CR_Summer2019_Online
The official publication of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.
The official publication of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.
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<strong>CR</strong><br />
Chicago REALTOR ®<br />
Magazine<br />
<strong>CR</strong>EATING<br />
A CUSTOMER<br />
FORLIFE<br />
V o l u m e 2 8 | S umm er 2 0 1 9<br />
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:<br />
OPPORTUNITY<br />
ZONES<br />
Revolutionizing Your<br />
CUSTOMER SERVICE<br />
The Official Publication of the Chicago Association of REALTORS ®
R<br />
Join us for...<br />
FIRST TUESDAY<br />
of the Month<br />
REALTOR ® Building<br />
430 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 800 | 9A.M. to 11A.M.<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com
REVOLUTIONIZING YOUR<br />
24.<br />
Revolutionizing Your<br />
Customer Service<br />
Summer 2019<br />
ChicagoREALTOR®<br />
MAGAZINE<br />
EVOLUTIONIZING YOUR<br />
IN THIS ISSUE<br />
4 President’s Perspective<br />
6 From the CEO<br />
8 Editor’s Picks<br />
9 Digital Extras<br />
41 Photo Album<br />
48 Events Calendar<br />
49 RRES Education Lineup<br />
50 The Buzz<br />
26.<br />
FEATURES<br />
32. 41.<br />
10 Earning A Client for Life<br />
13 What You Need to Know about Opportunity Zones<br />
18 Staging Takes Center Stage in Home Listings<br />
20 Your Clients’ Direct Link to the MLS<br />
22 Your Money Matters<br />
24 Revolutionizing Your Customer Service<br />
26 Top Producer Recommendations: Business Tools for Success<br />
32 Welcome to Rogers Park<br />
UPDATES<br />
5 The Chicago Association of REALTORS ® Foundation –<br />
Midyear Update<br />
12 REALTOR ® Spotlight: Candice Payne<br />
28 Fair Housing: Our Impact, Our Opportunity<br />
30 What you shared during the 2019 Listening Tour<br />
36 Industry Partners<br />
40 Association News<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 3
PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE<br />
“ Nil Admirari.” This is my favorite Latin phrase.<br />
It means, “to be surprised by nothing.”<br />
This sign hangs in my office. For the past six<br />
years, I’ve looked at this sign almost every day and it has acted as a<br />
constant reminder to not be surprised by anything. Originally, what<br />
that meant was to always be prepared. Always go the extra mile and<br />
give 110 percent so that I’m never caught off guard and surprised.<br />
It worked, but it was exhausting.<br />
What I realized was, for some reason, I was connecting the fear of<br />
the unknown with allowing myself to be surprised.<br />
One day, I decided to accept it. That was the game changer for me. I<br />
started to positively impact all my surroundings, like my family, friends,<br />
team, clients and my community. Now, instead of looking to my left or<br />
right or my rearview mirror, I’m focused only on what’s in front of me.<br />
Today, “to be surprised by nothing” has a new meaning. It means<br />
acceptance. It means nothing can surprise me because I have<br />
accepted that ANYTHING is possible and EVERYTHING is possible.<br />
So today I empower you to live those words and have an “I’m<br />
not surprised” attitude! When something great happens, don’t be<br />
surprised — you’ve earned it. When things don’t go your way, don’t be<br />
surprised — get back up and try it again, now that you know what<br />
needs to be done to get what you want. Surround yourself with<br />
these people and project this onto the universe.<br />
Nil Admirari. Be surprised by nothing because anything and everything<br />
is possible.<br />
Best,<br />
TOMMY CHOI<br />
2018-2019 President<br />
Chicago Association of REALTORS ®<br />
4 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
CAR Foundation<br />
$ 22,000 since<br />
given to Chicago nonprofits,<br />
schools and<br />
community organizations<br />
January 2019.<br />
KIPP Chicago Public Schools<br />
KIPP Chicago is a network of seven public charter schools in some<br />
of Chicago's most under-resourced neighborhoods on the south<br />
and west sides, and strong schools are fundamental to strong<br />
neighborhoods.<br />
“The schools empower students with the character and academic<br />
skills necessary to succeed in top-quality high schools and<br />
universities, and to have a positive impact on their communities,”<br />
2019 CAR Foundation Vice Chair Julie Harron said. “KIPP Chicago’s<br />
Kipp Chicago<br />
Homes For All<br />
alumni graduate high<br />
school, matriculate<br />
into and graduate from<br />
college at higher rates<br />
than their Chicago Public<br />
Schools peers. CAR’s<br />
support for the schools<br />
can have a profound<br />
impact on the leaders<br />
of tomorrow.”<br />
Marion Valle, Valle Realty,<br />
April Montgomery Goble,<br />
KIPP Chicago,Julie Harron,<br />
Jameson Sotheby’s International<br />
Realty, and Antje Gehrken,<br />
A.R.E. Partners<br />
Supporting<br />
Homes For All<br />
Habitat for Humanity believes<br />
everyone deserves a decent<br />
place to live — and so do we.<br />
We were proud to sponsor and<br />
attend Habitat for Humanity’s<br />
Benefit Breakfast in the<br />
spring, where we celebrated<br />
the strides made over the<br />
past year and Habitat shared<br />
their plans for the future.<br />
Jennifer Park, Habitat for Humanity Chicago, Jakeeva Lee, Chicago<br />
Association of REALTORS ® , Julie Harron, Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, Moses Hall,<br />
MoHall Commercial & Urban Development, Habitat Home recipient Sherlonda M., keynote speaker<br />
Matt Forte, Antje Gehrken, A.R.E. Partners, Marion Valle, Valle Realty, Tammy Hajjar- Miller,<br />
The Federal Savings Bank, and Margie Smigel, The Margie Smigel Group, LLC<br />
Sarah’s Circle<br />
Since 1979, non-profit Sarah’s<br />
Circle has provided housing<br />
and support for women<br />
who are experiencing<br />
disabling conditions and<br />
homelessness. “REALTORS ®<br />
provide housing to our<br />
clients, but we also<br />
recognize some of the most<br />
vulnerable among us are<br />
also in need of housing,”<br />
2019 CAR Foundation Chair<br />
Coby Hakalir said. “Sarah’s<br />
Circle provides interim<br />
housing to women who<br />
have disabling conditions<br />
Julie Harron, Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty,<br />
Mary Hayes, Sarah’s Circle, Kathleen Molnar,<br />
Sarah’s Circle, and Coby Hakalir, US Bank<br />
Sarah’s Circle<br />
or deal with chronic homelessness. Providing a gift again this<br />
year helps provide service to those who need it most.”<br />
Congratulations<br />
to the 2019 Matt<br />
Silver Advocacy<br />
Endeavor<br />
Scholarship<br />
Recipients<br />
The Matt Silver Advocacy<br />
Endeavor Scholarship<br />
provides minority men<br />
and women who are<br />
interested in participating<br />
in CAR’s advocacy efforts<br />
the opportunity to see our<br />
advocacy efforts first-hand<br />
at NAR’s Legislative Meetings<br />
in Washington, D.C.<br />
Powering Advocacy<br />
This year’s recipients were Dont’a Taylor, A.R.E. Partners, and<br />
Lauren Lowery, Finders Plus Real Estate. They participated in visits<br />
with legislators and saw our influence in action!<br />
Kris Anderson, Chicago Association of REALTORS ® ,<br />
Lauren Lowery, Finders Plus Real Estate,<br />
Michelle Mills Clement, Chicago Association<br />
of REALTORS ® , Matt Silver, Urban Real Estate,<br />
and Dont’a Taylor, A.R.E. Partners<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com/Foundation 5
FROM THE CEO<br />
From January through March, I went on a fourlocation<br />
Listening Tour throughout Chicago.<br />
I wanted the opportunity to meet you, our<br />
Chicago REALTORS ® , to share my experiences<br />
and discuss CAR’s future.<br />
First and foremost, thank you! In all parts of our city, I saw new<br />
and familiar faces. Not only did you show up, you were engaged<br />
and enthusiastic. I must give a special “thank you” to our CAR past<br />
presidents, who were in attendance throughout the tour to give<br />
their continuous support and guidance as we continue to move our<br />
Association forward.<br />
It was my pleasure to have these open and honest conversations<br />
about what matters most to you, what excites you, what the<br />
Association means to you and what the Association can do to better<br />
support your careers.<br />
At each tour stop, I revealed CAR’s new mission statement, which<br />
was crafted by our Board of Directors in mid-December.<br />
The Chicago Association of REALTORS ® unites all facets of the industry<br />
as a leading advocate for real estate, driving REALTOR ® business<br />
success and economic development of our communities.<br />
What excites me most is that your comments, suggestions and<br />
compliments for our Association perfectly align with these words. Here’s what we heard:<br />
YOU WANT MORE RESOURCES! The good news is: we have them, and the even better news is: we’re always developing<br />
more. Right now, as a member, you have full access to tools like FastStats, which give you historical and monthly market data<br />
about each of Chicago’s neighborhoods. On our website, you’ll also find dozens of resources — everything from tools for<br />
marketing your business to REALTOR ® safety and Member Perks. Did you know we also have an online Career Center? Here,<br />
managing brokers can post job vacancies and get access to new licensees who are on the job hunt. I encourage you to click<br />
through ChicagoREALTOR.com to explore what’s available. We’re laser-focused on finding the best ways to make you aware<br />
of these tools and creating additional resources to help you navigate our ever-changing industry.<br />
YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED! We know due to the nature of your business, it’s not always easy to get to CAR Central.<br />
We have a CAR to You program that brings our education offerings to your offices. We’re excited to extend this to include<br />
programs like Coffee with Your GADs, so you can be a larger part of our advocacy work. We’re also looking forward to making<br />
greater use of our satellite office in West Towns and our presence on the south side at the Frank J. Williams Education Center.<br />
In the coming months, look to CAR for more tools and opportunities to help advance your business. Please stay in touch with<br />
us and let us know what you need. The Listening Tour is over, but I’m always happy to hear from you!<br />
MICHELLE MILLS CLEMENT, cae<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
Chicago Association of REALTORS ®<br />
6 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS<br />
Chicago Association of REALTORS ® Foundation was founded to help assist students in funding<br />
their educational needs.<br />
• NEW — Brande Hampton Emerging<br />
Champion Scholarship<br />
• Designation Scholarships<br />
• REALTORS ® Real Estate School Scholarships<br />
• Young Professionals Network Scholarships<br />
• The Xavier O. Joy Scholarship<br />
Applications are accepted and awarded on<br />
an ongoing basis throughout the year.<br />
MAKE YOUR<br />
CAREER DREAMS<br />
COME TRUE.<br />
• NEW — Chris Pezza Property<br />
Management Scholarship<br />
• Higher Education Scholarships<br />
• Veterans Real Estate Scholarships<br />
• Zeke Morris Scholarships<br />
• Matt Silver Advocacy Endeavor<br />
Scholarship<br />
BRANDE HAMPTON EMERGING CHAMPION SCHOLARSHIP<br />
This scholarship provides female Chicago REALTORS ® the ability to participate in NAR’s federal lobbying activities at the May Legislative<br />
Meetings and/or the NAR Annual Conference, usually held in the 4 th quarter of the calendar year. You must be a member in good standing<br />
with the association, active in the industry for at least two years and a first time attendee at either event to be considered.<br />
The scholarship is awarded as a partial reimbursement for expenses incurred. Recipients will be reimbursed for travel expenses, conference<br />
registration and hotel accommodations up to $ 250.<br />
The scholarship is named after full-time REALTOR ® Brande Hampton who is a wife, mother, RPAC investor, veteran and active CAR member.<br />
CHRIS PEZZA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP<br />
Chris Pezza is a Licensed REALTOR ® , Property Manager, 2015-2018 CAR Board of Directors and Property Management Instructor.<br />
This scholarship provides reimbursement to an Illinois real estate pre-licensing student seeking a career in property management. It will be<br />
used to offset the costs of obtaining his or her real estate license and the training in a property management course. Recipients can qualify<br />
for up to $ 470 reimbursement. One scholarship will be awarded per fiscal year.<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com/Foundation
EDITOR’S PICKS<br />
Why Realtors® Matter<br />
Let’s talk customer experience. This past May, in the historic ambiance of the Music Box<br />
Theatre, we were lucky to host two Real Estate Masterminds. On pages 24-25, we have<br />
all the best advice from Maura Neill, who examined Nordstrom’s grounded approach to<br />
customer experience and how it can give you unbeatable value-add through exemplary<br />
customer experience. I found some useful tips and hope you do too. We look forward to<br />
bringing you Bobbi Howe’s lessons from the other side in the autumn issue.<br />
Don’t forget — you can also find the video from Maura’s talk on ChicagoREALTOR.com.<br />
It’s well worth your time!<br />
T he “Book”<br />
If I could give the first half of 2019 a theme, it would be: defining<br />
your value. More than ever before, REALTORS ® are called to<br />
reinforce their value in the real estate industry. How do you<br />
tap into your knowledge and your relationships and hone them<br />
into a centralized, digestible, branded, useful package? Debra<br />
Dobbs has an answer. She has mastered the client-REALTOR ®<br />
relationship. Lucky for us, on pages 10-11, she shares exactly<br />
how she crafted her “Little Black Book” which packages and<br />
presents her value-add to her network.<br />
Money On Your Mind?<br />
Dare to explore your wallet’s dream online tool — the Center for<br />
REALTOR ® Financial Wellness. This is your money mentor, complete<br />
with exercises, financial wellness quizzes and actionable steps on<br />
how you can save for your future with some peace of mind. Pages<br />
22-23 have the scoop.<br />
There’s a YOU in YOU r Association<br />
I’d like to take this moment to humble brag about all of you. My team and I often get<br />
asked how we come up with and host so many amazing, relevant events, and the truth<br />
is, many of them stem from the brilliant minds of our member volunteers.<br />
Put the “you” in your association and get involved via our work groups and committees.<br />
Let’s assemble yet another amazing year of events and<br />
opportunities together!<br />
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions<br />
or comments — we’d love to hear from you.<br />
8 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine<br />
Jessica Kern<br />
Vice President, Communications<br />
jkern@chicagorealtor.com
Chicago REALTOR ®<br />
<strong>CR</strong> Magazine<br />
2018-2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS<br />
PRESIDENT<br />
Tommy Choi<br />
PRESIDENT-ELECT<br />
Maurice L. Hampton<br />
TREASURER<br />
Nykea Pippion McGriff<br />
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT<br />
Rebecca Thomson<br />
DIRECTORS<br />
Stephanie Brimo<br />
Antje Gehrken<br />
Heather Gustafson<br />
Julie Harron<br />
Drussy Hernandez<br />
Nick Libert<br />
Dave Naso<br />
Andy Shiparski<br />
Vicky Silvano<br />
Gail Spreen<br />
Dan Stratis<br />
Erika Villegas<br />
Marty Walsh<br />
Sarah Ware<br />
Tracey Williams<br />
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER<br />
Michelle Mills Clement, cae<br />
The Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine is published<br />
quarterly by the Chicago Association of REALTORS ®<br />
for its members. Advertising is purchased and<br />
does not necessarily represent the position of the<br />
Chicago Association of REALTORS ® .<br />
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF<br />
Michelle Mills Clement, cae<br />
michelle@chicagorealtor.com<br />
EDITOR<br />
Jessica Kern<br />
jkern@chicagorealtor.com<br />
MANAGING EDITOR<br />
Maria Dickman<br />
mdickman@chicagorealtor.com<br />
ART DIRECTOR<br />
Jim August<br />
jaugust@chicagorealtor.com<br />
For advertising information please contact<br />
Mary Beth Durkin<br />
at (312) 214-5530 or ads@chicagorealtor.com<br />
C.A.R. LOCATIONS<br />
CAR Central: 430 N. Michigan Ave., Ste. 800<br />
Chicago, IL 60611<br />
Ph: (312) 803-4900<br />
Fax: (312) 803-4905<br />
CAR West Towns: 6017 W. 26 th Street<br />
Cicero, IL 60804<br />
Ph: (312) 803-4900<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com<br />
NOTICE TO MEMBERS<br />
Under long established policy of this Association, the Illinois REALTORS ®<br />
and the National Association of REALTORS ® :<br />
1. The broker’s compensation for services rendered in respect<br />
to any listing is solely a matter of negotiation between the broker<br />
and his or her client, and is not fixed, controlled, recommended or<br />
maintained by any persons not party to the listing agreement.<br />
2. The compensation paid by the listing broker to a cooperating<br />
broker in respect to any listing is established by the listing broker and<br />
is not fixed, controlled, recommended or maintained by any persons<br />
other than the listing broker.<br />
Videos<br />
Videos<br />
What’s <strong>Online</strong> @<br />
Photo<br />
• Check out Maura Neill’s presentation: Customer Before Company:<br />
Revolutionizing Your Business the Nordstrom Way, from our May<br />
Member Outreach.<br />
• Get advice and inspiration from Top Producers with our red carpet<br />
videos from the 2018 Sales Awards.<br />
• Browse a selection of excellent books on customer service.<br />
• Explore a map of Chicago’s Opportunity Zones.<br />
• Get discounts on staging, with our Inhabitr Member Perk.<br />
• Learn more about the work of the CAR Foundation and apply<br />
for scholarships to further your education.<br />
Resources<br />
Photo Galleries<br />
• Access Resources<br />
Photo NAR’s Center Galleries<br />
for Financial Wellness and start your<br />
journey to #retirementgoals.<br />
• Register for summer classes and amp up your skills.<br />
• Mark your calendars and register for upcoming events.<br />
• 2019 Capitol Conference<br />
• Fair Housing: Our Impact, Our Opportunity<br />
• 2019 YPN Kick-Off Mixer<br />
• 2018 Sales Awards<br />
• Social media content, curated and ready for you!<br />
Digital Resources<br />
Extras<br />
Resources<br />
Links<br />
ChicagoREALTOR.com<br />
Galleries<br />
Photo<br />
Videos<br />
Resources<br />
Videos<br />
Resources<br />
Links<br />
Galleries Videos<br />
Look for the icon throughout the magazine for<br />
content with digital bonuses!<br />
Photo<br />
Galleries<br />
Galleries<br />
Videos<br />
Photo<br />
Videos<br />
Resources<br />
Videos<br />
Resources<br />
Videos<br />
