Illinois REALTORS® Local Governmental Affairs Director (GAD) Michael Dobrow recently presented on the importance of advocacy to a packed room of real estate professionals at NAHREP Lake County’s recent event at the Lake County Forest Preserve District’s Greenbelt Cultural Center.

Here is his report:

Housing affordability and supply in Lake County has never been more important.

Lake County faces substantial shortages in both affordable rental housing and attainable homeownership opportunities for lower-income households.

The numbers tell a powerful story. According to a Lake County Partners study and Housing Lake: Lake County Coalition for Housing:

• • Since 2010, Lake County has added approximately 17,400 households but only 12,000 new housing units.
  • Housing production has averaged roughly 830 units annually since 2010 — far below the pre-recession pace of 3,460 units per year.
  • Median home values have risen to approximately $326,600, while average monthly rents have climbed to roughly $1,710.
  • Home prices have significantly outpaced household income growth since 2010.
  • Nearly 73,000 households in Lake County are considered cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

These challenges impact families, employers, communities, and the long-term economic health of our region. Advocacy matters because policy decisions at the local and state level directly shape housing supply, affordability, and the ability for people to achieve homeownership.

The real estate industry has an important role to play in advancing housing policy solutions like the BUILD Agenda and ensuring Lake County remains a place where people can afford to live, work, and build a future.