Ed Neaves has worked in many roles over the years. He's built homes, co-owned radio stations, run restaurants and now oversees a real estate business. The 2020 Illinois REALTORS® president talks about his vision to promote the value of the trade association he leads in the year ahead. 

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Ed Neaves has worked in many roles over the years. He's built homes, co-owned radio stations, run restaurants and now oversees a real estate business. The 2020 Illinois REALTORS® president talks about his vision to promote the value of the trade association he leads in the year ahead. And, as a bonus, he talks about his brief career as a cadet falconer in the U.S. Air Force.

Illinois REALTORS® has a program which seeks to build and support new leaders. Called the Leadership Development Program, this series of courses provides insight into association management, advocacy an communication skills necessary for volunteers. Illinois REALTORS® Bob Eby and Debbie Pawlowicz talk about what they got out of the program, and why Illinois REALTORS® should consider applying.

Illinois YPN: Brian Kwilosz on being deliberate in your networking [1:27]; Connie Vavra on building your referral network at REALTOR® events [4:43]; Rasheed Shofidiya on networking is your net worth [12:13]; Christine Coleman says don’t be a secret agent [19:20].

Caton Commercial CEO Bill Caton discusses Expo REAL, which is a massive European real estate trade show and conference held in Munich, Oct. 7-9. Caton says that the visit to Munich would benefit a commercial practitioner, no matter what stage of their career they are in. Illinois REALTORS and NICAR are offering stipends to cover the cost of registering for the event. Illinois REALTORS® can register here.

The Illinois REALTORS®' advocacy team is working with the Cook County Human Relations Committee on a new Just Housing ordinance which was passed by the Cook County Board earlier this year.  

In the August edition of the Illinois REALTORS Podcast, Mike Scobey, Illinois REALTORS senior director of local advocacy and global programs explains the ordinance, and why members engaged in property management and leasing should pay close attention to the ordinance.

Getting a CIPS designation requires coursework and a commitment to learning the ins and outs of the international real estate business.  

Illinois REALTORS® and the Northern Illinois Commercial Association of REALTORS® are providing three $1,500 stipends for practitioners to obtain coursework toward their CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) designation and travel to Munich, Germany to attend Expo REAL, which is a large real estate trade show.  

Caton Commercial Real Estate CEO Bill Caton is helping lead the effort and talks with the Illinois REALTORS® Podcast about the planned experience in October, and the benefits a CIPS designation can have for those who earn it.

The August edition of the Illinois REALTORS® podcast talks with Bill Caton, CEO of Caton Commercial Real Estate in Chicago about a stipend program which combines classroom learning toward a CIPS designation and a visit to a premiere real estate trade show in Germany.  

Illinois REALTORS® Mike Scobey, senior director of local advocacy and global programs, explains why changes by the Cook County Board on how applicants for rental housing are screened could have an impact on our members.

Jeffrey T. Baker will be only the fourth leader in Illinois REALTORS® history when he takes over as CEO in 2021. Baker shares with us his professional journey from working in public policy, to a legal career and now preparing to lead a 50,000-member association.

The Real Estate License Act went through its once-a-decade rewrite in the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly. Illinois REALTORS® Chief Legal Counsel Betsy Urbance discusses what changes are in store in this latest version of the Act, from education requirements to the age at which someone in the state can obtain a real estate license.