Links Photo Galleries<br />
Links Photo Galleries<br />
Links<br />
Links<br />
Links Resources<br />
Links<br />
Links<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 9
Earning A Client for Life<br />
BY DEBRA DOBBS, @PROPERTIES<br />
Lead generation, great marketing and customer service — these<br />
are the basics for any REALTOR ® ’s business. Having a successful<br />
business involves being proactive, just as much as it is being<br />
reactive. It’s not just implementing the basics, either; you can<br />
stand out by utilizing special and unique tools to provide above<br />
and beyond service.<br />
In developing your unique marketing, customer service and<br />
relationship-building tools, think about what your clients’ needs<br />
are, and consider what you do or know that’s unique. Then, pair it<br />
all together and package it in a way that adds value to your clients’<br />
lives. We all have something that makes us just a bit different than<br />
the next broker, and we shouldn’t be shy about honing in and<br />
continuously working to improve or perfect that unique trait.<br />
Real estate is a relationship-based business, and I am acutely<br />
aware of the importance of building a strong foundation for<br />
each client relationship based on trust, integrity and confidence.<br />
Authentic relationship building is a key part of my mission<br />
statement, and my Little Black Books helps to augment that!<br />
THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK<br />
Back in 2015, I realized I was spending a significant amount of time<br />
each day responding to client inquiries for referrals for plumbers,<br />
painters, contractors, attorneys, inspectors and lenders — all the<br />
resources that relate to buying or selling a home.<br />
10 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
I was also fielding requests for other services and<br />
recommendations, like:<br />
• Where should we go for a romantic dinner?<br />
• Where can I get a wedding dress altered?<br />
• My family and I want to visit Logan Square. Can you recommend<br />
a favorite bar or restaurant?<br />
• Sorry to bother you at 11PM on a Friday night, but our furnace<br />
isn’t working and it’s 30 degrees out. Help!<br />
• Hey Deb, saw your post about your friend’s new restaurant<br />
opening in the West Loop. Can you help me with a<br />
reservation?<br />
Clearly, there was a desire to tap into my knowledge and<br />
relationships, so how could I centralize it, brand it and make it<br />
most useful?<br />
Together with Eva Palloto, my Director of Operations, I created<br />
a cheat sheet of my go-to resources, in addition to my favorite<br />
haunts for food, drinks and shopping. Over a few weeks (and<br />
many nights of drinking bubbly and margaritas — for research<br />
purposes!), we decided a cheat sheet wasn’t enough space, nor<br />
was it pretty enough to share everything we wanted.<br />
That’s how Debra’s Little Black Book (DLBB) came to be.<br />
BUILDING AND DESIGN<br />
Eva, who rightfully calls herself the “Manager of All-Things-<br />
Beautiful,” is responsible for the design of the book. Our first<br />
edition took about four months to create, from concept to the<br />
finished product.<br />
Our recently-released second edition took roughly two months<br />
of work on a part-time basis, with approximately 50-plus hours<br />
per month dedicated to proofreading, fact-checking, sourcing<br />
photos and selecting font type, size and color for the readers’<br />
viewing pleasure.<br />
with the end result. I now have a happy client and a newly-painted<br />
townhome to list for sale.<br />
We’re excited this book has become so collaborative, opening<br />
up a new avenue for communication between my business and<br />
my clients, ultimately leading to more opportunities and stronger<br />
relationships.<br />
An added bonus? I’m also nourishing the many business-tobusiness<br />
relationships I’ve developed since my real estate<br />
career began in 1984. I’ve known many of my go-to professional<br />
resources for 25-plus years, including one of my lenders, my home<br />
inspector and one of my general contractors and painters.<br />
TURNING YOUR PASSION<br />
INTO BUSINESS VALUE<br />
Building and updating DLBB is so enjoyable for me not only<br />
because it helps my clients, but also because it was built out of<br />
things I really love and believe in.<br />
Buying or selling a home is a uniquely personal experience<br />
wrapped within a business transaction, so it’s important to relate to<br />
clients on an EQ as well as IQ level. I’m a total data junkie and love<br />
spending quiet evenings pouring over market data and comps or<br />
reading about the latest trends in real estate. I also love Chicago,<br />
exploring all its neighborhoods and finding new, special places. My<br />
clients can sense this authenticity when they work with me. DLBB<br />
extends that connection and invites my clients to keep in touch for<br />
reasons that go beyond another deal. I love that!<br />
I encourage all brokers to create their own special tools to<br />
complement their business, like DLBB does for mine. Involve your<br />
peers and staff in the process, to add their own ideas or special<br />
flair. Start and end with the philosophy that your client is the star<br />
of the show and work passionately to deliver an outstanding<br />
experience. This is how you earn a client for life.<br />
DISTRIBUTION, MARKETING<br />
AND LEAD GENERATION<br />
A hard copy of the Little Black Book is mailed to each of my past<br />
and current clients, as well as anyone who requests one through<br />
my website. We also make it available as a digital flip book. This<br />
past spring, we launched the second version of DLBB. Within<br />
48 hours, we had over 100 downloads and multiple hard copy<br />
requests from clients wanting to share with friends and family.<br />
We update the online version regularly, based on new finds<br />
and recommendations from friends and clients. It’s a nice tool<br />
to solicit feedback and stay in touch! We already have two new<br />
recommendations from clients who received version two of the<br />
book and contacted us with suggestions. So many clients tell<br />
us how much they use and love DLLB, and they often get back<br />
to me with their happy experiences after having worked with<br />
my trusted resources. For example, a client had her townhome<br />
painted by one of my recommended painters and is wildly happy<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com<br />
11
REALTOR ® SPOTLIGHT<br />
Chicago REALTOR ® Leads Viral Ef fort<br />
to Help Homeless Chicagoans<br />
Candice Payne<br />
When a polar vortex brought temperatures as<br />
low as -23 degrees (with -50-degree windchill)<br />
to Chicago last January, Candice Payne knew<br />
she had to help her community. The Chicago<br />
REALTOR ® and owner of 5 th Group Realty and<br />
Management quickly became known as the city’s<br />
“Good Samaritan” after she started an initiative to<br />
provide food and shelter to displaced Chicagoans<br />
in the dangerously low temperatures.<br />
continue to donate money, food, clothing and even houses<br />
and property.<br />
“This has completely inspired me,” Payne said. “I buy and flip<br />
houses throughout Chicago. Now, I want to buy, flip and provide<br />
housing for those in need. But this is two-fold. Getting them<br />
housing is just a short-term solution. I want to work with other<br />
entrepreneurs to help these people get jobs. They want to work.<br />
They just need a little help.”<br />
On the eve of the polar vortex, Payne decided she would pay for<br />
20 hotel rooms for one night, to help at least 40 people get out of<br />
the cold and survive the brutal weather. However, a big problem<br />
presented itself — transporting everyone to the hotel. Payne took<br />
to Instagram and offered to pay anyone with a large vehicle who<br />
was willing to drive.<br />
In February, Payne received a $ 50,000 check from Wal-Mart on<br />
The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In March, Payne was honored with a<br />
resolution supported by the City of Chicago’s commissioners Bill<br />
Lowry of the 3 rd district and Deborah Sims of the 5 th district.<br />
Her post went viral.<br />
REALTORS ® from Payne’s brokerage, fellow Chicagoans and people<br />
from all over the world began to contact her, offering monetary<br />
donations and goods to assist in her efforts.<br />
With these donations and volunteers, Payne was able to pay for 60<br />
Amber Inn hotel rooms for four nights and offer three meals a day<br />
to each person. Additionally, clothing and other necessities were<br />
given to families in need.<br />
“We had men, children with cerebral palsy, pregnant women,<br />
people on crutches. We were able to get all of them out of the cold<br />
for a little while,” she said.<br />
While her good deed caught media attention, Payne turned away<br />
news cameras initially. “I didn’t do this for publicity, and I didn’t want<br />
people who needed help to be exposed in that way.”<br />
However, when people began speculating the anonymous “Good<br />
Samaritan” was wealthy or famous, Payne revealed her identity,<br />
believing “it’s important to know that I’m a regular person who just<br />
wanted to help. It came as a surprise to people that it was a working<br />
black woman who began this.”<br />
This random act of kindness has since evolved into Action for a<br />
Cause, Payne’s newly-formed charitable organization, dedicated<br />
to combatting homelessness. CNN, Chicago Tribune and countless<br />
other media outlets in Chicago and nationwide have shared her story.<br />
As people hear about her efforts and non-profit organization, they<br />
Commissioner Bill Lowry (3 rd District), Candice Payne, Carlos Callahan (Candice’s Husband),<br />
Commissioner Debra Sims (5 th District) and Commissioner Donna Miller (6 th District).<br />
“You can see how that small act of kindness, coming out of her own<br />
pocket to help the homeless, reverberated across the nation,”<br />
La’Mont R. Williams, Chief of Staff for Cook County Commissioner<br />
Bill Lowry, said. “We’re in a long line of people who want to recognize<br />
her for her amazing work. We really hope that by recognizing her,<br />
she continues in her mission to help the community. We want to<br />
continue to honor good people in our city.”<br />
While Payne appreciates the recognition and support, she hopes<br />
that people take away one key message: most people she’s helping<br />
just fell on hard times. “So many of us are just one paycheck away<br />
from being in the same situation,” she said. “No one I helped was<br />
looking for a handout. They wanted to know how they could work<br />
and pay people back for their kindness.”<br />
To find out more and support Action for a Cause, visit<br />
actionforacausenow.org.<br />
12 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:<br />
OPPORTUNITY<br />
ZONES<br />
BY JACOB KNABB, DIRECTOR OF COMMERCIAL SERVICES, CHICAGO ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ®<br />
For the past year-and-a-half, the commercial real estate community has been buzzing<br />
about an innovative new investment vehicle called the Qualified Opportunity Zones<br />
(QOZ) program. This has the potential to launch a massive infusion of capital into<br />
disinvested and underserved communities, while also providing unprecedented tax<br />
advantages for investors. Because of the jargon-heavy manner in which the program has<br />
been explained, and some delays in the release of guidelines for structuring investments<br />
and what will and won’t qualify as a qualified opportunity fund (QOF), there’s been a<br />
good deal of anticipation and consternation from brokers, investors and developers.<br />
WHAT ARE OPPORTUNITY ZONES?<br />
“The program was built out of a concern that there is a<br />
growing problem between the economic trajectory of different<br />
communities in the U.S.,” Steve Glickman, founder and CEO of<br />
Develop, LLC, and former senior economic advisor to President<br />
Barack Obama, said. “And that growing divide of places left<br />
behind was having a huge impact on the quality of people’s lives,<br />
our democracy and our politics.”<br />
Glickman, considered by many to be the “Godfather of<br />
Opportunity Zones,” views the QOZ program as a way to form<br />
the kind of capital required to create and “crowdfund” new<br />
businesses, jobs and opportunities in those areas that have been<br />
left behind.<br />
Because most QOZs are located in areas that have lacked<br />
substantial investment for a significant period of time —<br />
communities which could take a long time to build up —<br />
traditional investment in transformational development is risky.<br />
The QOZ program addresses this issue by allowing for the<br />
creation of Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs), funds which<br />
consist of money that would otherwise be subject to capital gains<br />
taxes, and work in a similar way to the 1031 Like-Kind Investment<br />
Program. The biggest difference is that, unlike the 1031, which<br />
requires an investor to ‘flip’ an investment from one property to<br />
another in order to avoid capital gains taxes, the QOZ program<br />
rewards investors who leave their money in the investment for<br />
a longer timeframe.<br />
According to the Internal Revenue Service, investors can defer tax<br />
on any prior gains invested in a QOF until the earlier of the date on<br />
which the investment in a QOF is sold or exchanged, or December<br />
31, 2026. If the QOF investment is held for longer than five years,<br />
there is a ten percent exclusion of the deferred gain. If held for<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 13
more than seven years, the ten percent becomes 15 percent. If<br />
the investor holds the investment in the QOF for at least ten years,<br />
they are eligible for an increase in basis of the QOF investment<br />
equal to its fair market value on the date that the QOF investment<br />
is sold or exchanged.<br />
Glickman is quick to point out that patient capital does not mean<br />
necessarily that investors won’t see income come back before<br />
the end of the holding period. “The idea is that the assets in<br />
Opportunity Zones will become stabilized and generate revenue<br />
for those companies that have leases on those properties.”<br />
Put simply, investing Opportunity Funds in Opportunity Zones<br />
of the investments themselves.<br />
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:<br />
incentivizes ‘patient capital,’ where investors feel the biggest<br />
economic benefit by keeping money in each project for a longer<br />
OPPORTUNITY<br />
period of time. This is a godsend for large-scale developments<br />
unable to get access to sustained capital investment due to<br />
financial risks tied to disinvestment and urban decay — and a<br />
benefit the program can deliver to Chicago neighborhoods.<br />
CAN OPPORTUNITY<br />
ZONES FUND<br />
RESIDENTIAL<br />
INVESTMENT?<br />
“Multifamily residential will be one of the most<br />
important asset classes for the Opportunity<br />
Zone program. A common thread in all<br />
communities is the need for more market rate<br />
housing. Opportunity Zone investments should<br />
serve to reduce displacement, help even-out<br />
markets and enable people who are tired of<br />
being in a handful of crowded cites…to return<br />
to a larger [selection] of American places<br />
because they’ll find affordable housing there.<br />
It’s a crucial part of what the policy<br />
was designed to accomplish.”<br />
– STEVE GLICKMAN<br />
DEVELOP, LLC<br />
“The entry opportunity is to locate parcels that<br />
fit into an O-Zone and offer them for sale where<br />
the buyer is going to fix it up and rent it out for<br />
a sustained period of time. Some developers<br />
are beginning to petition for help in building<br />
housing stock that is more economical —<br />
things like pre-fab three flats — and if they<br />
got some leeway, then we’d see developers<br />
coming in and putting up a block of three flats,<br />
which would be a different kind of<br />
multi-family community.”<br />
– ANTHONY HARDY<br />
MARCUS & MILLICHAP<br />
14 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine<br />
And more importantly, investors will benefit from the appreciation<br />
Glickman believes most investors will want to keep their money<br />
in for the full ten years, which removes pressure from developers<br />
to flip a product sooner. This can lead to a great equilibrium for<br />
investors, developers, and communities – in particular, with regards<br />
ZONES<br />
to investment in energy.<br />
“Looking ahead to ten years from now, we may have a status quo<br />
that dictates a renewable power grid, or a sustainable development<br />
including job training and the building of a neighborhood,” he<br />
said. “So the most exciting prospects in Opportunity Zones are the<br />
ones that anchor and support neighborhoods without a dynamic<br />
economic future that you can now see becoming sustainable for<br />
years to come.”<br />
In an ideal world, the QOZ program creates a critical mass, where<br />
investors will be drawn not only to the initial development, but also<br />
to other QOZs around the development, benefitting the adjacent<br />
communities and as a result, a bigger chunk of the city. Thus,<br />
policies of change that might have taken decades will begin to<br />
happen in a much shorter timeframe.<br />
CAN QOZS BE A WINDFALL<br />
FOR THE WINDY CITY?<br />
The site of the former Michael Reese Hospital on Chicago’s<br />
South Side provides a comprehensive window of insight into QOF<br />
investments’ potential to completely reinvent entire neighborhoods.<br />
By using patient capital to fund a multi-stage project with cuttingedge<br />
development philosophies designed to attract world-class<br />
companies, there is a possibility to transform what is now, more or<br />
less, a 77-acre vacant field wedged between vibrant South Side<br />
communities, a world-class convention center and the lakefront.<br />
It’s a test case to answer whether QOZs can truly transform parts<br />
of Chicago that have been left behind economically, and in a<br />
sustainable way that is beneficial to actual communities.<br />
For years, city officials, including former Chicago Mayor Rahm<br />
Emmanuel, and the Bronzeville Community Development<br />
Partnership, have advocated for ambitious development proposals<br />
that would incorporate a forward-thinking blend of property types,<br />
including multi-unit, retail, and office, designed to create jobs and<br />
attract tourist dollars to Chicago’s South Side.<br />
Due to overall market health, the city took these desires into<br />
account, releasing a Request for Proposal (RFP) that laid out an<br />
ambitious goal, with criteria for how bids would be judged.<br />
In a 2017 press conference, Chicago’s City Planning Commissioner<br />
David Reifman was quoted by the Chicago Tribune as saying the<br />
time was right to push ahead with developing the Reese location.
