Illinois REALTORS® Podcast

On the latest podcast, listen to REALTORS® Crystal Blanton and Oscar Toledo recount the unusual paths they had to take to help a pair of immigrant first-time homebuyers realize the American Dream of homeownership.

On the latest podcast, listen to REALTORS® Amy Wu and JJ Devore recount their families histories of homeownership and how taking the first step changed the lives of all that followed.

In this podcast, Megan Oswald, a REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Realty in Chicago, and David Ferrel Jr, a REALTOR® with Su Familia Real Estate in Chicago, talk about the importance of getting involved. Oswald is the 2025 chair of Illinois REALTORS® Public Policy Forum and Ferrel is the 2025 vice chair of the Illinois REALTORS® YPN Advisory Group.

The Boom Team is LIVE at the Gateway Center for the Illinois Realtors REconnect Conference! Our guests are Jeff Baker (CEO of Illinois Realtors) and Debbie Prodehl (Treasurer of Illinois Realtors). Join us as we discuss the hot issues and market trends for real estate in Illinois in 2025! What's working in the market? What's the housing outlook over the next year? What are the industry changes we need to know about? The answers to these burning questions, and more!

Today on the podcast we welcome Illinois REALTORS® Senior Director of Advocacy Programs Gideon Blustein and Director of Local Advocacy Tom Benedetto to talk about the results of the April 1 Consolidated Election. They outline how wins in the local and municipal elections showed the value of our REALTOR® advocacy efforts by electing REALTOR® champion candidates and defeating ballot initiatives aimed at increasing property taxes. 

Today on the podcast we're welcoming the chair and vice chair of the YPN Advisory Group, Ethan Nagar and David Ferrel Jr., to talk about the upcoming YPN Event The Road To Leadership & Advocacy: Empowering Your Voice taking place as a part of Capitol Conference 2025. This session is designed to equip you with essential qualities and practical skills to grow in your career and make a meaningful impact in your community. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, you'll leave with valuable tools to empower your voice and make a difference.

This week on the podcast we welcome Jean Lewis, chair of Illinois REALTORS® Spring Conference Working Group, and Young Brockhouse, Illinois REALTORS® vice president of professional development to talk all about the REconnect Conference & Marketplace taking place in Collinsville on May 13 and 14

This week on the podcast we're bringing back our awesome Legal Hotline Attorney Vicki Munson for the monthly report of what's #HotOnTheHotline! Vicki takes all the calls that comes in to the hotline and as such has a unique read of what's on the minds of you, our members. On this episode we discuss the legality of prospective buyers taking photos and videos in showings, the new Illinois Consumer Guide and updates on the use of Buyer-Broker Agreements. All delivered with that certified Vicki style!

This week on the podcast, you might have seen Governor Pritzker's recent State of the State address delivered to the general assembly on February 20th. In this address the governor specifically called out the current need for more housing in the state. Here to talk to us a bit more about what we're doing to work with lawmakers to make it a reality, we have our old friend the Vice President of State Government Affairs for your Illinois REALTORS Jimmy Clayton. Jimmy brings to light 2 of our 5 bills currently in the legislature that are truly building up steam to help ease the affordability crisis.

This week on the podcast we're quickly approaching the REengage Winter Conference to help you get you 2025 kicked off with energy! As with our 2024 gatherings we're once again offering Continuing Education courses and we're thrilled to have Lynn Madison once again gracing our stage to teach a 2 hour course on The New Normal: Turning Negotiations Into Transactions on Monday, January 27th from 2:00-4:00pm. To help us break all of this down we welcome back into the studio the VP of Professional Development Young Brockhouse to tell us all about the course. There's still time to register at www.IllinoisRealtors.org!

This week on the podcast we're welcoming back Illinois REALTORS® General Counsel and VP of Legal Services Betsy Urbance to give some vital and quickly-shifting legal updates that pertain to the Real Estate world. The Supreme Court heard arguments about the upcoming ban on TikTok and on the reporting requirements for LLC's to the FINSEN department of the US Treasury. What do these arguments mean or you? Well Betsy and the entire Legal Team have the answers and you cannot afford to miss them!

Happy new year everyone! We're kicking off the brand new year by drawing your attention to the quickly approaching REengage Winter Conference taking place January 27-30 in Bloomington-Normal. This conference is a MUST-ATTEND event for realtors, brokers, appraisers, new agents and everyone in between to make sure you start off the year right and hit the ground running. We're welcoming a full house of guests today including Tommy Choi, Jeff Kolbus, Megan Oswald, Nora Gruenberg, Neeley Erickson and Michael Dobrow to give you 5 MORE REASONS to make sure you're there!

