The McWilliams Group Keller Williams The Real Estate Center of Illinois LLC

The McWilliams Group Keller Williams The Real Estate Center of Illinois LLC Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The McWilliams Group Keller Williams The Real Estate Center of Illinois LLC, Real Estate, 1102 W Jefferson Avenue, Effingham, IL.

The McWilliams Group | Your Effingham Real Estate Experts
Powered by local connections, driven by results
Serving Effingham & surrounding areas
Investor-friendly & community-focused

https://linktr.ee/blakemcwilliams

06/06/2026

I was working on a presentation today for an event where I'm speaking, and I kept asking myself:

What's the biggest mistake people in sales make?

It's not lead generation. It's not marketing. It's not even finding new prospects.

It's follow-up.

Most people call a lead once, don't get an answer, and move on. Meanwhile, it can take multiple attempts before you ever make contact, and a lot of the real opportunity happens after that first conversation.

If you've ever said, "These leads are terrible," there's a good chance the issue wasn't the lead.

It was the follow-up process.

The fortune is still in the follow-up.

06/04/2026

Professional photos: serious business.
My brain during professional photos: "little butt seat."
Thanks, Ruben Studdard.

06/03/2026

If you're fixing up a house to sell, stop assuming the most expensive option is the best option.

In a lot of cases, buyers just want clean, updated, and move-in ready.

I've seen people spend thousands extra chasing premium finishes that never come back to them when they sell.

Know your market. Spend money where it matters. Save it where it doesn't.

That's how you maximize your return.

06/01/2026

For many people in Effingham, owning a home on Lake Sara is the dream.
But today's Lake Sara market looks very different than it did just a few years ago.
While the median sold home price in Effingham County is around $200,000, many Lake Sara properties are entering the market between $700,000 and $800,000 or more. The result? Homes are taking longer to sell, averaging around 120 days on market, and many sellers are ultimately accepting offers 6-8% below their original asking price.
That doesn't mean homes aren't selling. It means strategy matters.
If you're considering selling your Lake Sara home and would prefer not to spend months on the market chasing price reductions, let's talk about what buyers are actually responding to today.
📱 Message me anytime for a confidential conversation about your property's value and market position.

Blake McWilliams
Realtor | Keller Williams TREC
618-508-1808
[email protected]

05/30/2026

This one almost doesn't make sense on paper.
For $169,900, you're getting a 4-bedroom home on 7 acres in the Effingham area, complete with a pond, horse stalls, three outbuildings, a workshop, two buildings with electricity, and a 2-car attached garage.
Properties with this much land and this many usable features don't come around very often at this price point.
Whether you're looking for room for horses, a hobby farm, extra storage, a workshop, or just a little breathing room away from town, this property checks a lot of boxes.
Take a look through the video and let me know what your favorite feature is—the pond, the acreage, or the outbuildings?
📍 Effingham Area 💲169,900 🏡 4 Bedrooms 🌳 7 Acres 🐴 Horse Stalls 🔨 Workshop ⚡ Multiple Outbuildings with Electric 💧 Pond
Message me if you'd like to schedule a showing.

05/30/2026

Most people think rental properties are the best investment in real estate.

I disagree.

A rental might produce a solid return over the course of a year, but what if you could deploy your money, earn a 15% return in 90 days, pull your capital back out, and do it again?

That's the power of flipping houses.

The secret isn't just the profit. It's the speed.

A 15% return in three months isn't really a 15% annual return. It's the ability to redeploy that same capital multiple times throughout the year.

The time value of money matters, and most investors completely overlook it.

Would you rather make 15% once or have the opportunity to make it four times?

🚨 JUST LISTED 🚨Nearly 7 acres just outside Effingham for $169,900.A pond, multiple outbuildings with electricity, horse ...
05/29/2026

🚨 JUST LISTED 🚨

Nearly 7 acres just outside Effingham for $169,900.

A pond, multiple outbuildings with electricity, horse stalls, room for livestock, and over 2,400 square feet of living space with two separate living areas under one roof.

The best part isn't what this property is today.

It's what it could become.

Maybe it's a hobby farm.
Maybe it's a multi-generational setup.
Maybe it's a place where you finally have enough room for all the projects you've been talking about.

Either way, properties with this much land, this close to town, don't come around every day.

Take a look through the photos and tell me...

What's the first thing you'd do with 6.66 acres?

📍 Just outside Effingham
💰 $169,900

Brokered By

Blake McWilliams
Realtor | Keller Williams TREC
618.508.1808
[email protected]

05/28/2026

One decision can change your life, and I mean that genuinely.
At 25 years old, I got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In that moment, I had two choices: give up or fight. I chose to fight. But honestly, the decision that changed my life wasn’t just surviving it. It was what came after.
It was deciding to take a leap of faith on myself.
Investing in my future.
Taking risks when they felt uncomfortable.
Fast forward a few years and now we own 25 rental units, we’re closing on 8 more this month, and I'm helping run a real estate brokerage while helping people build wealth through real estate every day.
This isn’t me bragging. It’s me telling you that your life can look completely different a few years from now if you’re willing to take the shot.
Bet on yourself. You might surprise yourself with what happens next.

05/25/2026

Sullivan’s market is moving a lot differently than some of the surrounding rural counties right now.
April numbers showed: • 98% list price to sale price ratio
• Homes selling in under 20 days
• Strong seller-side leverage overall
That doesn’t mean buyers can’t win, but it does mean pricing, preparation, and strategy matter more than ever.
If you’ve been thinking about selling in Sullivan, this is the kind of market sellers wait for. And if you’re buying, you need to move prepared and decisively when the right house hits.
The local market data tells the story.

Blake McWilliams
Realtor | Keller Williams TREC
618-508-1808
[email protected]

Address

1102 W Jefferson Avenue
Effingham, IL
62401

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