about our members and their involvement in 

our 77 different communities, I’m very interested in ensuring our 

services and resources are accessible to our entire member base. 

I have a strong interest in ensuring all areas of our membership 

are represented and provided for, regardless of their geographic 

location — including education. CE and education is at the core of 

keeping your license — we must ensure our education offerings 

are accessible to all. 

I’m interested in continuing to build our commercial presence and 

involvement. That’s where a lot of my background is, so I can be 

a huge asset to our CommercialForum members. Commercialspecific 

CE and education is important to me; I’d like to continue 

to grow that, too. 


Michelle, her husband Brace and their son Broyce. 

I also want to make sure I’m visible. I want to be out in the field and visit 

offices of all sizes — that’s how I can better understand our members’ 

day to day and provide for their needs. 

We have an incredibly diverse leadership team and staff — I’d like 

to further grow our volunteer base and leadership development 

opportunities so that members can climb the ranks, not only in 

the REALTOR ® organization, but also in their own companies. 

And then helping our Board of Directors push forth their agenda 

and mission. I’ve worked with many boards, and this is one of the 

most diverse and innovative groups I’ve had the opportunity to 

work with and that speaks to the caliber of the organization. 

CR: What have you learned in the past couple years that will 

influence you moving forward? 

MMC: Not to move too fast. Stop and listen. Appreciate what’s 

established. Appreciate the history of the organization and what 

works, what doesn’t. I’ve learned to take my time and understand 

the whole puzzle and the pieces that make it up, before you start 

to build your own. Taking the time to make informed decisions 

and not reactive ones. 

Listening is vital. You can hear one message from one segment of 

the membership, then another from another segment — they’re all 

right. When you listen, you can find the commonalities. My job is 

to pull it all together so that it meets the greatest need. 

CR: What do you see as one of our greatest challenges going forward? 

MMC: The issue of segregation in some of our communities here 

in Chicago previously established via political and/or lending 

policies still haunts us today, and keeps me up at night, honestly. 

Ensuring equal access to housing and fair lending practices 

in all 77 neighborhoods we serve will always be a priority. As 

we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, it’s 

important for us to keep a pulse on how far we’ve come, and what 

more we still have to do. I’m proud that our association is a leader 

in supporting Fair Housing. 

CR: What about in your free time — are you involved in any 

philanthropy work? 

MMC: I get a lot of satisfaction out of volunteer work and I do 

most of my philanthropy through two organizations. The first 

is my sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a non-profit 

public service organization. We do a lot of work around our 

five-point programmatic thrust, including education, economic 

development, physical and mental health, political awareness and 

involvement, and international awareness and involvement. 

I push a lot of volunteerism around that. 

I’m also active in the Junior League, first in Seattle and now as a 

new member of Chicago’s. I enjoy volunteering with children and 

child advocacy work. Back in Seattle I was a regular volunteer 

with the Boys and Girls Clubs and the local K-8 school in my 

neighborhood. I love helping kids channel energy through activity 

and the outdoors. 

CR: What other hobbies and interests do you have? 

MMC: Brunch. I love to brunch, and I’m excited to be back in Chicago 

and the vibrant food scene here. 

I have a strong interest in wine, having spent the last few years in 

Washington, which is the second largest wine country in the US 

next to Napa. I have a pretty good collection started. When I was 

pregnant and didn’t drink, I would still go and smell wines. After I had 

my son, it was fun to then taste them and expand my notes. It helped 

me develop my palette even further. 

I also really enjoy politics and political campaigning. I do a lot of 

volunteer work on federal campaigns and just love election season. 

And I love traveling with my family, my husband Brace and our son, 

Broyce. Broyce has flown to more places in his first year of life than I 

think I have the last five years! He travels well and he’s a really happy, 

social baby. We hope we can keep that spirit in him. He’s a people 

person, too! 


MAKE YOUR 

CAREER DREAMS 

COME TRUE. 

APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS 

Chicago Association of REALTORS ® Foundation was founded to help assist students in funding 

their educational needs. 

• Designation Scholarships 

• REALTORS ® Real Estate School Scholarships 

• Young Professionals Network Scholarships 

• NEW - The Xavier O. Joy Scholarship 

• Higher Education Scholarships 

• Veterans Real Estate Scholarships 

• Zeke Morris Scholarships 

The Xavier O. Joy Scholarship provides for Illinois students wishing to pursue higher education at Morehouse College 

in Atlanta, GA. The recipient(s) will be a current young leader who seeks to make a difference in their community. 

Xavier O. Joy was a graduate of Chicago’s esteemed Whitney Young High School and an accomplished studentathlete 

who attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, where he played football. Xavier returned to Chicago on a 

mission to give back to his community by teaching and tutoring disadvantaged youths. Tragically, in 2017, his life 

was cut short by senseless gun violence. His untimely death was a loss to our Chicago communities, which need 

determined young men seeking to make a positive difference. A higher education scholarship has been established 

in honor of his life. Preference will be given to children of REALTORS ® . 

Applications are accepted and awarded on an ongoing basis throughout the year. 

www.ChicagoREALTOR.com/Foundation

Tools to Help 

Property Managers Reach Full Capacity 

REALTORS ® aren’t just in the business of buying and selling homes; some are also in the business 

of managing properties. Like a REALTOR ® , a property manager’s job never ends, and time is money. 

Luckily, there are simple tools available online to make your life easier, so you can run your 

residential or commercial property to its full capacity. 

123LANDLORD.com 

A website recommended for landlords, 

teams or brokers who manage 

units. Users have complimented the 

marketing and operational capabilities, 

praising the ability to track issues 

and unit vacancies. You can receive 

payments online, track expenses, get 

maintenance alerts, access various 

forms, screen tenants and get live 

support. There are different pricing 

plans, but the basic account is free. 

TENANTCLOUD 

The cloud-based platform claims to 

offer end-to-end solutions for both 

single-unit landlords and larger-scale 

property managers. What separates 

TenantCloud from other similar 

platforms is its additional features like 

comprehensive accounting, a marketing 

site, photo-based maintenance 

requests, investment property analysis 

and access to a pool of local contractor 

bids. User reviews also mention it offers 

seamless navigation. You can sign up for 

a free basic plan or upgrade to standard 

or advanced plans for more features. 

RENTEC DIRECT 

The software is best suitable for 

landlords managing 10 or less 

properties. It features strong data 

security, no minimum commitments 

or term contracts required. Landlords 

can track property income, expenses 

and essential accounting reports. The 

tab-based navigation allows managers 

to switch between property or tenant 

profiles. Plus, you can run tenant due 

diligence and rental payment history. 

You can start a free trial of its monthly 

Pro or PM plan. 

COZY 

A free tool available on any device that 

is useful for independent landlords 

and property managers. The flexible 

platform facilitates a variety of online 

transactions, including rent payments, 

move-in charges and other one-time 

fees, with the ability to send reminders 

to tenants. Users can share documents, 

manage listings, screen tenants and 

even require renters to purchase 

insurance. Rent estimate and property 

analyses are available for an extra fee. 

Cozy makes it easy to monitor rentals 

and market vacancies early. 

SIMPLIFYEM 

Simple and affordable property 

management software targeting 

property managers, management 

companies and landlords. It focuses 

on the essentials: online payments and 

basic accounting. It offers free trials for 

its plans geared toward landlords or 

property managers. The system offers 

a payment portal, tenant and lease 

management tool, and limited monthly 

owner reports. Users also get access to 

a rental property tax deduction walkthrough 

and there’s special help for real 

estate professionals. 

RENTLER.com 

Serves primarily as a rental listings site 

but offers several free resources for 

property managers. Its resources page 

features useful news like “How to Price 

Your Rental,” has guides on local laws, 

and features a landlord FAQ. Easily 

communicate with tenants, collect 

rent payments, receive maintenance 

requests and access a library of 

lawyer-approved legal forms. For an 

additional fee, you can screen potential 

tenants and accept applications. 


An investor looks to 

purchase property where 

they can add value, either 

by repairing the property 

to force appreciation, by 

improving underperforming 

assets or re-purposing a 

property to its best and 

highest use. 

SIX 

As a fulltime real estate investor, I’m always 

looking to buy. I also have a vast network of 

other investors who are constantly looking. 

So, what makes an investor happy? This is 

the million-dollar question. 

