Illinois Association of REALTORS® 2013 Annual Report

1 www.illinoisrealtor.org

AnnuAl RepoRt2013


Table of ContentsIntroduction

2013 Leadership and IAR Staff

2013 Board of Directors

Operations

Awards

2013 Timeline

Governmental Affairs

RVOICE

RPAC

Legal

Professional Development

Communications

Information Technology

Illinois Association of ReAltoRS®

522 S. Fifth StreetSpringfield, IL 62701(217) 529-2600

web: www.illinoisrealtor.orge-mail: [email protected]: www.IARbuzz.com

www.facebook.com/Illinois AssociationofREALTORStwitter.com/ILREALTOR

Dear IAR member:

Welcome to the 2013 Illinois Association of REALTORS® Annual Report. As you’ll see, this

year’s edition is packed with facts about the organization and its members.

IAR is nearing 100 years of service to REALTORS®, and a review of this year’s accomplishments shows why this association has remained relevant for so long.

You’ll find highlights on: Advocacy: From the state Capitol in Springfield, to Congress in Washington, D.C., to city halls throughout Illinois, IAR maintains an aggressive and respected lobbying operation to promote sound real estate policy. The association’s Political Action Committee (RPAC) is one of the largest in the state, and donations ensure your business is protected.

education: IAR offers a wealth of opportunity to grow and learn in the real estate business. The association works with those just starting their real estate career as well as longtime veterans who need continuing edu-cation credit.

Of course, there’s much more. Your association provides legal guidance through its hotline, professional standards training, seminars and con-ferences and news which helps members better navigate the complex and changing world of real estate.

I am proud of the work we’ve done together in 2013, and it was an honor to serve as IAR president.

Sincerely,

Michael D. Oldenettel, CRS, GRIRE/MAX Professionals Springfield2013 President, Illinois Association

of REALTORS®

2013 IAR Annual Report 3

Professional DevelopmentWayne Edwards, CAE, RCE, Director of Professional Development (retiring)Kristen Butcher, CMP, Director of Professional DevelopmentCarrie Elliott, Education ManagerStacy Mahinda, Assistant Education Program ManagerDana Gurnsey, Administrative AssistantLindsay Lippa, Administrative Assistant

OperationsLen Taylor, Director of OperationsBethany Barnes, IAR RegistrarChris Barnes, Accounting/Operations AssociateBecky Clayton, Continuing Education Processing CoordinatorDalton Cordier, Student InternChelsea Domescik, Operations AssistantRandy Domescik, Business ManagerDebbie Harper, Membership Records CoordinatorCathy Madaus, Accounting ManagerRoger Oxby, Assistant Membership CoordinatorScott Sacco, Senior Accountant

FoundationsLaurie Clayton, Foundation Manager of the Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation (REEF)

Gary L. Clayton, CAE, RCE, Chief Executive Officer

Member and Association EngagementAnn Londrigan, CAE, Director of Member and Association EngagementLindsay Lippa, Member Care Specialist Dana Gurnsey, Member Care SpecialistKim Buscher, RPAC Fundraising CoordinatorCarie Cycholl, RPAC Fundraising CoordinatorJim Clayton, Market ResearchJenny Rich, Part-Time Marketing AssociateLyndee Fein, Marketing Manager

CommunicationsJon Broadbooks, Director of CommunicationsStephanie Sievers, Associate EditorKara Kienzler, Webmaster/Communications Coordinator

Governmental AffairsGreg St. Aubin, Director of Governmental AffairsJulie Sullivan, Assistant Director - Legislative and Political AffairsMike Scobey, Assistant Director - RVOICE and Local AdvocacyAimee Bick, Program Coordinator - RVOICE and Local AdvocacySharon Gorrell, Housing Policy Advisor

Local Governmental Affairs Directors (GADs)Kyle Anderson - Egyptian, Greater Gateway and Southwestern IllinoisBrian Bernardoni - ChicagoConor Brown - Belvidere, Heartland, Rockford and Northwestern IllinoisKristie Engerman - Bloomington-Normal, Lamoine Valley, Livingston, Mid Valley, Peoria Area, Quad City Area, Quincy, Pekin Area and West Central IllinoisHoward Handler - North Shore/Barrington and Mainstreet (Lake County)Tom Joseph - Kankakee-Iroquois Ford, Three Rivers and Mainstreet (South Suburban Cook County)Kristen Jungles - HomeTown, Illini Valley, Fox Valley, Sauk Valley Mainstreet (DuPage County)Neil Malone - Capital Area, Central Illinois, Champaign County, Danville Area, Decatur, Jacksonville and Logan CountyJeff Merrinette - Mainstreet (DuPage County, Northwest Suburban Cook County)

Information TechnologyMatthew Brewer, Director of Information TechnologyRalph Carbonell, Help Desk Technician

Legal CounselBetsy Urbance, Legal Hotline Attorney

IAR Staff

2013 leadership

Mission: To protect and promote private property rights while fighting for, educating and serving Illinois REALTORS® and consumers.

