How RE/MAX Can Fix Falling Agent Count
New RE/MAX CEO, Amy Lessinger, is a sharp leader that looks you in the eye, speaks clearly with acute knowledge, listens carefully, and smiles in the face of adversity. She will emerge as another great leader for RE/MAX. The challenge ahead for RE/MAX is daunting. If you look at the growth of companies in America today, the franchise model has been losing agent count to the national brokerage model led by Compass, eXp and REAL. Although franchises deliver a tremendous amount of value for a sliver of broker dollars, agents and teams do not seem to care. As my friend Mark McLaughlin has long said, agents vote with their feet – and that is the problem in front of Lessinger: falling agent count. RE/MAX is not alone; other franchises are facing the same adversity. Combating falling agent count is a challenge facing many brokerages today. Even a growing brokerage keeps their eye steadily on the ball of agent count and production. In truth, brokerages and franchises do not sell real estate, their agents do. They are the foot soldiers of the real estate industry that stand belly-to-belly with the home-buying and selling consumer. They are the family, friend, or neighbor that you trust when you plan to transact. Sure, brands do matter. And I expect that brands will matter more over the next decade. The boutique mom-and-pop shops face an uphill battle to compete in the digital real estate arena that operates with an ever-growing requirement for technical expertise. Agents expect a full house of technology from their broker, and so do consumers. Agent Retention Agent retention and the sinewy tissue of trust and loyalty happen at the branch level. The broker or manager you work for needs to be a coach, cheerleader, mentor, and best friend. RE/MAX has a lot of franchise owners that continue to sell real estate, competing with their agents. That stings many agents. It would be better if those broker owners would pass those deals off to their agents. Agent Recruitment Keller Williams taught the industry that recruiting is a full-time job at the branch level. eXp and REAL followed their playbook, along with others. Many RE/MAX broker owners are busy running the branch(es) and working their own clients, leaving little time to recruit. This is where the franchise can step in. They can run national campaigns to recruit agents to the brand and set appointments for their franchisees to hire them. HomeSmart and Windermere execute this strategy well. New Agent Licensing Many great brokerages like Howard Hanna and Watson own real estate schools. This is a great feeder of new agents. If you train new agents correctly, and help them get started, they can perform very well for your business. I am not aware of any franchise organization that owns a licensing school. Seems like a great opportunity for RE/MAX and others. Every state has different regulations that may impede this tactic, but wherever possible, it's a great strategy. Otherwise, get the list of new licensees and recruit. Create a startup package for these agents to help them get their feet off the ground. The life insurance and financial planning industry has this practice nailed. Mergers and Acquisitions The absolute fastest path to growth is through acquisition (purchase our book on how to create an M&A strategy). If you look at the success of NRT (now Anywhere Advisors), followed by Berkshire Hathaway, Howard Hanna, and Compass – every one of these leading firms by volume were created through M&A. Anywhere has programs for their franchises to help offset the costs of a merger. It has helped companies like Gibson Sotheby's International Realty and a host of others to merge with other brokers in their area. It helps. Develop a Home Services Mindset What RE/MAX has started with Motto Mortgage is wise. If you look at the most profitable brokerage firms across America, they have diversified into home service offerings. Anywhere has also followed this playbook with insurance, title, mortgage, and relocation. The franchises have not unlocked success in these affiliated service offerings to the level that many of the LeadingRE firms have. It's fixable. Develop a Customer for Life Strategy to Keep Clients Connected to RE/MAX Franchises Home ownership/management portals are the newest and greatest opportunity for any franchise or brokerage today. If RE/MAX deploys a product like Milestones.ai to every consumer who has ever transacted with the brand, millions of homeowners who have been ghosted by their agents after the transaction will re-engage with the brand. Consumers have portals for banking, investing, healthcare, and education. The landscape is wide open for real estate. Gary Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage is hot on this strategy already. I am sure that more will follow. Milestones.ai keeps the agent and the firm connected to the consumer between transactions. Today, only one in five consumers return to their agent for a future trade because their agent ghosts them after the closing. Milestones fixes that. Tom Ferry does a great job of explaining the Milestones strategy, and the folks he coaches get it. Past clients are assets. If you watch the video, you will understand. He explains that customer-for-life strategies transform your thinking to past clients as assets under management. It's impressive. Over the multiple decades of working with brokerages and franchises, WAV Group Consulting and WAV Group Marketing have helped firms develop and implement successful programs for recruiting the right agents that will create incremental profitability while strengthening the brand's reputation. We have helped brokers and franchises start from scratch and significantly improve the performance of existing businesses. The suggestions articulated are not new and are likely well-known by every franchise or brokerage today. The challenge is in the execution. I expect great things from Lessinger and her management team. They had a CEO at the helm to take them public, another CEO to steady the ship, and now Lessinger will lead the charge on making sure that their entire organization is singularly focused on their dedication to franchise owner success. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

Crunching the Numbers: What Q1 2024 Can Tell Us About the Months to Come
The first three months of 2024 have come and gone, marked by increasing numbers across North American markets — and a surge in optimism to match. Let's have a look at the numbers: Numbers on the rise When comparing the beginning of 2024 with 2023, we're seeing more increases than decreases — in fact, across nearly all categories, there's been growth. We've seen a subtle increase in listings under contract — as subtle as 0.5% — alongside a 7.5% increase in inventory, and an 8.1% increase in new listings. Less subtle is the 32.2% increase in off market listings, a category in which we've seen continued growth over the course of the market's most recent years. Our only reduction when comparing this quarter to last year's is in listings sold, which saw a decrease of 4.2%. What this tells us about the rest of 2024 As mentioned, this is hardly the first time we've seen an increase in off-market listings in recent years — in fact, we often find it to have the most substantial increase across all categories. While there are many reasons that sellers and buyers are pursuing off-market options, it's as important to understand as it is to take action. To view the original article, visit the Lone Wolf blog.

CoStar Acquires Matterport
Andy Florence hit the center stage at the HousingWire Gathering in Scottsdale, Ariz yesterday morning. It was a packed house. If there is one thing that you can say about Andy Florence, when he and his leadership team commit to something, they go in 100%. Early this week, Matterport was trading at just under $1.4B. When WAV Group worked with Matterport as a startup to launch into real estate so many years ago, we witnessed the awe of real estate professionals who immediately recognized the breakthrough innovation of the Matterport experience in real estate marketing. If you recall your first Matterport experience, you surely witnessed true technology innovation. The ability to move through rooms, and understand space through the doll house animation delivers an online home viewing experience like no other. With CoStar's massive domination of commercial real estate, rentals, and a top competitor in residential real estate portals, Matterport will be componentized into the marketing of all existing and proposed building structures. The announcement caused Matterport stock to jump from $1.70 per share to nearly $5 on the release. Sadly, we had exited our positions in Matterport long ago as their stock price languished. The price surged the valuation of Matterport up over $1.4 billion this morning on the news release. Press release follows: Matterport, the Global Leader in 3D Digital Twins, to be Acquired by CoStar Group The Transaction is Expected to Increase the Development and Deployment of Matterport's Advanced AI and Digital Twin Technology SUNNYVALE, Calif., April 22, 2024 — Matterport, Inc. (NASDAQ: MTTR), the spatial data company leading the digital transformation of the built world, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with CoStar Group, Inc., a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets, pursuant to which CoStar Group will acquire all outstanding shares of Matterport in a cash and stock transaction valued at $5.50 per share, representing an equity value of approximately $2.1 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $1.6 billion based on the closing price for CoStar Group common stock on April 19, 2024. Under the terms and subject to the conditions of the agreement, which has been unanimously approved by Matterport's Board of Directors, Matterport stockholders will receive $2.75 in cash and $2.75 in shares of CoStar Group common stock for each share of Matterport common stock. Founded in 2011, Matterport pioneered the development of the first 3D capture solution to deliver dimensionally accurate, photorealistic virtual tours or "digital twins" for any type of property. Matterport's proprietary and patented technology enables anyone to digitize a property using a variety of camera technologies including cameras found on most smartphones. Matterport also produces a line of innovative 3D capture devices, including the company's flagship LiDAR-based Pro3 camera which is capable of high-precision indoor and outdoor capture. At the center of the solution is Cortex, a powerful artificial intelligence software engine that automatically generates the 3D digital twin and virtual tour while providing property insights like detailed property dimensions, room layouts, and more. Matterport's 3D technology is utilized in nearly every sector of real estate, spanning residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, and industrial spaces, among others. Over the years, Matterport has curated what is considered the largest and most precise collection of spatial property data worldwide, with over 12 million spaces captured in 177 countries, and representing more than 38 billion square feet of digital property under management. Contributing to this growth, Matterport has established a global network of several thousand photographers, capture services technicians, and service partners producing hundreds of thousands of new 3D digital twins for properties each month. CoStar Group operates some of the most effective and widely recognized real estate information solutions and online property marketplaces in the world including Apartments.com, LoopNet, CoStar, and Homes.com, all of which feature Matterport's 3D virtual tours. CoStar Group was one of the first adopters of Matterport's technology, and currently has almost 300,000 Matterport digital twins available in the CoStar information product and online property marketplaces. Advertisers on CoStar Group marketplaces clearly recognize the value of Matterport virtual tours. In March 2024, there were over 7.4 million views of Matterport 3D Tours on Apartments.com, with consumers spending 20% more time viewing an apartment listing when Matterports were available. CoStar Group intends to utilize Matterport in a similar fashion on Homes.com to further enhance the most comprehensive agent, seller and buyer friendly residential portal on the market. "CoStar Group and Matterport have nearly identical mission statements of digitizing the world's real estate. I look forward to welcoming Matterport to the CoStar Group family and believe that we will be stronger together, in pursuit of our common mission," said Andy Florance, Founder and CEO of CoStar Group. "The world has changed and today a Matterport is the new open house or property tour. People now select their next home, apartment, office, store, hotel, or warehouse on their mobile device often without ever visiting the property. There is no better way to remotely experience space than via Matterport. CoStar Group intends to support and invest in research and development opportunities to further develop Matterport's spatial technology, including the application of AI and machine learning to extract information from the 3D spatial data library as well as using generative artificial intelligence to imagine and reimagine physical spaces." RJ Pittman, Chair and CEO of Matterport said, "We are thrilled to join forces with CoStar Group, a long-standing customer and partner with a shared vision for transforming global real estate through technology and digitization. This transaction is another significant milestone that acknowledges the groundbreaking work Matterport has accomplished in 3D digital twin technology and AI-driven property intelligence. With CoStar Group's expansive reach and scale in property research and analytics and our joint commitment to innovation, we believe that this powerful combination will transform how properties are marketed, sold, and managed worldwide. Importantly, it offers Matterport's stockholders the opportunity to participate in the value creation and future growth prospects of our combined efforts." The transaction, which is expected to be completed during the year, is subject to the approval of Matterport stockholders and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals. Directors, Officers and certain other stockholders of Matterport, representing approximately 15% of Matterport's fully diluted shares, have entered into voting agreements to support the transaction. The transaction is subject to a 10% symmetrical collar based on a CoStar Group share price of $86.02 as the midpoint. Qatalyst Partners is serving as financial advisor and Foley & Lardner LLP is serving as legal advisor to Matterport. About Matterport Matterport, Inc. (NASDAQ: MTTR) is the World's #1 Digital Twin Platform* leading the digital transformation of the built world. Our groundbreaking platform turns buildings into data to make every space more valuable and accessible. Millions of buildings in more than 177 countries have been transformed into immersive Matterport digital twins to improve every part of the building lifecycle from planning, construction, and operations to documentation, appraisal and marketing. Learn more at matterport.com and browse a gallery of digital twins. ©2024 Matterport, Inc. All rights reserved. Matterport is a registered trademark and the Matterport logo is a trademark of Matterport, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. *Largest digital twin cloud hosted platform for the built world sq. ft. scanned. Data on file. About CoStar Group, Inc. CoStar Group (NASDAQ: CSGP) is a leading provider of online real estate marketplaces, information, and analytics in the property markets. Founded in 1987, CoStar Group conducts expansive, ongoing research to produce and maintain the largest and most comprehensive database of real estate information. CoStar is the global leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, enabling clients to analyze, interpret and gain unmatched insight on property values, market conditions and availabilities. Apartments.com is the leading online marketplace for renters seeking great apartment homes, providing property managers and owners a proven platform for marketing their properties. LoopNet is the most heavily trafficked online commercial real estate marketplace with over twelve million monthly global unique visitors. STR provides premium data benchmarking, analytics, and marketplace insights for the global hospitality industry. Ten-X offers a leading platform for conducting commercial real estate online auctions and negotiated bids. Homes.com is the fastest growing online residential marketplace that connects agents, buyers, and sellers. OnTheMarket is a leading residential property portal in the United Kingdom. BureauxLocaux is one of the largest specialized property portals for buying and leasing commercial real estate in France. Business Immo is France's leading commercial real estate news service. Thomas Daily is Germany's largest online data pool in the real estate industry. Belbex is the premier source of commercial space available to let and for sale in Spain. CoStar Group's websites attracted over 160 million unique monthly visitors in September 2023. Headquartered in Washington, DC, CoStar Group maintains offices throughout the U.S., Europe, Canada, and Asia. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