CONSIDERATIONS 

TO MAKE 

WHEN WORKING 

WITH 

INVESTORS 

MEGHAN McCALLUM 

VP Operations and Acquisitions 

McCallum Real Estate 

Lean in. I’m about to tell you a secret… 

If an investor just says they want “a deal,” 

then they don’t know what they want. 

Welcome to an investor’s number one 

problem — common if the investor is new, 

expanding their business or entering a new 

market. But, this is the opportunity, because 

the investor and the REALTOR ® need each 

other to survive and thrive. 

TRIAGE YOUR 

INVESTOR CLIENTS 

Triage is the process of sorting, prioritizing 

and determining the treatment of those 

in need who outnumber the resources 

currently available. It emphasizes 

prioritization, the determination of 

appropriate actions and the sheer avoidance 

of failure. Triage is the fast and furious way 

to determine specific objectives to the 

highest and best care quickly. The triage 

process must be re-examined regularly 

to determine over time if the objective is 

successful. This was first used in the 1930’s 

in wartime medical response and is a system 

our emergency responders still use today. 

Triage also works in business when 

resources are inundated above and beyond 

the need for response. For REALTORS ® , you 

can to use triage to provide investors what 

they need. What does this mean? 

I use my Real Estate Investing (REI) TRIAGE 

tool to help new and underperforming 

investors find their place in our industry. 

Listen to Megan’s other investing tips from 

her YPN breakfast presentation.

These are six distinct topics every investor 

fits into in some way, whether they’re 

aware of it or not. 

Investors work like any other client in that 

you need to really understand what’s 

important to them. Getting the most 

amount of money for their property may 

not be it; instead, they may value simplicity, 

speed and a lack of public exposure. 

Use my super simple system to qualify and 

add value to your investor relationships. 

The acronym TRIAGE stands for six areas 

you need to learn about your investor. Let’s 

get started. 

TOLERANCE 

Your investor client has a tolerance for 

risk that differs slightly from your average 

homebuyer. 

If an investor is low risk, they may want 

to consider traditional forms of investing, 

such as the buy and hold methodology. 

Their tolerance may also be expressed 

as a pain tolerance, where pain is a loss. 

Other investors will buy properties that 

don’t cash flow due to a preference for the 

opportunity for appreciation. 

It’s important to note that investors also 

have a tolerance for outdated finishes 

that could turn off other potential buyers, 

making them an ideal outlet for a seller who 

doesn’t want to make certain upgrades, like 

removing ’70s wallpaper, prior to selling. 

The REALTOR ® can also be more direct 

in an investor transaction, since the 

investor isn’t looking for the perfect home. 

Instead, a REALTOR ® and investor client 

can crystallize what the deal looks like 

so you both know when you find it. In any 

transaction, the investor should be able 

to provide more specifics than your 

typical homebuyer. 

RESOURCES 

This is one of the key measures of your 

investor’s capabilities. Here, you should 

inquire into their financial capabilities and 

creditworthiness, and find out if they are 

prequalified. Ask if they plan on buying with 

cash — and if so, is it their own or do they 

have a hard money lender already in place? 

Time is another resource. Are they a 

fulltime investor or someone who would 

like to put their investments under 

professional management because 

they have a great W2 job? If someone 

doesn’t have much time to devote to their 

investment, that person may expect you 

to find their deals for them. 

Other important resource questions 

include: 

• Who is in their network? 

• What professional connections do 

they have? 

• Will they be working with a partner? 

• What is their education or 

experience? 

INVOLVEMENT 

It’s important to find out how your client 

wants to be involved with a property. Do 

they want to see something they can 

walk into and own, or do they want to 

roll up their sleeves, get dirty and swing 

a hammer? Some investors walk their 

own properties and perform their own 

inspections. Others partner with someone 

else who will be the hands-on owner. 

Perhaps what your clients really need is an 

experienced partner where they can place 

their money — these can be the trickiest 

of clients to deal with. You know they 

want to buy an investment but they don’t 

have the time, know-how or real, genuine 

interest in the process. Here’s a tip: refer 

this person to an active investor you know! 

Good investors make money and believe 

that a rising tide lifts all ships. We know 

there’s enough money to go around and 

are happy to show you our gratitude. 

APPEARANCE 

Appearance is an important consideration 

when judging the importance of pride of 

ownership. What class of properties and 

tenants does the investor tolerate and 

want to work with? This will quickly help 

you choose properties or areas under 

consideration, based on their preferences. 

GOALS 

The goal is the investor’s why. Why are 

they investing — is this part of their 

retirement plan? Is this mostly for fun, 

say, to justify a vacation home? Are they 

wanting to place their money in a safer 

position? Are these short-term goals or 

long-term? Perhaps they are looking to 

provide their kids with multigenerational 

wealth. Are they planning on living off 

the cash flow? Are they looking for a 

place to provide tax protection to their 

portfolio? Would they like to use their 

401K to invest and may need to switch 

it to a self-directed plan to do so? Goals 

and resources are where you can find so 

much of what you need to know to find the 

investor happy place. 

EXIT STRATEGY 

Every investor should have an exit 

strategy based on their plans for the 

investment property. These plans may 

differ depending on their goals. Are they 

thinking about flipping, or do they want 

to buy and hold for a specific number 

of years? Some investors may not even 

realize they have an exit plan — it is up to 

you to help them realize their resources 

and goals, so then they can create one. 

The real estate industry is a loyal one, and 

investors are no different. Because real 

Remember 

T.R.I.A.G.E. 

estate investing success looks different to 

so many people, no two investors are alike. 

Just like your residential homebuyers, 

investing is highly personal. 

And, keep in mind: it’s not always just 

about the dollar (I’ve been screaming this 

from the rooftops for years). 

Real estate investing is no longer just an 

elitist practice — thanks to free education 

via the Internet. Give a man a fish and he 

eats for a day; teach a man to fish, and he’ll 

buy property from you every 18 months 

on average, as opposed to every five-toseven 

years. See what I did there? 

Give working with investors a chance, 

because doing so will increase your 

resiliency, networking opportunities and 

maybe, just maybe, get you investing like 

you know you should. 


Use these Apps 

for Wellness 

It’s easy to forget a meal or stay up later than intended during a stressful week. Thanks to 

wellness apps, you can de-stress quickly and on the go. Wellness apps are more than a 

trend. Most new Android and iPhone devices come standard with health monitoring tools. 

Wearables, such as the FitBit and Apple Watch have tracked trillions of heartbeats and 

steps walked. These numbers that make up our health can tell us more about ourselves 

than has ever been possible. We’ve highlighted some wellness apps that can help you 

interpret what these numbers mean and get better sleep, exercise and relaxation on the go! 

SLEEP SOUNDLY 

PILLOW: Smart Sleep Tracking 

Getting a good night’s sleep is complicated. 

For one, how long it takes to be well-rested 

isn’t the same for everyone. The other issue is how hard it can 

be to track. 

Pillow: Smart Sleep Tracking is an app that removes the 

guesswork from getting better rest. Simply set a time to wake 

up and hit start right before falling asleep. Pillow tracks where 

you are in a sleep cycle and wakes you up a few minutes 

before your alarm is set, based on when it will be easiest 

for your body. The more nights you use Pillow, the more 

data you’ll have to gauge the quality of your rest. Pillow is a 

top-rated app for iOS but currently isn’t available for Android 

devices. See below for sleep apps available on the Google 

Play Store. Sweet dreams! 

Price: Free to download. The premium version is $ 4.99, which 

unlocks access to more in-depth statistics and some cosmetic 

features, and is available for purchase in-app. 

See Also: Sleep Cycle, Sleep Better, Sleep Time 

Link: Download Pillow on the App Store or find more 

details online. 

MEDITATION 

MADE EASY 

CALM 

Meditation’s benefits, including lowering 

blood pressure and lessening the symptoms 

of anxiety, are backed by research. But, it can be hard to know 

where to start. Guided meditation can be easier and more 

impactful than going it alone. 

Calm is an app that takes the stress out of de-stressing. 

Through a simple, yet elegant interface, you can choose a 

relaxation program that works around your schedule. The 

app’s daily, 10-minute guided meditation can help set the 

tone for you day, while inhaling in rhythm with the “Breathe 

Bubble” can take the edge off when there’s only a minute to 

spare. Calm also acts as a life coach, sending affirmations 

rewarding you for making time for yourself — and gently 

nudging you when you haven’t. 