PresidentMichael D. Oldenettel,

CRS, GRIRE/MAX Professionals

Springfield

President-ElectPhil Chiles

ABR, CRS, GRI, SRESReal Estate Group

Springfield

TreasurerJim Kinney,

ABR, CRB, CRS, GRIBaird & Warner

Chicago

Immediate Past PresidentLoretta Alonzo,

CRB, GRICentury 21 Alonzo & Associates

La Grange Park

Rebecca Carraher, Executive Secretary


Ronald EwingMatthew Farrell

Agnes FayTyler Fuhr

Andrew GagliardoBobbie Gerbrecht

Jerry GibsonSheryl Grider Whitehurst

William GriffinMabel Guzman

Ronald HardgroveLisa HathawayDana HudsonRichard HuntKaren IracePhil Johnson

Thomas JonesJim Kinney

Patricia KloeppingJohn C. KmiecikThomas Krettler

Alex LaBelleTony Lape

Rita LiberatoreCrystal Lilley

Dondi MaricleJane McClelland

Judith McConvilleJames MerrionSandy MichelSusan Miller

Eileen MilliganCharles MontgomerieEzekiel “Zeke” Morris

Steve MyersMichael D. Oldenettel

Michael OnoratoPatricia Palzet-Taylor

Michael ParentGerald Perlow

Jack PersinJohn Purple

Randall RaynoldsDave RichertHugh Rider

Karen RobertsonR. Rex Rowland

Eric RydenTodd Salen

Chris Seniker

Ron AbramsLoretta Alonzo

Janet Andreotti-PleckiJim Barbagallo

Amy BarnesScott BeilfussGenie BirchTerri BookerLaura Boyer

Monica BurkholderTonya BurrisPat Callan

Donald CaveChristine ChaseGrant ChignoliPhilip Chiles

Colleen ClavesillaTonya Corder

Ellen CrediRichard Crosby

Jean CrosbyHeather CunninghamPatrick Dalessandro

Mike DrewsThomas Ewing

Leo SheridanToni ShermanCarol Shields

Pradeep ShuklaStan SieronChris Smith

Constance Stellhorn-SchanterNancy SuttonGlenn SwickTricia Tialdo

Phillip TrautmanVicky TurnerLois TyrrellMary Ulfers

James VotanekDan Wagner

Martin WalshDavid WaymanLinda Wheaton

Kay WirthGreg Zanger

Robert Zoretich

Board highlightsHydraulic fracturing a focus of task force

Illinois is poised to see an energy exploration boom through the use of hydraulic fracturing. The process, which shoots pressurized water, chemicals and sand deep under-ground, has potential ramifications for REALTORS®, partic-ularly those living and working in southern Illinois.

In 2013, IAR Treasurer Jim Kinney chaired a task force to look at what REALTORS® needed to now about hydrau-lic fracturing. Kinney was uniquely suited to the task, having come from a family that was involved in the oil business in Illinois. The task force talked to state regula-tors and legal experts, and as a result provided training on the energy extraction process and what REALTORS® should be aware of as they work with clients.

The task force drew members from throughout the state, and pro-vided valuable insight into what the future might hold as Illinois works toward regulating energy exploration in a way that protects the environ-ment, landowners and business.

Board actionsIn 2013 IAR transitioned to

a 28-member board, a move that began with a 2012 vote by the full

107-member Board of Directors. The change was made to create a more focused board able to respond more quickly to market and strategic changes. The new board met for the first time in December, 2013.

Front row, left to right: Connie Conway, Chris Read, Loretta Alonzo (past president), Michael Oldenettel (immediate past president), Mike Drews (treasurer), Phil Chiles (president), Jim Kinney (president-elect), Thomas Krettler, Patrick Dalessandro (past president), Stan Sieron (a past president who was selected as an at-large member). Back row, left to right: Andrew Cook, Susan Miller, Piero Orsi, Vicky Turner, Christopher Tenggren, Mike Buscher, Michael Onorato (past president), Sheryl Grider Whitehurst (past president), Jeff Kolbus, Robert Eby, Pat Callan (past president), Michael Parent, Max Mitchell, Kay Wirth, Charles Wiercinski, Daniel Wagner, Ed Neaves, John C. Kmiecik (ex officio, Region 7 NAR VP). Not pictured: Pat McCarthy.