“We put out this RFP because we think the market is strong right<br />
now,” Reifman said, noting the city sought to see tech office<br />
development, hotel development, open space opportunities, transit<br />
improvements and enhanced affordable residential opportunities, all<br />
of which must be “integrated into the fabric of Bronzeville and fabric<br />
of the neighborhoods to the west…and rising along the lakefront.”<br />
The RFP for the site was awarded to a group known as GRIT,<br />
led by Scott Goodman, co-founder and managing partner at<br />
Decennial Group and founding principal at Farpoint Development,<br />
with Glickman as a key advisor. Comprised of Decennial Group<br />
(which will provide the equity for the QOF), Farpoint, Draper and<br />
Kramer, minority-owned Loop Capital, C&I Development, minorityowned<br />
McLauren Development and the Bronzeville Community<br />
Partnership, GRIT is short for ‘Global Research Innovation and<br />
Tourism,’ — “which is what we want to put on the Michael Reese<br />
site,” Goodman said. “But we think of it as ‘Get Ready, It’s Time,’<br />
because that’s what we believe about investment in the South Side.”<br />
Investors are always on the hunt for situations that will be good<br />
investments, not-withstanding the potential for tax deferral. While the<br />
tax incentives provided by the QOZ program certainly help, on their<br />
own, they aren’t enough to push a bad investment into the black.<br />
“Chicago really did pick Opportunity Zones that were very much in<br />
need of investment,” Goodman said, seeking to “steer investments<br />
in areas where investors wouldn’t go otherwise.”<br />
And yet despite these challenges, the Michael Reece site is one of<br />
the most exciting QOZs in the country and a gateway to the entire<br />
south side. Though it has lain fallow for decades and would seem<br />
an investment boondoggle, there are clear advantages.<br />
The Reese site is located on the lakefront next to the largest<br />
convention center in the western hemisphere, ten minutes from<br />
the Loop and abutting Hyde Park and the proposed Obama Library.<br />
It benefits from access to significant amounts of high-speed fiber,<br />
and will have a ramp directly off of I-55, I-94 and I-41, as well as<br />
Metra and CTA hubs.<br />
All of these benefits, which locals have long touted, will make the<br />
development a smart investment for Decennial Group. But the tax<br />
benefits provided by its QOF will allow GRIT to pursue what might<br />
otherwise be the sort of risky utopic vision that scares off investors.<br />
“We’re focusing this entire project around building a community of<br />
wellness,” Goodman said. GRIT’s concept hinges on ideas culled<br />
from life science and bioscience. It prioritizes low-grade traffic<br />
wherever possible and integrates green spaces, allowing people to<br />
interact both socially and professionally. Multi-family senior living<br />
will be built next door to experiential retail destinations, which are<br />
located right across the street from industry-leading technology<br />
company headquarters — all with an eye towards being as cuttingedge<br />
as economically possible.<br />
“If there were a half-dozen ways to generate power on-site, we’d<br />
like to explore all of them,” Goodman said. “We’re enlisting architects<br />
and forward-thinkers in order to make everything truly walkable, to<br />
be prepared for autonomous and electric vehicles, and to provide<br />
a safe smart grid of features like motion activated light posts<br />
with security cameras and solar-powered charging stations for<br />
autonomous electric cars.”<br />
WHAT ABOUT BENEFITS FOR SMALLER<br />
INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS?<br />
While complicated, multi-phase developments like the Michael<br />
Reese site will benefit from QOFs, more straightforward projects<br />
are seeing powerful returns from the QOZ program, as well — and<br />
provide key insights into the machinations driving benefits to<br />
investors and disinvested communities.<br />
Noah Birk, a partner at Kiser Group, works exclusively on the<br />
disposition of apartment buildings on Chicago’s South Side. As a<br />
result, essentially all his properties are in QOZs. Though he’s yet to<br />
witness a massive uptick in investment stemming from QOFs, Birk<br />
said the needle is beginning to move.<br />
“I sold more than fifty buildings last year, and while only a couple<br />
happened because of Opportunity Funds, [those] both went for<br />
TLDR; The Benefits of QOZs<br />
1. Cutting-edge concepts can be attempted with less risk due to the tax gains and length of time capital remains<br />
tied to a development.<br />
2. Renewable tech is expensive and can be a deal-breaker for investors even in established areas; this is doubly<br />
challenging when seeking funds to develop blighted communities. The QOZ program can go a long way toward<br />
taking the edge off that fear by providing a rewarding outcome for investors and an enticement to spend more<br />
initially to develop forward-thinking, mixed-use projects.<br />
3. QOZs introduce high-end upgrades such as granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances in areas where<br />
comparable units lack similar features.<br />
4. They enable brand-new strategies around the real estate leasing and brokerage businesses because these<br />
firms will have a reason to build around communities that previously didn’t provide any benefits to<br />
developments. So, people can be the first ones in a community.<br />
5. Investors can afford to be more inclusive and will find it’s much easier to develop affordable and/or senior<br />
housing by removing some of the scarcity in capital.<br />
6. QOZs have the potential to impact neighborhoods not just around the edges; they could spur a whole industry<br />
of investment and development that includes holistic and inclusive strategies that aren’t answerable to every<br />
last dollar in a project.<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 15
more than they would have otherwise,” Birk said. “The investors we<br />
had wouldn’t have been there without the program.”<br />
Birk believes tax benefits are the most powerful enticement for<br />
his investors, who were “motivated to take 1031 money they were<br />
going to have to pay capital gains on and park it somewhere for ten<br />
years in order to fully appreciate the Opportunity Zone benefits to<br />
them.” In other words, by investing in these buildings, rather than a<br />
retail location on the north side, Birk’s investors can ultimately avoid<br />
paying capital gains taxes on their QOFs.<br />
sides of Chicago. A lot of times, you can find an existing structure at<br />
less of a cost. So, if the developer intends to add retail and perhaps<br />
a restaurant, you can see how they might easily spend $ 200,000 in a<br />
restaurant build-out.”<br />
Hardy feels population trends further buoy opportunity zone<br />
investments in mixed-use multi-family developments — each day,<br />
roughly 10,000 millennials turn 21 and 10,000 baby boomers turn<br />
65. Why is this important? “There’s a propensity for millennials to<br />
rent and boomers to downsize into senior living.”<br />
However, the benefits aren’t limited only to the folks with investment<br />
portfolios. QOF investments in real estate are subject to a substantial<br />
rehabilitation requirement. Put simply, participants must match<br />
any money spent investing in an existing property on either new<br />
development or a blend of rehabilitation and upgrades to the<br />
existing structures.<br />
“All of the buildings I’ve worked on have been 30 units or above,”<br />
Birk said. “[We’re seeing] condo quality finishes with granite<br />
countertops and stainless steel.” Best of all, rents, by and large, are<br />
in line with other properties in the community — which is reassuring<br />
to locals who may fear being priced out.<br />
Birk argues things are trending in the right direction, continuing<br />
the positive momentum he’s seen in the South Shore since around<br />
2010. “More investors are taking a chance on a neighborhood they<br />
wouldn’t otherwise,” he said. “One of the groups almost owns<br />
exclusively in River North, and now they’re investing in a lowerincome<br />
neighborhood like South Shore — they wouldn’t [invest<br />
otherwise] without the tax benefit.”<br />
In Hardy’s eyes, it adds up to excitement for owners looking to<br />
increase the value of their assets and take advantage of increased<br />
equity, as well as from buyers who’ve found themselves with<br />
additional dollars to invest and feel the QOZ program is the way to go.<br />
One of Hardy’s clients is doing just that. The Reverend Dr. Richard<br />
Tolliver, President & CEO of St. Edmund’s Redevelopment<br />
Corporation, has been investing in his Washington Park community<br />
since 1992, when he oversaw the development of multi-family<br />
affordable housing on an empty plot of land St. Edmund’s Episcopal<br />
Church owned at the time. He had been introduced to Ron Gatten,<br />
who was chairing a task force on affordable housing for the<br />
Episcopal Diocese, and Gatten helped St. Edmund’s make use of<br />
the affordable tax credit program, allowing them to build something<br />
on the lot that would be sustainable.<br />
It was a match made in heaven. Since those humble beginnings,<br />
St. Edmund’s Redevelopment Corporation has completed fourteen<br />
different development projects at a cost of 106 million dollars,<br />
consisting of 31 buildings and 731 units of housing.<br />
For Birk, the community benefit of Opportunity Zone investment<br />
can be summed up in a simple question: would you rather have a<br />
vacant building sitting next to you, or a nicely-renovated complex<br />
full of tenants who are happy to be there?<br />
When Gatten and Tolliver learned about the Opportunity Zone<br />
program, they lobbied to have zones established in Washington<br />
Park. They are now developing a Community Revitalization Center<br />
at the corner of 61 st and Indiana using QOFs.<br />
Anthony Hardy, 2019 CommercialForum Vice Chair and Senior<br />
Associate at Marcus and Millichap, singles out Washington Park as<br />
an example.<br />
Washington Park’s strategic benefits make it distinct from other<br />
distressed neighborhoods. “A neighborhood like Washington<br />
Park has more available vacant land than any of the other 77<br />
neighborhoods in the city, available at a real bargain, unlike trendy<br />
areas like Lincoln Park, where you’ll spend millions just to get a<br />
building you’re going to knock down.” he said. “The opportunity zones<br />
in Washington Park offer land where you can really see a valueadd<br />
that aligns with the intent of the program by driving economic<br />
development to blighted neighborhoods.”<br />
St. Edmund’s rolled some funds from the $ 23.6 million sale of a<br />
23-story building named St. Edmund’s Village into a $ 1.8 million QOF<br />
as the sole investor. Outside options for financing the construction<br />
of the building to St. Edmund’s specifications were cost prohibitive.<br />
“Without the Opportunity Funds, and us personally investing in it, we<br />
wouldn’t have been able to invest in the Community Revitalization<br />
Center,” the Reverend Dr. Tolliver said. “[And] we specifically sold it<br />
because we wanted to use the funds to take care of other initiatives.”<br />
ALL SIGNS POINT TO GO<br />
While the QOZ program is supposed to expire in 2027, Glickman<br />
believes there are several good signs that the program is tracking in<br />
the right direction for renewal.<br />
Hardy advises his clients that the best way to approach development<br />
in a QOZ is through mixed-use, ideally with a retail component.<br />
“You have to spend dollar-for-dollar acquisition cost minus land<br />
value in investments and improvements in the overall structure,”<br />
Hardy said. “If you’re looking to acquire a building between<br />
$<br />
500,000 to one million, you’ll be hard-pressed to find another<br />
million to invest in capital improvements on the south and west<br />
The optimism stems from the legislation’s bipartisan origins in<br />
Congress, and has extended to sustained support from local and<br />
state officials like South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former<br />
Colorado governor John Hickenlooper. The current presidential<br />
administration, too, has thus far worked with Congress to continue<br />
the policy and establish guidelines. So, although we won’t know for<br />
several years if QOZs will live on beyond the initial timeframe, this all<br />
bodes well for the continuation of the program.<br />
16 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
CHICAGO OPPORTUNITY<br />
ZONES MAP<br />
Qualified<br />
Opportunity Zones<br />
www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/opportunity-zones.html<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 17
STAGING TAKES CENTER<br />
STAGE IN HOME LISTINGS<br />
Staging a home was once thought of<br />
as an elitist activity to fill large rooms<br />
in luxury homes before they hit the<br />
market. Now, staging apartments,<br />
condos and homes of all sizes has<br />
become common practice. That’s<br />
where Inhabitr comes in. As one of the<br />
fastest growing startups in Chicago,<br />
Inhabitr offers customized and precurated<br />
packages to furnish everything<br />
from small studios, to multi-units and<br />
large Victorian homes. We caught up<br />
with Inhabitr to learn more about the<br />
staging dos-and-don’ts.<br />
<strong>CR</strong>: What is staging?<br />
Inhabitr: Staging involves dressing the<br />
interior and exterior of a home on the<br />
market to make it stand out among<br />
the rest, and ultimately, be more<br />
appealing to your target segment of<br />
buyers. This is typically done with the<br />
help of a professional stager who uses<br />
rental furniture to furnish the unit.<br />
<strong>CR</strong>: Why should you stage<br />
a home?<br />
Inhabitr: Staging goes beyond<br />
decorating a home. Decorations, while<br />
important, are just accents — vases,<br />
flowers and frames. As a REALTOR ® ,<br />
you have a very short window of time<br />
to help potential homebuyers fall in<br />
love with a home. To maximize on this<br />
short time frame, staging is critical. It<br />
is all about creating a balanced design<br />
layout to make sure everything in each<br />
room flows and helps visitors envision<br />
themselves and their lives in that space.<br />
18 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
Furniture follows fashion; the trends are constantly updating.<br />
Staging allows you to experiment and try different things to see<br />
what best appeals to visitors. This is particularly helpful when<br />
taking marketing photos. You can remove and replace furniture as<br />
needed to get the desired effect and make the home attractive to<br />
potential buyers.<br />
Staging a home can decrease a home’s market time and increase<br />
its selling price. When properly staged, buyers perceive the<br />
home at a higher value, as they can better understand the home’s<br />
functionality. Staging can also impact the speed at which a home<br />
sells, as it gives buyers a favorable first impression.<br />
<strong>CR</strong>: What is the timeline for staging a home?<br />
Inhabitr: For REALTORS ® who haven’t worked with Inhabitr before,<br />
our staging experience is probably much different than what they’re<br />
accustomed to. Sometimes when working with a stager, you can<br />
spend a lot of time in the consulting phase. Then the stager goes to<br />
a third-party rental company to facilitate all the logistics that come<br />
with getting the furniture to the property. Working with Inhabitr<br />
is different. We work directly with furniture companies and have<br />
our own team of designers who have done the pre-work. So, the<br />
moment you have a property ready to go, we are, too. Our process<br />
removes anywhere from seven to ten working days from the<br />
standard timeline.<br />
72 %<br />
of sellers’ brokers<br />
said that staging<br />
increased the<br />
offer made on a<br />
home. No broker<br />
said staging had a negative impact,<br />
in a study conducted by the National<br />
Association of REALTORS ®<br />
First, we recommend decluttering the home and taking care of all<br />
repairs. After that, the consulting process can begin. Ideally, this should<br />
happen two to three weeks before your initial showing. However, if<br />
you need something quicker than that, our pre-curated packages<br />
and supply chain allow us to give clients a 24-hour turnaround on<br />
consulting and a 48-hour turnaround on furniture delivery.<br />
