WSPON’s 2016 Trade Mission to Chicago

Author: Don Pasek , CIPS, TRC, Omniterra Real Properties In October of this year, C.A.R. received a trade mission group from the Warsaw Real Estate Brokers’ Association (WSPON), a long standing tradition that began back in 2001. During their week-long visit, the group met with our members and the Global Real Estate Council. These regular trade missions to Chicago are designed so that WSPON members can investigate and observe our business practices and professional standards.. During their stay, the group spent an entire day at our downtown office, where they toured the facility and heard presentations from Global Council members and our partner organizations. The group members learned about the Chicago market, how C.A.R. serves its members, and how buyers finance real estate transactions in the United States. To end the day, Global Council members and the WSPON group enjoyed lunch at the Cliff Dwellers’ Club and a lively discussion of real estate in the U.S. and Poland. For the next several days, the WSPON group traveled to government offices, the National Association of REALTOR® headquarters, and various real estate brokerages to get an up-close view of real estate practices in the United States. The most interesting was a visit to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds office, where they marveled at the openness of real estate documentation. At NAR headquarters, the group toured the Library and learned how NAR works with state and local associations to coordinate action on behalf of members. The group also heard about the CCIM Institute and REALTORS® Property Resource. During the last two days of their stay, the group met with C.A.R. members at local offices and took property tours. They also toured the award-winning Roosevelt University Vertical Campus in downtown Chicago. Finally, the group met with members of the Polish-American Chamber of Commerce, who were eager to learn about property trends in Poland and discuss investment opportunities here and abroad. Overall, the week was a busy success! WSPON expects to send a group in 2017 to Chicago during the National Association of REALTORS® Conference. We look forward to seeing them next year!