At Illinois REALTORS® Lobby Day on April 14, there were powerful moments from many speakers—but the message delivered by Jeff Baker brought something different.
It brought urgency.
Not the kind that feels political or abstract—but the kind that feels measurable, immediate, and impossible to ignore.
Quick Take
Illinois’ housing crisis isn’t just a market issue—it’s a policy issue. And from Lobby Day to the Senate, the message is clear: we need to build more housing, or risk pricing out the next generation of homeowners.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
One statistic stopped me in my tracks:
Illinois is losing $715 per minute due to our housing supply crisis.
Let that sink in.
By the end of a single day, that’s roughly $5 million in lost economic activity. Over five years? Nearly $10 billion.
But the real impact isn’t just economic—it’s personal.
- Home prices in some Illinois communities have nearly doubled in just a few years
- First-time buyers are watching the goalposts move further away
- Families are delaying—or giving up on—homeownership altogether
As REALTORS®, we’re not just watching data points—we’re seeing this play out in real time with the people we serve every day.
We’re watching dreams get deferred.
Caption:
Jeff Baker and JB Pritzker at Illinois REALTORS® Lobby Day, highlighting the collaboration needed to address Illinois’ housing supply and affordability challenges.
Photo courtesy of Illinois REALTORS®
This Isn’t Just a Housing Issue—It’s an Economic One
One of the most important takeaways from Baker’s message is this:
Housing isn’t a side conversation—it’s central to the health of our entire state.
Real estate contributes over 16% of Illinois’ gross state product.
That means when housing slows down:
- Local economies slow down
- Job creation slows down
- Community growth slows down
And REALTORS® feel it directly.
Less inventory doesn’t just mean fewer homes—it means fewer opportunities, fewer transactions, and in some cases, professionals being pushed out of the business entirely.
A Shift: From Playing Defense to Building Solutions
In past years, advocacy often meant stopping harmful legislation.
And that work still matters.
Baker outlined several proposals that were successfully halted this year—policies that would have added costs, created barriers, or complicated transactions for buyers and sellers.
But this year felt different.
This year, the focus shifted from stopping bad policy… to advancing meaningful solutions.
Instead of asking:
“What do we need to block?”
We’re now asking:
“What do we need to build?”
The Build Illinois Initiative
That’s where the housing plan—supported by leaders like JB Pritzker—comes into play.
At its core, the initiative is about:
- Cutting unnecessary red tape
- Encouraging more housing development
- Expanding access to homeownership
And importantly—it’s not about removing local control.
Despite some of the concerns being raised, the plan:
- Preserves local approval of developments
- Maintains single-family zoning
- Allows communities to guide their own growth
What it does do is create space for more “missing middle” housing—something our market desperately needs.
Caption:
REALTORS® from the Champaign County Association of REALTORS® at the Illinois State Capitol for Lobby Day, advocating for housing solutions that impact our local communities.
Photo courtesy of Champaign County Association of REALTORS®
From Lobby Day to the Senate
What’s especially telling is that this message didn’t stay in the room at Lobby Day.
On April 23, Baker testified before the Illinois Senate Executive Committee on housing access and affordability—bringing that same urgency directly to lawmakers.
In his testimony, he described the housing initiative as:
“one of the most meaningful and impactful policy shifts our state has made toward making the American dream realistic to everyone.”
– Jeff Baker, Illinois REALTORS CEO
That statement reflects exactly what so many in the industry are feeling.
Because this isn’t just about market conditions—it’s about access.
He also addressed a key concern head-on: the balance between statewide action and local control.
“The build plan strikes a necessary balance… acknowledging the statewide nature of our housing supply crisis while ensuring communities retain their powers to plan and approve development.”
And perhaps most importantly, he reframed the real risk:
“The real risk is that we preserve the status quo and keep more of our neighbors… from being able to achieve their American dream.”
That idea echoes everything we heard at Lobby Day.
This isn’t about overreach.
It’s about progress.The Resistance—and the Reality
Every meaningful change faces resistance.
Some argue that communities are “at capacity.”
Others worry about density, zoning, or change itself.But the bigger question remains:
If we preserve the status quo… what’s the alternative?
Because the status quo is exactly what got us here.
- Limited inventory
- Rising prices
- Reduced affordability
- Slower growth
Doing nothing isn’t neutral—it’s costly.
The Power of REALTOR® Advocacy
One of the most powerful reminders from Lobby Day was this:
There is no other organization like the REALTOR® association.
Nearly 50,000 members across Illinois—speaking with one voice.
Not as politicians.
Not as corporations.
But as professionals working directly with buyers and sellers every day.
That matters.
Because when REALTORS® advocate, we’re not speaking in theory—we’re speaking from experience.
Caption:
REALTORS® from the Champaign County Association of REALTORS® meeting with Senator Chapin Rose during Lobby Day to discuss housing supply, affordability, and policies impacting our local communities.
Photo courtesy of Champaign County Association of REALTORS®.
Final Thoughts
After hearing this message echoed from Lobby Day to the Senate, one thing is clear:
The question isn’t whether we have a housing problem.
We do.
The question is whether we’re willing to act.
Because every day we wait, the cost grows—
for our clients, our communities, and our state.
And if there’s one message that carried through both moments, it’s this:
Standing still is no longer an option.
Related Posts
If you want a deeper look at what Illinois leaders are saying about housing—and what it means for you locally—explore the full series:
Main Lobby Day Blog
What Governor Pritzker Said About Housing
What Speaker Chris Welch Said About Housing
What Adam Kinzinger Said About Advocacy, Democracy, and Housing
Helpful Resources
If you’re interested in learning more about Illinois REALTORS advocacy and the BUILD plan legislation, click link below:
Illinois REALTORS and JB Pritzker’s BUILD plan
About the Author:
Jayme Ahlden is a REALTOR® Broker with Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group, serving Mahomet, Champaign, Urbana, Savoy, and surrounding Central Illinois communities. Jayme focuses on education-first guidance and helping clients navigate complex real estate decisions with clarity and confidence.
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