<strong>CR</strong>: Where is staging most inportant?<br />
Inhabitr: A REALTOR ® has about 15 seconds to sell a home. This<br />
means the first impression is critical. You don’t have to stage every<br />
single corner of your home, but you do want to evoke emotion. The<br />
goal is to help potential buyers envision themselves in the space.<br />
<strong>CR</strong>: What are some current staging trends?<br />
Inhabitr: In terms of color palettes, grays are still very popular, but<br />
bolder colors are starting to make waves. We have some accent<br />
chairs and couches that have bolder colors – navy and burgundy.<br />
Metallics and stone are also very popular.<br />
Think about the key rooms. We recommend starting with the<br />
master bedroom and the living room. You want to create a bedroom<br />
that feels luxurious, yet comfortable and relaxing. In the living room,<br />
it’s all about maximizing the space. Staging can help prospective<br />
buyers visualize the different ways they can entertain guests in the<br />
space or spend quality time with their family.<br />
Millennials are driving the market right now, and they are fascinated<br />
by minimalistic furnishings that have modern features. Knowing<br />
this, we’re adding a lot of sleek couches and they’ll each have USB<br />
ports in them, so you can plug in your phone.<br />
Along the same line, homes are becoming a lot smaller, which calls<br />
for lighter pieces.<br />
At Inhabitr, we use technology and artificial intelligence to<br />
understand the preferences and trends that appeal to different<br />
target segments. We approach staging with a “design thinking”<br />
approach, which is a relatively new concept brought to life<br />
by companies like Apple ® . Design thinking encourages us to<br />
understand who the ideal buyer is, what problems we need to<br />
solve for them, develop solutions to meet their needs and test<br />
our findings before we execute. This enables Inhabitr to be at<br />
the forefront of staging trends and create the perfect package to<br />
upgrade a home before it hits the market.<br />
Also, consider the outdoor space. Curb appeal is crucial. We have<br />
a full line of outdoor furniture to help sellers really enhance that<br />
space. Next, look at the entryway and hallways. While they don’t<br />
need a lot of furnishing, they are spaces guests tend to remember.<br />
Adding an accent item, like a console table or desk, can really make<br />
a difference and make the whole house feel homier.<br />
Remember, furniture stokes imagination. Really take a moment to<br />
think about which spaces may appear difficult to furnish or utilize,<br />
and enliven them with the perfect staging to help paint the picture<br />
for visitors.<br />
Get a 5% discount on curated staging<br />
packages with our Inhabitr Member Perk.<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 19
BUSINESS TOOLS<br />
Your Clients’<br />
Direct Link<br />
to the MLS<br />
There’s no doubt about it: we live in a culture that demands<br />
instant gratification. Fast food. Entertainment on demand. Sameday<br />
shipping.<br />
This premise permeates all industries, including real estate: people<br />
want things done quickly, and they want to be a hands-on part of<br />
the real estate transaction more so than ever before.<br />
For brokers, this means being able to provide clients with thorough<br />
information and answers to their questions at a moment’s notice.<br />
If you’re able to connect your clients to a hands-on home-buying<br />
experience that doesn’t sacrifice speed or<br />
accuracy, you’ll improve the process for<br />
everyone involved.<br />
The Homesnap app, available through MRED,<br />
allows you to make this a reality.<br />
Is your potential seller curious about how<br />
much their house might go for? Generate<br />
a Homesnap instant comparative market<br />
analysis on your smartphone.<br />
Need to provide school attendance zones?<br />
This is just a couple clicks away in the app.<br />
Does your client want to know a listing’s exact<br />
property lines at a showing? Use Homesnap’s<br />
augmented reality feature to see and walk those boundaries.<br />
These perks are in addition to one-tap messaging with clients<br />
and real-time access to broker-only MLS information, as well as<br />
remarks, showing instructions, compensation, occupancy details<br />
and more.<br />
portal so many have longed for. Some brokers even offer their<br />
clients direct access to the MLS as they walk their client through<br />
downloading the app. With a little guidance, clients will see an<br />
undeniable difference.<br />
“Everybody has their smartphone these days, and Homesnap<br />
makes it so easy with the information right at their fingertips,” Kevin<br />
Roy, HomeSmart Connect, said. “Homesnap may not be the first<br />
thing they think of, but it should be, and it just makes the whole<br />
process so much easier when they do.”<br />
Your clients won’t be the only ones enjoying<br />
immediate solutions. As MRED subscribers,<br />
brokers get the Homesnap Pro version of<br />
the app, complete with customized email<br />
marketing to clients and contacts, instant<br />
access to details on every broker in the area<br />
and an unprecedented amount of real-time<br />
information available to you on the go.<br />
“I like Homesnap because compared to<br />
other apps, the information is up-to-date<br />
and current, as a direct feed from MRED and<br />
the MLS,” Roy said. “So often, clients will find<br />
listings on other apps and ask me to look<br />
them up; the information is outdated and it’s<br />
a major time-waster.”<br />
“I encourage my clients to use Homesnap,” Nykea Pippion McGriff,<br />
Dream Town Realty, said. “I tell clients that if I’m out and about with<br />
a different client, I might not be looking at the same thing they’re<br />
looking for, and since the listings get updated every 15 minutes, it’s<br />
a good way to stay on top of what’s out there.”<br />
But what takes Homesnap to the next level is the accuracy and<br />
trusted source of information to which you have instant access. This<br />
app is a direct link to the MLS; it’s the trustworthy, consumer-facing<br />
All of these features are housed on a Homesnap platform that<br />
designates listing agents as the default contact on all their active<br />
listings. Listing agents are also the recipients of showing requests.<br />
20 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
“This is a branding opportunity to extend your sphere of influence<br />
and extend your brand, because there is no other broker<br />
advertising on your Homesnap listing,” Pippion McGriff said.<br />
The secret is out about the game-changing tools Homesnap<br />
provides for brokers and the ease-of-use it provides for clients.<br />
“[Homesnap is] very convenient because I kind of use it also as a<br />
<strong>CR</strong>M,” Myles Love, DreamSpots Leasing and Sales, Inc., said. “When<br />
I have new leads, I immediately send them the Homesnap link to<br />
download. It’s been very helpful in that clients usually will look on<br />
their own anyway, but with the app, I am able to have them send<br />
me properties they are interested in directly and then schedule<br />
[a showing].”<br />
The Homesnap movement continues to pick up momentum, with<br />
MRED and the Chicagoland marketplace blazing the trail.<br />
Homesnap is the consumer face of the Broker Public Portal (BPP),<br />
a grass roots initiative spearheaded by brokerages and MLSs,<br />
offering a nationwide industry solution that connects brokers with<br />
consumers. The BPP adopted Homesnap as its platform of choice<br />
in 2016.<br />
As one of the earliest BPP MLS adopters, MRED launched an<br />
aggressive, two-pronged campaign effort to promote Homesnap.<br />
The results of this pilot were staggering. Homesnap user sessions<br />
increased 22 percent, with nearly one million total user sessions<br />
in Chicagoland. The campaign achieved exceptional mobile app<br />
engagement and through MRED’s digital advertising efforts, this<br />
initial campaign bested industry benchmarks for click-throughs<br />
and impressions.<br />
The most important result was the value delivered to brokers<br />
through the consumer campaign. Industry research says the<br />
average cost of advertising on a major real estate portal in<br />
Chicago is about $ 300 per lead. By that math, MRED delivered<br />
members $ 16 million in client leads in 2018.<br />
That’s just part of the partnership with Homesnap that’s bringing<br />
value to Chicago brokers. Homesnap is also integrated into<br />
connectMLS, making the top-rated real estate app in the App<br />
Store the delivery vehicle for automated emails to consumers<br />
through the MLS.<br />
Some of the benefits of this integration include:<br />
• You can choose to “send results via Homesnap” when setting<br />
up saved searches and listing alerts using modern search.<br />
• Your saved searches and listing alert emails with this<br />
option selected can be branded with your headshot and<br />
contact information.<br />
• Clients will be directed to view listings on Homesnap and<br />
can easily rate properties so you immediately know their<br />
interest level.<br />
• Clients can send you a personal note with their rating, which<br />
you can see in connectMLS.<br />
8 HOMESNAP<br />
FEATURES<br />
You May Not Know...<br />
Their team recently rolled out Homesnap Stories, which allows<br />
brokers to easily create fun video marketing pieces with<br />
Homesnap Pro. These Stories let you easily highlight a listing’s<br />
important features in a video that can be seamlessly shared<br />
across social media platforms to connect with potential buyers in<br />
a more personalized way and generate in-app traffic.<br />
Homesnap’s features go beyond its robust listing information.<br />
You can also use the app’s safety timer for added security during<br />
showings.<br />
Real-time listings and access to broker-only<br />
MLS information such as occupancy,<br />
remarks and showing instructions<br />
Customized email marketing for clients<br />
and contacts<br />
School attendance zones<br />
Exact property lines with an augmented<br />
reality feature<br />
One-tap messaging for broker-client<br />
correspondence<br />
Instant access details on every broker in<br />
the area<br />
Homesnap Stories, allowing brokers to<br />
create fun video marketing pieces<br />
Safety timer for added security during<br />
showing<br />
Making Homesnap your pocket assistant gives you quick access<br />
to a wide variety of tools that will help you meet and exceed the<br />
expectations of your clients.<br />
“I love that it’s integrated with ShowingTime and makes my life<br />
easier,” Pippion McGriff said. “I can go on and on.”<br />
If you haven’t downloaded Homesnap, don’t wait any longer,<br />
and don’t forget that MRED has free training options to help you<br />
every step of the way.<br />
Access Homesnap for free<br />
through ConnectMLS<br />
And Homesnap isn’t done innovating either.<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 21
MEMBER BENEFITS<br />
The National Association of REALTORS ® defines financial wellness<br />
as “a measure of your overall, personal well-being as it relates to<br />
your money.”<br />
AS REALTORS ® , you help your clients accomplish goals and make<br />
important financial decisions. However, when was the last time you<br />
stopped to think about your own future and financial well-being?<br />
If you haven’t begun focusing on your financial wellness or if the<br />
process has caused a headache or two in the past, you’re not alone.<br />
Just check out these stats from the National Association of<br />
REALTORS ® :<br />
• 90 percent of REALTORS ® are independent contractors facing<br />
complex personal finance situations.<br />
• Only 43 percent of REALTORS ® are saving for retirement.<br />
• 42 percent of REALTORS ® feel unprepared for a financial<br />
emergency.<br />
The unique nature of your business results in an ever-changing<br />
income, which in turn impacts the taxes you pay and the types of<br />
retirement and medical plans available to you.<br />
To help you better assess, plan and track your finances, NAR has<br />
launched the Center for REALTOR ® Financial Wellness. This online<br />
tool offers a wide array of materials and resources designed with<br />
you in mind.<br />
BEGIN WITH A<br />
WELLNESS CHECKUP<br />
It’s okay if you don’t know where to start. Upon logging in for the<br />
first time, you’ll be prompted to take a Wellness Checkup. This<br />
10-question assessment measures your financial situation. Based on<br />
your answers, you’ll receive a list of short-term and long-term goals<br />
to guide you.<br />
Estate Investing, Retirement Planning and Succession Planning. The<br />
site is interactive and allows you to check off goals as you complete<br />
them, set reminders and even make a list of customized goals and<br />
deadlines.<br />
LAY OUT YOUR<br />
FINANCIAL JOURNEY<br />
The Wellness Center’s Financial Journey tool allows you to see how<br />
your financial decisions impact your current finances, your happiness<br />
and your future financial situation. It can be difficult to make<br />
decisions that benefit all three areas at the same time. Sometimes<br />
happiness comes before all, while other times it’s important to think<br />
about your long-term finances first. You can go through the Financial<br />
Journey as many times as you’d like to see how different decisions<br />
impact your end goals.<br />
EVALUATE YOUR<br />
POTENTIAL INCOME<br />
ABILITY<br />
The Wellness Essentials section breaks down key financial wellness<br />
terms, in addition to the costs and benefits of being a REALTOR ® .<br />
First, learn about the role of a broker and get a comprehensive list of<br />
the things you need to begin and sustain your business. In addition<br />
to paying for your license, you’ll need to consider other expenses,<br />
like REALTOR ® member fees, your phone bill, computer, marketing<br />
materials and transportation.<br />
Once you find out how much you need to spend to become a<br />
successful REALTOR ® , you’ll be prompted to learn more about<br />
the role of a REALTOR ® , how to become profitable and how much<br />
money you can expect to earn in this industry.<br />
Remember: financial wellness is a process, not a one-step solution.<br />
The goals fall under four categories: Budgeting & Finance, Real<br />
22 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
MAKE MORE SOUND<br />
FINANCIAL DECISIONS<br />
Are you curious about the true differences between a bank and credit<br />
union? Do you know how much you should be saving each month?<br />
Are you interested in a list of the different retirement plans available?<br />
The Center’s Budgeting & Finance section has resources to help you,<br />
your clients and your staff make sound financial decisions.<br />
MAKE YOUR $ WORK<br />
FOR YOU<br />
Having a savings account is a great start in your journey to financial<br />
wellness. However, savings accounts are best for short term<br />
solutions and emergency funds. It’s estimated that in ten years’<br />
time, the money in your savings will be worth 40 percent of what<br />
it’s worth today. Investing, on the other hand, is a way to put your<br />
money to work for you and accumulate wealth. The money you<br />
earn correlates with the current market and inflation. So, as inflation<br />
grows, the amount you earn does, too.<br />
In the Real Estate Investing module, you’ll find out how investments<br />
can be part of your financial wellness planning and get the basics<br />
on making smart investments. The site names three categories<br />
your investments should fall into:<br />
• Safe: The value appreciates along with market trends.<br />
• Stream of Income: Generates incomes through rental<br />
payments.<br />
• Tax Advantage: Includes rental properties that are eligible<br />
for tax deductions.<br />
• Have I calculated how much my business is worth – looking<br />
at the current market value of my company’s assets and<br />
forecasting my company’s future income?<br />
Tip: The Succession Plan module shows methods for finding<br />
your business’ asset accumulation, income, discounted<br />
cash flow, replacement value and market comparable<br />
analysis.<br />
• Do I see value in keeping my business property and renting it<br />
to a new business?<br />
DO THE MATH<br />
Finally, the Tools and Calculator section allows you<br />
to calculate your budget, expenses and the<br />
contributions you should make to your retirement and<br />
savings accounts. Also, conduct a cash flow analysis and find your<br />
Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Net Present Value (NPV) for your<br />
commercial investments.<br />
