Meet Matt's Team

Matt Difanis, J.D., REALTOR
Lori Bellafiore, CDPE, Sales Partner
Mike Vila, Sales Partner
 

Meet Matt
J.D., REALTOR®

I am a native of Champaign County.  I attended Champaign schools as a child, and I am an alumnus of the University of Illinois, where I earned my bachelor and juris doctor degrees.  Having graduated from law school in 2004, I am frequently asked if I will stay in real estate.  The answer is an enthusiastic yes!  I like my current job too much to leave it to practice law any time in the foreseeable future.  But I have found that three years of law school helps me be a better advocate and troubleshooter on behalf of my real estate clients, as well as making me more attuned to potential liability concerns and contract issues for clients.

My biggest hobby these days is photography. I have amassed an assortment of digital SLR camera bodies and professional lenses and accessories. I enjoy shooting landscapes that capture the unique natural beauty of Central Illinois (yes, there is beauty to be found here!). I also do occasional weddings and portraits. All photographs on this site are my creations, including my handsome mug to the left and the landscape image at the bottom of this page. I also use my equipment, including a recently developed Nikon ultra-wide-angle lens, to capture unrivaled interior and exterior images of my listings.

I am married to Angelle, who was born and raised in the Philippines.  Angelle is a Certified Nurse Practitioner, who treats mostly low income patients at the Frances Nelson Clinic in Champaign.

We have a toddler daughter and a four-year-old son, who are always busy exploring and endlessly chattering.  We also have a five-year-old Irish setter, who is usually busy napping or being as close to the children as physically possible!  The dog and the children are very height compatible, as the children's handprints are often visible next to the dog's snout-prints on our sliding glass door!

Why I Chose a Career in Real Estate

My wife and I purchased our first home when I was 20 years old. As a first time home buyer, I had no clue what I was doing. REALTORS and lenders seemed to speak a foreign language. I considered myself at least reasonably intelligent (although my wife would beg to differ at times), so I was frustrated by my ignorance of real estate. I became intrigued by the entire home buying process, so I began voraciously reading every real estate related book I could find, poring over literally thousands of pages. During my last semester of college, I enrolled in a real estate licensing course in addition to my full-time class schedule at the U of I (which also included a real estate finance course).

I work as a real estate professional because I have a genuine passion for real estate and for assisting people who are in the midst of a hugely important and complicated process. In the course of my years of practice, I have represented hundreds of clients, attended hundreds of home inspections, and have toured thousands of properties in the area. My unique combination of experience and education provide me with expert credentials, and I work to share my expertise with each client to make the home buying or selling process as painless as possible.

I love working in a dynamic community with a robust economy and an exceptionally well educated and sophisticated population. When a client decides to purchase a home in the area, I enjoy guiding that person through such an important and exciting process--whether it is a first time buyer or a veteran home owner. When it comes time to relocate out of this area or move to a different home across town, I look forward to helping my clients get top dollar for their homes, while also working to ensure that each transaction progresses smoothly and expeditiously.

I own several rental properties in the area. I am amazed when I consider the tremendous benefits that real estate ownership offers to people of all walks of life. Whether you are contemplating the purchase of your first home or adding another property to your real estate investment portfolio, I would love to assist you in any way I can!

Check out my Frequently Asked Questions page (if you have not already done so), and feel free to contact me with questions or for additional information. Thank you for your visit to my site!

Meet Lori Bellafiore
Licensed Sales Partner, CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert)

With a Bachelors degree in Biology from Northern Illinois University and Histology Certification from the University of Chicago, real estate was not a likely career choice for Lori. Through dedication, she worked her way up from the laboratory bench to laboratory senior management and an award-winning Senior Account Executive with a world-renowned cancer diagnostics corporation. Lori has also successfully run her own corporation. Why real estate? Lori has traveled all over the United States during her former sales careers and wants to be closer to her family here in Champaign County. As a result, she has again dedicated herself to being a resource for her clients--not only meeting their real estate needs, but exceeding their expectations. Please feel free to contact her for expert assistance with your next real estate sale or purchase.
Lori@MattDifanis.com  or 217-373-4967.

Meet Mike Vila
Licensed Sales Partner

Mike brings a diverse array of relevant experience to his career in real estate. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Mike worked in housing rehabilitation in New York. He then went on to earn a Bachelors degree in Theater Arts from Pepperdine University. After college, he worked both as a technical director at a four-year liberal arts college in Minnesota and as an Account Executive at PricewaterhouseCoopers. These experiences in construction, design, and finance—along with being fluent in Spanish—give Mike unique expertise that he harnesses for his clients' benefit. Mike has lived all over the United States, but moved to Champaign County as a trailing spouse of a University of Illinois Professor. Please contact Mike for dedicated assistance with home purchases or sales at Mike@MattDifanis.com or 217-552-0167