Create professional development programs that help REALTORS® strengthen their businesses.
Protect private property rights and promote the value of REALTORS®.
Advance ethics enforcement programs that increase REALTOR® professionalism.
Protect REALTORS® by providing legal guidance and education.
Stay current on industry issues with daily news from Illinois REALTORS®, network with other professionals, attend a seminar, and keep up with industry trends through events throughout the year.
Today a panel of four industry professionals will discuss the housing economy and environment within their core competency as part of the Illinois Housing Leaders Conference presented by the Illinois Association of REALTORS®.
Grigory Pekarsky – Managing Broker/Partner, Vesta Preferred Realty, Chicago
Grigory specializes in property leasing and sales in the urban core. Transactions for young professionals and first-time buyers are common in Pekarsky’s day-to-day business. He understands the value of transit oriented developments and the benefits of live near work principals and how they meet the demands of today’s clients. Vesta is a residential real estate firm that has a niche rental focus in downtown Chicago. Grigory was honored in 2012 by the National Association of REALTORS® as one of the national “30 under 30” rising stars in real estate.
Cedrick Hunter – Managing Broker, Hunters Realty, Oak Park
With a business focus in the inner ring suburb of Oak Park in Cook County, Hunter is nationally known for his work with real estate auctions and disposition of distressed properties. Understanding both the challenged property and purchaser, Hunter has a firm grasp on utilization of programs such as Illinois Building Blocks and Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP).
Rob Schaid – Managing Broker, RE/MAX Plaza, McHenry
He began is career in 1997 as an agent at RE/MAX Plaza, a company he later bought and has expanded to three offices. He’s a past president of the Heartland REALTOR® Organization, and was the association’s REALTOR® of the Year in 2009. He’s a trainer and mentor working with the Tom Ferry organization, Richard Robbins International and Buffini and Company.
Bob Huber – Broker/Owner, Coldwell Banker Today, Peru
Huber understands the real estate of the Illinois small town and rural community. Whether second home properties by one of the beautiful state parks or low-income housing, Huber understands the uniqueness of the small town and how programs like the USDA Rural Lending program are instrumental in keeping liquidity flowing to those areas.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Attorney General Lisa Madigan are also scheduled to address the Illinois REALTOR® audience. A second panel of representatives from the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Federal Home Loan Bank, Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and Illinois Attorney General’s Office will discuss housing regulatory issues and opportunities. The conference kicks off the association’s annual lobby day, the IAR Capitol Conference, on Tuesday, April 16.