Price: Free to download. A subscription to premium can be 

purchased in the app. Prices vary. 

See Also: Headspace, Giant Mind, Stop, Breath & Think 

Link: Download Calm on the App Store or on Google Play. 


YOGA FOR A 

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE 

ASANA REBEL: YOGA AND FITNESS 

The on-the-go yogis of 2018, tasked with 

(somehow) finding a few hours every week to fit in time at a 

yoga studio, are stretched too thin. But thanks to the meteoric 

rise of virtual instruction, it’s now easier than ever to maintain 

your practice — or start a new habit! 

One of the easiest virtual programs is Asana Rebel: Yoga 

and Fitness, which contorts to whatever your individual 

fitness goals are. Looking to specifically strengthen your 

back? There’s a program for it. Looking for a month-long, 

guided program to gain flexibility? There’s a program for 

that, too. Many of the instructors run classes offline, and the 

video programs project the same soothing tones and light 

fitness or spiritual insights that would sound at home in any 

conventional studio. The app lets you customize your own 

program, schedule as many times as are convenient and 

sends encouragement when you follow through. 

Practicing with a phone isn’t perfect: a phone’s small screen 

and the lack of a physical instructor to correct your posture 

are two big drawbacks. But until full-size holograms can 

beam in on-demand, this 2018 form of yoga is convenient and 

engaging. 

Price: Free to download. Subscription options for premium 

features can be purchased in the app. Prices vary. 

See Also: Daily Yoga, Lucid Mental Training, Smiling Mind 

Link: Download Asana Rebel on the App Store or on 

Google Play. 

CONQUER 

CHALLENGES WITH 

COACHES 

LUCID MENTAL TRAINING 

confidence, focus and drive. Betchart, who coached the top 

NBA draft pick for 2014, 2015 and 2016, uses simple tools to 

help affirm and lock users into the moment — useful for the 

treadmill or to prepare for a client meeting. 

Price: Free to download. Subscription options for premium 

features can be purchased in the app. Prices vary. 

See Also: Stack Personal Coach, Nike Training Club, 

Headspace for Sports 

Link: Download Lucid Mental Training on the App Store or 

on Google Play. 

ACE YOUR NEXT 

WORKOUT 

WOD DECK OF CARDS 

Exercising regularly is a good habit. One 

of the struggles in starting a healthy habit — say, exercising 

every morning before work — is getting through the routine to 

get to the reward. 

WOD Deck of Cards is an app for people who want to begin a 

workout habit or those looking to mix up their usual program. 

Here’s how it works: you first assign an exercise for each suit 

of cards. Pushups can be diamonds and burpees are clubs. 

Once you tap start, the app sends out one of 52 possible 

sets for you to do. The number of reps corresponds with the 

number on the card, though a pair of jokers are thrown into 

the mix for an extra-challenging set. The customization WOD 

Deck of Cards offers makes it easy to adapt to all fitness 

levels. The app even records your time and allows you to save 

particularly satisfying sets of cards for use later. 

Price: Free to download. 

See Also: ShredDeck, RipDeck, SweatDeck 

Link: Download WOD Deck of Cards on the App Store or 

on Google Play. 

Coaches are an important aspect of every 

part of our lives, and mental training’s effectiveness is backed 

up by research. 

Lucid is an app that grants you access to world-class coaches 

— access that used to be exclusive to clients like Kobe Bryant 

and Michael Jordan. Lucid’s head coach, Graham Betchart, 

has designed a daily five-minute audio course focusing 

on four pillars to help break down mental blocks: wisdom, 


Six Steps to Avoid 

a Low Appraisal 

Getting a low appraisal for a property is one of the most 

frustrating components brokers face in a transaction, especially 

when both parties have already agreed on a price for the home. 

When a homebuyer and seller are moving through the purchase 

process, a low appraisal could potentially derail the deal. 

There are several reasons why an appraisal could come in lower 

than expected. The appraiser might not have done a thorough 

job or might not know the area well enough to provide an 

accurate assessment of home values. Or, the home itself 

legitimately could be worth less than the parties would expect. 

After receiving a low appraisal, there are steps that brokers can 

take, including getting the appraisal adjusted, having the buyer 

apply for a loan with a different lender, asking the buyer and 

seller to agree to a new price or requesting that the buyer put 

down a higher down payment. 

But the best solution is to avoid a low appraisal all together. 

At AgentEDU, we study the techniques used by the top brokers 

in the industry and share their best practices. We found most 

brokers can avoid the problem of a low appraisal if they follow 

these six steps. 

Prepare the home 

for the appraisal. 

This first step seems like the most 

obvious, but the details on how 

a home looks — both inside and 

out — can make a significant impact 

on the final appraisal. Leave the home 

staged, make sure it looks clean and keep up 

the curb appeal. Even though appraisers will look at much more 

beyond the cosmetic details, it doesn’t hurt to put a home’s best 

side forward. Appealing to the natural human tendencies of an 

appraiser will help show that a home is desirable and valuable. 

Be present at 

the appraisal. 

Brokers may be tempted to have 

someone let an appraiser in the door 

and wait around until they finish, but 

having the selling broker be present at the 

appraisal can make a difference in the final 

value. It lets the appraiser know you’re a serious 

agent and want to be helpful in the process. But, don’t be too overbearing 

or make the appraiser think you don’t trust their work. Let 

them do their job, but support them in the process. 


Be helpful. 

When the selling agent arrives for 

the appraisal, they should also be 

prepared with information about the 

property and anything the appraiser 

might need. Keep a detailed binder 

with any and all relevant information, 

including comps with the address, square 

footage, number of rooms, a selection of photos 

and more. If the appraiser is pulling information from a database, 

their findings may be inaccurate. Provide them with up-to-date 

information instead. 

kindness can go a long way. 

Be relatable. 

By connecting with the appraiser, 

you remind them that you aren’t just 

a commissioned salesperson who’s 

just looking to get the most from a 

sale. Dress casually — not like you are 

entering a high-powered negotiation. 

Engage in conversation with the appraiser, 

know their name and show respect. A little 

Be inquisitive. 

Ask the appraiser questions about 

where they are from and what parts 

of Chicagoland they typically work 

in. If your appraiser is someone who 

normally works in your area, then 

they will have a good understanding 

of the local market and provide a fair 

appraisal. If the appraiser is new to the area or doesn’t 

typically work in the neighborhood, take this opportunity to 

provide the appraiser with details they may not be aware of. 

Remember: always be respectful and share knowledge in the 

spirit of collaboration. 

As a broker on the buyer side, you have less control when it 

comes to the final appraisal. But one of the best ways to avoid 

any problems is to include an appraisal contingency clause in 

the contract. This will allow you to either renegotiate or withdraw 

from the contract if necessary. 

Low appraisals happen even when very experienced brokers are 

involved. Use these tips to help avoid appraisal issues. If you do 

get a low appraisal, do your best to keep the deal together, keep 

your clients from getting too stressed out and bring the sale to a 

smooth closing. 

For tips on all facets of your real estate business, look to 

AgentEDU.com to help you learn exactly what you need to create 

a thriving real estate career. 

Be valuable. 

Appraisers are generally happy to have 

someone to talk to about their findings 

and confirm the information they’ve 

gathered so far. Once the appraisal is 

finished, be sure to thank them for their 

time and effort, and present them with 

the binder of information. 

Visit AgentEDU for informative 

videos to boost your career. 


WELCOME TO 

BERWYN 

Within reach of prime real estate locations, 

including downtown Chicago and the 

neighboring suburbs of Oak Park, Forest 

Park, Riverside, La Grange and Brookfield, 

Berwyn combines affordability and unique 

community benefits. Makes sense, then, 

that development is booming. 

Established in 1908, Berwyn has a rich 

history. What was once land of Native 

American trails and an anticipated home 

for the elite and wealthy, became a haven 

for middle-class communities. In the 

early 1920s, Czechs migrated to Berwyn 

and Cicero from the Pilsen area, then 

eventually came other groups, including 

Italians and Hispanics, adding to the 

neighborhood’s unique blend of cultures. 

Today, Berwyn looks less like a suburb and 

more like a trendy Chicago neighborhood. 

