Lee Realty About Us

Jeff Lee, Broker/Owner and President of Lee Realty Group, Inc., is a McLean County, Illinois native and has been involved in the farm real estate business since 1982. He's been full-time in the brokerage of farm real estate since receiving his Real Estate License from the State of Illinois in 1988. Jeff has managed more than 30,000 acres in Illinois.

Following graduation from Illinois State University in 1982 with a B.S. Degree in Ag Business, he began his Farm Real Estate career with Illinois National Bank of Springfield as a Farm Manager and Officer. In 1986, Lee was employed as a Farm Manager and Officer with Millikin Bank in Decatur. From 1988-1997, Jeff was an Associate of Carmichael Ag Service in Bloomington, In January 1998 he founded Carmichael-Lee Ag Services.

In January 2001 Jeff formed Lee Realty Group, Inc. a real estate company which specializes in farm real estate sales and acquisitions, professional farm management, and rural appraisals in Illinois. Lee Realty Group, Inc. is a locally owned and managed business.

Jeff is an past member of the American and Illinois Societies of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers from 1982-2003. The ASFMRA and the ISPFMRA are organizations of those with careers in professional farm management and rural appraising and abide by high ethical standards. Jeff completed the Advance Farm Management course offered by the Society in 1986.

He is a past President of the McLean County Ag Club and a past board member of the Illinois State University Ag Alumni Association. He is also an active member of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce and a 1996 graduate of Leadership McLean County, which is sponsored by the Chamber.

In 1999 Jeff completed 60 hours of Illinois Association of REALTORS® broker courses including contracts and conveyances, real estate appraisal, sales and brokerage, and advanced principles. He is current with the continuing education/licensing program of the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. REALTOR® is a registered mark which identifies a professional in real estate who subscribes to a strict Code of Ethics as a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Jeff is also a member of the Realtors Land Institute. RLI is the only national real estate organization of professionals who broker, sell, lease, and manage farmland.

With these experiences, Jeff is very familiar with the sales/purchase and the professional management/appraisal of Illinois Farmland properties and the Farm Real Estate Business in the state of Illinois.

Chris Behl, Real Estate Sales Associate of Lee Realty Group, Inc., is a Shelby County, Illinois native. Graduating from Eastern Illinois University Charleston in May 1994 with a bachelor's degree in marketing, he began his Farm Real Estate/Crop Management career. He's been active in the farm real estate business since receiving his Real Estate License from the State of Illinois in 2006.

Lee Realty Group, Inc. a real estate company which specializes in farm real estate sales and acquisitions, professional farm management, and rural appraisals in Illinois. Lee Realty Group, Inc. is a locally owned and managed business.

He is current with the continuing education/licensing program of the Illinois Association of REALTORS®. REALTOR® is a registered mark which identifies a professional in real estate who subscribes to a strict Code of Ethics as a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

Chris started his farmland career with Pro-Ag Consulting, LLC while he was in High School as a summer-time soil sampler. Pro-Ag Consulting, LLC is a crop management & soil testing business providing services with an emphasis in crop production technology to farmers in seven Midwestern states. Each summer, while in High School and College Chris would return to help with the soil sampling business. He is now a part owner in the business. Pro-Ag Consulting, LLC does not sell any products and is not connected with any other company in anyway. Pro-Ag Consulting, LLC only source of revenue is working directly for the farmer.

In 2006 Pro-Ag Consulting, LLC launched a new GIS/GPS Agronomic Information Lab department. This department collects yield data from clients and processes several layers for analysis. These layers include yield by soil type, variety/hybrid, soil fertility levels, elevation, tillage, or any other management practice.

Pro-Ag Consulting, LLC has offices in seven Illinois locations - Shelby County (Windsor), McLean County (2 - Bloomington), Effingham County (Dietrich), Hamilton County (Dahlgren), Pike County (Hull), and Coles County (Oakland). Pro-Ag Consulting, LLC is one of the largest independent consulting firms in the nation, which includes nearly 800,000 acres under management. To learn more these consulting services go to www.ProAgConsulting.com or call 800-879-2297.

With these experiences, Chris is familiar with the sales/purchase and the crop management of Illinois Farmland properties in the state of Illinois. Chris is an active member of the McLean County Ag Club.

Ray M. Carmichael graduated with honors from the College of Agriculture, University of Illinois in 1958 receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Farm Management. He received his Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics from the same University in 1959. He was born and raised on a McLean County, Illinois farm and is a farmland owner.

After a year with the Indiana Crop Reporting Service, Division of Agriculture Statistics, USDA at Purdue, and two years military service, he was employed by the National Bank of Bloomington for four years as a Farm Manager and Appraiser. He was then employed for 10 years by the IAA Trust Company as Manager of the Farm Department.

Since 1976 Ray has owned and operated Carmichael Agricultural Service, specializing in Farm Management and Farm Real Estate in the Central Illinois area. He is a licensed real estate Broker in Illinois.

Ray is a member of the Illinois Society and American Societies of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers. He received both the Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) title and the Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA) title. The American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers awards these titles to members who have had years of experience, are technically trained, have passed rigid examinations, and subscribe to a high code of ethics. With these experiences, Ray has become very familiar with the value of Central Illinois Farm Properties.

Dave Fowler - Appraisal Associate of Lee Realty Group, Inc. and Owner/Operator of Fowler Agri Services.

Attend Continuing Education Real Estate Appraisal Classes. Dave is current with the continuing education program for maintaining his Illinois Certified General Real Estate Appraisal License.

First National Bank of Ottawa - March, 1987 to February, 1999. Vice President and Farm Manager, Responsible for managing approximately 3500 acres of farmland in LaSalle County, Illinois. In addition, responsible for an agricultural loan portfolio in excess of $4,000,000.00. This included agriculture real estate loans. Real estate appraiser from September 1995 to 1999 for loan purposes, estate settlements, and estate planning purposes.

Federal Land Bank - May 1978 to March 1987. Responsible for making long term real estate loans and appraising the farms involved in the loans.

Illinois Certified General Appraiser, License #153-001062. Licensed since September 1995.

Member of American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers. Member of Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers.

Past President - Illinois State University Ag Alumni Association. Member of the Ag Alumni Board from 1986 to 2001. Illinois State University Alumni Board member 1993 to Present.

Illinois State University Graduate - 1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in AgriBusiness. Named Outstanding Senior, President of Alpha Zeta Honorary Agriculture Fraternity, President of Ag Club, CAST Student Representative, member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity.

Attend sales in LaSalle County and surrounding counties to stay current on land values in the area.

Jo Ann started with Lee Realty Group, Inc. in June 1999 and grew up in the Arcola, Illinois area. She assists in the professional farm management side of the business working with management clients/farmland owners, the farmland operators, and vendors.

She maintains computerized financial records, office files, and manages accounts payable responsibilities for all professionally managed farmland properties. Jo Ann also provides support in the area of farm real estate sales from the marketing to the closing process.

Jo Ann is the friendly voice you may hear while contacting Lee Realty by phone or if you stop by the office for a visit. She enjoys the real estate business and the challenges from her association with the company while implementing new office procedures to help overall office efficiency.