Winter 2024 Chicago REALTOR® Magazine
The official publication of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.
The official publication of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®.
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FROM THE CEO<br />
W<br />
e are facing challenging times. The value of<br />
a REALTOR ® is being challenged. However,<br />
I’ve seen the value of a REALTOR ® first-hand--<br />
through meeting and connecting with all of you<br />
and also through my personal real estate experiences.<br />
When I first decided I wanted to buy a home, I was unsure of where to turn.<br />
My brothers both owned homes but were new to the process. One was,<br />
in fact, the victim of predatory lending during his homebuying experience.<br />
I’ve known my personal REALTOR ® for 24 years; she and I are Delta Sigma<br />
Theta sorority sisters, and I knew that she was a REALTOR ® .<br />
So, I turned to her for help. I said, “I want to buy a house. What do I do?”<br />
and she immediately helped me start the process. She walked me through<br />
what to expect from the transaction, helped me clean up my credit score,<br />
found a lender for me and was by my side through the multi-year process<br />
of finding my perfect home. And I know this wasn’t special treatment; for<br />
as long as she’s been my REALTOR ® , I’ve seen her provide this exact level<br />
of expertise and care to many of her clients.<br />
Since my first homebuying experience, my REALTOR ® was the person<br />
I called when I experienced major life changes. She helped me rent my<br />
house when I moved to Seattle. When I moved back to <strong>Chicago</strong> and knew<br />
the house wouldn’t be sufficient for my larger family, including my husband and son, she helped me sell my first home and find us a new<br />
one that met our needs.<br />
My REALTOR ® has essentially been part of my family. She assisted my brother with a short sale that was a result of predatory lending,<br />
and she helped multiple other family members with buying and selling their homes over the years. Now I, and all of my family, view her<br />
as an extension of our family. The trust we have in her to help us through some of the biggest financial decisions of our lives is invaluable.<br />
I’ve seen how all of you go above and beyond for your clients and our city. I have confidence that we will continue to show why REALTORS ®<br />
are vital to the real estate industry, our communities and those who live within them. Let’s continue to make <strong>Chicago</strong> a vibrant place to<br />
live, work and play.<br />
MICHELLE MILLS CLEMENT, fasae, cae, rce<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
<strong>Chicago</strong> Association of REALTORS ®<br />
6 <strong>Chicago</strong> REALTOR ® <strong>Magazine</strong>
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