Board of Directors

“What REALTORS® need to know about hydraulic fracturing, Part 1,” avail-able on IAR’s YouTube channel.

operations

Reserves/Capital Management/Operations

Education

Member Services

Governmental Affairs Lobbying

Communication

Meetings/NAR

$66$10

$17

$18$23

$16

Dues Rate: $150Dues Distribution

top items requested from the ReAltoR® store in 2013:

1. Federal Lead Paint Pamphlet, 81,350

2. Radon Testing Guidelines Pamphlet, 37,250 sold

3. Broker Option 1: 75-hour Pre-License Topics Home Study, 26,400 sold

4. The Consumer’s Guide to Real Estate Agency in Illinois, 26,150 sold

5. License Law Manual, 22,700 sold

6. Seller Disclosure, 21,600 sold

7. Radon Disclosure Form, 13,250 sold

8. Getting It Sold - Your Resource for Staging Curb Appeal and Selling Success, 12,850 sold

9. Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Your Home, 11,900 sold

10. Fair Housing, A Seller’s Guide, 8,700 sold

Membership

IAR membership rose slightly

in 2013 to 42,783 members,

up from 42,701 in 2012. There

were and average of 284 new

licensees per month in 2013.

AdvocacyIn 2013, IAR collected $2,077,900 in RVOICE assessments and spent $2,167,003 on RVOICE expenses. Overall, there was $3,412,363 remaining in the RVOICE assessment fund in 2013.

The Illinois Association of REALTORS® paid off its headquarters in Springfield in 2013. IAR broke ground on the building at 522 S. Fifth Street in downtown Springfield in 2005 and made its final mortgage payment on the $4 million building in December 2013.

IAR Headquarters timeline:August 5, 2004 Earnest money to hold lot ($25,000)

Oct. 14, 2004 Worked with Steckel Parker Architects

Jan. 30, 2005 Purchased lot

Feb. 7, 2005 Retained Melotte-Morse-Leonatti as architectural firm

July 12, 2005 Committee approved sketch of building with a few updates

Aug. 2, 2005 Springfield Historic Sites Commission approves drawing

Oct. 6, 2005 Groundbreaking ceremony

Oct. 11, 2005 Sent out bids to contractors

Dec. 5, 2005 Signed acceptance of BRH bid

Dec. 6, 2005 Signed a lease with IAR Plaza Inc. and IAR

Dec. 15, 2005 Signed loan documents with Geneva for $4 million

February 2006 Began construction

June 2007 Moved in

July 2007 Began to pay the Geneva note payable off

Dec. 31, 2013 Made final payment on the Geneva loan



Vranas named ReAltoR® of the Year

John Vranas, CPM, owner of Vranas Ventures Inc., a property management company in Chicago, was

named the 2013 Illinois REALTOR® of the Year by the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. Vranas began his real estate career in 1978 and earned his broker license in 1984. Vranas is a member and past president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and was named Chicago REALTOR® of the Year in 2004. In 2006, Vranas received

IAR’s Distinguished Service Award, which honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions

and service to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® and their local communities.

“John is a devoted REALTOR® and leader who has spent much of his career giving back to improve the real estate industry and also his greater community,” said Michael D. Oldenettel, CRS, GRI, president of the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. “His commitment to political advocacy and furthering the REALTOR® cause has been felt at the local, state and national association levels.”

perlow honored for political involvement

Gerald N. Perlow, CPM, CRB, GRI, MAI, senior consultant with Property Valuation Services

in the Chicago area, was honored with IAR’s Political Involvement Award. Perlow has been a REALTOR®, appraiser and property management consultant in the Chicagoland area and nationally for more than 30 years. He is a past president of the Chicago Board of REALTORS® (now the Chicago Association

of REALTORS®) and the Illinois Association of REALTORS® in 1991. Perlow was named

Chicago REALTOR® of the Year in 1987 and Illinois REALTOR® of the Year in 1994.

“Jerry passionately believes in and advocates for the values of the REALTOR® organization, and he has consistently conveyed the position of the association to

the many key leaders that he’s developed contacts with throughout the years,” said Michael D. Oldenettel, CRS, GRI, president of the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. “He has met with governors. He has taken our message to many powerful people who might not share our view and yet he does it in a very diplomatic way.”

Sue Miller is a longtime REALTOR® and educator who holds the GRI, CRS, ABR, LTG, PMN, SFR and ePro designations. She was honored for her more than 30 years of service to the profession. Miller has been a director and president for her local association, served as a federal political coordinator, and has served on more than 30 committees for the state association. She’s a managing broker at Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell in McHenry, Ill.

Al Suguitan, CAE, the association executive for the Greater Gateway Association of REALTORS®, was honored for more than 40 years of service. He served as a state Real Estate Commissioner, is a member of the REALTORS® Political Action Committee Hall of Fame and has led the state association’s association executive committee.

Distinguished Service Awards

Awards


Wayne Edwards, CAE, retired with

33 years of service to IAR, where he was director of professional development. Edwards oversaw

the association’s education outreach

efforts, and was responsible for IAR events.

Charlie Heitbrink, a longtime Jacksonville, Ill., REALTOR® with RE/MAX Results Plus, Inc. He served on the Illinois Real

Estate Commission for 11 years.

Jean Crosby, CRB, CRS, GRI was honored for chairing the association’s Nominating Committee. Crosby is owner/partner at

Prudential Crosby Starck REALTORS®

in Rockford.