[Podcast] Real Estate Advisory as a Differentiator with Joana Branquinho
In this episode of Million Dollar Question, host Billy Ekofo sits down with Joana Branquinho, the visionary Founder and CEO of ORIA Real Estate Advisors. Together, they explore the pivotal role of cultivating trust with clients and delivering a comprehensive suite of services, including property management and concierge assistance. They also emphasize the imperative for real estate agents to evolve into trusted advisors, placing a premium on fostering lasting relationships and gaining a profound insight into client needs. Connect with Joana: Email: [email protected]: www.oriaadvisors.com Listen to this podcast on: Spotify Apple Podcasts Visit the episode homepage for show notes and more detail.

Meet Emma, Edina Realty's Marketing Suite
In the dynamic world of real estate, where every listing and every client interaction counts, efficiency and consistency are paramount. Edina Realty, the top real estate sales company in the Midwest for over two decades, has continually sought innovative ways to streamline its marketing efforts while maintaining the highest standards of quality and service. Recently, they've made significant strides in this endeavor with the introduction of their automated digital agent assistant called Emma, powered by Inside Real Estate's (IRE) CORE Listing Machine (CLM) and Design Center. (More information about Emma is at the bottom of this article.) At the heart of Edina Realty's success lies a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of the market they serve. With 2,300 Realtors spread across 75 offices and a remarkable track record of 18,000 transaction sides and $7.4 billion in sales volume in 2023, Edina Realty stands as a beacon of real estate professionalism in Minnesota, Western Wisconsin, and South Dakota. It takes a lot of marketing automation to produce this level of success. I jumped on a spotlight webinar with Edina Realty to hear first-hand how they are accomplishing so much with Emma. Webinar Panel Ken Katschke – SVP Product at Inside Real Estate David Schmid – VP Product Development at Edina Realty Shannon Bodick – Marketing Manager at Edina Realty Sara Parks – Graphic Designer at Edina Realty The cornerstone of their latest marketing initiative is the integration of Inside Real Estate's CORE Listing Machine and Design Center six months ago. This powerful duo offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to automate and streamline the marketing process, ensuring brand consistency and saving valuable time for agents and staff alike. One of the key advantages of Emma is its seamless integration with Edina Realty's existing systems and workflows. By consolidating marketing efforts within the kvCORE platform, agents can now effortlessly create, customize, and deploy marketing materials directly from their CRM. This integration not only simplifies the process, but also enhances agent satisfaction and adoption rates over other solutions that require agents to SSO into another product. Edina did retain an SSO connection for print; they are connected to Xpressdocs – a long time partner of Edina that the agents love for the combination of price, quality, and distribution functionality. Brand consistency is another area where Edina Realty shines. With a dedicated team of marketing professionals overseeing the process, they ensure that all materials adhere to the company's branding guidelines, from colors and fonts, to sizes and layouts. This meticulous attention to detail not only reinforces the Edina Realty brand, but also instills confidence in clients and prospects alike. Generally, the Edina brand carries the Red theme, but they also support a black theme for their luxury Exceptional Properties. The flexibility offered by the CORE Listing Machine allows for customization at scale. While automated marketing packages are generated for common listing statuses such as "Coming Soon," "New Listing," "Open House," "Price Reduction," and "Sold," agents have the freedom to create custom materials tailored to their specific needs. This balance between automation and customization empowers agents to market their listings effectively, while maintaining a personal touch. Edina believes that marketing support through Emma is a center of excellence for the brand. They maintain a core team at the home office, but enable individual agent support at the branch level with marketing coordinators, office administrator, and sales coordinator. At the branch level, they can log into an agent's account and support unique marketing customization. Branches also have a library for local events. Beyond its internal benefits, Emma serves as a powerful recruiting tool. By showcasing the company's cutting-edge marketing capabilities, they attract top talent looking to elevate their game in the competitive real estate landscape. Additionally, the program's integration with recruiting presentations (CORE Present) and enterprise-wide marketing efforts further enhances its value proposition. Looking ahead, Edina Realty remains committed to innovation and excellence in real estate marketing. With plans to expand analytics capabilities and further optimize agent adoption rates, they are poised to maintain their position as a market leader for years to come. Today, overall adoption rates are 60%. Emma represents an iconic standard in real estate marketing, combining automation, customization, and brand consistency to deliver unparalleled results. By leveraging the power of Inside Real Estate's CORE Listing Machine and Design Center, they have unlocked new levels of efficiency and effectiveness, setting a new standard for the industry. A significant issue with marketing centers industry-wide is loading and programming the marketing materials. The bulk of this work can be performed by the marketing staff at the branches or the home office, but some automated templates need to be programmed by the design team at IRE. Edina reports that turnaround is a day or two for rush orders, and always less than two weeks. There is a paradigm shift emerging in real estate. For decades, brokerage firms would not partner with tech vendors who were providing services to strong competitors. The classic example of that was Booj, who would only offer their product to one, non-franchise firm in any market. Today, firms are realizing that being differentiated with your tech vendor is less important than the product features and functionality. Success comes from engaging with the product, getting staff buy-in, and modifying the tools to reflect your business systems and brand. There are 400,000 users on KV Core today, but each broker can really make it their own. The old adage is true, skills are not measured by the tools you have, it's how you use them. A few last notes about Edina that I could not easily squeeze into this article. They recognize that 5% of consumers in their market are Hispanic. In 2024 and beyond, look to expand marketing in Spanish. The marketing team really loves the ability to unpublish certain content – like seasonal content in their libraries. About Emma Emma Rovick was the founder of Edina Realty. Please take a moment to read her story, and celebrate another great woman of America whose success came from real estate. If you want to listen to the full webinar, visit this link. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

Building a High-Performing Real Estate Team: Strategies for Recruiting, Training, and Retaining Talent
As your business grows, you'll see increased clientele, more closed deals, and far more awareness about your offerings in your local market. But you know you can't do it all alone, and the more consumers you have to serve, the more you'll need top talent to help. This is where building a high-performing real estate team is key. By assembling — and retaining — a real estate dream team, your business can expand alongside your profitability. Recruiting, training, and retaining superstar agents is within reach. Here are the steps you need to take to build out an effective, all-star real estate team. Attracting Top Talent Through Effective Recruitment Strategies As you're building out your team, you'll see a lot of parallels between attracting top talent and attracting prospective clients to work with you. You know you're the best, but they don't — yet. When you're seeking to recruit agents to build out your real estate dream team, it's important to highlight what sets you apart as a team lead or broker, as well as what they can expect from working on your team. Effective recruitment strategies to draw in top talent include: Showcasing your own expertise, history as a real estate pro, and your wins and achievements Sharing the training and support you offer when they're onboarded, as well as over time Displaying key team members they can partner with, learn from, and their own respective accomplishments and real estate experience Highlighting the tools you use to ensure your team's success in the long-term to help them work smarter and continue to drive business forward Agents have a drive and hunger to succeed, and they need a strong foundation to land on when they're choosing a new team to join. By shining the spotlight on what you offer as a leader, your team's successes and expertise, and how you'll support new agents as they join your team, you'll have a more seamless run way to attract top talent in your market. Providing Ongoing Training and Development Opportunities for Team Members Like we noted previously, it's crucial to provide ongoing training and development for your team. It's not just for the newbies: by investing in ongoing education and development for your current team members, you have a powerful opportunity to retain them. Providing training and education to your current team is crucial for: Demonstrating your willingness and commitment to investing in their ongoing success and growth Saving them time and effort on finding the right training, or selecting training not relevant to your business Supporting them in developing a stronger career trajectory Helping them explore new interests, skills, or areas of real estate By investing in your agents' growth, learning, and development, you can help support retention and drive them to continue to work on your dream team. Creating a Positive Company Culture that Fosters Loyalty and Retention If you want your agents to be loyal to you, your team, and to want to keep working with you, having a positive company culture is non-negotiable. Creating a positive work environment is one thing, but infusing positivity into your company culture is another — and it's a key component to long-lasting employee retention. The culture of your company is its heartbeat, the fabric its made of, the foundation it rests upon. In short, it's incredibly important! To create a positive company culture, you must lead by example and build trust with each and every one of your employees. Say what you mean, mean what you say, operate from a place of respect, and hold yourself — and others — accountable. By developing and instilling strong systems for your business, investing in your agents' growth and development, and setting goals effectively, you can start to foster a positive company culture. Yes, things like team building activities and offsite events certainly help. But having a culture centered around positivity in your company starts from the top and is reinforced all the way down. Leveraging goal-setting, effective communication, and supporting your agents, and committing to doing so consistently, will help build, strengthen, and reinforce your positive company culture. To view the original article, visit the Inside Real Estate blog.