A wave of artists, young professionals, 

families and entrepreneurs are moving 

in to this western community that prides 

itself on being the “city of homes,” called 

BY PRISCILLA LOPEZ FOR THE CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ® 

such due to the thousands of homes built 

with distinct architectural styles. And with 

a location just eight miles west of the 

Loop, Berwyn is using its proximity to offer 

a vibrant and affordable alternative to city 

living without losing the “city feeling.” 

A MIX OF 

COMMUNITIES 

There are four business districts in 

Berwyn, each offering a different 

experience to its residents and visitors. 

Roosevelt Road – 

The Veltway 

A few blocks from the I-290 expressway, 

this is where Berwyn is the closest to 

Chicago. Berwyn, Cicero and Oak Park 

joined forces many years ago on Roosevelt 

Road to create what is now known as The 

Veltway, a growing destination for nightlife 

and dining. You’ll find nationally-known 

live music venues, such as the longrunning 

FitzGerald’s Nightclub and stateof-the-art 

Wire bar and recording studio, 

playing everything from country to blues. 

FitzGerald’s has been called “One of The 

Top Ten Concert Venues in Chicago,” by 

WXRT-FM Chicago, and The New York 

Times called it “A Musical Gem.” It also 

makes a great sports bar. During big 

games in the warmer months it sets up 

stadium seating on its front patio with a 

giant projector screen to hold viewing 

parties. Throughout the year, it also hosts 

several cook-offs attracting visitors from 

all over the country. 

Foodies will also be happy to choose from 

a diverse array of eateries on the strip, 

like the Michelin-rated Mediterranean 

restaurant Autre Monde Cafe, praised for 

its patio and spirits, “Chicago’s Best of 


Roosevelt Road.” Big Guys Sausage Stand, 

and popular seasonal spot Gina’s Italian 

Ice, featured on “Chicago’s Best” for its 

frozen dessert. 

If you’re in the market for goods, The 

Craft & Vintage Market is open every third 

Saturday of the month between 10 AM and 

4 PM at the Friendly Coffee Lounge, one of 

Berwyn’s top coffee shops. 

Cermak Road – Berwyn’s 

Main Street 

While an eclectic mix of retail and 

restaurants dominate Berwyn’s Main 

Street, it was once known as the center of 

Czech life and culture in the Chicago area. 

Some traces of its Bohemian roots are 

still apparent, such as The Chicagoland 

Czech American Cultural Center and 

Vesecky’s Bakery on Cermak Rd. Going 

down Main Street during any themed 

holiday, one store will catch your eye due 

to its heavy door traffic: Old Fashioned 

Candies, popular for offering “Chicago’s 

Best Sweet Treats” and chocolate covered 

strawberries. 

The strip is also home to the unusual 

tourist destination: the 13,500-square foot 

World’s Largest Laundromat, honored by 

the Guinness Book of World Records. The 

father-and-sons’ business is also famous 

for its award-winning green initiatives, like 

a 36-panel solar thermal system—one of 

the largest installations in the state. 

And, Berwyn’s Cermak Plaza, off the 

Harlem Ave. and Cermak Road intersection, 

was a filming location for the iconic 

Wayne’s World comedy. 

With Berwyn’s award-winning corporation 

and business incentives, there’s been rapid 

development in Berwyn near the North 

Riverside border. Popular national chains 

and emerging chains want a piece of Main 

Street. Starbucks, Chipotle Mexican Grill 

and Five Guys Burgers and Fries moved 

in recently, with others, including Panera 

Bread, opening soon. 

But the main attraction on Main Street 

is in line with the heart of the town: 

small businesses. La Lupita Restaurant 

competes with some of the best tacos in 

town, but its Pozole is considered the best 




in the city. WGN-TV’s “Chicago’s Best” 

named La Lupita “Chicago’s Best Mexican 

Restaurant.” And, did we mention it offers 

authentic tortillas made in-house? 

Historic Depot District 

Situated along the Metra-BNSF Railway 

corridor, this area is one of Berwyn’s most 

quaint and walkable business districts. 

That’s why Berwyn’s Oktoberfest is one of 

the western suburbs’ biggest parties of the 

year in September. Its family-friendly “cruise 

nights” also attract many residents and 

visitors alike. 

The Depot District offers a fun mix of 

independent shops operated by artists and 

collectors, such as Reel Art Collectibles, 

a shop for comic books, vintage movie 

posters and toys. Dine at Oliver’s Prime Cuts 

& Fresh Seafood for the perfect date night 

and then grab drinks at the Olive or Twist 

Martini Bar next door. Lavergne’s Tavern is the 

place to visit for “Berwyn’s Best” cucumber 

mojito and “Chicago’s Best Italian Beef.” 

Photos by 

Priscilla Lopez for the 

Chicago Association 

of REALTORS ® 

The Depot District also offers great daytime 

attractions. If you like to start your days with 

caffeine and work up a sweat, then Lunges ’n 

Lattes is the place for you. Its highly-trained 

baristas also craft healthy juices, smoothies 

and “mom-approved” snacks for the whole 

family. If you’re looking for more of a momand-pop 

spot, Mission House Café is known 

for its cozy feel and comfort food. 

Historic Route 66 — 

Ogden Ave. 

Yes, a piece of the 300-mile U.S. Route 

66 runs through Berwyn. Ogden Ave., 

designed to highlight the nobility of the 

country’s automotive industry at the time, 

still celebrates car culture today with 

the Berwyn Route 66 Gift Shop, scenic 

exhibits and the annual Berwyn Route 

66 Car Show, which attracts more than 

30,000 visitors. You can get a free Route 

66 passport at the gift shop, stop by the 

informational kiosk for Route 66 Berwyn 

information, or check out the four exhibits 

to learn more about Berwyn’s history on 

“The Mother Road.” 

Another must-see is Berwyn’s Toys & 

Trains, a family-owned specialty toy and 

hobby shop. The building’s vibrant, classic 


aluminum storefront is on theme with Route 

66’s architectural heritage, but its stock of 

20,000 vintage toy brands and model trains 

make it one of a kind. 

Another site worth visiting is the WWI 

Memorial, built in 1919 by the Berwyn 

Women’s Club to honor the Berwyn 

residents lost in WWI. The site was 

designated as a historic landmark in 2011. 

HOW TO GET 

AROUND 

Berwyn offers easy access to both 

downtown and the far west suburbs, 

due to its location between the I-290 

and I-55 expressways. 

Berwyn is very walkable, with an average 

Walk Score of 75. Most errands can 

be accomplished on foot or via their 

bicycle paths. 

Looking to ditch the car altogether? The 

downtown Depot District includes the 

LaVergne, Berwyn and Harlem Metra 

stations, ideal for traveling to counties 

throughout the Chicagoland area. CTA’s Blue 

Line is four blocks north of The Veltway’s 

Roosevelt Rd., and the Pink Line is less than 

a mile east of Berwyn’s city limits on Cermak 

Rd. There are also several PACE bus routes 

available throughout the area. 

CITY OF HOMES 

Berwyn is renowned for housing the 

most significant stock of Chicago-style 

bungalows in the nation. The city of 

homes was an inspiration for Bungalow 

Appreciation Week in Illinois and has 

been mentioned in the National Register 

of Historic Places for its Central Berwyn 

Bungalow Historic District. 

Even after being recognized for its rich 

history of residential homes, Berwyn 

manages to maintain some of the most 

affordable housing available in the 

Chicagoland area. In 2017, the median 

home sales price was around $ 200,000. 

It’s tree-lined residential streets are as 

unique as its neighborhoods. With more 

than 26,000 single-family homes in a 3.9 

square mile, the diverse community has 

housing stock for most budgets, with 

many larger homes on the south side and 

many smaller, bungalow-type homes on 

the north side. Buyers can also find stately 

Victorian, American Foursquare, English 

Tudor and Prairie School housing styles. 

There are also several multi-unit apartment 

complexes full of 1900s character. 

Notable Homes 

The National Register of Historic Places 

lists two Berwyn homes for being perfect 

models of the styles they embody: the 

Silhan House, an Art Moderne home 

designed and built by Robert Silhan, 

inspired by the buildings he saw at the 

Century of Progress World’s Fair held 

1933–34, and Arthur Dunham House, 

a Prairie School-style home owned by 

Arthur Dunham, designed in 1907 by 

architectural firm Tallmadge & Watson, 

notable for its horizontal lines, lack of 

ornamental details and bands of windows. 