Deena Zimmerman, was recognized for her

work with the IAR Young Professionals Network, which provides training and networking opportunities for

REALTORS® who are newer to the

profession. The state’s YPN chapter was recognized as the best state program in the country by the National Association of REALTORS®. She’s with Jameson Commercial Real Estate in Chicago.

Lynn Madison was honored for her work with RPAC. She was 2011 IAR REALTOR® of the Year and is nationally known

for her work in real estate education.

Each year, the outgoing association president recognizes individuals who have worked tirelessly on behalf of the organization’s members. At the board meeting at the 2013 Fall Conference in St. Charles, IAR President Michael D. Oldenettel celebrated the work of five people with Presidential Medallions.


2013

timeline 2013

JanuaryIAR held its annual Public Policy meetings in East Peoria. At the event, John Vranas, CPM, owner of Vranas Ventures, Inc. in Chicago, was named REALTOR® of the Year and Gerald N. Perlow, senior consultant with Property Valuation Services in the Chicago area, was named the recipient of the IAR Political Involvement Award.

IAR launched the year-long “Lunch and Learn” webinar series for members, offering tips and strategies on marketing, technology and business ideas.

February RVOICE unveiled a new advocacy brochure, REALTOR® Community Activist Toolkit, to help members get involved and learn how to become local “watch-dogs” in their communities.

MarchIAR offered convenient educational webinars for members to earn CE in time for the April 30, 2013, managing broker license renewal deadline. Courses were available in an interactive, online format and at the Springfield headquarters.

AprilHundreds of Illinois REALTORS® attended the Capitol Conference in Springfield. The second annual Illinois Housing Leaders Conference featured special guests, Gov. Pat Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan.

The Multicultural Summit was held in Oak Brook and focused on real estate opportunities in the Caribbean and South Africa. More than 100 REALTORS® attended the one-day event that included speaker presentations on Grenada, Jamaica, South Africa and a keynote address from Julius L. Cartwright, president and CEO of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers.

MayREALTORS® from Illinois traveled to Midyear meetings in Washington, D.C., where they met with Illinois’ congressional representatives. During the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors meetings, Illinois REALTOR® John C. Kmiecik was elected Region 7 vice president.

IAR held its annual Spring Conference & Expo in Collinsville and featured sessions and CE with Doug Devitre, Dr. Tom Hill, Lynn Madison, Mark Barker and an update from IDFPR. Industry vendors took part in an Expo at the Gateway Center.

JuneThe Illinois Young Professionals Network (YPN) collected donations to raise money for Homes for Our Troops, a not-for-profit that builds homes for disabled veterans.

IAR released its 2013 Legislative Scorecard highlighting 14 of the association’s most notable legislative victories from the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly.


December2014 IAR Presi-dent Phil Chiles presided over the first IAR Town Hall Meeting webinar and discusses issues and items that will be addressed in the upcoming IAR Board of Direc-tors meeting. The online webinar is recorded for all IAR members to view.

IAR launched 1,000 Points of Light Ambassa-dor Campaign aimed at boost-ing RPAC participation by recruit-ing 1,000 ambassadors to encour-age more $20 “fair share” contrib-utors.

JulyIAR debuted a video and website, Nosprinklerman-date.com, oppos-ing a statewide fire sprinkler mandate pursued by the State Fire Marshal’s office. Ultimately defeated, the man-date would have cost Illinois home owners millions by requiring fire sprinklers in new residential con-struction and older apartments and condos.

The IAR Consumer Help Line/Om-budsman Service opened to help resolve disputes and answer ques-tions related to real estate transactions. This free service allows consumers and REALTORS® to tap the expertise of experienced real estate profession-als, or ombudsmen, who have been trained in problem solving.

AugustIAR launched the Let’s Talk Real Estate with Illinois’ Congressional meeting series. The events allow REALTORS® to meet face-to-face with their Congressional representative and talk about issues affecting the industry.

The #PowerofR was chosen as the theme and hashtag for the IAR Fall Conference & Expo and the upcoming year. The hashtag later goes national when the National Association of REALTORS® chooses to use the hashtag to spotlight REALTOR® advocacy.

SeptemberIAR’s Hydraulic Fracturing Task Force met to study the poten-tial impact of hydraulic frac-turing “fracking” on property and the real estate industry.

A golf out-ing held in St. Charles raises money for the Real Estate Ed-ucational Foun-dation (REEF). Since 2000, REEF has award-ed $412,300 in scholarships.

OctoberThe IAR Fall Conference & Expo are held in St. Charles. With the theme Power of R, attendees heard presentations on new technology, business strategies and a look at housing and the economy. Phil Chiles, ABR, CRS, GRI, SRES, is installed as 2014 association president.

Nearly 100 people attend a REbarcamp, powered by Illinois YPN and held in conjunction with IAR Fall Conference. During the unstructured “unconference” attendees shared ideas on everything from technology trends to professionalism.

