Press

News, company and agent highlights in the local press.

simplee home logo
three successful women leaders

Elevating women in real estate: Where we need to go

The importance of women in the workplace is ever evident across industries, and real estate is no different. In an industry dominated by female practicioners, women still lag their male conterparts when it comes to high level leadership.

Read on in this article published in honor of 2023 Women’s Equality Day on Housing Wire’s website.

HousingWire.com article

City council meeting

Chris Pelkola Lee delivers real estate report to City Council at Worksession

Dec 14, 2021

Monday evening at the Idaho Falls City Council work session Chris Pelkola Lee reported on and participated in discussion regarding the overall housing market trends locally, inventory shortages, housing types and how we compare with National trends and statistics.

Watch video of the work session for the presentation and Q&A discussion (beginning on the third agenda item), here.

Chris Pelkola Lee headshot

Lee installed as National President-Elect

Nov 16, 2021

Chris Pelkola Lee was installed as 2022 President-Elect of the National Women’s Council of REALTORS® during the National Conference, held in conjunction with the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Diego, CA.

Chris has been a REALTOR® for over 14 years and is Broker/Owner of simpLEE HOME® in Idaho Falls, ID. She has also served in volunteer positions elsewhere within the industry including as President of her local REALTOR® association and on various committees for Idaho REALTORS®, including as the state representative for the Broker Involvement Committee to the National Association of REALTORS®. Chris was recognized as the 2018 REALTOR® of the Year by the Greater Idaho Falls Association of REALTORS® and is a graduate of Idaho REALTORS® Leadership Academy.

Chris has seized the opportunity to leverage her experience in local, state and national industry leadership to benefit not only her clients when it comes to real estate knowledge and trends but as a committed and trusted community leader. She has served as a member of the Idaho Falls School District 91 Facilities Steering Committee, the Chair of the Idaho Falls Police Department Facilities Evaluation Committee, a member of the City of Idaho Falls’ IDAHome project (to increase housing choices across the City of Idaho Falls) and has spoken locally about housing at events for the City, Rotary, the Idaho Innovation Center, REDI (Regional Economic Development for Eastern Idaho) and the Urban Land Institute.

“I am honored to have been elected to serve our members nationally. The Women’s Council of REALTORS® has an experiential leadership training platform which offers hands-on opportunities for our members to learn how to effectively lead in their businesses, in their personal lives and in their communities. We are a small subset of all REALTORS® across the country. Our members step up to learn and hone their skills and we are recognized for the caliber of our members as industry leaders. Now more than ever, the business world is recognizing the need for diversity of thought, experience, background, ethnicity, race, gender and culture in leadership in order to climb out of silos and discover new avenues to fully realize their potential. Our organization is a piece of the solution providing grass-roots training to community members and business owners. I look forward to continuing with national leadership as we further embrace new ways to bring value to our members.”

About Women’s Council of REALTORS®

Women’s Council of REALTORS®, a proud affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), advances women as business leaders in the industry and in the communities served. With 10,000 members nationwide, its proven business leadership is evidenced the “super-sized” high percentage of its members in leadership positions at NAR, the real estate industry and in local communities, as well as the highest participation levels in the REALTORS® Political Action Committee. The 85-year-old organization is headquartered in Chicago, IL with 250 networks nationwide and alliances internationally.

Mission

We are a network of successful REALTORS®, advancing women as business leaders in the industry and in the communities we serve.

For more information, visit wcr.org.

Release in the Idaho Falls Post Register.

Jeremy Allen

simpLEE HOME® is growing!

Jan 2021

simpLEE HOME® is pleased to announce an addition to the company by bringing on another full-time REALTOR®, Jeremy Allen.

Licensed since 2004, Jeremy had a brief interlude while living abroad with his family so he understands the challenges of relocating not only from another market, but from another culture. That experience not only broadened his life horizons, but instilled in him his love for his home back in Eastern Idaho! Whether buying or selling in the Idaho Falls/Rigby markets, Jeremy has the repute, know-how and worldliness to walk with you to success in your end-goal.

When not working with a client, look for Jeremy out enjoying what we all take for granted in Eastern Idaho–opportunities to enjoy the outdoors with his family hiking, biking and sledding!

Call Jeremy today to welcome him aboard and find out how he can answer your local marketplace questions!

Welcome to the team, Jeremy!

simpLEE HOME® Adds REALTOR® to the Team

Feb 2019

simpLEE HOME® is pleased to announce a new addition to the team! Randy Lee is the first REALTOR® to be hired by the company since it’s founding in 2014.

