Illinois REALTORS® Assemble at the
Annual IAR Convention in Oakbrook Terrace, Sept. 19-21

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – More than 1,000 REALTORS® and other real estate professionals will gather September 19 - 21, 2007, for the Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR) 91st Annual Convention and Expo at the Drury Lane Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace.

Themed “Deals, Deals…and more Deals,” educational sessions at the convention include investment and tax tips, license law and escrow, online marketing tips for REALTORS®, Generation X and strategies for success in a changing market. Featured speakers include real estate trainers Matthew Ferrara and Terry Watson, noted author and entrepreneur Robin Crow, plus Howard Brinton, the ultimate interviewer of top producers and creator of the STAR POWER® University program.

“These sessions provide high quality training and educational programs for sales agents and brokers looking to diversify their sales and marketing techniques and catch up on the latest real estate trends,” said IAR president Robert Zoretich. “In addition to receiving information and advice from national trainers and experts on business strategy, marketing and technology, attendees will learn how to adapt to the changing market.”

REALTORS® have the opportunity to earn up to six hours of continuing education (CE) credit to meet their licensing requirements with two CE classes. Instructor Tom Lundstedt will present “Seven Vital Investment and Tax Tips” to help REALTORS® understand basic tax issues including personal versus business deductions, on September 19, from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.. “License Law and Escrow, Caught in the Web: Advertising, the Internet and Escrow” will provide REALTORS® with an in-depth analysis of license law and Code of Ethics issues on the use of the Internet, blogs, Web sites and advertising in general as well as a review of the most recent situations involving earnest money and escrow accounts.  The session, led by Lynn Madison, will be held on September 21 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

More than 100 vendors serving Illinois’ real estate industry will showcase their products and services in the state-of-the-art trade expo. Hours for the expo are 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on September 20, and 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on September 21. A Virtual Expo is available after August 15th on the IAR Web site, http://www.illinoisrealtor.org/iar/events/Convention/convvirtual.htm.    

Inaugural gala activities include a reception, dinner and dance in honor of the incoming 2008 IAR officers. The incoming officers are President Kay Wirth, ABR, CRS, GRI, LTG, PMN, a broker with Re/Max Unlimited Northwest in Crystal Lake; President-Elect Pat Callan, broker-owner of Realty Executives Premiere in Wheaton; and Treasurer Michael Onorato, GRI, broker-owner of Onorato Real Estate in Coal City.

For more information about the 2007 IAR Convention and Expo, visit the Illinois Association of REALTORS® Web site at www.illinoisrealtor.org or call 217-529-2600.

Advance registration costs before September 5 are $129 for members and $169 for nonmembers. Walk-in registration costs for the full convention are $139 for members and $169 for nonmembers. Walk-in costs for one-day registration are $99 for members and $109 for nonmembers and trade show-only registration is $34.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® is a voluntary trade association whose 60,000 members are engaged in all facets of the real estate industry. In addition to serving the professional needs of its members, the Illinois Association of REALTORS® works to protect the rights of private property owners in the state by recommending and promoting legislation that safeguards and advances the rights of real property ownership.

-30-