Matt Silver, President
Tommy Choi, President-Elect
Michael Gobber, Immediate Past President
Jeff Kolbus, Treasurer
One need only look to their core purpose to understand the powerhouse team at Illinois REALTORS®: keeping the American dream of homeownership alive. Understanding that the Illinois housing market is an economic driver for their communities, they work tirelessly to help resolve their state’s housing pitfalls. “This is not something we can do by just snapping our fingers; it takes hard work, persistence and time,” says current president Matt Silver. “We have already made significant strides.”
More than two years ago, the association kicked off its multi-year advocacy effort to improve Illinois’ housing woes. This past year, they pursued three legislative priorities in pursuit of a better local real estate landscape. “We are striving to achieve greater housing stability and more homeownership because studies have shown it leads to higher educational outcomes, more neighborhood stability, less crime and more economic opportunity,” says president-elect Tommy Choi. The team is working to achieve this by pushing for tax-advantaged savings accounts for future homebuyers, a ban on controversial crime-free housing policies and a change to state licensing that would require written brokerage agreements.
On another front, Illinois REALTORS® is working to combat misperceptions and inaccuracies resulting from the industry’s settlement of a class action lawsuit last spring. One of the primary ways they strive to achieve this is by underscoring the quality service, expertise and empathy provided by the group’s dedicated members. “Every day we guide consumers in their search, help buyers and sellers reach a fair purchase price and navigate them through complex legal and financial processes,” says treasurer Jeff Kolbus. Immediate past president Michael Gobber harkens back to their core mission, adding, “We work in an industry where every day we help our clients make one of the most important investments of their lives. We help them achieve the American dream of homeownership.”