Latter & Blum + 38-0 = Teamwork!
What a pleasure to have Latter & Blum join Compass. The announcement last week generated an enormous high and increased our momentum in an industry undergoing significant change. Latter & Blum operates several disciplines and brands in several states. Compass embraces the entire portfolio with passion. I had the pleasure of meeting Lacey Conway, CEO of Latter & Blum, through The Realty Alliance in 2016. Lacey leads with vision, passion, and a standard of excellence. In late December 2023, Robert Reffkin and I spent the day in New Orleans with Lacey and her father Bob Merrick brainstorming the future of our companies. The day will be remembered for both companies as "too good to be true." Ninety days later, we are one firm with a shared vision. On Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at the Four Seasons in New Orleans, we will have 600 attendees (full capacity) celebrating the merger of the two companies. The gathering will fortify a shared vision and enhance our collective momentum for the spring market. In a recent conversation with Lacey, she articulated a desire to engage with Compass leadership, contribute ideas, and participate in the broader agenda – teamwork at its finest! NCAA Championship Game, April 7, 2024South Carolina 87 vs. Iowa 75South Carolina 38-0! This weekend, while Monique and I were watching the Women's NCAA Basketball Finals, all we could think about was the amazing impact of teamwork. South Carolina's record of 38-0 speaks for itself. The women on the court controlled the game as a team. Teams outperform the best individuals on a consistent basis. More than anything else about the merger of Latter & Blum with Compass, I look forward to our collaboration with Latter & Blum, Lacey's leadership team, and the entire Compass team. Momentum is contagious – keep an eye on us! This is Where We are Now. Mark McLaughlin serves as CEO of McLaughlin Ventures and M&A Advisory at WAV Group. To view the original article, visit the McLaughlin Ventures blog.

How Will Real Estate Anti-Trust Settlement Impact Luxury Sales
Journalist Michele Lerner has crafted an impeccably researched piece for the Wall Street Journal's Mansion Global publication titled "Real Estate Commission Settlement May Shift Luxury Market Practices." In this article, Lerner delves into the potential ramifications of the Sitzer/Burnett settlement on luxury property sales. Over the years, negotiations over commissions have been particularly pronounced in luxury and hyper-luxury sales, signifying what the Department of Justice (DOJ) aims to address by joining the court and plaintiffs in challenging the practice of advertising buyer compensation in the MLS. Drawing upon insights from industry experts such as Brian Boero, co-founder of 1000Watt, Victor Lund from WAV Group, and Samantha DeBianchi LaViola of DeBianchi Real Estate in Ft. Lauderdale, Lerner provides a comprehensive background to her analysis. Luxury properties present unique challenges due to their often-customized nature. These homes frequently feature bespoke elements such as elaborate irrigation systems, numerous outbuildings, multiple wells, fortified sea walls, or extravagant features like front entry doors valued at $250,000. In the realm of hyper-luxury, understanding comparable properties often necessitates extensive national and international research. Furthermore, transactions in this segment typically involve intricate coordination with family offices and complex trusts. Lerner's meticulous attention to detail and balanced reporting sets her article apart in an industry often plagued by sensationalism and misrepresentation. As such, it is imperative to acknowledge and support high-quality journalism like hers. Share this insightful piece on your social media platforms to contribute to a more informed discourse within the real estate community. By the way, Michele Lerner is a freelance journalist and has won the Platinum Award for her writing of the best real estate article of the year. She has been published in The Washington Post, USA Today, and dozens of other leading publications. If you have a story for Michele, be sure to pitch her on LinkedIn. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

A Year in Real Estate: A checklist for the second quarter
This post is part two of four in a series on annual real estate checklists. Find part one here. Have you noticed? The snow is melting, and the sun is rising earlier than usual. The birds are back for spring and so are we. To be more specific, we're here with the top tips your brokerage can take to prepare for the upcoming busy season this year. Now that the market will start warming up, buyers and sellers will come out of hibernation to see what opportunities they can find. Listings are about to pop up. Well, you know the drill. Let's talk about the most important checkpoints of this bustling season. Recap: What is the real estate checklist? To prepare for 2024 and beyond, we've created a handy checklist with the big-ticket items that brokers and agents should be aware of every quarter to make sure your workflow stays smooth and your agents' listings open and close in a timely manner. As industry professionals know, the second quarter is all about busy season: real estate's peak time of year for transactions. As your brokerage and agents go up against competitors to win and close the most deals, it's important to stay prepared with a couple of key themes. Getting your ducks in order This is the time to finish what you have to do to get to what you want to do: operating at your best without a hitch as the market starts to bloom. During the second quarter, this means concrete tasks like filing your taxes as well as more compassionate ones, like taking the time to brainstorm ways that your agents can offer the best services possible to their clients. After all, investing in a positive client experience now has the potential to create a significant return in the form of referrals or repeat business. Looking at the bigger picture We've discussed the little things. Now, on the other hand, there's the bigger picture to think about. This quarter is all about performance. It's the payoff of your efforts to prepare since late last year and all throughout the first quarter. It would make sense to feel some nerves in the air. After all, there's a lot riding on the busy season and it's easy to feel like everything's about to happen all at once. To help calm that chaos, it helps to zoom out and see the bigger picture—of both your agents' performances and of your brokerage differentiators. This is where data analytics programs like BrokerMetrics can be useful. Keep a watchful eye on how your market is doing and you'll know exactly where to go from there. An exciting season lies ahead From little details to the bigger picture and all the thought that goes into both, it can feel overwhelming to remember. But taking the time to address these checkpoints is a way of taking care of your business. Besides, the preparation you do now is sure to save some headaches down the road. And besides all that, busy season is perhaps the most exciting time of the year! We've got your back. Now, let's get going. Downloads: A Year in Review: Q2 A Year in Review: Full Annual Checklist To view the original article, visit the Lone Wolf blog.

American Financial Network and zavvie Team Up to Turn More Buyers into Cash Buyers
One of the fastest-growing mortgage banks in the U.S., American Financial Network Inc. (AFN), is teaming up with zavvie, an award-winning software technology company empowering loan officers and real estate agents to win and close more deals with its popular Cash Offer programs. By partnering with zavvie, AFN aims to help turn more buyers into "cash buyers" through more than 1,150 trusted loan originators in 240-plus offices nationwide. According to the National Association of Realtors, cash buyers surged to a decade-high last month. Home buyers paying cash accounted for nearly one in three home sales (32 percent) in January, the highest share since 2014. "As we endeavor to support more of our clients to compete against all-cash buyers and win more offers, we're not just participating in a market trend – we're leading it," said John D'Onofrio, EVP, Retail Branching of American Financial Network. zavvie's research shows that a buyer using a traditional mortgage requiring a loan contingency must make offers on seven houses before their offer is accepted. Buyers using a cash offer program average just 1.1 offers submitted before successfully purchasing a home. "Cash offers continue to be the hottest trend in the home buying market," said Lane Hornung, co-founder and CEO of zavvie. "Making more buyers cash buyers creates more business for AFN's trusted loan originators, and we know that zavvie Cash Offer programs increase loan officer business activity. More importantly, it increases their GCI (gross commission income) by as much as 33%, and loan officers average at least one more loan per month," he added. Offering all cash without contingencies may simplify a home purchase, making buyers' offers more attractive to sellers who value speed and certainty. With cash, buyers can bypass potential financing obstacles, eliminating the risk of loan approval issues or related deal cancellations. Additionally, cash offers have the potential to shorten the closing period, distinguishing them from competing offers. American Financial Network, Inc. (NMLS #237341), an Equal Housing Lender based in Brea, California, opened its doors from a single location in 2001 and is now licensed in all 50 states and Washington, DC. "Being able to provide clients with a Cash Offer option is a no-brainer for loan officers looking to win more deals," Hornung added. Consumer demand for Cash Offer programs is driving zavvie's rapid expansion into the mortgage business, and sustained growth in brokerage-assisted transactions makes it an integral part of real estate's modern ecosystem. Its nationwide footprint now covers nearly 50 states, with more than 75,000 agents using its platform and potentially reaching more than 700,000 real estate professionals through partnership integrations.

Brokers Over $2B in Volume Should Prepare for Mediation
Friday, March 15th, 2024 was a watershed day for the real estate industry in the United States. The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), who had been negotiating with the plaintiffs in the Sitzer/Burnet Antitrust litigation, announced a proposed settlement that covers the entire real estate industry (including all Realtors, Realtor associations, and Realtor-owned MLSs, all Realtor affiliated brokerages) except for brokerage firms who perform more than $2 billion in transaction volume. The NAR settlement comes on the heels of other settlements, including RE/MAX, Anywhere, and Keller Williams. There are about 94 brokerage firms that transact over $2B per year. In the Sitzer settlement, NAR negotiated a buyout for these large firms at a rate of about $2.5 million per $1 billion in trades. Using this math, Compass would have been subject to $2.25 million multiplied-by 228, since they did $228 billion in transactions. However, Compass was able to negotiate $57.5 million. Compass is making two payments. Compass negotiated their settlement in the Gibson and Umpa cases, which covers all plaintiffs in each of the copycat lawsuits – including those in Sitzer. Let's unpack this. Any firm in the $2B club that has been named in any of the copycat lawsuits may go to the plaintiff's attorney and settle. The settlement in any of the cases covers all cases – including Sitzer. Firms would not be required to pay more than once. The attorneys in the copycat lawsuits have a heightened motivation for settling with any of the brokers in the $2B club. If firms do not settle in any of the copycat cases, the judge will tell the plaintiffs to go collect their check from Sitzer. Those lawyers may not participate in the settlement at all, unless they can cajole brokers in the $2B club to settle with them. The settlement terms may be different. As you know, there are a number of terms that eliminate the offer of compensation from the MLS entirely, among other things. NAR makes payments over four years. Compass makes payments over two years. Compass has different settlement terms. If you are in the $2B club and you have not been named in any litigation, your best bet might be to contact the mediator in Sitzer and negotiate a settlement. You have some time to prepare, but not much. The mediation in Sitzer does not start until the court accepts the settlement. What should you do now? Prepare for mediation. Get your attorneys on it. Pay close attention to the settlements that have already been announced, and do some 5th grade math. How much did they agree to pay per agent, or per seller transaction? Is your business model different? How much can you pay? These data points are all helpful in negotiation. WAV Group is not offering legal advice. We help with information and strategic planning. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

Redfin Expands Redfin Next Agent Pay Plan to Additional Markets, Offering Big Splits with Zero Expenses
Redfin announced it is expanding the Redfin Next agent compensation plan to seven additional markets: Chicago, Connecticut, Dallas, Miami, New York, Palm Beach, and Washington, D.C. Under the Redfin Next plan, agents in these markets earn competitive splits as high as 70%, have virtually all business expenses covered, and get technology, support, benefits and customer introductions from Redfin.com. Redfin initially announced the plan in San Francisco and Los Angeles in late October 2023 and added San Diego and Orange County in December 2023. Since then, the brokerage has recruited more than 90 top producing agents in California. Because of this recruiting success, and the positive reception among Redfin's existing agents, the company is now expanding the plan to new markets and will continue to evaluate rolling it out to all agents in 2025. "We've never seen more enthusiasm for a new compensation plan from agents than we've seen with Redfin Next," said Jason Aleem, senior vice president of real estate sales at Redfin. "No other brokerage can offer agents a big traditional split and all the benefits, support, technology and customer introductions that we provide here at Redfin. These resources are what agents need to serve buyers and sellers well, and let those buyers and sellers keep more of their hard-earned dollars. In the wake of the NAR settlement, customers are telling us this is more important to them than ever before. We've always been focused on giving consumers a better deal, so we're well equipped to support them. We believe Redfin Next will be transformational for our brokerage, helping us retain our best agents, recruit top talent, and grow market share faster through both the ups and downs in the market." The Redfin Next plan includes: Big splits. Zero expenses: At Redfin, what you earn is what you keep because we cover all your necessary business expenses and cover benefits, mileage, payroll taxes and listing expenses. Meet over 100 customers a year: By plugging into the Redfin platform and the 50 million people who use Redfin's app and website every month, agents can grow their business rapidly. Business in a box: Redfin's technology and staff handle qualifying new customers, scheduling tours, conducting follow-up tours, and coordinating sales and listings. Agents focus on closing deals for customers. Top-tier benefits: Redfin's benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; fertility benefits; 401(k) employer match and employee stock purchase program. Define the future of real estate: Redfin puts the customer first, makes the industry more fair and transparent, and uses technology to modernize the real estate experience and make it better. Agents in the Redfin Next plan will continue work as employees, not independent contractors. Redfin's unique employee agent model was built to put the customer first by ensuring agents are held to a high standard and have the support they need to deliver consistently great service. Redfin uses technology to make real estate more efficient, which is one reason Redfin has the most productive agents in the industry, closing more than twice as many transactions as the average agent every year. Gabe Schmidt, who recently joined Redfin's Orange County team, says the quality of customer leads and Redfin's technology have already made an impression on him. "It's like someone at Redfin followed an agent around and figured out every pain point in their day, and then created technology or a process to circumvent it. I have bought leads from practically every lead source out there, but I have never in my life had a more qualified lead come across my phone as I have with Redfin." The seven expansion markets will move to the Redfin Next pay plan on May 5. In other markets, Redfin agents will continue to operate under Redfin's existing plan, earning a base salary and bonuses for every closed transaction. Nationwide, Redfin agents earn more than double the typical real estate agent and the company's best agents have earned more than $750,000 under the existing plan. Redfin expects top agents to earn even more with the Redfin Next plan.