Getting started on your financial wellness journey can seem<br />
intimidating, but it’s not nearly as scary as not having a plan at all.<br />
The Center for Financial Wellness is the perfect place to begin<br />
and track your progress throughout your career.<br />
Log on to www.NAR.realtor/FinancialWellness<br />
to get started.<br />
This section also gives tips on making a down payment and getting<br />
your feet wet in commercial investments.<br />
GET YOUR<br />
#RETIREMENTGOALS<br />
ON POINT<br />
If 401Ks and IRAs sound like foreign languages, the Retirement<br />
Planning section has you covered. Whether you already have a<br />
retirement account or are unsure of how to start one, the resources<br />
in this section answer a wide array of common questions.<br />
<strong>CR</strong>EATE A PLAN<br />
FOR YOUR BIZ’S NEXT<br />
CHAPTER<br />
Everyone needs a succession plan – but do you have one<br />
in writing? Instead of making a last-minute decision, use the<br />
Center’s Succession Planning resources. This will help you<br />
decide if selling your business or leaving it in the hands of a<br />
designated successor is most beneficial for you. NAR says it<br />
takes “between one and three years of preparation in order<br />
to get the most value from your business.”<br />
When thinking about your succession plan, consider this:<br />
• Is there anyone I have mentored and can trust to take over<br />
my business once I retire?<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 23
REVOLUTIONIZING YOUR<br />
Great customer service isn’t meeting expectations; it’s exceeding<br />
them by going above and beyond and doing something your<br />
clients didn’t expect. As REALTORS ® , we get so focused on our own<br />
businesses, we forget there’s a lot we can put into practice from<br />
other industries powered by customer service. At our Lessons from<br />
Real Estate Masterminds event in May, we welcomed Maura Neill<br />
from RE/MAX Around Atlanta, to share her insights and what she’s<br />
learned by taking a page out of Nordstrom’s exemplary customer<br />
service book.<br />
EMPOWER A CULTURE<br />
OF SERVICE<br />
Nordstrom has almost a century-long track record of outstanding<br />
24 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine<br />
REVOLUTIONIZING YOUR<br />
customer service - and this starts with their employees. They have a<br />
different approach to employee training that is extremely relevant to<br />
our industry: their salespeople are paid on commission, and they’re<br />
encouraged to create relationships and a client base of repeat and<br />
referral customers. They even use tools like our top brokers do, like<br />
writing thank you notes to their longtime customers.<br />
Their culture of exemplary customer service all begins with this,<br />
though: when someone gets hired at Nordstrom, instead of a thick<br />
employee manual, they give you a five-by-eight-inch piece of<br />
cardstock that reads:<br />
Welcome to Nordstrom. We’re glad to have you with our<br />
company. Our number one goal is to provide outstanding<br />
customer service. Set both your personal and professional<br />
goals high. We have great confidence in your ability to<br />
achieve them. So, our employee handbook is very simple.<br />
We have only one rule: use good judgment in all situations.<br />
That’s powerful training. What if, as a managing broker or a team<br />
leader, you said to your brokers, “I empower you to use good<br />
judgement in all situations. If you follow the law, the Code of Ethics<br />
and our rules, if a client needs something from you, and it’s ethical<br />
and legal to do so, you have my permission.”<br />
Think about the trust this produces. You’re creating a culture<br />
where your people want to give better client service, and you’re<br />
letting them deliver it.<br />
FIND OPPORTUNITIES<br />
FOR LITTLE TOUCHES<br />
Nordstrom has a thing called heroics, where internally, employees<br />
are encouraged to report each other for doing good. This helps<br />
to create the culture of doing good for clients and good for the<br />
company.<br />
Neill puts this into practice with her business. At the end of every<br />
transaction, she writes a thank you note to the other broker, even<br />
when it’s a difficult transaction. Writing the thank you note wipes<br />
the slate clean for the future. Then, on the really good transactions,<br />
she also writes the managing broker a thank you note. All managing<br />
brokers ever hear is the bad stuff — what if we empowered a culture<br />
of cooperation and praised each other more? This is a way we can<br />
implement heroics in our industry — by lifting each other up.<br />
For your clients, you don’t have to wait for opportunities to do<br />
something big — heroics can be small gestures. These can be<br />
things we do to help our clients out, like:<br />
• Asking your clients if they have a favorite kind of music<br />
and putting together a Spotify playlist for car rides.<br />
• Sending a birthday card in the mail, because everyone else<br />
is posting on Facebook.<br />
• Asking their dietary restrictions before you make a<br />
reservation during a long day of house hunting.<br />
These little touches help you create an unforgettable client<br />
experience.<br />
<strong>CR</strong>EATE A CLIENT<br />
SERVICE PLAN<br />
Patrick McCarthy, the top Nordstrom sales executive for 15<br />
consecutive years, said it very simply: “The more information I have,<br />
the better I can serve the customer. This isn’t just my deal. It’s not<br />
an “I” experience; it’s a “we” experience.”<br />
Consider setting goals based on a client service plan, measuring<br />
things like client satisfaction, in addition to the number of referrals<br />
you want to get. This will help you evaluate what services you’re
providing and focus in on what’s working, and what’s not. Ask yourself<br />
questions like, when I survey my past clients, what have they said<br />
they want more of? What could I add to my post-closing checklist<br />
that could make the transaction go more smoothly?<br />
This sets the expectation that they are closed on Thanksgiving Day,<br />
giving their employees time to be with their families and empowering<br />
the culture of superior client service. They are not Sears or Walmart,<br />
and they will not be open for Thanksgiving shopping sprees.<br />
A client service plan also gives you data that consumers actually care<br />
about. At a listing appointment, being able to say to potential clients,<br />
“I have a 98 percent satisfaction rate” — that’s meaningful.<br />
REFRAME YOUR MINDSET<br />
One Nordstrom employee said, “Never judge a book by its cover.<br />
If you treat the kid who is buying a $ 19.95 belt the same as a<br />
businessman buying a $ 1,995 Oxford suit, you will be successful.<br />
That kid might become a customer for life.”<br />
It’s the same in our business. You shouldn’t turn down the first-time<br />
homebuyer in favor of raising your average price point — because<br />
that first-time homebuyer could become a client for life.<br />
Neill noted that we must stop thinking about our profession as an a<br />
la carte menu of services. Your value proposition is not access to the<br />
MLS, or being the holder of a lockbox key, and you don’t get paid to<br />
unlock a house or put a sign in the yard. Your value proposition should<br />
be the things your knowledge and your experience bring to the table,<br />
and you get paid for your market experience, negotiation skills and<br />
helping your clients navigate what can be a very<br />
difficult transaction, even in the best of times.<br />
No one likes to drive to meet a<br />
contractor on a Friday night — but<br />
instead of complaining or thinking<br />
about how the commission just<br />
isn’t worth it, instead, reframe this as<br />
an opportunity to show your clients<br />
outstanding service.<br />
Also, always be thinking about if you were your<br />
own client. Would you refer you, today? This question has the power<br />
to change the tone of your day and how you interact with others.<br />
When you start to reframe your mindset, not only are you happier<br />
with the job you’re doing, your clients are happier too. It makes you<br />
appreciate your clients more and in turn, they’ll appreciate you.<br />
SET EXPECTATIONS – AND<br />
COMMUNICATE THEM<br />
Setting expectations is something REALTORS ® often fail at. When you<br />
set expectations, customers will respect them. Clients think they can<br />
call you at 11 o’clock at night because you gave them permission to<br />
do so — you answered the phone. They will respect you when you set<br />
professional boundaries because you are, after all, a professional.<br />
GIVE A SATISFACTION<br />
GUARANTEE<br />
You aren’t Nordstrom, who can and will take back just about any<br />
item, no questions asked, receipt or no receipt, at any point, if a<br />
customer is unhappy.<br />
But, you can still define a customer satisfaction guarantee. If you’re<br />
empowered to use good judgement in all situations, you will know<br />
your value proposition. This means you can do things like an easy<br />
exit listing agreement or an easy-exit buyer brokerage agreement.<br />
You can give your clients this satisfaction guarantee, because at the<br />
end of the day, you should be delivering such exemplary customer<br />
service that your clients won’t want to get out of the agreement. Plus,<br />
how many of you want to keep someone in a contract agreement to<br />
work with you, when they really don’t want to work with you?<br />
MAKE SURE THIS IS AN<br />
ONGOING CONVERSATION<br />
If you’re a good REALTOR ® , you provide a service. If you’re an<br />
exemplary REALTOR ® , you provide an experience unlike any other.<br />
Start by thinking like your clients, who are all unique individuals with<br />
their own unique needs. Ask every one of them, “What made you<br />
call me? Why aren’t you using the REALTOR ® you used in your last<br />
transaction? What went well? What didn’t go well? What are your<br />
expectations?”<br />
Start to collect the thoughts before you connect the dots. At the<br />
end of the transaction, you need to know if you delivered on your<br />
promise of exemplary customer service. As John Nordstrom, the<br />
founder of Nordstrom, had hanging in the first-ever Nordstrom<br />
store: “If we sell you well, tell others. If not, tell us.”<br />
And just as Nordstrom teaches their people, your internal<br />
monologue should be, “The only thing we have going for us, is the<br />
way we take care of our customers.”<br />
Nordstrom is excellent at setting their customer’s expectations. Every<br />
November, they display a sign in the window. It reads, “At Nordstrom,<br />
we won’t be decking our halls until Friday, November 27. Why?<br />
Well, we just like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time.<br />
From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving. We will be closed<br />
Thanksgiving Day. On Friday, our doors will open to welcome the<br />
new season.”<br />
Watch Maura’s presentation from our Spring Member Outreach, and<br />
check out her recommendations of excellent books on customer service.<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 25
TOP PRODUCER RECOMMENDATIONS:<br />
Business<br />
Tools for<br />
Success<br />
To grow your real estate business, it’s important to<br />
have the right business tools and practices in place.<br />
Check out what some of your fellow Chicago REALTORS ®<br />
use to keep their businesses running, their clients happy<br />
and their life in balance.<br />
What business tool is integral to your<br />
success and why?<br />
My <strong>CR</strong>M system is by far, the most important tool that I’ve<br />
used since 2013. There is no way I could ever live without it.<br />
I wake up in the morning and am on it, and before I end my<br />
work day, I am on it, as well. I like to wake up in the morning<br />
and know exactly who I have to call. My goal every day is<br />
to get my calls to zero. I don’t have to wonder who to call<br />
because everyone I need to be talking to is in there.<br />
What new business tool are you excited<br />
about and why?<br />
Working at Compass, I am extremely excited about the<br />
<strong>CR</strong>M they’re rolling out — basically an all-in-one system where<br />
I can do a property search and anything else all in one place<br />
so there is no need to hop from system to system. It’s like<br />
having the MLS, my <strong>CR</strong>M and my email all in one. It’s a sure<br />
timesaver and looks more professional!<br />
MELANIE GIGLIO-VAKOS<br />
COMPASS<br />
What business tool is integral to your<br />
success and why?<br />
I love utilizing Google Docs. We pretty much run our whole<br />
business off Google Docs. It is a great way to keep myself<br />
and my team organized. You can share documents and<br />
information easily, no matter where an agent is. We can<br />
update our clients on all aspects of their sale or purchase<br />
this way, as well. The best part is, almost anyone can use it<br />
very easily.<br />
What new business tool are you excited<br />
about and why?<br />
My favorite new tool would be my new toy: the newest iPad<br />
Pro. It can literally do everything. The keyboard accessory<br />
makes it easier to answer quick emails on the go. The size<br />
(the big version!) makes it easy to fit in your hand so you can<br />
take it anywhere you want. Lastly, the screen is amazing and<br />
presentations look awesome on it.<br />
MATT LARICY<br />
AMERICORP LTD<br />
26 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
What business tool is integral to your<br />
success and why?<br />
Customer Service. Our team’s motto is “love, serve, and care!”<br />
Providing all the information necessary, treating clients as our<br />
own family and walking our clients through the transaction<br />
every step of the way helps us to have continued success.<br />
What new business tool are you excited<br />
about and why?<br />
This year we’ve implemented “Going Back to Basics!” I don’t<br />
believe in social media as a source to communicate with<br />
clients. We break bread with our clients, are consistent with<br />
follow up calls and participate in community events to relate<br />
to the people in the communities we serve.<br />
LUIS ORTIZ<br />
RE/MAX PARTNERS<br />
What business tool is integral to your<br />
success and why?<br />
What launched my success to a new level is a simple daily<br />
methodology called Money Making Activities (MMA, for short).<br />
The concept is to look at my day and think about the top<br />
activities that make me successful. Breaking down my day<br />
to a list of activities makes it simple to know what I need to<br />
accomplish. My activities are a collection of past client calls,<br />
touching base with all active clients, looking at all active<br />
searches for properties that match, responding to new leads<br />
within a minute or less and other such activities. Once I get<br />
through my checklist and finish all of the day’s activities, I know<br />
I’m done. If I focus and don’t do anything else, I can usually<br />
accomplish everything I need to in 3 hours or less. That gives<br />
me the rest of the day to do whatever I want. I can keep working<br />
to get ahead or go to the gym. Doing this consistently over<br />
a long period of time will guarantee success. I’m a walking<br />
example of it.<br />
What new business tool are you excited<br />
about and why?<br />
I recently changed to a <strong>CR</strong>M called Great Agent and I’m already<br />
seeing success from it. I’m very excited to see how this plays<br />
out as it combines everything with how I like to work and also<br />
assists me with my weaknesses. I can auto-assign plans, work<br />
new leads better and have my daily tasks highlighted, allowing<br />
me to effectively and efficiently get through them. The marketing<br />
capabilities are fantastic as well. A good <strong>CR</strong>M aligned with how<br />
you like to work is a powerful combination.<br />
What business tool is integral to your<br />
success and why?<br />
In terms of business tools, I look for ones that are easy to<br />
learn from a user perspective and fast in nature – since, as<br />
brokers, we don’t have a lot of time! I really have grown to love<br />
BoxBrownie for virtual staging, as they always have a quick<br />
turnaround and people always comment on how great our<br />
virtual staging looks. From a data perspective, Remine is great<br />
and something that’s relatively newer to the market that, if<br />
used correctly, could have a huge impact on sales goals, too!<br />
What new business tool are you excited<br />
about and why?<br />
While Canva isn’t a new tool, I believe it’s often under-utilized.<br />
