Illinois Realtors and brokers associations offer a slew of opportunities for positive exposure for your business. In addition to real estate members of the Illinois broker associations, you will have opportunities to be recognized by other Illinois mortgage brokers and Realtors, including businesses and government organizations that support the commercial and residential real estate industry.

Affiliation with Illinois Realtors associations provides lobbying and network opportunities that can be immensely helpful to your own business interests, whether you are a Realtor or an associate serving the industry. Membership in Illinois Realtors and brokers associations often means access to information and contacts that can be important to your own company. Local Illinois Realtor associations offer even more chances to network with local business and real estate leaders in your community. Use your membership in an Illinois Realtor and broker association in a number of different ways.

1. Expand your network through an Illinois association of Realtors

2. Support the industry by participating in Illinois Realtors associations

3. Stay informed with Illinois broker association publications

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Develop business contacts in Illinois real estate broker associations

Illinois Realtors and brokers associations hold regular meetings, seminars and conventions for members and interested parties. At Illinois Association of Realtors' events, as well as through various committees in which you could participate, you will have numerous occasions to socialize and network with other business people who support the real estate industry. Business leaders involved in the Illinois Realtor associations could offer a number of trade opportunities for you and your company.

I recommend: The Illinois Association of Realtors is one of the largest trade associations in the state and is the voice for support of the Illinois real estate industry. AIRE is the Association of Industrial Real Estate Brokers, a more specific trade group, but one that might serve your interests better as it isn’t as large or varied as other real estate associations.

Show your interest by joining an Illinois real estate broker association

Especially if you hope to do business with any real estate companies, you will want to express your support as well as meet the leaders in the industry. You often can do this best by participating in local chapters of Illinois real estate broker associations such as the Chicago Association of Realtors or the Peoria Area Association of Realtors with both your presence and your financial support.

I recommend: The Chicago Association of Realtors offers advocacy and community involvement projects for its members and affiliates. The Peoria Area Association of Realtors covers the central Illinois area and has more than 1,000 Realtor members and 145 local affiliates, providing plenty of networking opportunities.

Keep your company in the loop with Illinois broker associations

While you may not have time to participate in a trade group or volunteer on Illinois brokers associations' committees, you can take advantage of membership in a Illinois Realtor association through the myriad publications they put out. By keeping up with the reports and news in the industry, you can pick and choose which events will be most beneficial for you to attend while keeping updated on changes or news that affect the Illinois Realtors and brokers associations.

I recommend: Illinois Realtor Magazine is published six times a year with features and news covering the local markets. Real Estate Finance and Investment is a global industry publication that will cover the local Illinois market and how it relates to the rest of the rest of the country’s real estate issues.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You can also take advantage of the dedicated market by advertising in Illinois brokers associations publications.