WAV Group Releases 2024 Brokerage Technology Roadmap
As the real estate industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, brokerages face the challenge of staying competitive in a landscape dominated by well-funded, public search portals and national, technology-driven brokerages. To help navigate this complex terrain, the WAV Group is releasing its 2024 Brokerage Technology Roadmap, offering invaluable insights for brokerages and their technology partners. In the inaugural report of this four-part series, we delve into the crucial realm of website technology – a cornerstone of modern real estate operations. Here, we identify four essential components that are instrumental in equipping brokerages to thrive amidst fierce competition: 1. Parcel-Centric Approach In today's data-driven world, consumers crave comprehensive information about properties beyond just active listings. A parcel-centric database, encompassing all properties in the area, provides invaluable insights to potential buyers and sellers. Moreover, empowering homeowners to estimate their property's value prior to listing enhances engagement and can open the door to securing a listing presentation. 2. MLS VOW Data Aggregation and Publishing Speed The ability to aggregate and publish MLS VOW data swiftly is paramount in attracting and retaining clients. Seamless integration of MLS data across diverse markets remains a challenge because of a lack of data standardization. Brokerages must seek technology partners capable of handling this integration at an enterprise level, to ensure a competitive edge in lead generation. 3. Elasticsearch for Enhanced Property Search Leveraging advanced search technologies such as Elasticsearch enhances the user experience by expediting property searches for the consumer. With features like autocomplete functionality, Elasticsearch not only streamlines the search process but also guides users swiftly to the desired information. By prioritizing user convenience, brokerages can differentiate themselves in a crowded market. 4. Website Topology Strategy Adopting a hub-and-spoke model for website connectivity offers numerous advantages for brokerages. The broker website serves as the central hub, providing a cohesive brand identity and centralized control. Meanwhile, co-branded agent websites act as spokes, extending the brokerage's reach while maintaining consistency in branding and messaging. Download Free with Promo Code For a limited time only, brokerages can download part one of the 2024 Brokerage Technology Roadmap using code "roadmap" during checkout. Register to Receive the Entire Guide Be the first to receive a download opportunity for each segment of this four-part series. Register here. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

Roomvu Launches in the U.S. in Partnership with LeadingRE, Realty One, and More
Roomvu has announced its expansion into the U.S. in partnership with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE), Realty One, and a growing network of enterprise and corporate partners. As an award-winning company recognized among the CIX Top 20 most innovative real estate technology companies in Canada and venture capital-backed by NAR REACH, Roomvu stands at the forefront of a growing trend in video marketing in the real estate industry. With a mission to transform property and personal marketing for real estate professionals, Roomvu leverages the support of NAR REACH, the investment arm of the National Association of REALTORS®. This strategic partnership fuels Roomvu's U.S. launch, aiming to deliver unparalleled marketing support to real estate agents and brokerages with its advanced technology and services. Jeff Kennedy, Vice President of Sales and Partnerships at LeadingRE, praises Roomvu for revolutionizing the marketing landscape with its innovative approach. "Roomvu sets itself apart with its advanced marketing strategy, offering a comprehensive suite of tools designed to elevate your marketing efforts. Roomvu's video customization capabilities empower you to create compelling visual content tailored to your specific needs, enabling you to captivate and resonate with your audience like never before. With Roomvu, you can rest assured that your marketing needs are fully met, allowing you to focus on what you do best – serving your clients and growing your business," says Kennedy. Roomvu's AI marketing assistant platform offers automated, hyperlocal content creation, empowering real estate agents with a consistent and engaging online presence. This service is especially valuable for brokerages aiming to enhance their brand and agents striving to differentiate themselves in a competitive market. "Our expansion into the U.S. is not just a milestone for Roomvu but a significant opportunity for real estate professionals across the country," said Sam Mehrbod, CEO of Roomvu. "Our partnerships with LeadingRE and RealtyOne are just the beginning. We are committed to providing our innovative video marketing solutions to help agents and brokerages enhance their brand visibility, engage more effectively with clients, and ultimately drive business growth in today's competitive and challenging market." The U.S. launch comes after Roomvu's successful track record in Canada, where the company has made significant strides in transforming real estate marketing through technology. Roomvu's solutions are designed to meet the unique needs of the real estate industry, making marketing more accessible, effective, and efficient for agents and brokerages alike. "The residential real estate industry is ripe for innovation, and Roomvu's entry into the US marks a pivotal moment in this transformation," said Tyler Thompson, Managing Partner at Second Century Ventures and REACH. "By leveraging AI to produce customizable, hyper-local videos for REALTORS, Roomvu is setting a new standard for property marketing."

[Podcast] Housing Sustainability: Navigating Economic Challenges for Homeowners
In this episode of The National Housing Conference's Beyond Four Walls podcast, experts share best practices, insights into borrower empowerment, and innovative strategies for keeping individuals and families in their homes during challenging times. By addressing the unique needs of diverse communities and collaborating with stakeholders, this podcast seeks to reshape the narrative of mortgage servicing as a proactive force for housing stability. Beyond Four Walls: Conversations on Affordable Housing goes beyond the rhetoric and engages with key figures in the housing and finance sectors to discuss tangible, impactful, and achievable solutions to the affordable housing crisis. The podcast also focuses on the personal stories of these housing leaders and policymakers and the journeys that have shaped them into the accomplished leaders they are today. The conversations promise to be insightful, challenge conventional wisdom, and shed light on innovative approaches that can make a real difference. Listen on: Spotify Amazon Apple Podcasts Visit the episode homepage for show notes and more detail.

Redfin Expands 'Sign & Save' Program Nationwide
Redfin expanded its Sign & Save program to more than a dozen additional markets this week, including Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego and San Francisco. With Sign & Save, homebuyers who sign up to work with a Redfin agent before the second tour can get a refund of 0.25 - 0.5% of the purchase price at closing. "With Sign & Save, Redfin is giving consumers a better deal in real estate," said Jason Aleem, Redfin's senior vice president of real estate operations. "This program rewards customers who commit to working with a Redfin agent early in the process, which is helping drive more sales for our agents. Not only are we putting money back in our customers' pocket, we're also educating them about how real estate commissions work and how Redfin can help them win. This is good for our customers, our agents and our growth as a brokerage, which is why we're expanding it everywhere we can." The program was piloted in a handful of markets in September 2023, launched in additional markets in January 2024, and is now available to Redfin's home buying customers nationwide, except in states where commission refunds are prohibited by law: AK, IA, KS, MS, MO, OK, OR, TN. Redfin encourages policymakers in these states to change these laws and allow commission refunds, which can help consumers save money and drive more competition and innovation in the real estate industry. How Sign & Save Works When a homebuyer goes on their first home tour with a Redfin agent, the agent learns about the customer's goals, explains the benefits of working with Redfin to achieve those goals, and asks the customer to sign a buyer agency agreement. This is a contract that creates a formal working relationship between the customer and Redfin. Customers who sign up to work with a Redfin agent before the second tour and go under contract to purchase a property within 180 days of signing the agreement get a refund when they close on their new home. The standard Sign & Save refund is 0.25% of the purchase price. An eligible homebuyer purchasing a $500,000 home will save $1,250 with Sign & Save. For customers who purchase a luxury home through Redfin's Premier service, Redfin offers a 0.5% Sign & Save refund. For a $2 million Premier home, Sign & Save customers will get a $10,000 refund. Because Redfin earns a larger commission on a luxury home sale, it's able to give the homebuyer a larger refund. Sign & Save eligibility is subject to minimum buyer agent commission and lender and seller approval. More details are available here.