Bungalow 

Berwyn’s bungalows are like Chicagostyle 

bungalows, just on a bigger lot. Built 

generally between the 1920s and 1930s, 

builders gravitated towards this style 

because of its affordability, durability and 

aesthetic. 

Workman’s Cottage 

The workman’s cottage can be bigger than 

typical cottages; most, however, are oneand-a-half 

stories with a pointed roof. Some 

are frame houses and others are brick, but 

most were built around the 1890s with a 

floor plan like the Berwyn bungalow. 

American Foursquare 

The foursquare uniquely maximizes its space 

and is known for simplicity. Built around 

the 1910s, this “square” style typically has a 

bigger lot with an ample front lawn, large 

first floor and same-size full second story. 

Victorian 

Popular due to its opulence and common 

materials, the Queen Anne’s in Berwyn 

are full of detail. Built through the 1890s 

and 1910s, they commonly feature wood 

siding, wrap-around porches, turrets, 

towers and other ornamental details, 

showcasing the era’s extravagance. 

Tudor Revival 

Seen as an ideal home for soldiers to 

raise a family in after returning from 

WWII, the Tudor Revival tends to be on 

a smaller lot. Despite its size, the homes 

have detailed trademarks, like steep 

pitched roofs intersecting gabbled roofs 

Berwyn, with its mixed of housing and 

vibrant community life, has a lot to offer 

Chicagoland residents and visitors alike. 


Bookshelf 

Well Read 

The business and leadership books we just 

can’t seem to put down (or stop quoting!) 

The Fire Starter Sessions: 

A Soulful & Practical Guide 

to Creating Success on 

Your Own Terms 

by Danielle LaPorte 

Great at Work: How Top 

Performers Do Less, Work 

Better and Achieve More 

by Scott Gerber & Ryan Paugh 

Give and Take: Why Helping 

Others Drives Our Success 

by Adam Grant 

Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: 

The Bestselling Guide to 

Doing Business in More Than 

60 Countries 

by Terri Morrison & Wayne A. Conaway 

Super Connector: Stop 

Networking & Start Building 

Business Relationships 

That Matter 

by Scott Gerber & Ryan Paugh 

Payoff: The Hidden Logic 

That Shapes Our Motivations 

by Dan Ariely 


Listen Up 

Plug In and Grow 

We put together this list of podcasts you can listen to in 

the car and on the go. They’ll help you sharpen your skills 

and grow personally and professionally. 

Chicago’s (former) resident spiritual advisor has distilled her daily talk show into a free 

podcast featuring deep conversations with business leaders, celebrities and writers. 

What separates REALTORS ® is empathy. Clients trust REALTORS ® to interpret the data 

they don’t understand and to protect their interests. A listing is more than a number for 

clients; it’s their investment and their livelihood. As someone who has interviewed many 

thousands of people, Oprah is a master of changing her approach based on who she’s 

talking to. Listening to her conversations can help illustrate how subtle differences can 

get people to bring down walls and build rapport. 

Key Episode: Sheryl Sandberg: How to Build Resilience and Find Joy After Loss. 

After her husband died suddenly, Sheryl Sandberg, the author of Lean In and Facebook 

Chief Operating Officer, had to quickly reorient herself as a corporate executive, public 

figure and single mother. Sandberg’s refreshing candor about her treatment by friends 

and her Facebook colleagues should serve as a guide for those in grieving. 

Updates: Every Monday. 

The Harvard Business Review stands 

apart with relevant, smart ideas for 

businesses presented in a way that 

anybody can understand. The HBR 

IdeaCast is a seamless translation of the magazine with an immense back catalog (626 

episodes and counting), rife for binging. 

Key Episode: Episode 400: Best of the IdeaCast. Why not start with the best? This episode 

is a sort-of highlight reel for the 399 prior, making it a great resource for new listeners to 

find full episodes of the short clips they found interesting. 

Updates: Mondays. 

Everyone starts somewhere. Large corporate behemoths such 

as Amazon or Disney are no exception. How I Built This tells 

these stories every week in the classic NPR “just the facts, 

ma’am” format. It becomes quickly apparent after a few episodes 

how many corporate success stories start with failure and benefit 

from blind luck. 

Key Episode: Real Estate Mogul: Barbara Corcoran 

It turns out the Shark Tank star has always been somewhat of a 

shark. Established brokers and new REALTORS ® alike can apply 

Corcoran’s tenacity and networking— hard-earned skills that 

built her real estate empire from scratch to success — to their 

own companies. 

English is a notoriously difficult language to master, even for native speakers. It’s a language 

full of grammar rules that seeming follow no pattern. In fact, a missing comma in a 14-page 

contract cost a Maine company $ 10 million, according to a 2017 article from The New York 

Times. As a REALTOR ® , communication may be the most important part of the job. That’s 

where Grammar Girl comes in. Mignon Fogarty provides quick, easy lessons every week 

explaining the difference between “lay” and “lie” or “based in or “based on” that make an 

easy listen for your commute. What sets Grammar Girl apart is that she never stigmatizes 

the listeners. She presents a concept and never asserts that her way is the only way. 

Key Episode: 610: Top 10 Grammar Myths. How 13 Dog Breeds Got Their Names 

This is a fun introduction into Fogarty’s style, suitable for a listen with children. And dog 

lovers will enjoy the cocktail chatter the lesson of the episode offers. 

There are many podcasts explaining the modern internet. Few 

can explain Instagram marketing scams or ancient message 

boards in a way that everyone can understand. Just one of 

them, Reply All, tries to explain how the internet can make us 

better (or worse). 

Key Episode: #109 Is Facebook Spying on You? 

Months before the company weathered intense scrutiny 

following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, hosts PJ Vogt and 

Alex Goldman dig into a widespread theory that Facebook is 

listening to its users via phone microphone. What they learn 

is eye-opening, especially for those who do business on 

Facebook. 

Updates: Biweekly, on Wednesdays. 


Lindsay Zappala and David Zappala, Stewart Title 

Aaron Gill, Epoch Chicago and 

Kris Keller, Keller Williams Chicago – O’Hare 

Michelle Mills Clement, 


BICENTENNIAL COMMUNITY 

GARDEN VOLUNTEER DAY 

Tommy Choi, Keller Williams 

Chicago - Lincoln Park 

Rebecca Thomson, 

Thomson Real Estate Group 

Andy Shiparski, Coldwell Banker Residential 

Brokerage, Jeannette Pawula, @properties, and 

Amanda Chvatal, Spaces Real Estate 

Thank you to the Chicago REALTORS ® who took a 

day this May to construct the Chicago Association of 

REALTORS ® Bicentennial Garden at Global Gardens in 

Albany Park. 

Last fall, we had a blast preparing the garden for winter 

— and it was snowing! This time, we constructed raised 

garden beds, filled them with soil, planted, mulched, 

watered, moved debris and weeded, weeded, weeded. 

Thank you to the Peterson Garden Project for facilitating 

our build-out, and thank you to our volunteers who 

helped create this community garden in honor of Illinois’ 

200 th birthday. The food from the garden will go to feed 

the hungry and food insecure in the community. 

Watch a video of our fun-filled day! 


Bicentennial Community Garden Sign

Association News 

Chicago REALTORS ® 

Celebrated 

for their Industry Investments 

At the National Association of REALTORS ® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo in Washington, D.C. 

this May, four Chicago REALTORS ® were honored for their lifetime aggregate investments to the 

REALTORS ® Political Action Committee (RPAC). 

Ginger Downs 

Michael Golden 

CAR past presidents Mike Golden, @properties, and Zeke Morris, EMA Realty & Management 

were honored for reaching the $ 25,000 investment level and inducted into the RPAC Hall of Fame. 

CAR CEO Emeritus Ginger Downs and past president Nancy Suvarnamani, Century 21 S.G.R. Inc., 

were honored for reaching the $ 50,000 investment level. 

Thank you Ginger, Mike, Zeke and Nancy for your commitment to our industry and private 

property rights! 

Zeke Morris 

Nancy Suvarnamani 


Special Advertising Section 

INDUSTRYPARTNERS 

REAL Estate to the Rescue (RTTR) 

RTTR continues its efforts to engage the 

real estate community in Chicago pet 

rescue initiatives. We are in the process 

of building an information resource center 

around animal care, including a database 

of pet-friendly apartments and condo 

buildings, information on things like food 

pantries for animals and other assistance 

programs to help owners and animals stay 

together. We are also looking for people to 

foster animals when the need arises. 

