Illinois REALTOR® Magazine

Illinois REALTOR: 2012 Goals

January 2012

Illinois REALTORS® Share Their Marketing and Business Goals for 2012

By Kara Kienzler | Communications Production Coordinator

Technology, service and reconnecting with past clients were common goals and marketing strategies expressed by Illinois REALTORS® at the fall IAR Convention & Expo in St. Charles. Here are just a handful of the responses submitted to Illinois REALTOR® magazine for it’s iPad giveaway. Over 350 entries were submited.

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VIDEO: Illinois REALTORS® share their business/marketing goals for 2012 at the IAR Convention & Expo.


“Make my Web presence known!”

Congratulations Lorrie Groth, Century 21 New Heritage, Hampshire — winner of Illinois REALTOR® magazine’s iPad giveaway sponsored by our magazine partners: Advanced Publishing, Royle Printing and West + Associates, Inc.

Illinois REALTOR: Housing Forecast

January 2012

Jobs + Consumer Confidence = Housing Market Recovery

It’s hard to pay a mortgage—or buy a home—without a job. And while Illinois job growth has kept pace with the nation over the last year it’s been a long time coming. Twenty-one years to be exact, says economist Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) and professor of Geography, Economics and Urban and Regional Planning for the University of Illinois.

Illinois REALTOR: Are You Ready For Transition?

January 2012

LEGAL UPDATE: A Transition Tale of Three Licensees

By Elizabeth A. Urbance | IAR Legal Hotline Attorney; Associate, Sorling & Northrup, Ltd.

Are Your Ready? Make it your #1 New Year’s Resolution to complete your transition early in 2012

Here are some resources to help you, compiled by experts from IAR legal counsel and Carrie Elliott, Education Manager.

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KEY DATES:

2012

March 15 – Last day to take a proficiency exam

April 30 – Transition period ends for salesperson to broker; and broker to managing broker

April 30 – Broker licensees license renewal deadline

Every application to transition MUST be POSTMARKED by April 30, 2012. If you miss this date YOU START ALL OVER.

2013

April 30 – Managing broker license renewal deadline


FEES:

There will be two fees payable to IDFPR:

For Salesperson Transitioning to Broker:

Transition fee ($125)

License renewal fee ($150)

For Broker Transitioning to Managing Broker:

Transition fee ($150)

License renewal fee ($200)

Transition is NOT the SAME as renewal!


LINKS:

IDFPR Transition Guide - www.idfpr.com/dpr/re/RETransition.asp

www.IARlicenselaw.org

Illinois REALTOR: Young Guns

January 2012

Young Guns

By Stephanie Sievers | Associate Editor

Illinois REALTOR: Loretta Alonzo

January 2012

Loretta Alonzo: Living The American Dream

The story of Loretta Alonzo, CRB, GRI, president of the Illinois Association of REALTORS®, is the quintessential American success story. The granddaughter of an immigrant who came to this country with little, she’s made a name for herself in real estate and risen to the top of her field as a leader.

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“Never say the words, I can’t.”


Q&A With Loretta:

In the off hours I enjoy: Travel…anywhere in Mexico by the ocean. 

Personal goal for the year: Stay healthy.

What do you like to do in your leisure time? Golf.

What are you most proud of? My sons—they turned out to be good kids. I have six grandsons and a granddaughter.

Do you have a book you are recommending? Who Moved My Cheese. It is very relevant in this business. People are looking for where the business was before and it is not there.

Favorite sports team: The Cubs but my dad was always a Cardinals fan because he was born in Tennessee.

What motivates me? I am a self-motivator. I like to get up in the morning, start and keep going.

Phone: BlackBerry Curve.

Morning or Night? I am a late night person—stay up late at night and at the office late.

Printer or Paper? I am moving away from printing everything out.  I can pull up talking points and statistics on my iPad.

What do you like most about the industry? This was a great opportunity for growth as a person and for a career. You can pick your opportunities—can’t do that if you’re working for someone. I don’t think if I had stayed in a legal
assistant career I would have had the opportunity to be a business owner. 

Best advice to someone entering real estate: Be prepared to work hard—you get nothing for free, it is all hard work. There is a lot of reward in it with the independence you can have. You can make as much money as you want to make or as little.

Illinois REALTOR: Home Front

January 2012

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Gary Clayton is the chief executive officer of the Illinois Association of REALTORS® and he serves on the NAR Board of Directors. He has been an RPAC Major Donor for 20+ years and is a member of the RPAC Hall of Fame with lifetime contributions reaching $50,000. Born and raised in Poplar Bluff, Mo., Gary earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science, a master’s in Social Justice Administration and has earned the CAE and RCE designations. He and his wife of 33 years, Marsha, live in Chatham, Ill. and are the proud parents of four grown children.


We are the only advocate for private property rights. So we are helping our members’ customers and clients whether it’s a zoning issue or special assessment or transfer tax.

Illinois REALTOR: Advocacy

January 2012

Advocacy Reaches Out to Municipal Officials

It’s a proactive move to be a resource on REALTOR® issues and the housing market

Mike Scobey  |  Assistant Director, Advocacy and Local Issues

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January Public Policy Meetings in East Peoria; January 24-26, 2012

Each year in January, IAR hosts Public Policy meetings and forums which delve into a variety of government affairs issues and activities at the state and local levels. Attendees will learn about recent Advocacy Program projects as well as pending state legislative issues.  For a schedule, go to www.illinoisrealtor.org/publicpolicy

Illinois REALTOR: At The Capitol

January 2012

New Year, New Laws

While we know early 2012 will be dominated by the license transition, there are some other new laws that Illinois REALTORS® should be aware of.

Julie Sullivan  | Assistant Director, Legislative and Political Affairs

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2012 Session Dates Illinois General Assembly:

Jan. 31 – May 31, 2012  

For details, visit www.ilga.gov


2012 Election Year Key Dates

March 20 Illinois Primary Election

Nov. 6 Illinois General Election

An election year is a big year for the REALTORS® Political Action Committee. IAR members should know that RPAC will
be working to help elect candidates who care about the issues affecting your business and the rights of private property owners.

RPAC supports candidates that support pro-REALTOR® ssues, regardless of political party affiliation. 

Illinois REALTOR®: Advocacy

October 2011

Condo/FHA Approval, Landlord Guide and the New Lead Paint Rule

New resources for IAR members, and advocacy for the best interests of Illinois REALTORS®

Mike Scobey  |  Assistant Director, Advocacy and Local Issues

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Good News: REALTORS® Vote!

Members of the Illinois Association of REALTORS® have long taken pride in the political strength of our organization. We have committed the resources and dollars to enable a strong lobbying presence at the Illinois Statehouse and at the local level. We have a formidable political action committee—the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC).

We are “The Voice for Real Estate in Illinois.”  And one other way in which we show our political power is…we VOTE!

  • 65% of Illinois REALTORS® are registered to vote
  • Nearly 70% of those registered turned out to vote in the 2010 General Election (compared to 51% turnout among voters overall)

To elected officials, these are impressive numbers.

Illinois REALTOR®: New Agents

October 2011

Strategies From New Agents...

Getting in at the ground floor of the housing market recovery.

By Ann Londrigan | Senior Editor

REALTOR® Ashley Wydra
Century 21 Pride Realty, Frankfort
Licensed: February 2010
Age: 24

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  • Education
  • Open Houses
  • Strategy
  • Rent-to-Buy
  • MLS
  • Marketing