Recruitment and Retention Tactics: How Brokerages and Teams Can Leverage Constant Contact
In a recent survey conducted by Inman News, 28% of brokerage leaders stated that recruiting and retaining talent will be their most challenging responsibility one year from now. As someone who works with brokerages and teams across the country on creating, executing and analyzing comprehensive recruitment and retention campaigns, I see this as an opportunity to be proactive and get ahead of the competition in terms of brand positioning, meaningful story-telling, and building a strong recruitment pipeline. That means that organizations should start NOW in terms of budgeting, evaluating needed technology, and developing marketing strategies that will resonate with key prospects. Knowing that many brokerages and teams don't necessarily have dedicated resources for recruitment and retention marketing, I'm always seeking solutions that will help streamline and/or consolidate multiple marketing channels into one snapshot, be intuitive and easy to implement, provide valuable feedback as to who is engaging and with what content, and allow custom, targeted communication based on user behavior. Oh yeah, and be affordable so as to not tax already constrained budgets! When I was asked to evaluate Constant Contact for recruitment and retention, I was initially hesitant because I had toured the solution years ago and found it to be limiting in terms of what I wanted to help my clients accomplish. So, imagine my (pleasant) surprise over the past few months that I've spent playing with and testing the platform. The team at Constant Contact has invested heavily in expanding and enhancing their platform to offer an incredibly robust marketing solution that far exceeds just email, and it really shows. Following are my favorite features within Constant Contact and why I like them for busy brokerages, team leaders and organizations seeking cost-effective, efficient marketing solutions for their companies. One Feature-rich Solution What started as an email platform now offers fully integrated social media advertising, SMS marketing, an enhanced AI assistant, CRM, landing pages, event marketing, ecommerce and more. Also, I was assigned a dedicated onboarding specialist who was legitimately a REAL human being (Hi, Jeff!). Why this matters: Recruiters many times have to use a variety of products and services to accomplish their outreach goals, leading to disjointed communication workflows, lack of comprehensive tracking and reporting, and higher costs. You know the story: your CRM doesn't connect to all of your marketing channels, you're running recruitment events off of a platform that doesn't report conversions back to your email invitation campaign, etc. When ALL of your marketing outreach lives under one roof, it not only saves time and money, but it provides the opportunity to build intelligent communication workflows and gain insight into every part of your prospect's user journey. WIN! Targeted Communications Too many organizations take a "shot-gun" approach to delivering recruitment messaging, which is not an effective way to initiate what should be a personalized conversation. Constant Contact allows users to create personalized communication workflows based on user behavior and engagement. This ensures that prospects receive relevant, timely content that fosters a sense of belonging and enhances their personal exploration journey. Real life example: In Q1, I was helping a client deliver an annual business planning guide to a mixed audience: entry-level agents, seasoned professionals, team leads, and active agents. Although this resource provided value to each audience, we wanted to ensure that we were speaking in different "voices" to each recipient, as well as automatically move recipients to different communication channels with appropriate follow-up activities based on their engagement (or lack thereof) with the guide. Constant Contact's custom automation paths made it very easy for me to build workflows for each unique audience, providing a user experience that felt authentic and personal. WIN! AI Assistance Let's face it, recruitment and retention is only ONE of the hats that busy brokers and team leaders must wear. And, developing meaningful marketing communication is most likely not the personal passion that entices you out of bed each morning. What other tasks could you focus on if you could free up an hour or two a week with the help of a marketing assistant? Wait, an assistant isn't in your budget? Think again. I've seen a lot of AI technology inside of marketing tech stacks and honestly, I've been underwhelmed. So much AI integration seems to be more about rushing to include the "latest shiny tech tool" instead of really thinking about where, how and why users would leverage the technology. I was pretty impressed with Constant Contacts' approach to leveraging the power of AI. They've found ways to integrate AI across their entire platform, allowing users to conceptualize and customize their communication, as well as use it for grammar and sentence structure, and tone checking (A very cool feature! Think professional, humorous, persuasive tones to match your audience, your brand and your desired voice). What this means: For those that don't feel that marketing is your key strength and don't have the budget to hire a professional marketer, you can lean into technology that will inspire your creativity and do 80% of the work. Even better, Constant Contact's AI is built into their platform at no additional cost for unlimited usage. Yes, you still should proof-read and edit what's been generated, but below is a legitimate example of me asking their bot to develop five email subject lines for an upcoming recruitment webinar (with no editing on my part): PROMPT: Write 5 email subject lines inviting real estate agents to a recruitment webinar where I will demonstrate the key benefits of joining my brokerage, using a professional tone. OUTCOME: "Unlock Growth Potential When You Join Our Brokerage - Webinar Invitation" "Elevate Your Career: Invitation to Explore Opportunities at Our Brokerage" "Discover Your Next Career Move: Join Our Brokerage Recruitment Webinar" "Maximize Your Success: Explore Benefits of Partnering with Our Brokerage" "Your Next Career Leap Awaits: Join Our Recruitment Webinar for Real Estate Agents" Not too bad! Now, all you need to do is tweak and customize. For example, I'd revamp #4 to read something along the lines of Your Next Career Leap Awaits: Explore The Benefits of Joining [Name of Brokerage]. WIN! Event Management I've spent tons of money inside of event platforms and when I found out that Constant Contact ALSO has an events tool that's included in the subscription, I was elated! This tool allows for webinar registration and follow-up campaigns (with surveys), which can be built into your communication workflow so that you can easily move webinar registrants into a new communication channel. Why I love this: First of all, say goodbye to additional costs with another third-party solution, and second, no more dripping on people to register for an upcoming webinar that they've already registered for, but you didn't know this because you were using two different platforms and now you seem like a dum-dum for not knowing! WIN! The Power of SMS Although SMS should NEVER be used for cold outreach, I'm a huge fan of the instant gratification it can lend to connecting with an engaged prospect to continue the momentum of the conversation. You know the "five minute rule" for engaging a consumer prospect? Constant Contacts' SMS marketing tool makes this super easy to integrate into your personalized workflows (see "Targeted Communications" above), allowing you to be responsive and timely even if you aren't readily available. Ideas for Usage: When a recruitment prospect "raises their hand" through your website or downloads one of your resources, you can send both an email and text as follow-up and to support next steps (i.e., a link to your scheduling calendar). Or, use text to send timed reminders for that upcoming recruitment webinar you are offering, as well as provide a link post-webinar to your follow-up survey. WIN! Data-driven Decision Making and Prioritization Recruitment marketing should not be a dark hole where you don't understand what's working and what's not. I'm a big fan of the saying, "You can't manage what you can't measure," so tracking, reporting and transparency is important to marketing success. Constant Contact empowers your recruitment and retention efforts with KPIs (key performance indicators) such as email open rates, survey responses, and engagement levels. Why this matters: Recruiters will gain valuable insight that will help prioritize outreach, refine marketing messaging, identify engagement trends, and deliver a more personalized experience leading all parties towards a strategic end goal. Knowing what's working and who's responding will support ROI and value. WIN! Real People Supporting You As I mentioned earlier, I was assigned a dedicated onboarding specialist (Hi, Jeff…again!) who was very proactive in understanding how I wanted to use Constant Contact for my client's recruitment and retention marketing. Although all users may not have access to Jeff, I was impressed with the expansive educational resources that the platform offers, both on-demand and live. I've seen too many good technology platforms fail because they lacked intuitiveness (think Apple versus Microsoft), or leaned too heavily on self-onboarding and support, leaving users confused, frustrated and unable to accomplish their goals. On behalf of frustrated marketers everywhere, I appreciate the fact that Constant Contact has invested in both an intuitive UI/UX experience AND in real people to onboard, support and educate their users. For those of you who really want to geek out, here's a few additional features that I love for more advanced recruitment and retention efforts: Permission / Brand Locks - This functionality allows admin users to lock areas / elements of marketing material to ensure brand compliance. For example, you are creating recruitment messaging for your regional directors and only want to allow them to edit a personal intro / outro, but no graphics or other areas of content. DONE! Parent / Child Structure - Building on my point immediately above, I love that I can create communication that can easily be assigned to "child" accounts. Also, I have full transparency into all accounts below me, including reporting, while each child account can only engage with their specific data. All in all, I'm very happy that I've made the switch to Constant Contact for my client's recruitment and retention marketing. It's allowed me to expand my marketing offering, while offering an even better platform price for my client. And, I truly believe that for brokers, team leaders and recruiters that don't have the budget for a professional marketer such as myself, they can still achieve success in their recruitment efforts without the frustration and headache that comes with many other marketing solutions. On top of it all, Constant Contact offers a no-risk free trial so that you can start building your recruitment campaign and check out all of the integrated features. Below are a few helpful links for those that are interested. Happy recruiting! To have a full-product FREE TRIAL for 60 days or meet with the Constant Contact Enterprise Team, click the links below: FREE TRIAL • REQUEST AN ENTERPRISE DEMO • READ MORE REVIEWS ON G2 Bondilyn Jolly is President of Marketing at WAV Group. Imagery in this product review was provided courtesy of Constant Contact.

Tips and Tricks for Getting Your Agents to Adopt Your Real Estate CRM
Brokers, you know how crucial it is to invest in a rock-solid, reliable, and scalable real estate CRM for your business. But getting your agents to learn, use, and rely on the tool can be tricky. How can you balance driving agent adoption and proving the value of your tech investment? By highlighting the importance of a good CRM and lowering the barriers to entry. The Importance of Technology Adoption by Agents Most brokers know getting their real estate agents to adopt the technology they invest in is an uphill battle — to say the least. While commonly considered an inconvenience and gap in ongoing agent training, lack of tech adoption by agents is actually a threat to the brokerage and its success. Brokers typically purchase CRMs not solely for having a centralized database, but also having a singular view into their agents' activities. This includes key milestones like: Lead generation, follow-up, and conversion rates Client outreach efforts Retention efforts Nurture campaigns and reminders Email drip campaigns Performance reports By straying off-course and not using the CRM provided by their broker, agents pursuing the beaten path can struggle to track their follow-up, conversion rates, and other key metrics. Or, if they have these key performance indicators dialed into a systematic approach of their own, the lack of their broker's visibility and alignment to aligned processes means customer experiences can be inconsistent. This can jeopardize your bottom line, brand, and your brokerage's reputation. So, why would agents risk not using the tech their broker provides them? Skip the Learning Curve and Get Early Tech Adopters in Your Brokerage It's not uncommon and is usually a result of plain old-fashioned human behavior. New technology always comes with a learning curve, and even a broker with the best intentions won't always beat out a determined agent spending their time chasing deals. Brokers need to invest in educating their agents on the new tech they've invested in and carve out dedicated time for ongoing training and maintenance. They also need to pitch the benefits of a CRM and its centralized view to their agents. However finding the time, resources, and capacity to dedicate to agents getting boots off the ground and behind their desks can also threaten ROI. What's a broker to do? Agents are chasing their next success story and making time appear out of thin air to serve their clients and nurture new ones. It's well-known agents wear a lot of hats and have countless conflicting priorities to juggle. Because of this, it's crucial brokers get agents to adopt — and actively use — the CRM they've invested in. If the learning curve is one of the biggest risk factors for agent tech adoption failing, brokers can actually eliminate that hurdle. How? By investing in a CRM that's extremely easy to use and designed with an agent on the go in mind. To a seasoned, determined broker, finding an easy, seamless real estate CRM to invest in can sound a lot like finding a unicorn or stumbling upon a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. But by investing in a proven tool CRM needs, brokers can give their agents' tech adoption rates a significant boost. To view the original article, visit the Inside Real Estate blog.

Location, Location...Price? New Survey Rewrites Real Estate's Oldest Advice
Price (56%) is more important than location (50%) to surveyed consumers when choosing a home, according to the latest nationwide survey from Coldwell Banker Real Estate. It also finds that women value price more than men – 60% to 48%, respectively. This bucks the real estate industry's oldest advice, setting new stakes for this year's market. The data further reveal that the dream of home ownership is still alive and well: Of consumers who purchased a home last year, 31% did so because they found their dream home. Additionally, of homeowners who plan to sell their homes in the future, 66% say they plan to move to either a different city, state or country.  "While many consumers made their dream home purchase last year, the data show that some desire to seek new horizons," said Jason Waugh, president of Coldwell Banker Affiliates. "For those still looking for their dream home – no matter their price range, whether nearby or afar – I encourage them to contact a real estate agent for local advice and context." Additional key points emerge from the data, in terms of market sentiment, social media, ideal home preferences and financial dynamics, revealing the dreams and desires shaping the U.S. real estate landscape. Market Sentiment A majority of consumers surveyed (56%) believe that the real estate landscape will either improve or remain the same in 2024 compared to the previous year. Additionally, the data indicates: Consumers who plan to sell their home in the future would be more likely to move to a different city after they sell their home now (39%) than in 2022 (19%). Keeping up with the Joneses Forty-three percent of consumers surveyed have been somewhat influenced or highly influenced by social media in their desire to purchase a particular type of home. Compare this to the findings from luxury consumers, with 73% of them saying the same. Other social insights include: Social media significantly influences home preferences for 64% of consumers aged 18-24, compared to a mere 16% of those aged 55 and above. Consumers surveyed who have been influenced by social media in their desire to purchase a particular type of home aged 18-24 are most likely to have been influenced by TikTok (68%) in their decision to purchase the preference in the type of home they desire, while consumers aged 55 and above are most likely to have been influenced by Facebook (54%). This suggests a substantial role that platforms like TikTok, Instagram or other social media channels play in shaping homebuyers' desires. This signals the need for a strong online presence and strategy. Ideal Home Preferences Across the nation, respondents each have their own version of the ideal home location, design and size, with no one-size-fits-all formula arising from the data. Almost a third of respondents (32%) said their ideal home is located in the South, while a quarter said it's in the Northeast (24%). Almost half (49%) of consumers surveyed said their dream home size is mid-sized: 3-4 bedrooms and 2-3 bathrooms. While Ranch comes out on top (13%) for dream home design style with Modern Contemporary (11%) right behind, more respondents said they preferred "no style in particular" (16%). Financial Dynamics Shift Parental contributions to their children's home purchases differ among generational and racial groups. Over a quarter (26%) of surveyed consumers have not provided or do not plan to provide financial support for their child(ren)'s first home. Younger respondents (aged 25-34) are more likely (49%) to consider providing such support compared to those aged 55 and above (23%). Black Americans (46%) and American Indian or Alaska Natives surveyed (49%) exhibit a higher willingness to financially support their children's home purchases. 58% of consumers agree with the statement "I consider my home as an asset that I would pass along to my child(ren)." Navigating the Future In a landscape shaped by optimism, generational differences and evolving preferences, real estate agents emerge as the backbone, providing expertise and guidance. The future of American real estate is dynamic to say the least.