A new year means a slew of new laws that are going into effect and many that pertain to the day-to-day dealings within the Real Estate Industry. It's once again time for our Associate General Counsel Matt Rentschler to give a comprehensive rundown of all of these new laws and what they mean to your businesses. From updates to RELA, new laws about Financial Disclosures and even updates to the Illinois Human Rights Act, Matt has you covered on everything you need to know as we begin 2025.

Happy holidays Illinois REALTORS®! Today our holiday gift to you focuses on the success of three Illinois recipients of NAR REALTOR® Magazine's 30 Under 30 class for 2024. Join us as we celebrate Brandon Blankenship of Keller Williams Premiere Properties in Wheaton, Viktoriia Kovel of Keller Williams Pinnacle in O'Fallon and Melanie Miller of Keller Williams ONE Chicago. The guest host for today's conversation is none other than Illinois REALTORS® Immediate Past President Matt Silver.

On this week's episode we welcome two guests to talk about an important part of REALTOR® advocacy that could fly under your radar unless the community you live in or work in is directly affected. Of course, we're talking about local advocacy and the critical role it plays in your business, in the real estate market and defending the rights of private property owners. To talk about it we welcome Illinois REALTORS® government affairs Director Neely Erickson and Ashley Heilman, President of the Northwest Illinois Alliance of REALTORS® and Managing Broker for Welcome Home Northwest Illinois.

On this week's episode of the podcast we're bringing you a message from Betsy Urbance, the General Counsel and VP of Legal Services for your Illinois REALTORS®. With the NAR Lawsuit settlement getting final approval from the overseeing judge, the practice changes the we have been adhering to since August will now officially be the standard. Still, 48 hours before the final approval the DOJ filed a statement of interest in the case indicating a concern about buyer broker agreements. To make sure you have all the facts about what this means Betsy popped into our studio to give you 5 reason why buyer broker agreements are an important consumer protection.

This week on the podcast we're bringing you the full audio of our 2025 President Tommy Choi appearing on the HOUSESMARTS Radio Show hosted by Lou Manfredini and carried on WGN Radio. In this conversation Tommy talks about the ramifications of the NAR Lawsuit getting final approval of the settlement agreement from earlier this year, how the practice changes from that suit have already been implemented in the industry, and were we can expect the market to go and how REALTORS® will continue to take a pivotal role in making the housing market thrive for all Americans.

This week on the podcast we welcome back Jimmy Clayton to give an election recap and preview the Veto Session in November.

This week on the podcast we welcome guest host Young Brockhouse, Illinois REALTORS® Vice President of Professional Development. Young hosts a special episode with longtime central Illinois REALTOR® Michael D. Oldenettel. Michael is the designated managing broker of the Real Estate Group in Springfield, but many of you may have met him through his selfless volunteering on the local, state and national REALTOR association levels for many years. He was the 2013 Illinois REALTORS® President and the 2023 NAR Member Engagement Liaison. In addition, for many years he has played an important role in the professional development of colleagues as a classroom and online instructor for the Illinois REALTORS® school and he is here today to tell us more about why it's important to continue your education.

This week on the podcast we welcome back Senior Director of Advocacy Programs Gideon Blustein to discuss the massive amount of Let's Talk Real Estate events that have brought REALTORS® and legislators together in 2024. Gideon talks about the better understanding REALTORS® gain from these events and they earn the trust and respect of key decision makers – like state and federal legislators. NAR has even been so impressed with LTRE that it refers to the program as a best practice! Join us for a great talk about what this program offers you our members and why it is you that powers it.

This week on the podcast we welcome back Illinois REALTORS® General Counsel and VP of Legal Services Betsy Urbance to bring you some more updates on the industry-wide practice changes. Specifically, Betsy talks about recent media coverage regarding the standardized forms being offered to help REALTORS® deal with the new changes and why the media spin has been incorrect. She also offers advice on how to navigate these changes to make sure your business is protected.

This week on the podcast we have two very special guests. We have an in-depth sit-down with 2025 Illinois REALTORS® President Elect Jeff Kolbus and Treasurer Debbie Prodehl. Both of these REALTORS® have been in leadership for a while and have experiences and backgrounds that make them ready to take on the changing landscape of the industry and help lead all REALTORS® into a bright and vibrant future. Get to know their personal stories and how they plan to lead us into the future.

This week on the podcast we're celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. With a little bit of history at the start we then turn it over to REALTORS® Joe Castillo and Erika Villegas to tell what the month means to them, how they celebrate and why it is important for all to celebrate the month. We also draw attention to NAHREP and the HWP's most recent State of Hispanic Wealth Report and how the information can help all REALTORS® better serve the Hispanic community. Erika Villegas is a Designated Managing Broker with RE/MAX In The Village and the President of the Chicago Association of REALTORS in addition to being a Director with the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals.  Joe Castillo is also a Designated Managing Broker and Co-Owner of RE/MAX In The Village and RE/MAX MICASA while also being a National Board Director for NAHREP.

