Post Message, Board of Directors, Illinois

I would like to express my sincerest appreciation for the opportunity to meet with you at the Illinois REALTORS® Convention last week in Oakbrook. As a proud REALTOR® and small business owner, I know time is precious, so thank you for engaging with the “Leil for NAR First Vice President 2024” campaign and sharing issues that are important to you and your Association. We value your hard work and dedication to Illinois REALTORS® and to homebuyers, sellers and property investors throughout the Prairie State. You are truly inspirational.

You will recall that we touched on the campaign’s mission: “Unite in Order to Progress” and our campaign’s 4 Pillars -- Advocacy, Inclusion, Innovation, and Service. To rise above the considerable uncertainty in the market, we will focus on these four core strategies on a state and local level, build reciprocal and collaborative relationships, and leverage the talent we have on all fronts. If we listen to each other and unite as one behind these pillars, we can accomplish anything.

Rest assured I heard your concerns and challenges impacting the Illinois real estate market as well as your concerns regarding the National Association of REALTORS® which we discussed as follows:

• Housing Inventory

• Decreasing Affordability Levels

• Rent Cap Initiatives

• Data & Vendor Integrity

These issues and concerns are a top priority and will be addressed.

Change is often driven by disruptors. As a business owner accountable to employees (and paying higher taxes and health care costs) and for delivering a consistently high-level product people rely on, combined with a 40-year career in both the residential and commercial real estate industries, the foundation of my candidacy is built for me to be that much-needed disruption. Choosing to handle our collective business like it has been done in the past is not enough to keep our members at the center of the transaction. In fact, that sameness will eventually erode member loyalty, consumer trust and diminish the desire for elected officials to hear and act on our issues today, and well into the future.

I know asking for your vote as the disruptive leader with a business-first approach and expansive view of the economy is an emotive position. I believe that to achieve greatness you must be willing to take even greater risk. Ours will not be an easy path but my ‘why’ clearly shows that I am the candidate best positioned to build, shape and advance the REALTOR® community on all three levels.

We’d love to stay connected! We welcome your thoughts, ideas and support. To engage with us, and to learn more about our campaign’s latest news, be sure to visit www.leilfornar.com.

Thank you again for your time and consideration last week. Let’s “Unite in Order to Progress.” Mahalo.