Brokers Beware! Stop Letting Old Tech Eat at Your Profits
Naturally, brokerages tend to place their focus more on lead generation programs, CRM software, and sophisticated websites since these systems are what help them realize their revenue goals. But no matter how strong your software selection or tech stack is, you can't always just set it and forget it. Brokers need to focus on the backend to keep the other gears of the business turning effectively. If brokers ignore the backend, they've missed the opportunity to carve out additional profitability and claim a competitive advantage with a modern back office. With revenue at the forefront of success metrics for brokerages, it's no surprise brokers and owners often view back office systems as an afterthought. Back office systems may seem like they're not revenue drivers, but the lack of flashiness shouldn't fool brokers. In real estate, back office accounting platforms have historically been expensive and clunky, and with non-cloud-based software, leaving the heavy lifting to be done manually. These platforms leave administrative pros frustrated and lacking in operational necessities such as seamless integrations and automation of simple tasks. It's not just the admin experts who struggle; brokers are left to deal with the downstream impacts of these outdated, non-intuitive systems from the past. Convenience aside, these old systems eat away at productivity and profit. What exactly does clunky back office software look like? How to know if you have an outdated back office Brokers might be wondering if they're dealing with an outdated back office, so they can use this checklist of common characteristics to help them assess the state of their backend: A lack of flexibility Frustrating processes Wasted time on mundane tasks When we put these together, brokerages can repeatedly face issues like: Processing manual commission payments and plan adjustments Not having accounting system integrations Slow (and poor) agent onboarding experiences and processes These are straightforward tasks that are the table stakes a brokerage is built upon. They should be simple, but with an outdated back office setup, they're not. And brokers don't have that kind of time to waste: they need to be nimble, allow their team to hit the ground sprinting, spend time wisely, and have the flexibility to scale quickly. Brokers also don't realize how much old technology costs them in cold, hard cash. Most obviously, the cost of additional human hours spent on manual and unnecessary work adds up to thousands of dollars per month. The frustration these users feel can lead them to leave the brokerage, meaning brokers need to spend time and money hiring. Clunky agent onboarding processes or manual management of commission checks can have new agents eyeing the door. From a technical perspective, old systems need more maintenance, can cause more downtime, take up servers and storage space, and be a hassle to manage over time. In short, relying on and running old tech costs brokers more money and drags down their growth. How can brokers free up those thousands of dollars as profit and drive more business? Armed with the negatives of an out-of-date (and out-of-touch) back office, brokers need to focus on key backend features. Here are the ones brokers need in order to automate, streamline, and turn their boring back office into revenue-generating software: Cloud-based. Automated. Integrated. In our digital-first world, investing in robust and scalable cloud architecture is a must. This type of tech means brokers can work smarter, not harder, have greater security, and can grow seamlessly alongside their brokerages. Newer, modern back office solutions also easily provide a simple and clean user interface available to staff from anywhere, anytime they need it. In the same vein, automation is king. Brokers' accounting software should automate mundane tasks like ACH direct deposit payments, agent billings, and commission plan management. It's also crucial to have tech with robust and seamless integration into the other systems used regularly. Look for full integrations into commonly-used software like Quickbooks, Dotloop, SkySlope, DocuSign, and fully integrated business platforms like kvCORE. Transaction and Commission Flexibility With teams on the rise and competitive models abounding, commission plans and models used by brokerages are no longer cut and dry. Brokerages' back office software should factor these complexities in and support their custom plans — not dictate them. Brokers need to seek out platforms to streamline their payment process. These platforms offer simple ways to handle splits, caps, team plans, sharing, recruiting rules and so much more. Brokers should also look for the ability to set up as many rules as they need. Business Intelligence What if there was a way for brokers to get a centralized, real-time snapshot of how their business is really doing? This is where business intelligence comes into the fold. Back office tools can provide real-time access to brokers' pipelines of commissions, agent performance, and lead conversion rates. These insights provide brokers with actionable intelligence to make smart, effective business decisions. The modern-day back office should leverage integrations with business intelligence (BI) tools to give real-time data, but allow brokers to adjust and customize their reporting, including setting up automated delivery of reports. Affordability As brokers assess modern tech with robust features, keeping the bottom line in mind is a must. Finding effective, modern back office tools and tech might sound daunting, expensive and hard to deploy. But there are systems designed specifically to make brokers' life easier and cost half as much as older systems on the market. Brokers shouldn't get stuck thinking it's too difficult or expensive to update their back office. That old way of thinking poses a serious threat to the growth of their business. Brokerages who have successfully updated their core accounting and commission management systems are singing the praises — and wished they'd done it sooner. To view the original article, visit the Inside Real Estate blog.

Howard Hanna Partners with ShowingTime+ to Provide Elevated Listing Experience on Zillow
ShowingTime+ and Howard Hanna Real Estate Services announced that they have entered into an agreement allowing Howard Hanna to initially provide Listing Showcase® exclusively to home sellers in the Cleveland and Pittsburgh areas. Through this agreement, Howard Hanna agents can offer sellers an elevated listing experience they can't find anywhere else, attracting home shoppers on Zillow with immersive, rich media. Showcase listings combine interactive media such as high-resolution photography and AI-powered interactive virtual tours with powerful exposure on the most visited real estate site to wow potential buyers, impress sellers and help agents win more listings. For a limited time, Howard Hanna's agents will be the only local agents able to offer this best-in-class experience to home sellers in those areas, joining a growing number of brokerages across the country who offer Listing Showcase to their clients. Listing Showcase is yet another key differentiator that Howard Hanna provides its agents and clients in the market. "Howard Hanna is thrilled to kick off 2024 with our exclusive Listing Showcase offering," said Howard "Hoby" Hanna IV, CEO of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services. "Listing Showcase is a game changer for our business, providing powerful exposure and amplified visibility for our agents' listings on Zillow. This is a huge benefit for buyers, sellers and Howard Hanna agents alike." As part of the marketing package, Listing Showcase helps agents representing sellers customize their listings, highlight a home's best features and provide the media-rich experience shoppers and sellers want to help attract more interest from buyers. "We're thrilled to have Howard Hanna offering their clients Listing Showcase to stand out on Zillow," said Mike Lane, ShowingTime+ vice president of enterprise sales. "Howard Hanna is the largest family-owned and -operated brokerage throughout the U.S., and we believe this partnership will raise the bar for home shopping and selling for Cleveland and Pittsburgh area consumers and give Howard Hanna agents an edge in their marketing to win more customers." Listing Showcase is available to brokers and agents across the country to help their brand and listings stand out. Brokerages interested in partnering with ShowingTime+ can contact [email protected].

Industry Veteran Greg Robertson Launches Giant Steps Advisors
Greg Robertson announced today the launch of Giant Steps Advisors, LLC a new company poised to help navigate the new real estate landscape. With a vision centered on innovation, growth, and collaboration, Giant Steps Advisors is set to become the go-to advisor for visionaries ready to take on new challenges. "Having co-founded my first real estate software company in 1992, I've had a front seat to the arc of innovation in the organized real estate industry for the last 30+ years. My goal with Giant Steps is to give back and share those experiences with our clients to help them reach their goals faster," stated Greg Robertson, Founder and Principal Advisor. Giant Steps Advisors believes you need to start from the end and work backwards to help you arrive at the best solutions. Whether you are developing a product, a go-to-market strategy, M&A, or planning for the future, thinking about the outcomes of your choices first, will help you arrive at your goals quicker. Staci Wood, Executive Advisor, has joined Robertson to expand the breadth of expertise. Staci started her career at RE/MAX playing a critical role in the evolution of real estate portals. Staci then moved to one of the largest MLS organizations in the country, REcolorado. While at REColorado Staci was their VP and Chief Product Officer for over nine years. With this duo of seasoned experts at the helm, Giant Steps Advisors brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the table. "I met Staci over 20 years ago. Her broad experience is a perfect addition, and I'm excited she has chosen to join me on this new endeavor," Robertson said. For more information about Giant Steps Advisors and its services, visit www.GiantStepsAdvisors.com.

Did IDX Kill Buyer Agency?
If you wind back the clock, the greatest value of working with an agent as a home buyer was access to inventory – the MLS and "coming soon" listings. There was no internet, and consumers could not reasonably find all of the homes in a market on their own. They were limited to newspapers and magazines. Back then, buyers highly appreciated the service of a buyer's agent to find listings, schedule showings, craft buyer CMAs, offer submission and negotiation, and closing management. IDX allowed the consumer to find listings without an agent, and in some ways, schedule showings. But the rest of the work has remained the domain of the buyer's agent. I am a strong supporter of buyer agency and understand the value of IDX to serve the home buying consumer and their agent; but, I believe that IDX is a child of the offer of compensation. If the listing broker is offering buyer-broker compensation, then it strategically aligns to support programs – like IDX – that allow buyer agents to advertise their services to consumers with home search. Now, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued an opinion in the Nosalek case which points the industry toward eliminating any offer of compensation to the buyer agent from the seller/listing firm. The DOJ does not condemn buyer agency; they condemn the relationship of competitors working together with the seller and buyer to determine commissions. They want a clean cut. The seller hires their agent, and pays them. Same is true of the buyer's agent — they get paid by the buyer. The listing broker is no longer incentivized to support the buyer agent lead generation on IDX websites if the offer of compensation is not part of the MLS. Given this new construct, it seems like the best way that MLSs can support buyer's agents is by eliminating IDX. If consumers no longer have access to every listing on the 500,000+ websites, it would increase the need to work with a buyer's agent. The online landscape of property search would dramatically change if IDX was terminated. The only property search solution remaining for consumers would be VOW. VOW requires home buyers to register and hire a buyer's agent to search for property. If you want to see a model property search solution on a broker website without IDX, search homes in Cleveland using HowardHanna.com. Howard Hanna Real Estate Services opted out of IDX, so they only display their own listings to consumers who are unregistered on their site. When you register and agree to use a Howard Hanna agent to buy your home, you see all of the competitor listings. I have long believed that the buyer's agent often does a lot more work to earn a commission than the listing agent, even in today's condition of limited inventory. I want to see the buyer agency survive these class action lawsuits. The best idea that gets my vote is the cancellation of IDX. The one segment of the industry that would be most damaged by the loss of IDX are paper brokers. Those are brokers in license who only use their license to gain data access and do not endeavor to represent home buyers or sellers. I have not conjured up a fix for those companies in the absence of IDX. I guess that they would need to go back to being advertising websites, and advertising in magazines and newspapers may have a comeback. Additionally, ListHub or similar services would presumably have a comeback. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

