LaCour hopes to make a difference with LaCour Home Realty

By Brett McMahon

When Stacy LaCour left his position as an account manager at WCIA in 2013, he knew there was something “more” in store for him. 

At the time, Ryan Dallas, a real estate broker, encouraged him to take the necessary steps to become a real estate agent. Once he made that decision, LaCour did so with the knowledge there was no plan B for him.

Over the last decade, LaCour has found a level of success that has allowed him to launch his own firm, LaCour Home Realty with Realty Select One. 

Though he has assistance from a select few, his goal eventually will be focused on building a team. 

“I know how critical my team experience was to learning how to become a successful real estate agent,” he said. “But, I would not do this until I am sure I can provide the same level of mentoring that I received.  And, as of now, despite all of the education I have received, I still have much to learn.” 

Much of his support comes from fellow broker Craig McDonald, and a local contractor, who helps provide insight to clients at a low cost.

LaCour doesn’t view his job as simply helping people buy or sell a home. The process can also include helping a client move, something he and his family have done, including renting a truck and packing and cleaning a house to ensure a successful move. He also believes the little things can sometimes make the biggest difference in the process, such as landscaping and ensuring all aspects of a home are up to date in order to maximize the best return on investment.

In fact, he tells people who are new to the market to talk to more than one agent to make sure they are happy with the way they are represented and have someone they can trust. He points out that most people don’t realize they can talk with an indefinite number of agents, rather than just choosing one. To LaCour, earning the trust of potential clients is essential above anything else.

Champaign County has been an obvious choice for LaCour to put down roots in the real estate field. He credits the economy and diversity as big selling points for this, with the University of Illinois, hospital networks, and Kraft Foods among the top draws to the area. In addition, he loves the diversity aspect and being able to work with folks from different cultures and age groups to realize their buying and selling goals.

In terms of community involvement, LaCour has volunteered with the Mahomet Area Chamber of Commerce, coached soccer with the Mahomet-Seymour Soccer Club, and served as President of the Mahomet High School Boosters Club. 

He feels a sense of gratitude toward the community because the opportunities he’s been given through real estate have allowed him to put both his kids through college and helped him establish long-standing relationships since he began buying and selling as a licensed broker in January of 2014. LaCour also points out how his business helps fill a potential void in the area, because, without professional real estate brokers, many people would potentially be in the wrong house.

After eight years working under Matt Difanis, it was time for Lacour to put into practice the things he learned from his mentor. Difanis’ encouragement toward giving back to local schools and organizations like Cunningham Children’s Home and Habitat for Humanity has led LaCour to follow that model. 

His slogan is: “What makes us different is the difference we make.” 

Attracting new clients may be one of the biggest challenges, but LaCour is confident the relationships he’s built over the years, along with his personal knowledge, will help with the process. 

He hopes to eventually utilize social media as well, though he has admittedly been lackluster in that area thus far. Still, his support staff will play a key role in establishing and maintaining a social media presence, as he knows it can be a real game-changer.

Within the business, two of Lacour’s proudest accomplishments were selling a million-dollar home in 2022 and once helping a young couple with an out-of-state opportunity be able to sell their home by waving the fees. If the young couple had to pay the fees that came with the sale, they would have never been able to take the chance to move out of state.

So, when are the best and worst times to buy and sell? 

According to Lacour, “the only time a home won’t sell is when it isn’t listed.” 

He adds that for the seller, traditionally, February through June and September through December are the prime months. In terms of buying, the late summer months can sometimes present opportunities when owners are willing to negotiate a lower price, while March through June will provide the most competition for purchasing.

Seeing as it’s the beginning of the 2023 season, LaCour has his sights set on doing what he always does well, being a warm and friendly face who will put in the sweat equity to make any home transition experience the best it can possibly be.