It’s so much more than just throwing up a photo with “Just<br />
Closed” text over it. We use it for our brochures, newsletters and<br />
print materials. It really adds a cohesive look to your brand.<br />
KIM HOWARD<br />
KELLER WILLIAMS CHICAGO –<br />
LINCOLN PARK<br />
GREG PEKARSKY<br />
VESTA PREFERRED REALTY<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 27
Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi with<br />
Nykea Pippion McGriff, Dream Town Realty<br />
Hipolito Garcia, Caliber Home Loans, and<br />
Maxwell Koziol, JP Morgan Chase Bank<br />
Joann Newsome, Chicago Commission on<br />
Human Relations, Hipolito Garcia, Caliber<br />
Home Loans, and Vicky Silvano, Baird & Warner<br />
FAIR HOUSING 2019<br />
Fair Housing: Our Impact, Our Opportunity continued<br />
the discussions we began at last fall’s commemoration<br />
of the 50 th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act.<br />
We discussed how real estate brokers can have an<br />
impact on segregation and discrimination in housing,<br />
and the opportunities we have to help turn the tide<br />
towards a more fair process.<br />
Michael Robinson, Century 21 Universal, Rick Williams,<br />
Kale Realty, Timothy Littleton, Kale Realty,<br />
and Geraldine Blair, Coldwell Banker Residential<br />
Dr. Elizabeth Korver-Glenn,<br />
University of New Mexico<br />
Michelle Mills Clement, Chicago<br />
Association of REALTORS ® , and<br />
Nykea Pippion McGriff, Dream Town Realty<br />
Sharial Howard, Glynnis Johnson,<br />
and Hollie Himmelman, @properties<br />
Michelle Mills Clement, Chicago Association of REALTORS ® , Dr. Elizabeth Korver-Glenn, University of New Mexico,<br />
Joann Newsome, Chicago Commission on Human Relations, Vicky Silvano, Baird & Warner, Hipolito Garcia, Caliber Home Loans,<br />
Chris Pezza, Miller Chicago Real Estate, Sam Powell, Dream Town Realty, and Courtney Jones, Chicago Homes Realty Group<br />
28 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
Fair Housing<br />
RESOURCES FOR YOU<br />
Chicago, today, in 2019, is the 2 nd most segregated city in America.<br />
At the Chicago Association of REALTORS ® , we’re working to actively<br />
make a difference. We have a wealth of resources available to you, so<br />
that you can better assist any and all clients in their biggest investment.<br />
HOW TO REPORT<br />
A VIOLATION<br />
If you believe you or your client has been a victim of a Fair Housing<br />
violation, we encourage you to report the violation. Learn how to file<br />
at each different authority at ChicagoREALTOR.com.<br />
NEIGHBORHOOD STATISTICS: We have a wealth of resources<br />
available on ChicagoREALTOR.com to help you get a full picture<br />
of a neighborhood based on facts, not assumptions. In particular,<br />
our FastStats neighborhood reports are super easy to download<br />
and share with clients.<br />
NETWORKING: It is so important to expand your network and do<br />
business with those who live, work and play in different areas of our<br />
city. We host a variety of networking events throughout the year.<br />
These are the perfect places to help expand your network.<br />
AST,<br />
TRAINING: We also ensure REALTORS ® have ample opportunities<br />
for training. Fair Housing courses are available as a part of our CE<br />
RESENT<br />
options, and every REALTOR ® must take a Code of Ethics course<br />
within 30 days of their initial orientation, and every two years<br />
following. The next Code of Ethics deadline is December 31, 2020 –<br />
FUTURE:<br />
you can get a jump start on this at ChicagoREALTOR.com.<br />
ADVOCACY: Along with NAR and the National Association of Gay and<br />
Lesbian Real Estate Professionals, we support legislation to extend<br />
flecting on 50 Years<br />
the Fair Housing Act<br />
protections under the Fair Housing Act to the LGBT community.<br />
CAR LAUNCHES<br />
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE<br />
Last fall, at our commemoration of 50 years of the<br />
Fair Housing Act, we announced our intent to form<br />
a diversity committee. Named “The 77” after the<br />
77 various and unique neighborhoods in Chicago,<br />
it’s our goal to have a REALTOR ® who either<br />
works, lives or practices in each of Chicago’s<br />
neighborhoods represented on the committee.<br />
This will allow us to better engage and provide<br />
Alex Chaparro the resources needed to make the practice of<br />
selling real estate a positive experience for all parties, and a benefit<br />
to the communities where transactions (or lack of transactions) occur.<br />
The committee will tackle topics including Fair Housing, economic<br />
development and engagement with local chambers of commerce<br />
and quasi-governmental bodies, such as TIF Boards.<br />
These efforts will be spearheaded by our chair, Alex Chaparro,<br />
Century 21 Affiliated. He is a former president of the Chicago<br />
Association of REALTORS ® , co-founder of the NAHREP Chicago<br />
Chapter and previous Chairman of NAHREP National.<br />
We are thrilled to launch this initiative — keep an eye out for more<br />
information later this year.<br />
1. FILE AN ETHICS COMPLAINT If you believe a REALTOR ® has<br />
violated one or more Articles of the Code of Ethics, you can file an<br />
ethics complaint through the local REALTOR ® association where<br />
the REALTOR ® holds membership or participates in a REALTOR ®<br />
association-owned/operated MLS. File a complaint on our website<br />
or by emailing professionalstandards@chicagorealtor.com.<br />
2. FILE A COMPLAINT WITH CHICAGO’S COMMISSION ON<br />
“ REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional<br />
services to any person for reasons of race, color,<br />
religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national<br />
origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.<br />
REALTORS ® shall not be parties to any plan or<br />
agreement to discriminate against a person or<br />
persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex,<br />
handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual<br />
orientation, or gender identity. REALTORS ® , in<br />
their real estate employment practices, shall not<br />
discriminate against any person or persons on<br />
the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap,<br />
familial status, national origin, sexual orientation,<br />
or gender identity. ”<br />
– Article 10, REALTOR ® Code of Ethics<br />
HUMAN RELATIONS If the housing unit where the violation occurred<br />
is located within Chicago’s city limits, file a discrimination complaint<br />
at the Commission on Human Relations within 180 days. There is<br />
no fee to file, and you may either self-file via email or mail, or file a<br />
complaint in person with the assistance of an investigator.<br />
3. FILE A COMPLAINT WITH ILLINOIS’ DEPARTMENT OF<br />
HUMAN RIGHTS A charge of discrimination must be filed within<br />
300 days after the alleged discriminatory action, or one year for<br />
a Fair Housing case. The processing involves several steps. Learn<br />
more about the process at ChicagoREALTOR.com.<br />
4. FILE A COMPLAINT WITH HUD If you believe you or your clients<br />
have experienced discrimination in renting or buying a home, getting<br />
a mortgage, obtaining housing insurance, seeking housing assistance,<br />
or in other housing-related activities, you can file a complaint with<br />
HUD. You can also file a complaint if you believe you have been<br />
denied an equal opportunity to participate in a HUD program. You<br />
may file online, via email or mail, or over the phone.<br />
WHAT ARE OUR PROTECTED CLASSES?<br />
PROTECTED CLASSES CHICAGO COOK COUNTY ILLINOIS US<br />
RACE X X X X<br />
COLOR X X X X<br />
SEX X X X X<br />
GENDER IDENTITY X X<br />
AGE X X X<br />
RELIGION X X X X<br />
DISABILIT Y X X X<br />
NATIONAL ORIGIN X X X X<br />
ANCESTRY X X X<br />
SEXUAL ORIENTATION X X X<br />
MARITAL STATUS X X X<br />
PARENTAL STATUS X X X X<br />
MILITARY STATUS X X X<br />
SOURCE OF INCOME X X<br />
HOUSING STATUS<br />
ORDER OF PROTECTION STATUS<br />
X<br />
X<br />
WHAT TO DO IF YOU WITNESS OR EXPERIENCE A VIOLATION<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 29<br />
1. File an Ethics Complaint<br />
If you believe that a REALTOR ® has violated one or more Articles of the Code
ASSOCIATION NEWS<br />
What You Shared During<br />
the 2019 Listening Tour<br />
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Listening Tour! Your<br />
time and input helps make our association thrive. Hearing your<br />
thoughts on new ways we can shape our future has been invaluable.<br />
We are thrilled to hear we are getting many things right, but also<br />
excited to hear your ideas for our association moving forward.<br />
Here’s what you shared:<br />
MORE LOCAL EVENTS<br />
You want us to come to you with more hyper-local events – smaller<br />
events in each part of the city and West Towns. Programming like<br />
Coffee with the GADs and Managing Broker forums were at the top of<br />
the request list.<br />
MORE COMMUNITY STORIES<br />
Chicago is a city of many neighborhoods, and we have REALTORS ®<br />
doing great things in each of them. You want to see more stories<br />
highlighting our impact in our communities.<br />
You also want to find ways to highlight the positive aspects of our<br />
communities in the media – showing a more complete picture of<br />
what is happening than what the current local media covers.<br />
We will be launching a web portal to gather and promote<br />
stories of REALTOR ® champions. We will also be launching our<br />
diversity committee, which will engage individuals in our 77 city<br />
neighborhoods as well as Cicero and Berwyn.<br />
We’re working on scheduling more local events in your area for 2019-<br />
2020 — stay tuned!<br />
Register for our upcoming events.<br />
PROFESSIONALISM – MORE OF IT!<br />
You want to see an increased level of professionalism from all<br />
Chicago REALTORS ® .<br />
Share your stories.<br />
MORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES<br />
You’d like to see increased volunteer opportunities, including<br />
micro-volunteer opportunities. We are working on creating more<br />
opportunities to get involved with the association.<br />
Check out our Get Involved page to apply for a committee.<br />
We’re excited that the National Association of REALTORS ® has<br />
introduced the Commitment to Excellence (C2EX), a program that<br />
empowers REALTORS ® to demonstrate their professionalism and<br />
commitment to conducting business at the highest standards. We<br />
will be actively promoting this program to members.<br />
Not ready to commit to a year-long appointment? Sign up to be<br />
the first to hear about micro-volunteer opportunities as they are<br />
launched.<br />
Sign up to be notified about micro-volunteer opportunities.<br />
This innovative engagement tool encourages participation in all<br />
levels of the REALTOR ® organization. It’s not a designation or a<br />
course, nor is it a requirement, but it is a benefit available to all NAR<br />
members at no additional cost.<br />
Get started by taking the self-assessment to measure your<br />
professionalism proficiency, the C2EX Competencies. Based on<br />
your results, the platform will give you customized learning paths,<br />
recommend experiences, and provide tools and resources to<br />
increase your knowledge and enhance your skills.<br />
Test and enhance your professionalism via<br />
the Commitment to Excellence platform.<br />
Check out the listening tour presentation<br />
and more photos from the events.<br />
30 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
NORTH<br />
SOUTH<br />
WEST TOWNS<br />
CENTRAL<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 31
WELCOME TO<br />
ROGERS<br />
PARK<br />
The Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical<br />
Society describes the area fewer than<br />
10 miles north of Downtown Chicago as<br />
“The World in One Neighborhood.” Rich<br />
in history and diversity of people, homes<br />
and landscape, Rogers Park is bordered<br />
by West Devon Avenue, North Ridge<br />
Avenue, Howard Street and the eastern<br />
lakefront. Whether you’re looking for<br />
an eclectic cuisine or street-end public<br />
beaches, Rogers Park seems to have a bit<br />
of something for everyone.<br />
FROM DIVIDE<br />
TO DIVERSITY<br />
Although Rogers Park is a populous and<br />
inclusive neighborhood today, it wasn’t<br />
immune to division. Initially, the area<br />
was home to the Pottawatomie, Ottawa<br />
and Chippewa tribes, also known as the<br />
Council of Three Fires. These communities<br />
worked together and traded goods<br />
harmoniously. When European settlers<br />
came to the area, the Council of Three<br />
Fires was said to be welcoming. Still, in<br />
1816, the Treaty of St. Louis created a<br />
diagonal trail through the area, separating<br />
settlers and the native tribes. Then, the<br />
1833 Treaty of Chicago gave land west<br />
of Lake Michigan to the government and<br />
pushed the Council of Three Fires out of<br />
the area.<br />
Following the treaty, Irish immigrant Phillip<br />
Rogers moved into Illinois and purchased<br />
over 1,600 acres of the land from the<br />
government. After he passed away, his<br />
son-in-law Patrick Touhy took ownership<br />
of the land and created subdivisions<br />
and communities, resulting in increased<br />
development, expansion and residency.<br />
By 1878, the area was incorporated as<br />
the Village of Rogers Park. The area<br />
west, which Touhy also controlled, was<br />
incorporated as the Village of West<br />
Ridge. In 1893, both villages became part<br />
of the city of Chicago, with Rogers Park<br />
attracting affluent families and West Ridge<br />
attracting farmers. Italian, Jewish, Irish<br />
and Eastern European families moved into<br />
Rogers Park in droves until 1929, when<br />
the Great Depression struck. As the area<br />
slowly began to recover, Mexican, Latin<br />
American, Black and Asian families moved<br />
into the area, making its ethnic, racial and<br />
cultural makeup increasingly diverse.<br />
Diversity is a key characteristic of the<br />
neighborhood. Today, the trail that divided<br />
32 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
settlers and natives is known as Rogers<br />
Avenue. That, and the park on the trail,<br />
called Indian Boundary Park, are the only<br />
clues that division ever existed in the<br />
neighborhood. Present-day Rogers Park<br />
is full of different cultures, languages,<br />
ethnicities, ages and religions. In fact,<br />
“[Rogers Park] was involved in a global<br />
study back in the 1990s, where<br />
researchers wanted to know how<br />
everyone lives together,” Connie Abels,<br />
RE/MAX NorthCoast, said. “That’s one<br />
of the things people like about living<br />
here: it doesn’t matter who you are;<br />
when you walk down the street, you’ll<br />
be welcomed.”<br />
WHY ROGERS<br />
PARK?<br />
Do you need to live in a neighborhood<br />
with easy access to your job in Downtown<br />
Chicago? Is it important to you to have<br />
eateries within walking distance? Like<br />
most of us, do you enjoy long walks on<br />
the beach? Ask any of its nearly 60,000<br />
residents about why Rogers Park is the<br />
place to be, and they’ll likely mention its<br />
convenience.<br />
Types of Homes<br />
Rogers Park is home to many classic<br />
bungalow-style homes. The Rogers Park/<br />
West Ridge Historical Society even hosts<br />
an Annual House Walk where tourgoers<br />
can learn all about the bungalows<br />
throughout the neighborhood.<br />
A bungalow, however, isn’t your only<br />
housing option. “Nothing is really<br />
common,” Abels said. “There are big,<br />
sprawling vintage condos, mid-century<br />
homes and new developments.”<br />
In this northernmost neighborhood,<br />
homebuyers can expect to find rehabs<br />
and new construction in addition to luxury<br />
and affordable units in virtually any style<br />
of home that fits their needs. Given the<br />
diverse community of people who live<br />
there, the variety of housing options<br />
comes as no surprise. Just like everything<br />
else in Rogers Park, there’s something<br />
for everyone.<br />
Great Transportation<br />
With a Walk Score of 86, the official<br />
WalkScore.com profile says, “People in<br />
Rogers Park can walk to an average of<br />
Cont.....iContinued on page 34<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 33
Continued from page 33<br />
7 restaurants, bars and coffee shops in<br />
5 minutes.” If bike riding is more your<br />
speed, you’re in luck, as Rogers Park is<br />
very bike-friendly, and the neighborhood<br />
continues to make even greater accommodations<br />
for cyclists.<br />
Thinking about swapping your car for<br />