Protecting Your Brokerage: How to audit-proof the transaction side of your business
As a real estate brokerage owner, one of your top priorities is to protect your business, including costly and time-consuming audits. Implementing a digital transaction management system can help you effectively "audit-proof" the transaction side of your brokerage by automatically maintaining detailed records and documentation that is easy to access and provide if you face an audit. Streamline documentation One of the biggest time drains associated with audits is gathering all the necessary paperwork around your agents' transactions. When transactions are handled manually with traditional paper files, assembling documentation for auditors takes enormous administrative time and effort. Staff must dig through piles of paper documents to identify forms, contracts, disclosures, and other items needed to substantiate a transaction. Tracking down information for one deal could take hours. Now, how much time could it take if auditors want to review 10, 20, or 100 transactions? A robust transaction management system stores all documents related to real estate deals digitally in one centralized platform. This makes pulling together files associated with a specific transaction quick and simple. And if you need to gather all transactions handled by a particular agent, you can do that quickly, too. When you have a digital transaction management system that is broker-friendly, like Form Simplicity, it only takes a few clicks to allow you to access the required documentation for auditors instantly. Forget the paper shuffle and avoid getting buried under stacks of files. Digital access means transaction records can be collected and organized in just minutes versus days. Maintain meticulous transaction records Auditors want to see a precise paper trail for real estate transactions. It's up to brokers to maintain careful records that accurately reflect essential information and events, including time/date stamps. Without diligent documentation, you risk facing fines, penalties, and other negative consequences if issues arise. Regulators will look for detailed confirmation that you and your team followed policies and regulations correctly, made the necessary disclosures, and completed other essential steps. A quality transaction management system helps brokers more easily ensure compliance by automatically recording the necessary time/date stamps, tracking document actions (uploads, downloads, shares), and providing a precise audit trail showing who accessed or modified records – and when. Having a detailed online log gives you accountability and demonstrates to auditors that your brokerage's transactions are handled meticulously. No more nervously waiting to see if your agents' paper records line up: with a transaction management system, you have complete confidence that everything is transparent and above board. Confirm transaction oversight from any location Brokers are ultimately responsible for supervising their agents and ensuring real estate deals follow policies, laws, and regulations. However, with agents conducting transactions in the field, maintaining strong oversight can be challenging — especially for busy broker-owners balancing a wide range of responsibilities. It's simply not feasible to physically monitor every deal in person when you have 10, 20, or 50+ agents working actively with buyers and sellers in an office or across a region. Online transaction management platforms empower brokers to monitor transactions remotely and in real-time, regardless of location. You can instantly check in on the status of any deal to ensure proper protocols are followed, essential tasks are completed, and nothing is missed. Perhaps most importantly, you gain reliable transaction oversight from wherever you happen to be. There is no need to play phone or email tag with agents to track down document status when it's readily visible on your computer, wherever you are. Knowing you can log in and have complete visibility, even from your smartphone, eliminates geography as an audit hurdle. Boost agent productivity and organization Disorganized agents potentially create bigger risks and more headaches — especially during audits. Sloppy recordkeeping can raise red flags if crucial documents are misplaced or details are incomplete or unclear. Transaction management technology helps organize disorganized agents, creating accountability and productivity throughout each transaction. And when there is an audit, a more organized agent can simplify audits. Intuitive transaction management systems like Form Simplicity feature structured workflows that guide agents through key transaction steps and automated reminders to complete essential documents and deliver analytics that provide instant insight into where deals stand. Transaction management systems boost agent organization, efficiency, and responsibility. Moreover, because records are stored digitally in structured templates within the platform, there's no shuffling through mounds of paper files seeking specific forms. Agents stay on track, and transactions remain appropriately documented. The easier your agents handle compliant transactions, the easier the audit. Transaction management enables transparency across your brokerage so that audits can be routine rather than disrupted. Centralized advantage Between gathering paperwork, answering auditor questions, providing extra documentation, and monitoring the audit, the administrative burden on brokers can be heavy, often requiring complete focus for days or more. Audits can significantly detract from a broker's ability to run their business, support agents, and assist clients. Your existing responsibilities don't stop during an audit, and brokers face bandwidth constraints trying to manage it all. Because a digital transaction management system keeps everything connected and accessible with each transaction in one place, much of the audit prep is already handled in advance. You move your brokerage from managing a manual paper chase to simply electronically gathering the requested information. Because your system tracks where everything stands, you'll have more bandwidth to focus on running your brokerage operations even amidst an audit. Bot-free, human tech support Bots may have a place in answering routine questions, but when troubleshooting the complexities of a transaction management system, you need human assistance. Only the best tech systems offer live support these days, and getting the help you need when you need it is crucial, especially if you are preparing for an audit. One example: agents and brokers using Form Simplicity get free, live tech support from the real estate industry's No. 1 tech support service, Tech Helpline. So, when you run into a technical roadblock or are unsure how to create a transaction checklist, or access certain information from your transaction management system, contact a trained analyst to reduce your time and energy. Transaction management systems: Your audit armor A robust digital transaction software can transform how your brokerage operates — especially when it comes to a frustrating audit. You can assemble documentation in a breeze, meticulously track transactions, and promote organization among even the most disorganized agents. You can "audit-proof" your business with a transaction management system so you can focus on service and growth rather than a stressful audit. A digital transaction management system is your brokerage's audit armor, giving you peace of mind even if that audit never comes. Related reads From the Form Simplicity Blog: Transaction Coordinators: How Real Estate Management Systems Work 4 Ways Brokers Can Build Their Brand with Form Simplicity Broker Benefits: 3 Ways Brokers Can Maximize Their Use of a Transaction Management Solution Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns both Tech Helpline and Form Simplicity.

Milestones Awarded for Delivering Mutual Benefits to Loan Officers and Realtors
Generally, technology solutions for real estate and mortgage professionals are separate, siloed solutions that are not connected in the service of the real estate consumer. When a homebuyer is working with an agent to find a home, and a loan officer to find financing, the only collaboration between the two might be email. The real estate and mortgage industries share a common challenge: 82% of past clients do not use their loan officer or Realtor in a future transaction. The primary reason is that the relationship breaks up after the closing as determined by surveys and interviews from the National Association of REALTORS®, as well as counterparts in mortgage. Milestones has become the most popular solution for real estate firms and mortgage firms alike. The invention of the consumer homeownership portal delivers value to the homeowner in managing and maintaining their home with the support of their trusted advisors in both real estate and mortgage. The homeowner hub is provided by service providers in real estate, mortgage, or title industries to past clients, prospects, friends and family. Consumers can invite and manage the service providers of their choice. The good news is that it works. The likelihood of a consumer using their service provider in a future transaction increases if the customer is a homeowner hub user. This is true for both real estate and mortgage. Milestones is a natural solution for enterprise firms that provide a range of affiliated services across real estate, mortgage, insurance, title, home warranty, and more. All of the affiliated services are seamlessly integrated with Milestones, allowing each business unit to contribute to supporting the homeownership journey. For their efforts in mortgage, leading mortgage publication HousingWire named Milestones to the 2024 Tech100 mortgage program. Details below. Milestones Named in HousingWire's 2024 Tech100 Mortgage Program AUSTIN, Tex. – Feb 1, 2024 – Milestones, a leading provider of innovative solutions for homeowner engagement in the real estate and mortgage industries, is proud to announce its recognition in the HousingWire Tech100 Mortgage program for 2024. This prestigious accolade highlights Milestones' commitment to revolutionizing the mortgage landscape through cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions. HousingWire's Tech100 Mortgage program, now in its 12th year, is an annual list that recognizes the most innovative and impactful technology companies in the mortgage and real estate industries. The list can be leveraged to identify partners and solutions to the challenges that mortgage lenders and real estate professionals face every day. "It is an honor to be acknowledged amongst an elite group of companies recognized for their excellence and influence in the mortgage technology sector," said Dustin Gray, CEO at Milestones. "Milestones is delivering on innovation to enhance customer retention and repeat business through its consumer-centric products that emphasize the lender's value between transactions." Milestones has distinguished itself through its commitment to developing forward-thinking solutions that streamline and enhance the mortgage process. The company's innovative technologies have empowered lenders, borrowers, and other stakeholders by providing efficient, secure, and user-friendly experiences. With a white-label approach, Milestones' home management portals assist real estate brokerages, mortgage lenders, title companies, home warranty providers, and insurance companies in being actively involved and guiding their customer's journeys, fostering continuous engagement for repeat business and referrals, as well as driving ancillary products and services to boost revenue. Gray added, "This acknowledgment reflects our dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the proptech industry in the mortgage sector, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing evolution of the housing finance landscape." Learn more about Milestones and talk to Sales here. About HousingWire HousingWire is an information services company that provides unique data and research, respected business journalism and must-attend events for housing leaders to use to advance their understanding and business outcomes. Our vision is a world in which housing leaders have a complete view of the housing market, and a broad community of peers with whom they can connect. We are committed to delivering the data, analytics, media, and events that advance this vision. Because housing is too important for narrow perspectives and missed connections. Informed housing leaders are better housing leaders. A connected housing industry is a better housing industry. And the full picture always reveals new opportunities. Explore more at www.housingwire.com. About Milestones Milestones provides personalized home management portals, referred to as "hubs," that incorporate a variety of tools and resources to assist homeowners throughout the entire homeownership journey, and that are uniquely branded to professionals in the real estate and mortgage landscape. Whether it's buying, selling, moving, or owning a home, homeowners have access to a wide array of home service providers, insights into home value, and much more. Our solution simplifies the complexities of homeownership, while empowering housing professionals to stay engaged, educate, and add value for their clients to foster long-term relationships. Learn more at Milestones.ai. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

[Podcast] Venture Capital and Real Estate Update with Moderne Ventures' Constance Freedman
Constance Freedman is the founder and CEO of Moderne Ventures, a strategic venture capital firm with over $350M AUM. Moderne invests in technology companies in and around the multi-trillion-dollar industries of real estate, finance, insurance and home services. It has both a Fund and an Industry Immersion Program, called the Moderne Passport, designed to foster innovation, partnership and growth between industry partners and new emerging technology companies. In this episode of Million Dollar Question, host Jessisa Edgerton and Constance talk through Constance's uncanny ability to spot the next market shift and to handpick companies, with strategic wherewithal, that can thrive through the market's most turbulent times. In this episode of Million Dollar Question: How a strategic venture capital fund functions Constance's methods for identifying successful up and coming companies Silver linings for current first-time home buyers Drawing similarities between the 2008 crash and today's market The advice that catalyzed Constance's own company Connect with Constance: Website: modernventures.com LinkedIn: Constance Freedman Listen to this podcast on: Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts RadioPublic Visit the episode homepage for show notes and more detail.