Thank you all for attending and supporting 

our largest fundraiser of the year: our 

annual Cubs vs. White Sox game at Wrigley 

Field! We raised thousands of dollars, which 

will help benefit all of our initiatives. Make 

sure you keep up with us on Facebook 

@Real Estate to the Rescue Chicago! 

FIABCI-Midwest, the International 

Real Estate Federation 

Having just returned from Mexico, Dubai 

and France, many of our local members 

shared their experiences first hand at our 

Rooftop Rendezvous in May. All networked 

with our new board of directors and other 

international practitioners as we heard the 

latest from FIABCI’s movers and shakers. 

Additionally, our member-exclusive event, 

in partnership with Leading Real Estate 

Companies of the World CEO and FIABCI 

board member Paul Boomsma, will take 

place in late June. Stay tuned for more 

details! 

On Friday, July 13 th , meet the Trade 

Commissioner from the Greek Consulate 

in Chicago and enjoy a Greek dinner with 

other globally minded colleagues. Watch 

for upcoming registration information. 

Not a member yet? There is still time to take 

advantage of our 2018 special pricing. For 

more info contact President Marsha Collins 

Marsha@MyGlobalPartner.com. 


Veterans Association of Real 

Estate Professionals (VAREP) 

We are gearing up for a busy 2018! We 

started the year off with two dynamic Lunch 

& Learns designed to help you grow your 

business and dispel the myths of the VA 

home loan process. We also, in conjunction 

with Bank of America, donated a house to a 

veteran family in need! 

To continue our important work of assisting 

our honorable veterans, we’re actively 

seeking individuals to serve on our executive 

board, as well as our committees. If working 

with veterans and giving back to your 

Chicagoland veteran & military community 

is something that interests you, please reach 

out to board member Rachel Frangos for 

more details on how to get involved: 

Rachel.Frangos@BairdWarner.com. 

For updates on all of our events, volunteering 

opportunities and more, follow us on 

Facebook and Instagram @VarepChicago. 

National Association of Gay & 

Lesbian Real Estate Professionals 

(NAGLREP) 

Established in 2007, The National Association 

of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals 

(NAGLREP) is a mission driven 501(c)(3) non 

profit organization that is part business and 

part advocacy. 

In March, we kicked off our first Lunch-n- 

Learn event of the year. We discussed luxury 

trends and tax reform with two different, yet 

dynamic speakers. Our next event will be our 

annual summer networking event, which is 

always an exciting treat! Join us and gain our 

exclusive benefits by becoming a NAGLREP 

member at www.naglrep.com today! 

You can also keep up with us here in 

Chicago by liking our Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ 

NAGLREPChicagoChapter/ 

Dearborn REALTIST ® Board 

As we continue to work towards NAREB’s 

mission of adding two million new black 

homeowners within the next five years, 

DRB is rocking and rolling! We hosted 

our 76 th Annual Installation program in 

March. Hundreds came out to witness this 

celebration! 

We also hosted our Community Wealth 

Building Day at Malcolm X College on 

Saturday, May 26 th . This family-friendly event 

offered free credit reports, financial literacy 

sessions, on-site mortgage pre-approvals, 

food trucks, raffles, DJ’s and more! The event 

was very successful as we continue our work 

to educate and service the Chicagoland 

community. Additionally, in conjunction with 

the City of Chicago, we brought back our 

complimentary six day training session on 

how to become a Court Appointed Receiver 

in the City of Chicago. 

This and much more are reasons to join the 

DRB community. You can keep up with us on 

Facebook @ChicagoRealtist and visit us at 

www. ChicagoRealtist.com. 

The National Association 

of Hispanic Real Estate 

Professionals ® (NAHREP) Chicago 

Thanks to all for attending our 7 th Annual 

Success in Real Estate event in April! We had 

over 700 attendees who enjoyed several 

educational panels throughout the day. And, 

the fun is just getting started: we have more 

fun and fruitful events planned for the year! 

Want to attend our events at a discounted 

rate? join NAHREP CHICAGO for only $ 49 a 

year and become part of one of the largest 

Hispanic real estate trade organizations. 

We offer education events, networking and 

much more. 

Visit us at www.nahrepchicago.org.

Special Advertising Section 

GREATER 

Thank you all who attended AREAA’s 

Installation Gala in February. 

It was a fantastic time to connect with old colleagues and 

make new relationships. We had over 170 attendees enjoy 

cocktails, bites and our James Bond theme. 

With our new board, we have several exciting events lined 

up. AREAA-Greater Chicago has great up to date content 

and useful information happening in the Chicagoland area. 

And, stay tuned for more events, including our infamous 

Sip, Schmooze and Study. 

Like us on Facebook to keep up with us @AREAAChicago! 

 

 

 

 

 

There are countless benefits to becoming a member 

of WCR Chicago! Here’s why YOU should join! 

“WCR has provided a network of 

members that I can refer business, ask 

advice and network with in any market. 

As a small brokerage, this has proven to 

be invaluable because I get the benefit of 

the knowledge of those in other markets.” 

- SARAH WARE 

2016 Past President 

 

 

“Being a member allows me to learn 

from trailblazers and trendsetters in the 

real estate industry. They encourage me 

to perfect my craft, and to contribute 

and to continue growing my talents and 

improving my skills for my clients.” 

- TRACEY WILLIAMS 

2018 President-Elect 

“Being part of such a dynamic group 

of successful REALTORS ® and Affiliates 

has changed my business. The ability to 

find successful REALTORS ® throughout 

the country to refer my clients to is a game 

changer! Join this movement!” 

- JUDY GIBBONS 

2018 President 

www.wcrchicago.org 

Women's Council of Realtors Chicago 


Government Affairs 

Legislative Update 

It’s been a busy 2018, and it’s only going to get more interesting 

from here as we gear up for election season. 

Some quick briefs: 

ILLINOIS RENT CONTROL ON HOLD 

FOR NOW 

Hearings were held in the executive committee in the Illinois 

Senate on rent control this past month. CAR senior director of 

government affairs Brian Bernardoni testified in opposition. We 

presented a lengthy list of alternatives to rent control. 

Statewide hearings may be held this summer. The Chicago 

Association of REALTORS ® has coordinated efforts with Illinois 

REALTORS ® to secure funding for a research proposal on the 

impact of rent control. 

LESSONS FROM SEATTLE: RENT CONTROL 

In April, CommercialForum teamed up with our Government 

Affairs Directors for a special Breakfast with the GADs, focusing 

on rent control. We welcomed Roger Valdez, director of Seattle 

for Growth, a nonprofit group that advocates for more housing of 

all types in every neighborhood in Seattle, for people of all levels 

of income. Valdez has opposed efforts to charge fees on every 

square foot of new development in Seattle and resisted proposals 

to impose statewide rent control. 

Here’s what we learned from Roger’s presentation: 

Seattle isn’t dissimilar to Chicago — an influx of jobs and people 

means the demand for housing goes up — and as anyone familiar 

with the economics of supply and demand knows, that means 

prices are going up, too. Development is starting to catch up, just 

in time for the government to turn on regulation. The regulations 

are now slowing production and squeezing opportunity, and thus 

raising rents. 

Allow the market to react to the forces at play — Valdez is a 

strict advocate for this, and he points out that that idea that 

Amazon is raising rent is a fallacy; it’s the city council that’s at fault. 

For example, Seattle has implemented a fee on every square foot 

of new construction, causing projects not to pencil and rents to 

increase to pay off the fees. 

Rent control is a price control, and often discussed as a means 

of controlling inflation, caused by a lack of supply in the face 

of increased demand. The underlying assumption behind price 

control is that prices are set by individuals acting out of greed 

and self-interest. But as history has proven (everywhere from 

Diocletian rent controls and North Korean grasshopper markets), 

rent control doesn’t work, and in fact creates the very inflation 

it seeks to contain, in addition to black markets and perverse 

incentives. 

Instead, Valdez offered several solutions to combat the urge to 

implement rent control: 

• Ensure adequate housing supply and diversity of housing, 

in all neighborhoods. Landlords, investors and developers 

are (by a vast majority) good people doing good work and 

providing a critical service for the communities. By 

inventorying older housing that has deferred maintenance, 

we can identify down-market housing and, in the case of 

a sale, figure out a plan to transition tenants before negative 

headlines happen. No one wants buildings falling down 

around tenants, nor do we want to exacerbate displacement. 