public transportation? “Our transportation<br />
is some of the best in the city because of<br />
our location,” Abels said. Chicago Transit<br />
Authority’s Red, Yellow and Purple lines,<br />
Metra and many CTA bus routes will take<br />
you all over the City of Chicago.<br />
Street-End Beaches<br />
Look behind the homes to find beautiful<br />
public beaches sprawled along the<br />
eastern border of Rogers Park. North<br />
Shore Beach and Loyola Beach, located<br />
near Loyola University, usually stay<br />
pretty active thanks to students, families<br />
and visitors, as they provide the food<br />
vendors and playgrounds to make it a fun<br />
experience for all. For a quieter beach<br />
experience, Rogers Avenue Beach is a<br />
go-to, and for a little bit more adventure,<br />
Leone Beach offers kayaking. If you<br />
want the best of both worlds, Helen<br />
Doria Beach allows visitors to get oneof-a-kind<br />
views of Downtown. Rogers<br />
Park’s beaches are hidden gems, and its<br />
residents work hard to protect them. Large<br />
conservation projects protect the Lake’s<br />
wildlife and animals from machinery and<br />
the community often joins together for<br />
volunteer days to keep the beaches as<br />
beautiful and serene as they are today.<br />
International Food<br />
Destination<br />
Living up to its “World in One Neighborhood”<br />
descriptor, Rogers Park’s food scene<br />
includes authentic dishes from every<br />
continent. On any night of the week, you<br />
can enjoy African, Asian, European, Latin<br />
and American cuisines. Here are a few<br />
local favorites:<br />
• Ethiopian Diamond II — Ditch the<br />
utensils and try sampler platters that<br />
give you a true taste of Ethiopia. Food,<br />
music and occasional live entertainment<br />
makes this a go-to spot for lunch,<br />
dinner and weekend brunches.<br />
• XO Marshmallow — Satisfy your<br />
sweet tooth at this totally<br />
34 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
Instagrammable gourmet marshmallow<br />
wonderland. These handcrafted sweet<br />
treats come in flavors ranging from<br />
vanilla to champagne and they’re big<br />
enough to share — or indulge solo if<br />
you wish. The owners say they created<br />
the shop to bring back the feeling of<br />
eating marshmallows by a campfire.<br />
Well, mission accomplished, as<br />
customers can’t seem to get enough.<br />
• bopNgrill — If you’re in need for a quick<br />
bite, bopNgrill is a must. The “inventive<br />
Korean-inspired burger joint” is also<br />
known for its rice plates that include the<br />
perfectly-seasoned protein of your<br />
choice, as well as side dishes like<br />
Korean Philly Cheesesteak Eggrolls.<br />
• Taste of Peru — Take a trip to South<br />
America by checking out Taste of Peru.<br />
If the name sounds familiar, you<br />
probably saw this treasure on the<br />
Food Network’s Diner, Drive-Ins and<br />
Dives, when Guy Fieri quickly became<br />
a fan of the Peruvian-style chicken<br />
tamales. But according to Time Out<br />
Chicago, in this restaurant, “seafood<br />
is king.”<br />
• Midnight Mac & Cheeserie — If late<br />
night macaroni and cheese is your<br />
thing, look no further than this Rogers<br />
Park favorite. Open from 4 PM to 2 AM,<br />
this cheeserie offers seven signature<br />
mac and cheese dishes and allows you<br />
to make your own concoction with<br />
some interesting, yet tasty add-ons,<br />
like Flaming Hot Cheetos.<br />
The Arts<br />
One of the key characteristics of Rogers<br />
Park is the community’s love for and<br />
talent in the arts. The Mile of Murals, for<br />
example, is a 14,000 square foot stretch of<br />
murals done by artists selected by a panel<br />
of community members. Then, there’s<br />
the Artist of the Wall Festival, which<br />
is essentially a community day where<br />
residents contribute to a mural between<br />
Farwell Avenue and Morse Avenue. Every<br />
year, the same wall is repainted white, so<br />
neighbors can gather again and repaint<br />
the wall.<br />
For those who prefer to experience the<br />
arts indoors, the Rogers Park Art Gallery<br />
and Greenleaf Art Center display the<br />
work of local artists. For some performing<br />
arts, Lifeline Theatre is a neighborhood<br />
staple. Lifeline offers audiences original<br />
and adapted plays, educational programs,<br />
camps for kids and drama classes.<br />
To get a taste of all the arts in Rogers<br />
Park, be sure to attend the summertime<br />
Glenwood Ave Art Fest. This free weekend<br />
festival attracts people from all over but<br />
is particularly special to Rogers Park<br />
residents.<br />
Sense of Community<br />
While homes, diversity, arts and lakefront<br />
proximity are the main reasons people<br />
move to Rogers Park, Abels said “the<br />
sense of community” is what makes them<br />
stay. In Rogers Park, neighbors come<br />
together in times of celebration and times<br />
of need. From community clean-up days<br />
to arts festivals, the neighborhood pride is<br />
evident, and all for good reason.<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 35
Special Advertising Section<br />
INDUSTRY PARTNERS<br />
GREATER<br />
Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) - Greater Chicago<br />
areaa.org/greaterchicago/ @AREAAchicago @areaagreaterchicago<br />
The Global Market: The Next Opportunity was held on March 19 at the Hofbrauhaus in Rosemont. Attendees<br />
learned global best practices and how to grow their global business. Anthony Chan, Chief Economist for<br />
JP Morgan Chase, was our keynote speaker. We also featured panels on growing your business globally.<br />
FIABCI-Midwest, the International Real Estate Federation<br />
fiabciusamember.com<br />
@FIABCIMidwest<br />
FIABCI is your ticket to the international real estate marketplace. Not a member yet? There is still time<br />
to take advantage of 2019 special pricing. For more info, contact President Dee Dee Blizard:<br />
info@globalrealestateconsulting.com<br />
National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP) – Chicago<br />
facebook.com/groups/NAGLREPChicagoChapter/<br />
NAGLREP is proud to present its second annual LGBT Real Estate Report, which can be found on ChicagoREALTOR.com<br />
under “Industry Partners.” The report details the ways in which NAGLREP continues to fight against housing<br />
discrimination for the LGBT community and influence laws and policies that strengthen these protections.<br />
National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) – Chicago Chapter<br />
www.nahrepchicago.org/<br />
@nahrepchicago<br />
Chicago continues its mission to advance sustainable Hispanic homeownership and educate and empower the<br />
real estate professionals who serve Hispanic home buyers and sellers. NAHREP Chicago had a successful<br />
Wealth Conference on May 2 nd . Make sure you join us on July 18 th for an evening sail and networking mixer on<br />
beautiful Lake Michigan!<br />
NAREB Chicago Chapter / Dearborn REALTIST ® Board (DRB)<br />
https://chicagorealtist.com/<br />
@chicagorealtist<br />
Dearborn REALTIST ® Board promotes black homeownership and financial literacy during Community Wealth<br />
Building days in several aldermanic wards. During the months on May and June, these informative events have<br />
been a resounding success! We are proud to continue to offer these programs and events to our members and<br />
residents who are especially located on the south and west sides of Chicago!<br />
Real Estate to the Rescue (RTTR)<br />
https://realestatetotherescue.com/ @RealEstatetotheRescueChicago @realestatetotherescue<br />
RttR continues to be a resource for the real estate community for sourcing pet-friendly buildings, assisting<br />
with abandoned pets in listings, and advocating for animals in the city and suburbs. Our events and<br />
fundraising efforts helped serve over 100 animals and owners in 2018.<br />
Women’s Council of REALTORS ® (W<strong>CR</strong>) – Chicago<br />
www.wcr.org/network-sites/illinois/chicago/ @W<strong>CR</strong>Chicago @W<strong>CR</strong>_Chicago<br />
The ladies (and men) of W<strong>CR</strong> Chicago continue their year with stellar programming and fantastic networking<br />
opportunities for our members. Follow us on social media to keep up with us in real time and for all things<br />
W<strong>CR</strong> Chicago!<br />
Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP) – Chicago Chapter<br />
https://varep.net/<br />
@VAREPChicago<br />
This spring, we hosted our first Veteran Housing Summit, to offer our veteran & military communities education<br />
on the home buying process, VA Loan benefit and credit counseling. If you’re looking for a way to give back to<br />
your veteran & military communities throughout Chicagoland, please reach out to us to learn more!<br />
36 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
Special Advertising Section<br />
FIABCI - Midwest<br />
NAGLREP - Chicago<br />
2019 INDUSTRY PARTNERS<br />
VAREP - Chicago Chapter<br />
W<strong>CR</strong> Chicago<br />
Real Estate to the Rescue<br />
NAHREP Chicago Chapter<br />
AREAA Greater Chicago<br />
DRB<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 37
Government Affairs<br />
REALTOR ®<br />
Advocacy Update<br />
BY BRIAN BERNARDONI, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS<br />
After a long, busy election season, let’s take a look back to see<br />
what we’ve accomplished on your behalf.<br />
MAYOR LIGHTFOOT<br />
AND THE NEW COUNCIL<br />
Lori Lightfoot is fully aware of the daunting fiscal and political<br />
landscape she will have to navigate as she takes over the reins as<br />
our Mayor. Lightfoot’s answers to our survey questions reflected<br />
our beliefs in a number of areas; we see great opportunities in<br />
working together moving forward and we stand ready to assist her<br />
administration in understanding the real estate climate and our<br />
importance to the local and regional economy.<br />
RUNOFF RACES<br />
& RESULTS<br />
• 5th Ward: Leslie Hairston has been an advocate on issues<br />
related to high rises. Hairston was sworn in, pending a<br />
recount petitioned by her challenger.<br />
• 6th Ward: CAR has found Roderick Sawyer to be<br />
accessible. He has proven to be reasonable and willing<br />
to work with REALTORS ® . Sawyer won the race.<br />
• 15th Ward: Ray Lopez, across the board, has been a great<br />
resource and advocate for REALTORS ® . Lopez won the race.<br />
• 16th Ward: CAR has been working for nearly four years to<br />
recruit Stephanie Coleman to run. Coleman won the race.<br />
• 20th Ward: CAR deemed this race a neighborhood<br />
dispute. Jeanette Taylor won the race.<br />
• 21st Ward: Howard B. Brookins has been a solid<br />
REALTOR ® advocate. Brookins won the race.<br />
• 25th Ward: CAR supported Alex Acevedo, as Byron<br />
Sigcho-Lopez is unsupportive of the REALTOR ® agenda.<br />
Acevedo lost the race.<br />
A number of progressive voices have been added to a growing<br />
caucus in the City Council. Collectively, they’ve been vocal in<br />
pushing for higher taxes on entities such as the Chicago Board<br />
of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. They are also<br />
strong proponents of enacting rent control. New chairpersons<br />
and committee memberships are a certainty. We monitor every<br />
committee and meeting and will keep you fully aware as new<br />
legislative agendas are formed.<br />
ELECTION POSITIONING<br />
& RESULTS<br />
Our results following the runoff elections were good. We were<br />
involved in 12 of the 15 races, and REALTOR ® -backed candidates<br />
won 10, including, for the first time, the unseating of an incumbent<br />
alderman and an open seat victory. REALTOR ® advocacy proved<br />
to a number of aldermen that if you support REALTORS ® , we’ll<br />
support you.<br />
Lori Lightfoot at the January 2019<br />
CAR Mayoral Candidate Forum at Manny’s<br />
• 30th Ward: CAR supported Ariel Reboyras, as he has been<br />
a supporter of the Association. Reboyras won the race.<br />
• 33rd Ward: CAR deemed this race a neighborhood dispute.<br />
Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez won the race.<br />
• 39th Ward: The Association supported Samantha Nugent,<br />
who has an extensive government affairs background and<br />
supports CAR in our opposition to rent control. Nugent<br />
won the race.<br />
• 40th Ward: Patrick O’Connor has been a perfect<br />
alderman in terms of support for the REALTOR ®<br />
community. Unfortunately, O’Connor lost the race.<br />
• 43rd Ward: CAR supported Michele Smith, believing<br />
she’d be the best overall supporter of private property<br />
rights. Smith won the race.<br />
• 46th Ward: CAR supported James Cappleman as he<br />
has supported CAR’s push to amend the RLTO. Following<br />
an extensive recount period, Cappleman won the race.<br />
*Represents races where CAR’s endorsed candidate won the election.<br />
*Represents races where CAR’s endorsed candidate lost the election.<br />
*Represents races where CAR did not engage.<br />
38 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
THE YEAR SO FAR<br />
“<br />
” ”<br />
“<br />
” ”<br />
FLOOD INSURANCE: CAR past president Mabél Guzmán,<br />
@properties, testified to Congress on the National Association<br />
of REALTORS ® ’ behalf, asking for permanent funding for the<br />
Federal Flood Insurance Program.<br />
TRANSFER TAX: The<br />
Chicago City Council<br />
progressive caucus<br />
attempted to rush an<br />
increase to the real estate<br />
transfer tax to fund a range<br />
of programs from increased<br />
homeless services to lead pipe<br />
remediation and Chicago Police and<br />
Fire pensions. These efforts were thwarted by REALTOR ®<br />
advocacy every time.<br />
RENT CONTROL: CAR and Illinois REALTORS ® were successful<br />
in blocking HB 255, which would have lifted the preemption on<br />
rent control in Illinois. The proposal failed to secure the votes<br />
needed to get out of the House subcommittee in March, sidelining<br />
the issue for now. CAR testified three times in front of the Illinois<br />
Senate and also participated in two rent control editorial boards<br />
for the Chicago Tribune and The Chicago Sun-Times, in coordination<br />
with the Chicagoland Apartment Association. As a result, both<br />
papers published editorials in opposition to rent control. We<br />
also worked closely with the building trades to gain their critical<br />
support and testimony. We are thankful for their partnership and<br />
understanding that rent control would not only have a negative<br />
impact on property owners, but also the trades. Learn more about<br />
the devastating impacts of rent control at AffordabilityForAll.com.<br />
CONFORMING LOAN LIMITS: Illinois REALTORS ® joined with<br />
us to move forward a HUD proposal asking for an increase in the<br />
conforming loan limit. While the request to HUD was rejected,<br />
we continue to work with strategic partners, including MRED,<br />
to provide data to substantiate our argument that a number<br />
of high-priced census tracts in the region deserve a higher<br />
conforming loan limit.<br />
Mabél Guzmán, @properties, told the House<br />
Financial Services Committee in early May that<br />
Congress must not let the National Flood<br />
Insurance Program lapse.<br />
Photo by Rafael Lomba, courtesy of NAR<br />
BUILDING CODE: Chicago REALTORS ® worked with the City of<br />
Chicago as part of a larger working group to bring forward the<br />
first major aggregate modernization changes to the building<br />
code in a generation. The new Building Code will more closely<br />
align with nationally-accepted model building codes and, as a<br />
result, allow for new architectural innovations. Throughout the<br />
six-month process, we argued we will never have an affordable<br />
city without an affordable building code. Changes to the plumbing<br />
and electrical code were excluded this round but expected in the<br />
future. The new code will be mandatory by August 1, 2020.<br />
“Chicago does not need to wade<br />
into the quicksand here. Given<br />
the uncertain ramifications of rent<br />
control, our city and state could move<br />
forward, right now, on better ways to<br />
make rents more affordable.”<br />
— The Chicago Sun-Times, “High rents are a<br />
problem. Rent control is not the answer.”<br />
ALSO ON OUR RADAR<br />
We continue to monitor sweeping changes to the Cook County<br />
Property Tax Assessment process and multiple proposals on<br />
aldermanic prerogative. In addition, we are monitoring efforts to<br />
add “alienage” and “covered criminal history” as protected classes<br />
under the Fair Housing ordinance.<br />
For more up-to-date summaries of our advocacy work, be sure<br />