NovemberWhen tornadoes devastated many communities across Illinois, the REALTOR® family mobilized, raising more than $200,000 and donating supplies for the victims. IAR partnered with two organizations to accept donations: IAR Tornado Relief and REALTORS® Relief Foundation.

IAR offered two fast-track options - the IAR Proficiency Exam and the GRI Course I Equivalency Program - to help members earn credit for GRI Course I and be ready for Course II in December in Itasca.

#powerofR


Governmental Affairs

Each year IAR lobbyists track hundreds of bills to make sure they don’t hurt REALTORS® or consumers. Here’s a look at some of the more notable efforts in the 2012-2013 General Assembly.

Bills that became law IAR often provides needed insight for lawmakers who are crafting legislation. Here are a few examples of bills that bore input from REALTORS®.

License Act Cleanup: Senate Bill 1655 received unanimous approval in both chambers. This bill makes clarifying and clean-up changes to the Real Estate License Act. Of note, the changes will allow a person holding a managing broker’s license to exchange that license for a broker’s license. (PUBLIC ACT 98-531, effective August 23, 2013).

Erroneous Homestead Exemptions: After two years of legislative wrangling, an agreement was negotiated on Senate Bill 41, which deals with erroneous homestead exemptions in Cook County. This bill treats a property taxpayer, who simply failed to pro-actively determine and notify the Assessor of their ineligibility, in a much fairer way than what was initially introduced. The amended bill also enhances the information provided to property taxpayers to ensure that the property owner claims only those exemptions for which they are qualified and contains an amnesty period for this year and going forward as part of the assessment notice. (PUBLIC ACT 98-93, effective July 16, 2013)

State permits for real estate signs: House Bill 2764 dealt with the Illinois Department of Transportation and the overreaching regulations of on-premise and real estate for sale or lease signs was unanimously approved in both chambers. This bill ensures that REALTORS® will not be subject to State permitting and fees for signs advertising the sale or lease of property along highways. (PUBLIC ACT 98-56, effective July 5, 2013)

Community Association Manager License Changes: House Bill 595 was approved only after the amendment requested by the IAR was attached.

The amendment cleaned up several technical flaws, and exempts Managing Brokers from the

additional 10-hour course requirement for the new “supervising” Community Association

Manager license. (PUBLIC ACT 98-365, effective January 1, 2014)

other action of interestAmong the bills that can be beneficial are some that would hurt REALTORS® and their clients.

RELA Funds: IAR lobbyists ensured that no bills were advanced that raided the Real Estate License Administration Fund (RELAF) for funding other State programs or other licensed professions.

Crime-Free/Landlord Licensing: IAR stopped Senate Bill 1155 which would have granted all counties and municipalities the authority to issue licenses for landlords to rent property, mandate safety training and require background checks. A similar measure, House Bill 2437 was not called by the sponsor.

Retainage bill: The House Judiciary Committee, once again, overwhelmingly defeated legislation to require commercial real estate developers to include certain provisions regarding “retainage” in their agreements with contractors. House Bill 1227 would have required developers to place retainage funds in an escrow account with interest accruing to the contractor.

Freedom of information: House Bill 2326, sought to amend the Freedom of Information Act. This bill, opposed by IAR, and would have altered the


definition of “commercial purpose” and changed the procedure for requesting public records and potentially greatly increased the costs. The sponsor did not call this bill for a final vote.

Compliance liens: House Bill 2937, which sought to grant additional powers for local governments to collect on liens for property maintenance and nuisance clean-up by putting the charges on the owner’s property tax bill was stopped again this year.

Private property rights: House Bill 3262 was stopped this year after IAR objected to language that would have removed the requirement for a Public Water District to get the consent of a private property owner to place pipes or conduits in an easement originally granted for highway purposes.

Lake County surcharge: Senate Bill 1244 which would have authorized Lake County only to establish an affordable housing trust fund and to impose another fee on property owners without voter approval, was defeated. IAR has opposed this bill since 2010, even as the amount of the fee has been adjusted downward.

let’s talk Real estate with Members of CongressIn 2013, IAR began a series of conversations with Illinois’ Congressional delegation called “Let’s Talk Real Estate.” IAR held seven events in 2013 and is continuing the series in 2014.

In 2013, REALTORS® met with:• U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart, 12th District

• U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, 8th District

• U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, 16th District

• U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, 13th District

• U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, 7th District

• U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, 11th District

• U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider, 10th District

Calls to ActionCalls to Action are an important way to quickly mobilize IAR members to lobby on a particular legislative issue. In 2013, IAR issued six Calls to Action and members responded by sending thousands of emails to their local legislators.

