Illinois REALTORS® Podcast

This week on the podcast we welcome in guest host Illinois REALTORS® Governmental Affairs Director Neeley Erickson and our Director of Local Advocacy Tom Benedetto. These two always have TONS to say and we're cutting them loose on their recent travel to the GAD Institute Conference and what trends they're seeing coming to an Illinois community near you SOON!

Severe weather events are becoming more common. In times of disaster, the Illinois REALTORS® Relief Foundation (IRRF) steps up. This week on the podcast we welcome Cathy Madaus & Brandi Buchele to talk about the vital work of this foundation.

Severe weather events are sadly becoming more common. In those times of disaster, the IRRF steps up. This week on the podcast we welcome Cathy Madaus & Brandi Buchele to talk about the vital work of this foundation.

On this week's episode of the podcast Illinois REALTORS® Legal Hotline Attorney Vicki Munson breaks down the case of 'Pounstone v Cook'. This case involved a basement flooding after sale and how much the seller knew about pre-existing water damage. Vicki gives a detailed breakdown of the case, how the courts decided and what implications it has for the Seller Disclosure Act and your potential clients.

On this week's episode 2018 Illinois REALTORS® President and 2020 NAR Professional Standards Committee Chair Matt Difanis joins us to break down changes made to NAR's Code of Ethics at the June 5, 2025 Board Meeting. Matt has a long history of expertise in these issues and makes clear what has changed and how it effects your business practices.

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, fresh off of our incredible REengage Winter Conference, we're bringing you a FULL SESSION that was presented on the REengage stage. Government Affairs Directors Neeley Erickson and Nora Gruenberg presented a dynamic and vital sessions about "Crime Free" ordinances that are popping up all over the state. This issue is a key legislative priority for us in 2025 and through this session you'll learn the reasoning behind the measures, the real-world stories of how they go wrong, and what you, our members, can do about it.

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!