The real estate market is changing on a daily basis, and the housing data you’re looking at today may not be relevant tomorrow. So, how do you know which statistics to pay attention to, and how reliable can they be? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal goes behind the numbers with real estate pros Barb Betts and Mark T. Donnelly, both of whom have developed specific strategies around applying industry research to their business and sharing actionable data with their customers. They say the best data you can find lies within a tool you likely use every day.
When real estate professionals develop a comfortable work routine, it's easy to fall into patterns of practice that potentially could put you at greater risk. An agent with more than 20 years of experience and one who's been in the business just under a year talk about their impressions of safety in the industry.
When preparing for a natural disaster, real estate professionals need to think about safety in terms of not only their physical workplace—whether at their home, office or elsewhere—but also their access to critical business and client data. Take it from REALTOR® Rocky DeVon, whose community in Washington state was burning in a wildfire at the time this episode was recorded in August. Host Tracey Hawkins talks to DeVon about how his real estate business is powering through the 20th blaze in his lifetime, as well as how the REALTORS® Relief Foundation saved his neighbors. Former FEMA inspector and trainer Coni Meyers, who faced a tropical storm in Las Vegas, where she lives, also joins the conversation with disaster preparedness and insurance tips.
Though real estate agents are independent contractors, brokers are wise to offer safety training and other resources to help agents protect themselves on the job—partially to avoid possible liability. Brokers who have built safety programs for REALTORS® at their companies discuss how they did it and how it’s helping.
An Indiana real estate agent tells her harrowing story of being attacked at a vacant property. Thought leaders assess the real estate industry’s effectiveness at highlighting workplace safety issues and discuss how real estate agents and brokers can consistently avoid becoming a victim of crime. Plus, an honest take on the threat level for women versus men.
With practice changes on the horizon, sellers need to understand their options and the benefits of cooperating with other brokerages, including the potential of offering cooperative compensation and the impact that may have on the home selling and buying experience. As home buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals adjust to these changes, it is important for members to have clear and transparent conversations with consumers. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal and two real estate pros discuss how and why it is important to emphasize the seller conversation following NAR’s proposed settlement agreement.
Adapting to change can cause stress and anxiety, but real estate pros who understand and embrace the industry changes that are coming under NAR’s proposed settlement agreement will be in a better position for success. It starts with building your own confidence in your skills and expertise as an agent. What’s the best way to do that? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks with two pros who have been through changes and learned how to help themselves adapt and succeed.
Some consumers may have questions about how the practice changes will impact their experience buying or selling a home. Low-income home buyers, military veterans, and other underserved groups may need specific guidance to understand how compensation will work in their transactions. Do you know how to support your clients and keep them on the path toward homeownership? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal convenes a roundtable with three real estate pros who serve these markets.
Many real estate professionals may think all they need to know about fair housing is what the law requires of them. “It’s more than just the law,” says Sabrina Brown, an instructor of NAR’s “Bias Override” course. “It’s how you treat people. It’s how you practice your business on a daily basis.” To truly evaluate whether you’re representing your entire community—start by examining your client base—you need to go deeper in your self-reflection. Host Marki Lemons Ryahl and two fair housing experts discuss how to use NAR’s new fair housing training requirement, which takes effect in 2025, as an opportunity to challenge yourself and your business practices for the better.
The existing housing stock isn’t built to meet increasing consumer demand for greener living. So, if your buyers want a high-performance home, they’ll likely need to retrofit a property with energy-efficient features. That may sound like an expensive process, but there are financing options to help your customers reach their goals. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with two sustainable housing experts about the green financing avenues every agent should know. This episode is sponsored by the Center for REALTOR® Development.
Not everyone understands or recognizes the vital role that diversity, equity and inclusion plays in real estate. Some even see the DEI movement overall as unfairly hostile toward people who are perceived to be privileged. This is a misguided notion—but one that real estate pros must confront in their quest to support a freer, fairer real estate market. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with two real estate pros who are part of underrepresented groups and fight every day against biases and stereotypes.