In 2013, IAR issued six Calls to Action:

• SB 1155 & SB 1244 - Urging a NO vote on bills that would have created an additional fee on recorded documents in Lake County. (Committee Vote) - 1,993 member emails sent

• SB 1244 (Senate Floor Vote) - 1,736 member emails sent

• SB 1244 (Senate Floor Vote) - 1,503 member emails sent

• SB 41 - Urging support for a compromise erroneous homestead exemption bill for Cook County (Senate Floor Vote) - 1,484 member emails sent

• Fire Sprinkler Rules (JCAR) - 3,174 member emails sent

• Watershed Management Ordinance (MWRD) - 4,608 member emails sent

nAR’s Broker Involvement programNAR’s Broker Involvement Program (BIP) gives enrolled broker-owners and managing brokers a quick and effective tool for rallying their agents on critical legislative issues. Illinois is a leading state when it comes to participation and is one of only six states to have reached 20,000 enrollment in the program. In 2013 there were 5,329 active brokers and 28,513 Illinois agents enrolled in the program.


Throughout the state, IAR’s team of advocates works at the local level to protect members’ interests. RVOICE (formerly known as the Advocacy Program) enables the Government Affairs team to use every possible strategy to best represent REALTORS® in the public policy arena.

Here are some examples of the resources that are available to us when we fight on your behalf with governmental proposals:• Grassroots mobilization of property

owners and voters• Legal analyses of proposed ordinances

and regulations• Public opinion surveys• Grassroots mobilization of REALTORS®

Here is a summary of notable RVoICe lobbying activities in 2013:

In Monee, a legally questionable real estate transfer stamp policy was rescinded. The policy had the effect of giving the municipality the power to hold up real estate transfers.

A stormwater management ordinance that primarily affected redevelopment of non-residential properties in suburban Cook County was amended to minimize costs for those who redevelop property and must conform with stormwater detention rules.

An ordinance regulating residential rentals for less than 30 days narrowly passed in Evanston. After receiving feedback from local REALTORS®, the city agreed to four key exemptions.

REALTOR® advocacy in

Chicago helped produce a

more equitable bedbug ordinance. The ordinance affects rental properties.

Proposals for sprinkler mandates in new single-family home construction were blocked in:• Will County (unincorporated)• Several municipalities in the

Quad Cities area• North Barrington• Peoria County (unincorporated)

Proposals that would have required licensure of owners and agents of residential rental properties were blocked. Licensure puts the cities in a larger regulatory role. More reasonable policies that require registration of properties were enacted with considerable input from local REALTORS® and landlords. Registration enables the municipalities to have a point-of-contact for those responsible for property maintenance and other issues. This happened in:• Freeport• Skokie• Highwood• Highland Park • Rockford

Impact fee ordinances were revised in McHenry County, Woodstock and Crystal Lake. The revisions will bring the fee amounts in line to reflect actual land values.

A home rule referendum was defeated in South Chicago Heights.

A proposed commercial lease tax was blocked in Deerfield.

A proposal in Harvard which would have permitted voters to create a designated “overlay” district in which single-family homes would be prohibited from being rented out was stopped.

An onerous sprinkler retro-fit requirement (affecting non-residential properties) was significantly scaled back in Oak Park.

In Joliet, the concept of a point-of-sale home inspection (for possible connections to the sanitary sewer system) was shelved.

When Belleville passed a “crime-free” housing ordinance, REALTORS® worked to make sure the fees were kept low and the requirements were reasonable.

REALTORS® in Peoria County worked to develop a sensible policy on septic systems that does not interfere with real estate transactions.

RVOICE led the push to ensure that an occupancy permit ordinance being discussed in the Village of Godfrey allows for the easy selling and renting of property.

V ICEText:

Outlines:

Illinois Association of REALTORS® Advocacy Program


IAR uses nAR Funds for Municipal Races in 2013

In 2013, resources were made available to IAR through the NAR’s “My REALTOR® Party Program” which allowed IAR to provide additional support to candidates in the form of direct mail and robo calls to voters in key races in the April Municipal Elections.

Candidates were selected based on their strong support of REALTOR® positions on local issues. The candidate support was determined by an Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee of IAR. This activity was done independently of the candidate and his/her campaign and without any coordination with the campaign or the candidate. Nineteen candidates received IE support. Thirteen of the 19 IE-supported candidates won their races (68 percent win rate).

Skylights launched: online Way for Members to Stay in touch on local Issues

In May 2013, IAR presented a first-of-its-kind database (www.ilskylights.com ) which allows members to:

• Get constant updates on the local issues that affect IAR’s 41,000 members and property owners in Illinois.• See which state legislative

and Congressional districts you live in.IAR worked with its partner, SGS Inc. to

develop the system. The concept won a “Game Changer” Award from the National Association of REALTORS®, recognizing the database’s ability to quickly and efficiently deliver information about IAR’s role in protecting real property rights.

Illinois Association of REALTORS® Advocacy Program

ilskylights.com

RealtorParty

®


RPAC: Illinois REALTORS® shattered goals set by the National Association of REALTORS® for the REALTORS® Political Action Committee in 2013. IAR’s members met and exceeded goals for the total amount raised, President’s Circle and Major Investors.

