Fulton Grace Realty is a leading brokerage serving the Chicagoland area. As one of the fastest-growing companies in Illinois and the Midwest Region, according to Inc, we believe education is a primary component of our business model and nurturing the key to much of our success: relationships. In fact, while many agents have their hearts set on sales as the “end goal” of their career title, it is the rental experience where an agent truly gains their ground and hones their craft.

We recently sat down with Adam Ballog, Executive Vice President, and Managing Broker at Fulton Grace who spoke about what truly makes the rental division most unique to him. “Rentals are basically a built-in education and training of real-world client exposure and contact building. Many of those renters will eventually become first-time home buyers. Plus the continual exposure pushes you to prioritize your contact management systems, which any agent will contest is a huge factor in the longevity of one’s career.”

With the burgeoning exposure of the real estate agent as a product of their own making, amassing fortunes, intrepid lifestyles, and glamorous listings, thanks to the shows on the likes of Bravo and Netflix, we see more of our friends taking the leap into the industry. Yet, without careful consideration and proper education, the jump often results in tiresome treading, retreating back to a safe space, or exiting the pool altogether. Just take it from real estate maven Tom Ferry, “understand that real estate sales are not an “overnight success” type of business. You need to understand and accept that you’re starting a five-year marathon, not a sprint.” The best way to approach any long-haul plan is to have a plan, a roadmap for success, and then the toolkit to get you there. But where to start?

The Real Estate Institute of Illinois, commonly known as REI, is the launchpad for the said road to success. REI hosts a plethora of programs, classes, and certifications making them the number one resource for individuals looking to start their career in real estate in Illinois and is the top choice for agents looking to continue their education and for obtaining post-licenses requirements. However, most of us can attest that having insight into a job is one thing, having applied experience is another. Tom Ferry also had this to say in regards to agents gaining on-the-ground experience, “close proximity to others who have experience allows you to learn the ins and outs of the industry faster.”

Connecting the educational basics with the opportunity to work with, alongside, and confide in seasoned agents of all types in one of Chicago’s most influential brokerages, just made sense. FGR teamed up with REI to host educational courses in the brokerage’s Wicker Park offices. This bridged the gap between education and the opportunity to get a peek at what it’s like in a brokerage, and what type of support, tools, and resources are available when joining a company like Fulton Grace. “Education is a big part of who we are at FG, regardless of status, so it just made for a natural fit.” Listen to the entire conversation on this subject and more with Adam Ballog on the Coffee, Contracts, and Closings podcast, available on all major podcast streaming services.