This week on the Illinois REALTORS® Weekly Podcast we're bringing you a little taste of the Public Policy Forum from the 2024 Fall Business Meetings which was all about Zoning Reform and featured Angela Brooks, the 2024 President of the American Planning Association. She joined our CEO Jeff Baker on stage to talk about the origins of Zoning, the important role it plays in the future of the housing market and why REALTORS® are uniquely suited to help in that process.

After a week off we're back on the podcast and bringing you some of the vital info from the 2024 Fall Business Meetings! Today we're bringing you snippets from the Housing Forecast session featuring NAR's Dr. Jessica Lautz. Dr. Lautz goes into the latest economic and housing numbers and gives a forecast on where the market may be heading for the rest of the year and into 2025. 

This week on the podcast, sharpen your skills and reduce your risks when you choose the appropriate NAR safety resources for your business. You can't afford to let your guard down, even when key changes in the real estate market demand your attention. Strike a positive balance and use the NAR safety resources that fit your needs, whether you prefer watching videos, sharing documents or attending a live webinar.

On this week's episode of the podcast we're welcoming back 2024 President Matt Silver to talk all about the upcoming Fall Business Meetings! We take a look back at his first time attending the Meetings in the early 2000s, why this year's meetings are even more vital in the midst of the NAR Settlement changes and what specific sessions he's looking forward to!

Get the most out of the Fall Business Meetings by signing up in advance (and paying the fees) to take either of the two optional CE courses. But to get a seat for the latest recap of important legal issues, our free Legal Update, you'd better not be late for this ultra-popular session!

On this week's episode of the podcast Jeremy and Kelli are back to continue our preview of the absolutely PACKED 2024 Fall Business Meetings in Oak Brook. Registration is open now and today we're highlighting two standout speakers who are sure to make a big impact: Chris Abazis & Terri Sjodin. Chris will be featured during Wednesday morning's YPN Forum titled, “Get Niche or Die Tryin': Branding for the Niche Market.”  Terri will deliver Thursday's keynote address, “The Art of Presenting Persuasively.”

On this week's episode of the podcast Jeremy and Kelli are back to continue our preview of the absolutely PACKED 2024 Fall Business Meetings in Oak Brook. Registration is open now and today we're highlighting two standout speakers who are sure to make a big impact. We're highlighting the "Mythbusters" session led by Trista Curzydlo and the "Mastering The Art of Commission Negotiations" session with Mike Walker.

On this week's episode of the podcast Jeremy and Kelli are back to give you a preview of the absolutely PACKED slate of events going down at the 2024 Fall Business Meetings in Oak Brook. The 2024 Fall Business Meetings are scheduled for September 17th through the 20th at the Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort in Oak Brook. They go through the entire slate from guest speakers, CE sessions, the Inaugural Gala and much more! Mark your calendars and get signed up today!

On this week's episode of the podcast we welcome we welcome in REALTORS® Amanda Albrecht & Alejandro Rivera to give us 11 ways to help first-time homebuyers. In the April edition of Illinois REALTOR® magazine, these two discussed ways to help first-time homebuyers succeed, even when they can't find many homes to choose from within their price range. And now we bring them to you LIVE on the Weekly Podcast!

On this week's episode of the podcast we're welcoming back Senior Director State Government Affairs Jimmy Clayton and Senior Director of Advocacy Programs Gideon Blustein to explain how it's never been more important to attend a LTRE event than in 2024! 

On this week's episode of the podcast we're continuing our series talking about effective strategies you can use to combat negative news headlines and uninformed consumers. We're giving you clips from recent interviews we've conducted with REALTORS® from around the state about why REALTORS® still provide value. We welcome in Shari Hefner of Premiere Commercial Realty in Lake in the Hills, Jean Lewis of Keller Williams Pinacle in Edwardsville and Greg Phillips of Baird & Warner to talk about their experiences.

On this week's episode of the podcast we're welcoming back Illinois REALTORS® Legal Hotline Attorney Vicki Munson to talk about a renewed push of vacant property scams aimed at REALTORS® at how to spot the red flags when you encounter them. We also take some time to dive into some other topics she's been hearing on the hotline and preview what's coming up for the rest of the year.

