Ida Marie Petkus

Ida Marie Petkus emerged as a vital advocate for public health in real estate in 2025, spearheading a national movement to address the lack of mandatory mold disclosures in property transactions. Drawing on her extensive background as a crisis intervention specialist and victim advocate, Petkus is trailblazing a path toward legislative change, arguing that mold safety should be treated with the same legal gravity as lead paint and flood disclosures. Her efforts this past year have focused on educating homeowners, landlords and industry professionals that mold is a serious public health issue rather than a minor maintenance inconvenience. By leveraging media platforms and industry forums, she has worked to set new standards for professional mold testing and accountability.

A veteran professional with licenses in Florida and New Jersey, Petkus has spent decades serving both her clients and her community, previously earning recognition as a National Association of Realtors® Good Neighbor honoree. Her mission is driven by a commitment to ensuring every consumer has access to a safe living environment.

“If you are a real estate agent, you have a duty to the public,” says Petkus, and for her, that duty is “creating awareness of the importance that everyone deserves to live in a safe space.”