Chicago REALTORS® Blog & News

Welcome to the Chicago Association of REALTORS® blog and news hub. Explore magazine articles, industry updates and more. You can filter by category or tag based on your interests.

A Guide to Antitrust Do’s and Don’ts

AntiTrust- It’s the law. Ensure you are in compliance with this guide of Antitrust Do’s and Don’ts. The following is an excerpt from the National Association of REALTORS® Antitrust Compliance Guide: Antitrust sensitivity is an imperative for real estate brokers in today’s marketplace, as real estate and housing are a vital part of the American […]

Seven Social Media Tips to Monetize Your Business

Picking up all the different aspects of social media can feel a lot like rolling a cube up a hill, but the good news is, with a few tricks you can start turning your social media efforts into quantifiable business benefits. At YPN’s July breakfast, Sam Powell, Dream Town Realty, and Andrey Rikels, Neighborhood Loans, addressed […]

CFPB Announces Proposed Amendments to TRID

Following a letter from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has announced several proposed changes to the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rules that became effective last October. The proposed changes includes clarification that lenders may share the Closing Disclosure (CD) with third parties, such as REALTORS®. As an unintended consequence of […]

Mandatory Ethics Training Deadline: Dec. 31

All REALTOR® members are required to complete 2.5 hours of Code of Ethics training per four-year cycle. We are currently in the Fourth Training Cycle, January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016. Failure to comply with this required ethics training is a violation of a membership duty, for which the member’s primary association will suspend […]

Lollapalooza 2016 Street Closures

Travel to the C.A.R. Central office will be affected by downtown road closures tied to Lollapalooza Music Festival. Lollapalooza begins Thursday, July 28 and continues through Sunday, July 31, but preparation for the event will result in road closures leading up to the four day festival. Lollapalooza brings large crowds daily to Grant Park in Chicago. […]

Market Snapshot: June 2016

C.A.R.’s market snapshot helps prepare you to answer questions about Chicago’s real estate industry, while projecting confidence and consistency as a voice for Chicago REALTORS®. If you would like to discuss any of your upcoming media or other public speaking opportunities, contact Jessica Kern, Director of Marketing & Communications or Maria Dickman, Communications Specialist. MARKET SNAPSHOT – CITY […]

How to Buy Parking Permits in Bulk

The City Clerk’s office has released information that will allow you to buy REALTOR® Parking Permits in bulk. Managing brokers may use this information to purchase permits on behalf of your brokers, and offices may submit broker applications in bulk. How Can I Apply? Each individual applicant must complete the entire application form, available here. The […]

Residential Recycling Municipal Code Update

On Monday, July 18, Chicago Association of REALTORS® Senior Director of Government Affairs Brian Bernardoni testified to the City Council’s Committee on Health and Environmental Protection. As a result of pressure from building owners and aldermen, the Department of Streets and Sanitation agreed to add a 30-day warning of non-compliance. Only after that warning is issued would […]

SentriLock-RPR Integration: A Step By Step Guide

SentriLock has completed integration with RPR and the SentriSmart app so that you can transition seamlessly in order to access all the detailed listing information you need. To access, follow the steps below: Step 1: Access the Lockbox using the SentriSmart app as you normally would, by selecting the property from the list, entering your PIN and selecting […]

Sizzling Summer Events

This summer is on fire with hot events that have a little something for everyone. Take your pick, save your spot and get ready for an interesting summer! July 19: CommercialForum Networking Breakfast Join Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios for an informative session on how commercial real estate owners and practitioners can manage these historic hikes. […]

June 2016 YPN Breakfast Explored Commercial Real Estate

On Wednesday, June 29th, C.A.R.’s YPN went commercial! Panelists Deena Zimmerman, SVN Chicago Commercial, and Paul Tsakiris, First Western Properties, volleyed with moderator Brian Bernardoni, C.A.R.’s Senior Director of Government Affairs, on the challenges and opportunities of commercial real estate for a primarily residential audience. Moderator Bernardoni kicked off the conversation by underscoring the need of […]

Market Snapshot: May 2016

C.A.R.’s market snapshot helps prepare you to answer questions about Chicago’s real estate industry, while projecting confidence and consistency as a voice for Chicago REALTORS®. If you would like to discuss any of your upcoming media or other public speaking opportunities, contact Jessica Kern, Director of Marketing & Communications or Maria Dickman, Communications Specialist. MARKET SNAPSHOT – CITY […]