On this week's episode of the podcast we're continuing our series talking about effective strategies you can use to combat negative news headlines and uninformed consumers. We're giving you clips from recent interviews we've conducted with REALTORS® from around the state about why REALTORS® still provide value. We welcome in Sherri Jordan of 527 Realty Group LLC in Bolingbrook, Paula Arpasi of Homefinders Realty in Benton and Kenya Williams, the owner and designated managing broker of KRGW Realty, LLC, in Brookfield to give their perspectives.

On this week's episode of the podcast we're going to talk about an effective strategy you can use to combat negative news headlines and uninformed consumers. We're giving you clips from recent interviews we've conducted with REALTORS® from around the state about why REALTORS® still provide value. We welcome in Amy Wu of Keller Williams Success Realty in Barrington, Elizabeth Goodchild of Berkshire Hathaway HomeService in Palatine and Rob Warmbir of RW Property Services in Clifton to give their perspectives.

On the podcast this week we're welcoming back REALTORS® Sam Powell and Gianni Nieto to help us kick off Pride Month in Illinois. Despite many advancements, there is still work to be done on the issues of equality and equity. President Matt Silver guides this honest and vital conversation with Sam and Gianni and helps spur all of us to continue to be allies to the LGBTQ+ REALTOR® community.

On the podcast this week we're taking a more narrative look at REALTOR® committee signups that are now open for application until June 28th. Matt Silver guides us through the stories and testimonies of 4 REALTOR® members across the state who have gained invaluable experience from their time on these committees. Join us as we listen to the stories of Suzanne Miller, Brian Kwilosz, Matt Persicketti & John Grissom.

On the podcast this week we're looking at the 2024 Global Forum which is just around the corner! Global Forum Chair Jana Herdova and Vice Chair Theresa Mueller join President Matt Silver to help us better understand how a growing number of professionals fuel their passions for travel and adventure with remote work without geographical limitations and offer a preview of the free virtual event on June 4.

This week on the podcast, Illinois REALTORS® 2024 President Matt Silver is back in the host chair to bring you clips from this past week's Spring Conference and Expo. One of the sessions at the event was Betsy Urbance's That Was Then, This Is Now, Here We Go; a live skit information session detailing how to navigate the new changes after the NAR Settlement. This show will be going on the road this Summer and this podcast offers a look at what you can expect when it travels to your area.

Get answers to your questions about the Illinois broker's license renewal process now that the April 30th deadline is in your rear-view mirror. In today's podcast, Vice President of Professional Development Young Brockhouse discusses some of the most common questions and offers valuable advice that can save you time, money and worry.

This week on the podcast, we're welcoming REALTOR and long-time trainer Lynn Madison to talk about the return of the vital CORE IL course to our 2024 Spring Conference. Make sure you take advantage of this great opportunity and earn core continuing education credit while you are networking and learning the latest developments in the ever-changing real estate market. It truly is going to be a Spring Conference to remember!

This week on the podcast, Illinois REALTORS® 2024 President Matt Silver is continuing his hosting duties for the month and brings you a packed episode with 3 special guests! He is joined today by past Illinois REALTORS® president Sue Miller, president of the Southwestern Board of REALTORS®, Sam Row and Capital Area REALTORS® association executive Kathy Nichelson to share their thoughts and experiences about attending Spring Conference over the years and why it's vital for you to join in this experience!

This week on the podcast, Illinois REALTORS® 2024 President Matt Silver is continuing his hosting duties for the month and brings you updates and advice from IDFPR Division of Real Estate Chief of Licensing & Education Nate Chandler. They answer all the questions you might have about Illinois broker license renewal, whose applications are due on or by April 30, 2024. 

This week on the podcast, Illinois REALTORS® 2024 President Matt Silver is continuing his hosting duties for the month and bringing us a small taste of what our members experienced at the 2024 Capitol Conference. These days were filled with celebration and renewal for the REALTOR cause as our members once again made a strong showing at the Capitol. In this podcast, you'll hear Senior Director of State Governmental Affairs Jimmy Clayton and his main stage presentation of the Governmental Update. For more from Capitol Conference 2024, visit our website, blog and social media channels.

This week on the podcast, Your Illinois REALTORS® President Matt Silver again takes over as special guest host. This week, he talks with Lake County REALTOR® Eve B. Lee, 2024 NAR Fair Housing Champion Award winner. Lee reveals how her conviction to do the right thing and commitment to supporting fair housing even in the face of opposition contributed to her recognition as a "Fair Housing Champion".

This week on the podcast Illinois REALTORS® President Matt Silver takes over as special guest host for the entire month of April. He's kicking it all off with a conversation with NAR Vice President of Policy Advocacy Bryan Greene about the history of fair housing, the fight to eliminate housing discrimination and the opportunities for our members to be allies for all prospective home buyers.