$934,906Total raised in 2013

44 President’s Circle members in 2013

2013 NAR Goal 2013

Amount Raised $524,491 $934,906 (178%)

Contributors 26% 22%

President’s Circle 30 44 (143%)

Major Investors 303 321 (106%)

Auction -- $84,553

Stickhorse Derby -- $25, 539

local Association/Boards of the Year

DIVISION I: Logan County Board of REALTORS®

DIVISION II: Decatur Association of REALTORS®

DIVISION III: Bloomington-Normal Association of REALTORS®

DIVISION IV: Peoria Area Association of REALTORS®

DIVISION V: North Shore-Barrington Association of REALTORS®

14 Major Investor Dinners

107 New Major Investors for a total investment of $127,109

Hall of FameThese individuals have been recognized as among the top investors in the country to RPAC, with at least $25,000

in lifetime contributions. The six inductees will have their names included on the

Wall of Fame at IAR’s Springfield headquarters.

RpAC

Daniel W. Bock I Mac Boyd Ginger Downs

Jim Kinney Stan Sieron

Frank Wehrstein Greg St. Aubin


legal

IAR legal Hotline

Questions about license law, in particular involving property management, continued to be a hot topic on the IAR Legal Hotline in 2013. the top 10 most used question

categories for the year were:

1. License law: scope, 341 calls and emails2. Contracts to purchase property, 328 calls and emails3. Agency, 241 calls and emails4. License law: Business practice, 237 calls and emails5. Escrow accounts, 191 calls and emails6. Advertising, 186 calls and emails7. Disclosure defects, 170 calls and emails8. Fair housing, 120 calls and emails9. Commission disputes, 102 calls and emails10. Leases, 97 calls and emails

top

10

legal Webinars

IAR continued to offer monthly Legal Webinars on timely topics:

• Wrap it Up...And Start Anew

• Your Questions and Cook County Fair Housing, Revisited

• E&O Insurance...What is Covered...Or Not?

• Commercial Issues and Disclosures - the Sequel

• Disclosures...Revisited; Plus Updates on Cook County Fair Housing Ordinance, etc.

• Your Legal Questions Answered

• #What’sTrendingLegally

• Competitive Practices and Independent Decision Making

• Scope of the brokerage license and potential consequences for crossing the line

• New Fair Housing Rule

• Who’s My (Sponsoring) Broker or Which Team Am I On?

• License Law Compliance Issues

In 2013, IAR also began producing short legal videos for members including:

• Notice to Tenants in Foreclosure and Auction Situations, 232 views

• Overview of Updates to Illinois Community Association Managers, 164 views

• Checking Brokerage Status and RELA, 119 views

• Affordable Care, 105 views

ombudsman program

The biggest issues have been disclosures, lack of communication, property management issues and advertising.

Through 12/31/13:

55 Requests filed; 38 were successfully resolved.

15 IAR-trained Ombudsmen.


professional Development

216Illinois Housing

Conference, Springfield

386IAR Capitol Conference, Springfield

88IAR Multicultural

Summit, Oak Brook

38AE Workshop, Bloomington-

Normal

I A R

644IAR Spring

Conference & Expo, Collinsville

1,260IAR Fall

Conference & Expo, St. Charles

Attendance at IAR eventsIAR holds a myriad of conferences and training opportunities for members each year. Here’s a look at 2013 attendance figures:

ReeF ScholarshipsIn 2013, the Illinois Real Estate

Educational Foundation (REEF)

awarded $47,000 in academic

scholarships and $21,500 in

training and continuing education

scholarship awards.

REEF awarded ...1 Academic Scholarship

1 Morgan L. Fitch Scholarship

1 Thomas F. Seay Scholarship

4 Richard D. Wiegers Scholarships

38 James Kinney Scholarships

29 Illinois Minority Real Estate Scholarships

4 Robert Cook Scholarships

1 Rich Port Scholarship

1 Past Presidents Scholarship

REEF sponsored a successful golf outing at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles to raise money for REALTOR® scholarships.


Anywhere On-Line Proctoring was announced last year at the IAR Fall Conference. The first exams were scheduled in November. It has been a popular addition to the IAR Licensing & Training Center.

GRI GraduatesCourse II - 57Course III - 56GRAD - 108

lunch and learn WebinarsIn 2013, IAR produced a monthly series of free, educational webinars featuring some of the industry’s top trainers offering tips and tools on everything from marketing to technology:

• Office Anywhere: How you can use free services to enhance your ability to sell and market, with G. William James

• Screen to Screen Selling: How to sell without being physically present, with Doug Devitre

• The Listing Presentation that Works Every Time, with Greg Herder

• Top Ten Social Media Tips, with Matthew Ferrara

• Maximize your Marketing Opportunities with Strategies that Make More Sales, with Terri Murphy

• Steps to building greater business value, with John Reyes

The webinars are archived at www.illinoisrealtor.org/Proseries

WebinarsIn 2013, IAR made it easier than ever to get your educational requirements by offering an interactive webinar series:

PRE-LICENSE - 4 wEBINARSJune 21-22: 16 participantsAugust 22-23: 31 participantsOctober 29-30: 35 participantsNovember 19-20: 27 participants