Real estate professionals consider their business plan their Bible, especially at the start of a new year. But chances are good that potential curveballs in the housing market may throw you off your goals as the year progresses. What’s important is how you respond and adjust your plan of action in these challenging moments. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with two practitioners who have advice for what to do when you realize you need to make changes to your business plan in order to stay on track.
Real estate professionals can honor military veterans by getting educated about how VA financing works. This knowledge will help agents bust pervasive myths that sometimes put military home buyers at a disadvantage in the transaction. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal discusses serving those who serve with two military experts who teach NAR’s Military Relocation Professional certification. Hear why they say military clients may require extra support in the homebuying process.
The National Association of REALTORS® is at trial defending the American MLS model, which is being challenged in two class-action antitrust lawsuits. The first case in Kansas City, Mo., known as Sitzer/Burnett, is happening now. And the outcome could have a lasting impact on the way real estate transactions operate. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks to NAR Chief Legal Officer Katie Johnson to help you get the details you need to know about this important moment for the real estate industry. Get updates on the trial, as well as information on actions you can take to support NAR’s position, at competition.realtor.
The cyberattack on MLS vendor Rapattoni, which took down 23 MLSs nationwide for weeks in August, has left real estate agents and brokers wondering how they can prepare for the next time something like this happens. (After all, hackers are virtually guaranteed to target MLSs again in the future.) Podcast host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with two members of NAR’s MLS Technology and Emerging Issues Advisory Board, who delve into the issue and offer cybersecurity action items real estate pros can take now.
“There is no such thing as privacy.” That’s a warning from national real estate safety trainer and educator Tracey Hawkins when it comes to how practitioners operate online. All the tools real estate agents and brokers use on a daily basis—even Google—are capturing their personal data and that of their clients, Hawkins says. And new real estate technology enhancements, like artificial intelligence, are helping cybercriminals find new ways to infiltrate private data. Hawkins joins host Marki Lemons Ryhal to talk about how real estate agents and brokers can plug the security holes in their business while exploring new innovations in the industry. Nashville, Tenn., broker Brian Copeland joins the conversation to talk about where agents need the most cybersecurity training and how that affects a company’s brand.
Real estate technology developers aim to solve pain points in the transaction. But unless they have intimate knowledge of how the real estate business works, how do these developers know whether their products are making a difference for you? That's where real estate pros come in. You can work with developers to offer insights into how their solutions are working in the market and what they can do to bring more value to agents and their clients. Join host Marki Lemons Ryhal as she discusses technology with two pros who are exploring the future of real estate.
When Jenean Watson was searching for an avenue to give back to her community, she tapped her local REALTOR® association in Sacramento, Calif., for ideas. That opened doors leading to the creation of a homebuyer expo, which now educates hundreds of underserved would-be owners. Watson joins 2020 Good Neighbor Linda Brown—who builds tiny home villages for people experiencing homelessness—and host Marki Lemons Ryhal to discuss how to build a plan of action for your philanthropic passion. Remember, the REALTORS® Are Good Neighbors campaign has a well of suggestions for community service projects to get you started. Pros looking to expand their current charitable efforts can learn about support from the Good Neighbor Awards and Volunteering Works programs.
Many of your clients want to upgrade their home or commercial space to be more energy efficient. But the question is: What do they need to invest in to achieve that goal? Should they replace all their windows? Purchase all-new Energy Star appliances? Install a new HVAC system? Location is a determining factor when deciding which green upgrades will earn the greatest return on investment. But there isn’t universal agreement. For example, while 36% of REALTORS® say solar panels increase the perceived value of a property, 30% say they have no effect, according to NAR’s 2023 REALTORS® and Sustainability Report. So, how should you advise clients who are considering energy efficient property updates? Two REALTORS® who work in the sustainability space in their markets share insights into how they help clients with their energy goals.
You and your clients feel it every day: the inventory crunch. Your clients are frustrated with too few options on the market, and you might be feeling stuck, wondering what you can do to make the situation better. You’ll find that your voice as a REALTOR® is one of the most important tools you have to create change for your clients. Drive With NAR host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks to two REALTORS® on both the residential and commercial sides of the business about the inventory issues in their communities and the action they’re taking to help fix the problem.