A positive solution could also be low interest loans to stop 

deferred maintenance, so less capital is needed when 

buildings sell. 

• Avoid subsidized capital construction. The market does just 

about everything better than the government, so if you’re 

looking to produce more housing, be efficient in how you do 

that. And, keep in mind that downzoning doesn’t solve a 

problem — it exacerbates the issue by restricting supply. 

• Create a risk pool for tenants who are hard to rent to. Ask 

the community to help you mitigate your risk. If it’s that 

important to them that you rent to a higher risk individual, 

how can they help you mitigate that? 

• Stay engaged and support each other. There is a narrative 

problem when you come out in opposition of rent control 

— after all, data doesn’t win elections. It’s critical to 

support each other and to offer positive alternatives. Valdez 

suggested looking into various tax credit and incentive 

programs, including direct cash subsidies for rent. 

HOW WE’RE COMBATTING THE CALL 

FOR RENT CONTROL 

Anti-development forces are taking on private property rights 

in wards across the city, and rent control proposals that will 

fundamentally change property management and land values 

have been debated for months in Springfield and in Chicago, with 

no end in sight. We will continue to challenge the notion with 

research and practical economic arguments. We ask you to follow 

the Association’s social media as updates are frequent. 


JUST CAUSE EVICTION PROPOSAL 

SCUTTLED 

While we were in Washington, DC, for the NAR Legislative 

Meetings, we were notified that a proposal from the Lawyers 

For Better Housing and Alderman Joe Moreno sought to create 

Just Cause Evictions. We coordinated with CORE and other 

groups to oppose the proposal at an introductory meeting at the 

Alderman’s Office. He heard our concerns and instead, he will 

be assembling a task force of property owners to discuss the 

issue that led to the drafting of his proposal. We will continue 

to vehemently oppose any efforts towards changing current 

eviction guidance. 

PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT APPEALS 

ELECTION UPDATE 

The Chicago region faces three elections through next April, 

with offices at the ward, city, county, state and federal levels 

all up for grabs. We will be leveraging local RPAC funds to 

champion pro-private property rights candidates who recognize 

the importance of our industry and the critical role REALTORS ® 

play in building neighborhoods through commercial and 

residential transactions. For more information on how you can 

invest and support our efforts this election season, please visit 

ChicagoREALTOR.com/RPAC. 

COMMERCIALFORUM BREAKFAST 

WITH THE GADS 

Encourage your clients to appeal their Cook County property tax 

assessments prior to township deadlines. For more information 

on understanding the appeals process, visit our Property Tax 

Appeals Guide on ChicagoREALTOR.com. 

PARKING PERMIT PROGRAM ENDS DUE TO 

THE LACK OF PURCHASES 

The REALTORS ® Parking Permit Program has ended with the City 

of Chicago due to lack of interest. This was the second time the 

proposal was passed and the second time the proposal failed to 

generate sufficient interest to continue past the pilot stage. 

Phillip Dixon, Coldwell Banker, 

Roger Valdez, Seattle For Growth, and 

Maurice Hampton, Centered RCG 

Join us for... 

First Tuesday 

of the Month 

® 

REALTOR Building 

430 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800 | 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. 


John Kmiecik, Century 21 Affiliated, 

is honored for reaching the $ 50,000 

investment level in the RPAC Hall of Fame. 

2018 NAR LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS 

Over 70 Chicago REALTORS ® traveled to Washington D.C. 

for the NAR Legislative meetings. We met with our members 

of Congress to discuss tax policy, flood insurance, equal access 

to housing opportunities and net neutrality. 

Chicago REALTORS ® meet with Representative 

Bobby Rush led by FPC Nykea Pippion-McGriff. 

Chicago REALTORS ® meet with Representative 

Brad Schneider led by FPC Matt Silver. 

Sheena Baker, RE/MAX Action, Sarah Ware, Ware Realty Group, LLC, 

Nykea Pippion-McGriff, Dream Town Realty, Antonia Mills, 

Antonia L. Mills, Attorney, and Tracey Williams, A.R.E. Partners, Inc. 


Chicago and Illinois REALTORS ® meet with 

Representative Mike Quigley led by FPC Dave Hanna.

ILLINOIS REALTORS ® 

2018 CAPITOL CONFERENCE 

Thank you 

to the CAR members who made the trip 

to Springfield to advocate for our industry! 


Jessica Sundby, Chris Pezza, Moses Hall, and Andrea Miller, Miller Chicago 

Richard Camacho, Aaron Jaime, Reynaldo Moreno, Erica Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, 

Janette Coss, Sergio Hernandez, Josue Duarte, Realty of Chicago. 

Ronald Sears, Yee Ng, Nathan Cowan, Quinn Guan, 

Mircea Campean, Steven Powers, Brian Murphy, 

and Vicky Silvano, Century 21 SGR 

Matt Silver, Urban Real Estate, and 

Jeff Lowe, Compass Real Estate 

Theresa Campos & Antonio Campos, 

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage 

2017 SALES AWARDS 

Gaspar Flores Jr., Su Familia Real Estate, 

Leticia Andrade, Coldwell Banker, and 

Jessica Barrera, West Towns Realty 

Aaron Galvin, Luxury Living Chicago Realty, 

and Greg Perkarsky, Vesta Preferred LLC 

Dennis Downes, Downes Studio, 

Gail Spreen, Patrick Ryan, Shelia Dantzler and 

Essence Wakefield, Related Realty 

Tony Ameti, Neighborhood Loans, and 

Erika Villegas, RE/MAX Mi Casa 

SPONSORED BY: 


Photos by Marcello Rodarte 

Jack Krueger, David Hilger, Julisa Sanchez 

and George Kaiser, Wintrust 

Mario DiLorenzo and Joe DiLorenzo, 

Keller Williams Chicago – O’Hare 

Greg Kosin, Greater Illinois Title Company 

Kelly Price, Wintrust, Matt Silver, 

Urban Real Estate, and Ginger Downs, 


Marion Valle, Valle Realty, Sarah Ware, Ware Realty 

Group, LLC, Rebecca Thomson, Thomson Real Estate Group 

and John Vraras, Vranas Ventures, Inc. 

Lindsey Schendel, Main Street Real Estate 

Group, and Michael Mandile, @properties 

Natalie Renna and Ajda Beganovic, 

RE/MAX Vision 212 

Cristino Martinez, Dino Sarancic, Brad Robbins, 

Madison Termini, Brock Potter, Elizabeth Moreno, Matthew 

Williams, and Greg Pekarsky, Vesta Preferred LLC 

Greg Cirone, Interdome Realty, Inc., 

Vicki Silvano, Century 21 SGR, and 

Peter Shimp, Chicago Title 

Matt Silver, Urban Real Estate. 

and Kason Wallace, Premier 

Midwest Realty, Inc. 

Melanie Giglio, Compass Real Estate, Michelle Kubala, 

and Julie Harron, Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty 


Sabrina Bier, and Victoria Thomas, @properties 

Kassie Irwin, and Owen Duffy, 

Fulton Grace Realty 

Kenya Robinson and Cedrick Hunter, 

Hunter’s Realty, Inc. 