Randy brings to the team a unique perspective as an INL employee with a GIS specialty background. Currently, he heads space management program at the Lab and helps plan out how the company plans it’s building usage, seat mapping and department siting. His experience with commercial space leasing aspects (pricing, amenities, NNN, etc.), land use planning and as a member of the American Planning Association makes him a great addition to the light commercial side of the company, marketing as simpLEE ROI. He will also be active in connecting and cooperating in the residential realty locally.

Welcome to the team, Randy Lee!

For more information about Randy, visit his profile on LinkedIn.

Chris Pelkola Lee named 2018 REALTOR® of the Year

Jan 2019

At the December 2018 holiday party, the Greater Idaho Falls Association of REALTORS®  honored Chris Lee with the prestigious REALTOR® of the Year award. This is an honor bestowed each year upon one REALTOR® by their peers.

REALTOR® of the Year recognizes those who have served not only the real estate profession but also their communities. Qualifications considered for our local REALTOR® of the Year include business and educational accomplishments; local board activities; REALTOR® Spirit; any industry awards or special recognition; civic activities; state association activities; and national association activities including attendance at national conventions, participation in leadership, or work with societies, institutes or councils within the last five years.

The Greater Idaho Falls Association of REALTORS® has approximately 530 REALTOR® members as of year-end 2018.

GIFAR ROTY Announcement
Post Register – People in Business
BizMojo Idaho

ULI travels to Idaho Falls featuring local experts

On Nov 16, 2018, Chris Pelkola Lee was invited to participate as a featured local expert panelist at an Urban Land Institute-Idaho event held in Idaho Falls.

The City of Idaho Falls hosted the Urban Land Institute to present their Emerging Trends in Real Estate Report for 2019, compiled by ULI and PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Chris was a participant to present and comment upon the local residential market trends, conditions and near-term expectations.

The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit organization that provides leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. For more information, visit ULI.org.

Urban Land Institute Panel – Post Register

Chris Pelkola Lee featured in City Economic Development video series

Jan 2018

In the fall of 2017, Chris had the opportunity to be a part of a series of videos produced by the City of Idaho Falls’ Economic Development department, highlighting the benefits of living, working and investing in Idaho Falls. View the video below,

Idaho Falls Economic Development Highlights-Real Estate

Local elected to National Executive Committee

Nov 2016

The Women’s Council of REALTORS® has elected local member and REALTOR®, Chris Pelkola Lee, to their National Executive Committee.

The Women’s Council of REALTORS® is a national network of almost 12,000 real estate professionals who include many of the best and brightest in the business. The backbone of the Women’s Council is its more than 260 local networks with volunteer managers trained to position their groups as a business resource in their REALTOR® communities.

Members are 80% REALTORS® and also include industry affiliates, including title companies, lenders, inspectors, home stagers, etc.

Chris joined the Women’s Council as a newer REALTOR® in late 2007. Prior to her election, she served on the local level as network Vice President of Membership, and President, as the State network Treasurer and President, and as the Region Vice President (covering Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska and Hawaii).

Mission: We are a network of successful REALTORS®, advancing women as business leaders in the industry and the communities we serve.

Women’s Council Announcement – BizMojo Idaho

Chris Pelkola Lee elected to Local Board

Oct 2016

Chris Pelkola Lee was elected by her peers to the 2017 Board of Directors for the Greater Idaho Falls Association of REALTORS® in the position of President-Elect. She previously served on the Board in 2012 and 2013 as the Secretary/Treasurer-Elect and Secretary/Treasurer. In the role of President-Elect, she will automatically succedd to the office of President in 2017.

For more infomration about Chris, see her profile on LinkedIn.

New Local Boutique Brokerage Opens in Idaho Falls

Nov 2014

Local REALTOR® and real estate Broker Chris Pelkola Lee has opened a new local brokerage, simpLEE HOME® with a focus on people. The real estate transaction process, whether buyer or selling, is ripe with opportunities to ease the burden for buyers and sellers, and Chris aims to do just that. Over the years, she has honed her systems and processes and plans to market her experience to consumers to assist in making the process less stressful. And at a time where she believes industry consolidation and team building can take the personal touch and relationship building out of the process, reducing it to merely a transaction-based relationship. She believes most people desire a more personal touch when buying and selling their personal home.

Chris has been a licensed agent in Idaho since May 2007, and an Associate Broker since 2011. She has been marketing under the agent branding of simpLEE HOME® since 2012 with her previous brokerage. 

simpLEE HOME®’s mission is Buying and Selling homes in Eastern Idaho made simple.

Join Our Newsletter

Get updates about the market and our area delivered to your inbox. Monthly-ish. 🙂

Skip to content