The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic may have affected Illinois REALTORS® during the last month but it didn’t stop members of the 2020 Leadership Development Class from showing their support for each other during a Virtual Happy Hour Friday afternoon.

“There’s a lot more to this situation than just buying and selling,” said Kelly Simpson, Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group in McHenry. “Our coping mechanisms and our communication are so important.”

The 12 REALTORS® used a Zoom video conference to share their experiences since Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a Stay-at-home Executive Order, effective March 21. Leadership Development Working Group Chair Brandon Shaffer and Vice-chair John LeTourneau led the discussion.

LeTourneau spoke about the devastating effect the crisis has had on jobs in the hospitality, retail and food service industries in the Chicago metro area but said some areas have not been damaged economically, like medical real estate. Simpson and Shaffer noted that the move toward virtual business has made quality photos and video more important than ever for appraisals as well as sales.

Builders have been emailing Connie Vavra of RE/MAX Professionals in Bolingbrook with incentives for new construction, she said. While noticing plenty of consumers visiting big box stores to buy home improvement materials, members have made an effort to continue to support local businesses. Several said they are encouraged that the real estate market will benefit from increased inventory when stay-at-home restrictions are lifted.

A number of members noted that REALTORS® need to watch the Illinois REALTORS® website for the latest real estate news on the COVID-19 page.

Members of the 2020 class are:

  • Connie Vavra, RE/MAX Professionals, Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®;
  • Dont’a Taylor, ARE Partners, Chicago Association of REALTORS®;
  • Kelly Simpson, Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group, Heartland REALTOR® Association;
  • Matt Persicketti, Oak Leaf Realty, Three Rivers Association of REALTORS®;
  • Liz McDonald, The McDonald Group, Champaign County Association of REALTORS®;
  • Efty Garba, Efty Realty Group, Chicago Association of REALTORS®;
  • Miguel Angel Fernandez, Home Smart Connect Real Estate, REALTOR® Association of the Fox Valley;
  • Teresa Camarato, Property with TLC, LLC, Egyptian Board of REALTORS®;
  • Monica Bullington, RE/MAX Rising, Bloomington-Normal Association of REALTORS®;
  • David Bovyn, EXIT Real Estate Partners, Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®;
  • Megan Beechen, Realty Executives Elite, Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®; and
  • Sheena Baker, CarMarc Realty Group, Mainstreet Organization of REALTORS®.