2017 SALES AWARDS 

Jayme Slate, Eudice Fogel, 

and Julie Chenne, Compass Real Estate 

Laura Soukup and Laura Schlageter, 

Keller Williams Chicago-O’Hare 

Nykea Pippion-McGriff, Dream Town Realty, 

Sarah Ware, Ware Realty Group LLC, 

Dave Naso, Keller Williams Chicago – Lincoln Park, 

and Erika Villegas, RE/MAX Mi Casa 

Pamela Raia, Lisa Kon, Steve Heilis, Jan Kupiec, Tripti Kasal, 

Nicole Flores, Gina Purdy and Kristi Rogue, Baird & Warner 

Garcia Marcelo, Natalia Martinez, Erika Villegas, Ubaldo Garcia, Salvador Gonzalez, 

Joe Castillo, Paloma Martinez, Claudia Hernandez, Rosie Garcia, Manuel Godinez Jr., 

Miguel Bermudez, Felipe Garcia, Adriana De La Torre, Oscar Campos, RE/MAX Mi Casa, 

Roberto Almazan, Su Familia Real Estate, and Eddie Martinez, Zima Realty LLC 


Nikki Tran, Kassis Realty Group, Beatriz Ruiz, 

and Sandra Ceja, TRP Realty LLC

Daniel Close, Redfin Corporation, 

and Krystal Long 

George Kaiser, Linda Scott, Wintrust Mortgage, 

and Darlene Kosin, Greater Illinois Title Company 

Joanna Weiss, Matt Weisseg, Matt Horney, 

and Andy Tisler, JPMorgan CHASE 

Anjali Ganju and Alex Staff, 

Keller Williams Chicago - Lincoln Park 

Justin Klaing, guest, Nadine Ferrata, 

Coldwell Banker Residential, and 

Akos Straub, Berkshire Hathaway HomeService 

Nick Libert, EXIT Strategy Realty and 

Ginger Downs, Chicago Association of REALTORS ® 

Paul Mancini, @properties, and 

Austin Pearson, Pearson Realty Group 

Britney Sopher, Danielle Tencza, and 

Bridget Lawler, Greater Illinois Title Company 

Cindy Weinreb, Carrie Georgitsis, 

Nancy Huetteman, and Nycholle Brown, 

Redfin Corporation 

Chezi Rafaeli, Coldwell Banker Residential, 

Debra Dobbs, @properties, and Mario Greco, 

Berkshire Hathaway HomeService 

Angela Ginex, Greater Illinois Title Company, 

and Aaron Giorgi, @properties 

Brittany Shapiro and Brad Lippitz, 

Compass Real Estate 

Matt Laricy and Nicole Laricy, 

Americorp, Ltd. 

Photos by Jack Lane, LANE Media & Productions 


Education Hightlight 

GET TO THE TOP 

OF YOUR GAME 

BUYER REPS 

NAR research shows that on average, homebuyers spend roughly 

three weeks browsing online properties before they contact 

an agent. So, what do you bring to the real estate game? What 

makes you the right resource to turn to? It starts with forming a 

relationship with the buyer. 

Building a strong relationship takes a keen awareness of the 

buyer’s goals, your goals and the end game you have in common: 

working together to find them a home. 

YOUR GOALS: 

• Build rapport. 

• Showcase your services. 

• Help the buyer form realistic expectations. 

• Decide if you want to work together. 

THEIR GOALS: 

• Learn what an agent can do for them. 

• Describe the ideal home. 

• Obtain answers to questions and concerns. 

• Decide if you want to work together. 

According to the NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the top 

three skills buyers want most from agents are: help finding the 

right home to purchase, help negotiating terms of the sale and 

help with price negotiations. 

As early as possible in the relationship, break down the search 

process, the contracts and what price negotiations will look like. 

Be prepared; paperwork intimidates everyone. You’ll earn the 

buyer’s trust and reinforce why you are the best steward for one 

educational offerings 

of the biggest financial transactions of their life. 

JULY12 & 13 : 

Learn more when you take the Accredited Buyer’s Representative 

Designation Course. 

JULY14 : Roadmap of a Transaction 

SRS Designation 

JULY28 : PSA Certification 

AUGUST24 25 & : 

AUGUST 8 9 & : RENE Certification 

ACCREDITED ABR BUYER’S 

® Designation 

REPRESENTATIVE AUGUST28 DESIGNATION 

: CIPS Designation 

July 19 th – July 20 th 

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Advance your career with a 

Member certification Tuition: or designation! $ 280 

SELLER REPS 

The primary reason sellers choose FSBO is because they don’t 

want to pay a broker’s commission or fee. Your goal? Neutralize 

this concern, and ensure that your value proposition is clear and 

in-touch with market needs. 

WHAT’S YOUR VALUE PROPOSITION? 

• You offer connections to listing services they do not. 

• Your knowledge of the paperwork and negotiation 

process is unparalleled. 

• You do this, literally, for a living. 

The numbers back you up. According to the NAR Profile of Home 

Buyers and Sellers, on average, agent-assisted sellers netted $ 250k 

in profits compared to FSBO sellers who netted $ 190k in profits. 

There are two ways you can be the trusted advisor your clients 

rely on: maintain a solid relationship with an appraiser and 

become well-versed in CMAs and absorption rate calculations. 

Appraisers are almost always unfamiliar with the area around 

your client’s home. This is where you come in; instead of taking 

the hands-off approach to the inspection, go an extra mile to 

provide your appraiser with appropriate properties to compare 

with. Several hundred CAR members are licensed appraisers. 

Take advantage of those connections. 

Absorption rates are critical to pricing calculations, but how do 

you explain them to your seller client? An absorption rate is the 

number of months of inventory on the market and the length 

of time it could take to sell the current inventory. Practice these 

calculations by taking classes on pricing and seller representation. 

educational offerings 

This way, you’re constantly ready to play the game of listings. 

JULY12 & 13 : 

Learn more when you take the Seller Representative Specialist 

Designation Course. 

JULY14 : Roadmap of a Transaction 

JULY28 : PSA Certification 

SRS Designation 

AUGUST 8 9 & : RENE Certification 

24 25 & : ABR ® Designation 

SELLER REPRESENTATIVE 

SPECIALIST DESIGNATION 

AUGUST 

AUGUST28 : CIPS Designation 

August 23 rd – August 24 th 

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Advance your career with a 

certification or designation! 

Member Tuition: $ 299 


UPCOMING COURSES 

JULY 

10 th 

E-PRO ® CERTIFICATION 

SEPTEMBER 

12&13 

INCOME PROPERTY 

ANALYSIS 

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

MEMBER TUITION $ 119 

AUGUST 

2 & 3 

REAL ESTATE NEGOTIATION 

EXPERT CERTIFICATION 

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM 


SEPTEMBER 

24 + 25 

REAL ESTATE DIGITAL 

MARKETING CERTIFICATION 

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 


9:00 AM – 4:30 PM 


Get the tips and tools you need to be a 

SEPTEMBER 

Learn how to implement sustainable 

digital marketing strategies to grow 

your real estate business. 

JULY 

19 + 20 

ACCREDITED BUYER’S 

REPRESENTATIVE 

DESIGNATION 

skillful advocate for your clients. 

14 th 

SALES SKILLS WORKSHOP 

8:30 AM – 4:30 PM 


OCTOBER 

9-10 

ESSENTIALS OF 

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT 

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 


This course breaks an agent’s 

activities down into three major 

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM 


Attain the most sought-after 

designation that will put you one step 

ahead of your clients. Determine their 

needs and attract new buyers through 

our two-day course. 

AUGUST 

23 - 24 

SELLER REPRESENTATIVE 

SPECIALIST DESIGNATION 

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM 


categories: work, sales skills and 

technical knowledge. 

Become a more effective 

building owner or property manager 

and foster better ethical and 

legal practices. 

Register at 

www.Chicago 

REALTOR.com/ 

Education 


Pat Combs, REALTOR ® 

2007 NAR President 

Grand Rapids, MI 

“Fair Housing 

still needs attention. ” 

It’s not just a black and white issue. Pat Combs entered the real estate business 

a few years after the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968. She recalled it being a 

“contentious time” for both REALTORS ® and the public. Armed with fair housing training from 

the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS ® , Pat faced off against discriminatory neighbors 

and homeowners. Ignoring verbal harassment and physical threats, she devoted her time in 

the Grand Rapids Association of REALTORS ® to help in creating better training programs 

in partnership with her local Fair Housing Center to ensure that fair housing truly was for all. Now, 

Pat says, “We need to ask ourselves “what we can do as REALTORS ® , as United States citizens.” 

April 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act. We salute REALTORS ® like Pat 

Combs who have driven NAR’s contributions to the fair housing movement, and we understand 

there’s progress yet to be made. 

Visit www.FairHousing.realtor to read more about Pat and to join the commemoration.

GROWTH GROUPS 

Ready to get out of your comfort zone? 

Dream Town Growth Groups are a holistic approach to real estate career development. 

Our unique proprietary system to professional and personal growth integrates group 

think tanks with individual coaching to help our brokers be their best. 

In 2017, 67% of growth group graduates 

increased their business by 20%–54%. 

FIND OUT HOW: DREAMTOWN.COM/GROWTH 

4 Chicago LINCOLN REALTOR PARK: 1950 ® N Magazine SEDGWICK | LINCOLN SQUARE: 4553 N LINCOLN | WEST LOOP: 849 W MONROE | EDISON PARK: 7280 W DEVON | EVANSTON: 1567 MAPLE

CR Magazine - Summer 2018

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