Today in Bloomington-Normal, the years of grassroots advocacy by Illinois REALTORS® reached a new milestone. Brandon Shaffer, Illinois REALTORS® board member was among those who sat down with Gov. JB Pritzker for a focused roundtable discussion on the BUILD Plan—a legislative package that is essentially the culmination of our “Housing Stability & Affordability Initiative.”
Why today mattered: While the plan was introduced in the budget, today’s roundtable was about implementation and impact. We shared stories from the front lines of the real estate market, explaining how restrictive local zoning and unpredictable fees have sidelined potential homebuyers for too long.
Our “pillars” are the foundation: It is no coincidence that the BUILD Plan features the very solutions our members have been pitching to legislators for the last few years:
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU): Providing flexible, affordable density
- Missing Middle Housing: Ensuring duplexes and townhomes aren’t zoned out of existence
- Predictability: Reforming impact fees
As Illinois REALTORS® CEO Jeff Baker noted, this isn’t just about policy—it’s about the families who are currently being priced out of their own communities. Being “at the table” today ensures that the REALTOR® perspective continues to guide the most significant housing package Illinois has seen in decades.