to join us for our monthly Coffee with the GADs program. If you<br />
have questions on any of these matters, feel free to contact Senior<br />
Director of Government Affairs Brian Bernardoni.<br />
“In Chicago today, price controls on<br />
housing would allow some renters<br />
to stay in place, but it would tighten<br />
supplies by enticing landlords to<br />
convert units to condos or sell<br />
to owner-occupants. Apartment<br />
owners also would be less likely to<br />
invest in their properties, spending<br />
less on upkeep because rising<br />
overhead costs wouldn’t be offset<br />
by rising rents. Investors would look<br />
elsewhere. As the value of rentcontrolled<br />
apartment buildings<br />
stagnates, property tax revenue<br />
would decline.”<br />
— Chicago Tribune, “Rent control would benefit<br />
some tenants but sap vitality from Chicago”<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 39
Association News<br />
NEW 2019-2020<br />
DUES PAYMENT<br />
SCHEDULE<br />
You asked, and we listened! The dues<br />
billing period will begin during the summer,<br />
in response to your feedback that you’d<br />
like to make payments towards your dues<br />
when there is more market activity. You also<br />
expressed interest in having a longer period<br />
of time to submit dues payments, as well as<br />
smaller payment amounts.<br />
For 2019-2020, if you are opted into<br />
a payment plan, there will be six (6)<br />
installments, each payment totaling under<br />
$<br />
250, with the timeline extended from six (6)<br />
months to nine (9) months.<br />
Keep an eye on your inbox and the “My<br />
Account” section of ChicagoREALTOR.com<br />
for more information as invoices become<br />
available!<br />
Watch a video to better understand<br />
your Dues Invoice.<br />
Moses Hall Named to REALTOR ®<br />
Magazine’s 30 Under 30<br />
Moses Hall<br />
Each year, REALTOR ® Magazine does a national<br />
search for its 30 Under 30 class, which<br />
recognizes thirty young individuals who are<br />
making a difference in the world of real estate.<br />
This year, three Chicago REALTORS ® were<br />
selected as finalists, and one of them was<br />
named to the official 2019 30 Under 30 class.<br />
Join us in congratulating Josue Duarte, Realty<br />
of Chicago, Moses Hall, MoHall Commercial Real Estate and<br />
Development, and Jordan Pyle, Keller Williams Chicago - Lincoln<br />
Park, for being named to the list of 50 finalists. The final round tallied<br />
votes from the NAR selection committee, and Hall was named as an<br />
official 2019 REALTOR ® Magazine 30 Under 30 winner.<br />
This is a well-deserved honor for all three Chicago REALTORS ® .<br />
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to shaping and<br />
advancing our industry!<br />
CEO Michelle Mills Clement<br />
Named to Prestigious<br />
ASAE Fellows Program<br />
Michelle Mills Clement<br />
Congratulations to our CEO Michelle Mills<br />
Clement, CAE, who was accepted to the American<br />
Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Annual<br />
Fellows Program, an honor accorded to fewer<br />
than one percent of association leaders.<br />
Mills Clement earned peer endorsement and<br />
completed a comprehensive application and<br />
interview process prior to her selection, and her<br />
commitments to community development, diversity and education<br />
made her a standout candidate.<br />
In addition to her role as CEO, she holds Nonprofit Management<br />
(MNM) and Certified Association Executive certifications. Recently,<br />
Mills Clement was elected to the Board of Trustees at her alma<br />
mater, Bradley University, where she’s a champion for diversity.<br />
As a 2019 ASAE Fellow, she will coach future association leaders,<br />
identify association trends and make strategic plans and<br />
recommendations for advancement. Next time you see her, be<br />
sure to ask her about the Fellows Program and congratulate her<br />
for receiving such a prestigious recognition.<br />
40 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
Marion Valle, Valle Realty, Michelle Mills Clement,<br />
Chicago Association of REALTORS ® , and<br />
Tommy Choi, Keller Williams Chicago - Lincoln Park<br />
ILLINOIS REALTORS ®<br />
2019 CAPITOL CONFERENCE<br />
Tracey Williams, TEAM Real Estate Services, Inc.,<br />
Antonia Mills, Antonia L. Mills Attorney,<br />
Natasha Murphy, EXIT Strategy Realty and<br />
Megan Oswald, Real Living City Residential<br />
Representative Jay Hoffman<br />
(D), 113th District<br />
Front: Moses Hall, MoHall Commercial &<br />
Urban Development and Trischa Williams, Vesta<br />
Preferred Realty Standing Back: Niko Apostal,<br />
Keller Williams Chicago - Lincoln Park<br />
Thank you<br />
to the CAR members who made the trip<br />
to Springfield to advocate for our industry!<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 41
John Kmiecik, Century 21 Affiliated,<br />
is honored for reaching the $ 50,000<br />
vestment level Jordan in the Pyle, RPAC Keller Hall of Williams Fame.<br />
Chicago - Lincoln Park,<br />
Andrew and Melanie Everett, Melanie Everett & Company<br />
Mo Dadkhah, Main Street Real Estate Group,<br />
and Dustin Schaff, Fairway Independent<br />
Mortgage Corporation<br />
Kendra Green and Kiara Poole,<br />
Ani Real Estate<br />
2019 YPN KICK-OFF MIXER<br />
Chicago REALTORS ® meet with Representative<br />
Bobby Rush led by FPC Nykea Pippion-McGriff.<br />
Catherine Holbrook, Americorp, Ltd,,<br />
and Jimmy White, eClick Lending<br />
Mary Nack, Jameson Sotheby’s<br />
International Realty, and<br />
Francine Ivey, ONEprop Illinois LLC<br />
Julia Lindquist and Grace Goro Kaage, @properties<br />
Chicago REALTORS ® meet with Representative<br />
Brad Schneider led by FPC Matt Silver.<br />
Jennifer Hosey, Coldwell Banker, Nick Nastos, Fulton Grace Realty,<br />
and Stephanie Juckem, Coldwell Banker<br />
Antje Gehrken, A.R.E. Partners, and<br />
Moses Hall, MoHall Commercial & Urban Development<br />
SPONSORED BY:<br />
42 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
Tommy Choi and Niko Apostal, Keller Williams Chicago –<br />
Lincoln Park, Moses Hall, Miller Chicago LLC, Lindsay Miller,<br />
d’aprile properties, Drussy Hernandez, CONLON/Christies<br />
Real Estate, and Rachel Frangos, Baird & Warner<br />
Kristin Hayes, Guaranteed Rate, Matthew Williams<br />
and Andrew Castillon, Vesta Preferred Realty<br />
Victor Ramirez, Jeanette Zaragoza, Camilo Rodriguez,<br />
and Cheyenne Paul, The Federal Savings Bank<br />
Back: Kasey Taylor, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, Jordan Pyle, Keller Williams<br />
Chicago - Lincoln Park, Michael Bencks, Neighborhood Loans, Matt Piegza, Americorp. Ltd.,<br />
Alex Stoykov, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Rasheed Shofidiya, Kale Realty,<br />
Trischa Williams, Vesta Preferred Realty, Moses Hall, MoHall Commercial & Urban Development,<br />
Matt Friedman, Keller Williams Chicago - Lincoln Park. Front: Julia Lindquist, Grace Kaage,<br />
Collin Wasiak, @properties, and Kim Howard, Keller Williams Chicago - Lincoln Park.<br />
Lexi Lorimer, David Cullina, and<br />
Lynn Kummerer, Luxury Living Chicago Realty<br />
David Lotan and Lindsey Schendel,<br />
Main Street Real Estate Group<br />
Emma Butler, Neighborhood Loans,<br />
and Anya Rivtis, Dream Town Realty<br />
Photos by Marcello Rodarte<br />
Tanya Sinclair, Keller Williams Chicago - Lincoln Park,<br />
Adam Kriticos, Diamond Residential Mortgage,<br />
Desiree Jones and Sandesh Bilgi, d’aprile properties<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 43
Cindy Wilson, Jelena Bronge, Iwona Filipiak, Jim Kramer,<br />
Sonya Lea and Darlene Little, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices<br />
Anthony Panzica, Law Office of Anthony V. Panzica, Jill Panzica, Coldwell Banker,<br />
Judy Cirone, Greg Cirone, Interdome Realty, and Peter Shimp, Chicago Title<br />
Renata Chrobak-Pyrek, Fairway Independent Mortgage<br />
Corporation, Maggie Galarza, RE/MAX 10, Jenny Lima,<br />
RE/MAX Mi Casa, and Val Hatzelis, RE/MAX 10<br />
Ruth Medina and Soraya Rendon,<br />
Neighborhood Loans<br />
Brace Clement & Michelle Mills Clement,<br />
Chicago Association of REALTORS ®<br />
2018 SALES AWARDS<br />
Catherine Holbrook, Emma D’Amico and<br />
Jamie Price, Americorp Real Estate<br />
Tony Hardy, Marcus & Millichap,<br />
and Lenor Sherman, 360 Realty<br />
& Development LLC<br />
Michelle Kubala, Marissa Parrott, and Julie Harron,<br />
Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty<br />
Lamont Ellebb, Champagne Closings,<br />
and Tony Paolella, Haus Mortgage<br />
SPONSORED BY:<br />
44 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
Photos by Marcello Rodarte<br />
Brittany Shapiro, Jim Paddleford,<br />
Brad Lippitz, and Yoni Pizer, Compass<br />
Amber McLain and Emma Butler,<br />
Neighborhood Loans<br />
Bari Levin, @properties, Rebecca<br />
Thomson, Thomson Real Estate Group,<br />
and Elena Theodoros, @properties<br />
Rebecca Thomson, Thomson Real Estate<br />
Group, Mike Levin, @properties<br />
Commercial, and Michelle Mills Clement,<br />
Chicago Association of REALTORS ®<br />
Jane Lintelmann, Julie Busby, Pamela Moran<br />
and Maggie Yandel, Compass<br />
Nick Libert, EXIT Strategy Realty, and<br />
Marci Sepulveda, Chicago Agent Magazine<br />
Gail Spreen and Robert Thomas,<br />
Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty<br />
Meldina Dervisevic, Zarif Koradzic and<br />
Melanie Sanberg, Investors Meldina Realty Group<br />
Gaspar Flores, Jr., Gloria Flores, Su Familia Real Estate<br />
Mabél Guzmán, @properties, Gaspar Flores, Jaclyn Flores,<br />
Su Familia Real Estate, and Juan Araiza, The Federal Savings Bank<br />
David DuFault, Sandra Wright, Sam Shaffer, Dan Kravitz,<br />
Noach Jubelirer, and Ann Brown, Chicago Properties Firm<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 45
Claudine Koma, Compass Real Estate, Vincent Anzalone,<br />
Dream Town Realty, and Emily Gangwer, Compass Real Estate<br />
Molly Weisman, Compass Real Estate,<br />
and Aida Beganovic, RE/MAX Vision 212<br />
Maurice Hampton, Centered | RCG, and<br />
Megan Oswald, Real Living City Residential<br />
2018 SALES AWARDS<br />
Nick Calabrese, Compass Real Estate,<br />
Peter Shimp and Haley Hofman, Chicago Title<br />
Lisa Kon, Baird & Warner,<br />
and Marti Corcoran,<br />
Coldwell Banker Residential<br />
Tawnya McVicker and Melissa Vasic,<br />
Keller Williams Chicago-Lakeview<br />
Alex Kruser, Matt Engle, and<br />
Desmond Lathan, Fulton Grace Realty<br />
Demeko Taylor, Tori Gwin, Kasey Ann Reid, Laura Mitrick,<br />
Lauren Mitrick Wood, and Charlie Wood, Compass Real Estate<br />
46 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine<br />
Joe Castillo, RE/MAX Mi Casa, Siomara Barboza,<br />
The Federal Savings Bank, Erika Villegas, RE/MAX Mi Casa,<br />
and Maribel Guzman, The Federal Savings Bank
Joe Siciliano, Compass Real Estate, and<br />
Eamonn Cummins, Compass Mortgage<br />
Andrew Northrup, Jameson Sotheby’s International<br />
Real Estate, Eva Pawlus, Chase Bank, and Michael Shenfeld,<br />
Jameson Sotheby’s International Real Estate<br />
Daniel Close and Brittani Walker, Redfin<br />
Mike Del Preto, Fairway Independent Mortgage<br />
Peter Krzyzanowski, Keller Williams Chicago -<br />
Lincoln Park, and Levi Kane, One Legged Levi<br />
Niko Apostal, Keller Williams Chicago -<br />
Lincoln Park, and Jim Merrion, Showing Time<br />
Keli Knight, Yondi Morris, KMR Law Group<br />
and David Thomas, Dream Spots Leasing Inc.<br />
Cornelia Matache, Coldwell Banker Residential,<br />
and Christopher McAllister, Baird & Warner<br />
Sheyla Padilla and Deliza Abraham,<br />
Betancourt Realty<br />
Michelle Newman, Liz Moreno, Scott Newman,<br />
and Brad Robbins, Vesta Preferred Realty<br />
Michelle Maro, Sam Stewart, Emily Tam, John Dasdelen,<br />
J. Haakon Knutson, Shani Shtern, Lehigh Cohen, Bridgette Terrell,<br />
Alice Jordan, and Marisa Sanchez, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices<br />
Eduardo Jimenez, Angelica Rivera, Daisy Sandoval,<br />
Luis Ortiz, and Cinthia Villa, RE/MAX Partners<br />
Christian Smith and Shana Patterson,<br />
Coldwell Banker Residential<br />
Chris Oswald, Greater Illinois Title Company,<br />
and Jennifer Bender, Wintrust Mortgage<br />
Photos by Jack Lane, LANE Media & Productions<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 47
CALENDAR<br />
<br />
<br />
JULY<br />
<br />
Tuesday, July 2<br />
CAR CENTRAL<br />
<br />
Thursday, July 11<br />
HARBORSIDE GOLF COURSE<br />
<br />
<br />
Thursday, July 25<br />
APOGEE<br />
<br />
Wednesday, July 31<br />
MANNY'S DELI<br />
AUGUST<br />
SEPTEMBER<br />
®<br />
<br />
<br />
Thursday, Aug. 8<br />
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE<br />
AND INDUSTRY<br />
<br />
Tuesday, Sept. 3<br />
CAR CENTRAL<br />
OCTOBER<br />
<br />
Tuesday, Oct. 1<br />
CAR CENTRAL<br />
NOVEMBER<br />
DECEMBER<br />
<br />
Tuesday, Nov. 5<br />
CAR CENTRAL<br />
<br />
Tuesday, Dec. 3<br />
CAR CENTRAL<br />
<br />
Thursday, Aug. 22<br />
LAGUINITAS BREWING CO.<br />
<br />
<br />
Thursday, Sept. 12<br />
LOCATION: TBA<br />
<br />
Thursday, Oct. 17<br />
VENUE SIX10<br />
<br />
Wednesday, Aug. 28<br />
MANNY'S DELI<br />
<br />
Thursday, Sept. 26<br />
HILTON CHICAGO<br />
48 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
SUMMER LINEUP<br />
JULY JULY JULY<br />
Real Estate Investing<br />
9:00 AM - 5:30 PM<br />
Members: $130<br />
9 10 18-19<br />
30-31 5-6 26<br />
JULY AUGUST AUGUST<br />
Real Estate Negotiation<br />
Expert (RENE) Certification<br />
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM<br />
Members: $275<br />
26 29-30 9-10<br />
AUGUST AUGUST SEPT.<br />
Expanding Your Team:<br />
A Guide to Managing<br />
Personal Assistants<br />
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM<br />
Members: $40<br />
Resort & Second-Home<br />
Property Specialist (RSPS)<br />
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM<br />
Members: $130<br />
Real Estate Digital<br />
Marketing Certification<br />
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM<br />
Members: $297<br />
Green Designation<br />
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM<br />
Members: $280<br />
New Discounted Price! $139<br />
Summer Lovin’ – You’re Going<br />
to LOVE These Specialty Classes<br />
www.ChicagoREALTOR.com/Education<br />
ePRO ® Certification<br />
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM<br />
Members: $280<br />
A Guide to Assisting<br />
Real Estate Professionals<br />
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM<br />
Members: $40<br />
Income Property<br />
Analysis<br />
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM<br />
Members: $175<br />
SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER OCTOBER<br />
Advanced Income<br />
Property Analysis<br />
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM<br />
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Essentials of Property<br />
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM<br />
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1:00 PM - 4:00 PM<br />
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A Guide to Assisting<br />
Real Estate Professionals<br />
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM<br />
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Accredited Buyer's<br />
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9:00 AM - 5:00 PM<br />
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Expanding Your Team:<br />
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www.ChicagoREALTOR.com 49
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WWW.CHICAGOREALTOR.COM/CASINO<br />
THURSDAY • 6 -10PM<br />
OCTOBER 17<br />
VENUE SIX10<br />
610 S. MICHIGAN AVE, CHICAGO<br />
VIP PACKAGES: $ 1,000 – $ 10,000<br />
GENERAL ADMISSION: $ 165<br />
LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE.<br />
PASSWORD: highroller<br />
Contributions are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. The Illinois REALTORS ® Political Action Committee (RPAC) collects contributions from members of the National Association of REALTORS ® (NAR) for political activities. A portion<br />
of each contribution will be used for state political activities; at least 30% will be used for federal campaign purposes. The federal portion will be charged against an individual’s federal contribution limits under 2 USC 441a. Contributions are VOLUNTARY and refusal to<br />
contribute does not affect membership rights. A member may contribute more or less than the suggested amount. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available on the Board’s official website www.elections.il.gov or for purchase from the<br />
State Board of Elections, Springfield, Illinois.
4 Chicago REALTOR ® Magazine
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