POST-LICENSE - 1 wEBINARSeptember 17-18: 19 participants

INSTRuCTOR DEVELOPMENT wEBINARS: July 31: 6 participantsAugust 24: 7 participants

MANAGING BROkER PRE-LICENSE wEBINARJuly 23-24: 7 participants

BROkER MANAGEMENT CE wEBINARSMarch 8-9 April 3-4March 18-19 April 26-27March 27-28 July 1-2

Webinar Topics:• Broker Pre-license Applied Real

Estate Principles

• Managing Broker Pre-license Applied Management & Supervision

• Instructor Development Workshop

• Broker Post License Applied Real Estate Practices


Communications

Illinois ReAltoR®

IAR’s quarterly magazine reached the association’s 41,000 members and was available in print and online. In 2013, Illinois REALTOR printed four issues including three theme issues on Open Houses, Industry Professionalism and Niche Markets.

The association’s main website has information for all of IAR’s programs, links to news releases and housing market data.

In 2013: 752,968 page views,

229,868 visits and 126,628 new

visits The number of people visiting the

website with iPads grew to 17,846 while

those using iPhones reached 19,530Top pages sought by visitors included: Find

a REALTOR® and the license lookup page.

Also popular were education pages related

to pre-license, broker pre-license and pre-

license classes.

GOIllinoisrealtor.org

IAR’s blog provided more daily industry news and advocacy updates to its more than 680 subscribers with 440 blog posts in 2013.

GOiarbuzz.org

Other IAR publications: • Illinois REALTOR® Weekly

Connection• D.R. Legal News• State Capitol Report

IAR maintains this website which tracks state consumer demograph-ics regarding home purchases.

In 2013, the site had 2,138 page

views, 942 visits and 721 new visits.

GOWhyIBuy.org

IAR’s consumer-oriented website offers information about the buying and selling a home, data and the benefits of working with a REALTOR®.

In 2013, the site logged 23,979 page

views and 15,189 visits, of which

13,310 were new visitors to the site.

GOYourIllinoisHome.com

Social MediaIAR’s social media presence grew in 2013...

nearly 9,800 followers to IAR’s @ILREALTOR Twitter account

more than 5,600 likes on Facebook

2,171 members in our LinkedIn group and company page

WebsitesIAR maintains multiple websites...


In 2013, IAR increased the number of informative videos it produced for both members and consumers.

top 2013 Videos:

1REALTORS® in Action: Fixing SB 41, 513 views

2Stop the Sprinkler Mandate

in Illinois, 426 views

4Overview of updates to Illinois

Community Association Management law, 172 views

3IAR Legal Webinars: Notice to

Tenants in Foreclosure, 226 views

IAR MarketStats Infographics In 2013, IAR launched an infographic series on the housing market. The IAR MarketStats infographics are a new way for IAR and members to share with consumers information and trends on Illinois real estate data, financing and homeownership.

lights, Camera...Action!Video is an increasingly important tool for communicating with members. IAR built a video studio at the association’s headquarters in Springfield in 2013. The space lets the Communications Department better control light and sound during recording, and allows ample room to set up backdrops and sets.

The association also invested in the necessary video editing software and camera equipment to help bring the association’s messages to its members. Among features recorded in the studio was an overview on Skylights, information on how to help tornado victims and the first of a monthly series of video reports on the housing market.


Information technology

RAMCOIAR officially signed a contract with RAMCO to begin work on moving the member database from an iSeries DB2 platform to the Microsoft Dynamics-based RAMCO Association Membership System. Much of 2013 was spent making preparations to our data and training users on the new system. IAR plans to go live with RAMCO in May 2014.

Server\Firewall UpgradesWe were able to reduce the amount of physical servers in our server room by adding bigger and better servers that would run multiple virtual servers. The firewall was upgraded as well and has added the benefit of a built-in wireless controller, which allows us to secure the staff WiFi and still allow guest WiFi logins.

Security CamerasIAR upgraded old security cameras and added a few new ones in and around REALTOR® Plaza, including the parking lots surrounding the IAR building. The video surveillance software was upgraded for improved performance and better user experience.

IAR Education Exam Grading/Notification System

IAR continued to improve the quality of the grading and notification system that allows some of our IAR school branches to scan in student exams and send them to IAR for grading and result notifications

via email and text message. We’ve had great feedback from students that receive a text message, often within an hour of taking the exam.

Phone System UpgradeIAR upgraded its phone system to Shoretel. The quality of calls increased and it gave us the ability to forward calls to our mobile phones.

Illinois Association of ReAltoRS®

522 S. Fifth StreetSpringfield, IL 62701

(217) 529-2600

web: www.illinoisrealtor.orge-mail: [email protected]: www.IARbuzz.com

www.facebook.com/IllinoisAssociationofREALTORS

twitter.com/IlREALTOR

Documents

Illinois Association of REALTORS® 2013 Annual Report