Vision. Purpose. Community. These qualities are at the core of everything Lutalo McGee builds. As the 2025–2026 President of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, the Ani Real Estate founder is ready to lead with the same drive that has defined his career.
McGee’s journey has not always followed a direct path, but each step has strengthened his resolve to build opportunity and empower others. Now, as President, he’s channeling that purpose into shaping the next chapter of Chicago real estate.
Early Life & Career Beginnings
Growing up on Chicago’s South Side, McGee attended Keller Elementary and later Morgan Park High School in an accelerated academic program. But high school wasn’t without challenges. “I was kind of a knucklehead,” he said while reflecting on those years.
A pivotal moment in his upbringing came when his mother, who worked in corporate America, lost her job after her division was terminated. “Our life fundamentally changed from that point. I remember thinking, I never want my professional life to be in the hands of someone else,” he said.
That moment planted a seed. McGee made a promise to himself that one day, he’d build something no one else could take away. After attending Eastern Illinois University and earning a graduate degree in teaching from National Louis University, McGee found his purpose in education. “I was a teacher and a coach. I coached football and chess, ran a mentor program, and even helped launch a Saturday school through the Black Star Project, teaching math and reading to low-income African American youth. I’m still an educator at heart — that’s who I am.”
The Move to Real Estate
McGee began practicing real estate part time while he was still teaching, and he was surprised when the career path took off. He started his own real estate business in 2007. While he never lost his love for teaching and working with kids, he realized that entrepreneurship offered new opportunities for creativity, independence and impact.
By 2013, the pull toward entrepreneurship brought him into real estate full-time, fulfilling the promise he made years earlier. The rest, as they say, was history.
He launched Ani Real Estate, mentoring new agents and building a company grounded in education and empowerment. His focus on teaching others how to run a business, not just close sales, soon earned him recognition as a Chicago Association of REALTORS® Top Producer and the association’s Managing Broker of the Year Award.
Community Advocacy
The teacher in him never left. It simply found a new classroom. As his business grew, he saw that the lessons he once shared with students could transform lives in a different way: through mentorship, opportunity and ownership.
He began hosting the Black Male Real Estate Expo in 2022 for prospective Black entrepreneurs in real estate, construction trades and technology. The expo brings in community leaders in those areas to provide education and networking opportunities for attendees.
“This work lights my fire,” McGee said. “I want to find those people. People who, for whatever reason, have been marginalized in our community. Those who can’t necessarily see themselves in a space and say, ‘Yeah, you can be here.’”
He also works extensively on addressing appraisal bias, working with local and national partners to highlight disparities and advocate for fair housing practices. “This is work that I do because I know there’s a positive benefit to the community that I come from – that somebody’s in that room and is not afraid to speak up and challenge norms and power so that their voices and their experiences can be consider in how policy is created.” He continues to discuss appraisal disparities during speaking engagements and at events to bring light to the issue.
In 2020, amidst the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened unrest following the killing of George Floyd, McGee mobilized local REALTORS® for a citywide cleanup effort. He helped devise a plan to board up damaged and vulnerable buildings in South Side and suburban neighborhoods, coordinating volunteers across regions and soliciting donations to purchase materials and support volunteer efforts. In just one week, the initiative raised about $10,000, which also funded food and necessities delivered to homes, and support to women- and children-focused organizations.
Association Involvement
McGee’s first experience with the association was unique, but true to his teaching roots. He was contacted by the REALTORS® Real Estate School, our affiliated school, to vet courses. “It was a win-win,” he said. “I got to use my teaching background while also gaining access to
knowledge that helped my business.”
Around that time, Past President Sarah Ware encouraged him to get more involved, and after hearing CEO Michelle Mills Clement speak on the South Side, he saw alignment in their vision for inclusivity and impact. “I saw her speak at an event on the south side. And I liked the vision that she had for the association because it matched up with who I was already,” he said.
From there, he jumped head-first. He got involved, serving on our Diversity Committee, “the D77,” the Professional Development Advisory Group, the Grievance Committee, the Foundation and the Finance Committee.
“People invested in me,” he said. “I realized that with my perspective and access, I had a responsibility to contribute.” That sense of purpose led him to apply for the Board of Directors, then Treasurer, and ultimately to his current role as President.
The Year Ahead
As he steps into the presidency, McGee’s lifelong commitment to education will help strengthen the association’s connections with youth and emerging professionals, creating clearer pathways into real estate careers.
Just as the Association values representation and community empowerment, McGee aims to ensure members from all backgrounds see themselves reflected in leadership and feel welcomed into every corner of the organization.
And true to his roots on Chicago’s South Side, McGee is also focused on making the association more accessible across the city. He envisions more touch points that meet members where they are, broadening the association’s presence beyond downtown.
“This year, we’ll continue raising the standards we’ve been building together,” he said. For McGee, that work is simply a continuation of the mission he has pursued his entire life: using education, opportunity and advocacy to uplift communities and open doors for others.
Whether he’s mentoring a new agent or championing fair housing, McGee brings authenticity and passion to everything he does. As he leads the association into 2026, one thing is certain: education, empowerment and community will remain at the heart of his presidency.