Delta Survey Reveals Real Estate Brokers' Top 5 Challenges for 2024
What are the top five business challenges for real estate broker leaders in 2024? That's the question answered by the new 2024 Delta Real Estate Leadership Survey of more than 130 brokerage leaders representing firms that collectively were responsible for 2 out of 3 residential real estate transactions last year. For the second year in a row, "Recruiting new agents" was the No. 1 business challenge (65% versus 63% in 2023), followed by "Reduced profit margins" (60% versus 48% in 2023). "Agent adoption of brokerage provided technology" leaped into the No. 3 spot at 55% (it tied for the No. 5 spot last year at 39%). The "Impact of commission lawsuits" jumps into the No. 4 spot cited by a majority of brokerage leaders (52%) as being a top challenge for this year. At the No. 5 spot was "Cutting the right expenses" at 37%. "It's no surprise that recruiting remains the largest challenge for real estate leaders and that the majority see the industry lawsuits as another top challenge," said Michael Minard, CEO and owner of Delta Media Group. "What is a bit of a surprise is seeing the importance of agent tech adoption catapult into the top three business challenge. This indicates that real estate technology will be under a microscope in 2024, and it had better benefit the brokerage's bottom line." The Delta survey also asked leaders to share their take on the value of all-in-one marketing technology platforms in the brokerage's organization. Industry leaders gave all-in-one platforms an average rating of 7 out of 10. However, brokerage leaders 30 years old and younger, gave the centralized tech platforms a perfect rating of 10. In contrast, the oldest age group of leaders, 60 and older, gave the platforms the lowest rating of any age group: 6.6. Female leaders ranked the value of all-in-one platforms significantly higher (7.03) than their male counterparts (6.73). The survey also found: Rounding out the Top 10 business challenges for this year included "Recruiting top producers" (47%), "Retaining top producers" (44%), "Recruiting younger agents," "Providing higher quality leads for agents," and "Making sure you have the right technology" (all tied at No. 8 with 35%). Only about 1 in 10 leaders consider managing teams or managing the impact of AI to be a top business challenge this year. Less than 1 in 7 leaders said that increasing the speed of agent lead follow-up or recruiting a more diverse workforce was a top challenge for 2024. The Delta survey also asked brokerage leaders to identify the single best thing their brokerage did in 2024. The most common responses focused on three things: activities related to cutting costs and streamlining operations (also the most common best thing accomplished in 2023), technology adoption, and digital marketing, as many brokerages said they focused on integrating new tech and expanded their digital marketing activities; and agent support and growth, implementing new programs and services, from training and coaching to providing more brokerage marketing support. Finally, when real estate leaders were asked to provide additional insight into their top business challenge for 2024, the study uncovered three common themes: Keeping agents engaged and productive Attracting and retaining new talent External market pressures, from high interest rates and inventory shortages to legal and economic uncertainties Additional details from the Delta Real Estate Leadership Survey are featured in the latest issue of Delta Media's Real Estate and Marketing Technology Magazine, found online here.

Victor Lund and Marilyn Wilson Named RISMedia 2024 Real Estate Newsmakers
WAV Group, a collaborator of RE Technology, proudly announces that Victor Lund and Marilyn Wilson have been recognized as RISMedia 2024 Real Estate Newsmakers for their outstanding contributions to the real estate industry. The designation places them among a select group of key influencers acknowledged for their newsworthy endeavors that positively impact consumers and communities. RISMedia, a leading provider of U.S. real estate news and information services, unveiled its prestigious list of over 300 Real Estate Newsmakers on February 1st. The honorees were revealed in an online directory on RISMedia.com and featured in the February issue of Real Estate magazine. The Newsmakers were chosen by RISMedia's executive and editorial teams and span various categories, including Influencers, Trailblazers, Futurists, Achievers, Crusaders, Luminaries, and the esteemed Hall of Fame inductees. John Featherston, Founder, CEO, and Publisher of RISMedia, commended this year's cohort, recognizing their exceptional accomplishments amid the dynamic real estate landscape. He emphasized the importance of celebrating the industry's creativity, innovation, and philanthropic efforts, particularly during challenging times. Marilyn Wilson, a founding partner of WAV Group and a pioneering leader in the real estate sector, has been instrumental in shaping the real estate landscape through her thought leadership and strategic insights. With a background in global marketing and product development, Marilyn brings a wealth of experience to the table. Her work at WAV Group and her involvement in initiatives as President of RETechnology.com have contributed significantly to advancing innovation and growth within the industry. "Receiving the RISMedia 2024 Real Estate Newsmaker designation is a tremendous honor," Wilson said. "At WAV Group, we strive to empower real estate professionals with strategic insights and innovative solutions. This recognition underscores the importance of our collective efforts in shaping the future of the industry. I am grateful to be part of such a dynamic community of changemakers." Victor Lund, also a founding partner of WAV Group, stands out for his exceptional expertise and commitment to driving innovation. As the founder and managing partner of WAV Group, Victor has played a pivotal role in guiding brokers, networks, and franchises through successful acquisitions, market research, and technology optimization. His strategic vision and unwavering dedication have earned him a reputation as a sought-after consultant and mentor within the industry. "I am deeply honored to be recognized as a RISMedia 2024 Real Estate Newsmaker," said Lund. "This acknowledgment reaffirms our commitment at WAV Group to drive innovation and excellence within the real estate industry. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to meaningful change and look forward to continuing our mission of creating waves of positive impact." Both Lund and Wilson epitomize excellence and leadership in their respective roles, embodying WAV Group's commitment to creating waves of positive change in real estate. Their inclusion as RISMedia 2024 Real Estate Newsmakers reaffirms their status as influential figures driving industry-wide transformation. RISMedia will celebrate this year's Real Estate Newsmakers, including the Hall of Fame inductees, at the upcoming Newsmakers Reception & Dinner on September 5th at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event, held in conjunction with the 2024 CEO & Leadership Exchange, promises to be a celebration of the industry's brightest minds and trailblazers. In response to the recognition, Victor Lund and Marilyn Wilson expressed gratitude for the honor and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing diversity, innovation, and excellence in real estate. For more information about WAV Group and its groundbreaking initiatives, visit www.wavgroup.com.

Redfin Announces 'Sign & Save' Program Which Offers Homebuyers Refunds
Redfin has announced Sign & Save, a new way for consumers to get a better deal in real estate. Homebuyers who sign up to work with a Redfin agent before the second tour can get a refund of 0.25 - 0.5% of the purchase price at closing. For example, an eligible homebuyer purchasing a $500,000 home will save $1,250. For a $2 million home, eligible Sign & Save customers will get a $10,000 refund. "Redfin is putting money back in homebuyers' pockets at a time when many are struggling with high prices and mortgage rates," said Jason Aleem, Redfin's senior vice president of real estate operations. "The concept is simple: as a Sign & Save customer you get extra savings because we know you're serious about buying a home, and we're serious about getting you into one. We started piloting Sign & Save in a handful of cities in September and the customer response has been fantastic. We're now rolling it out to dozens more markets because we believe it will help our agents close more sales and increase profits by identifying and rewarding homebuyers who are ready to make a purchase." How Sign & Save Works When a homebuyer goes on their first home tour with a Redfin agent, the agent learns about the customer's goals, explains the benefits of working with Redfin to achieve those goals, and asks the customer to sign a buyer agency agreement. This is a contract that creates a formal working relationship between the customer and Redfin. Customers who sign up to work with a Redfin agent before the second tour get a refund when they close on their new home. The standard Sign & Save refund is 0.25% of the purchase price. For customers who purchase a luxury home through Redfin's Premier service, Redfin offers a 0.5% Sign & Save refund. Because Redfin earns a larger commission on a luxury home sale, it's able to give the homebuyer a larger refund. Redfin's Commitment to Savings and Transparency The program is part of Redfin's commitment to giving customers a better deal by offering great service from exceptional agents at a lower cost. "Saving customers money has been central to our mission to redefine real estate in the consumers' favor," said Aleem. "Homebuyers are becoming more aware of the high cost of agent fees and less apologetic about negotiating commissions. We've helped usher in this new era of price transparency by advertising our low listing fee and publishing the buyers agent commission on every listing on our website. Sign & Save is another opportunity for our agents to explain the fees involved in the transaction and the benefits of working with Redfin." With Sign & Save, Redfin is rewarding customers who commit to working with a Redfin agent early in the process. Customers who don't want to sign a buyer agency agreement can still work with Redfin agents to tour homes with no obligation. In pilot markets, Sign & Save customers were significantly more likely to close than other customers. Buyers in the pilot markets are making offers with their Redfin agent at a significantly higher rate than buyers in comparable markets. "Homebuyers today are often connecting with the first agent who responds to their online request without understanding how the process works or what the fees are," said Andrew Vallejo, a Redfin Premier agent in Austin, where Redfin piloted the program. "Sign & Save is a great way to start a conversation with new customers about why they should hire me and how I'll help them win and save." Sign & Save is now available to Redfin's home-buying customers in more than 50 markets. A full list is available here. The refund is available to customers who sign an exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement before their second tour with Redfin and go under contract to purchase a property within 180 days of signing the agreement.

LeadingRE Announces 36 New Members from Across the Globe
Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) has announced the addition of 36 new members to its professional community in 2023. The new member firms to have joined LeadingRE's network last year include property businesses from the UK, Europe, United States, Canada, Latin America, Caribbean, Asia the Middle East, and Africa. This remarkable expansion brings the firm's worldwide membership to 550, representing a network of more than 138,000 real estate associates in more than 70 countries worldwide. As an invitation-only business-to-business real estate community, LeadingRE interconnects top local and regional real estate firms across the world and supports their success with best-of-industry assets, like referrals, exclusive events, elite training and education, marketing and technology resources, and support. Chris Dietz, President of Global Operations at LeadingRE, commented: "Last year we experienced some global economic uncertainty and challenges including interest rates rises and unforeseen fiscal fluctuations. Real estate is a people business and by connecting professionals around the world, we can enhance our understanding of property markets – both locally and internationally. We are delighted to see such diverse new members from APAC, EMEA, LATAM and North America join our ever-expanding community of leading professionals. We look forward to continued growth in 2024 as we embrace another exiting global real estate market of opportunity." Selected companies in the LeadingRE international network are recognised for their expertise and superior knowledge of both local and global markets. All LeadingRE members are vetted, not just for performance, but a continued commitment to quality customer experience. A full list of new LeadingRE member firms can be found below: Asia-Pacific: Cambridge Real Estate (Cambridge, New Zealand) Lodge Real Estate (Hamilton, New Zealand) Richmont's (Sathon, Thailand) Canada: MacKay Real Estate (Wolfville, Nova Scotia) Real Estate Centre (Taber, Alberta) Team PowerHouse (Prince George, British Columbia) Boldt Realty Inc., Brokerage (St. Catharines, Ontario) Europe, Africa and Middle East: Boulevard Group (Nice, France) Castelhana Real Estate (Lisbon, Portugal) Ismail and Partners (Lagos, Nigeria) Maior Capital (Olbia, Italy) Oria Advisors (Lisbon, Portugal) Philip & Frank (Prague, Czech Republic) San Patrik Real Estate (Zagreb, Croatia) Savoir Prive Properties (Dubai UAE) Strand Properties (Marbella, Spain) The London Broker (London, United Kingdom) Latin America and the Caribbean: CENTRAL MAXRE SRL REAL ESTATE (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Dominican Properties (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) Panama Sovereign Realty (Pedasi, Panama) Peters & Romero Real Estate (Mexico City, Mexico) Propiedades Cancun (Cancun, Mexico) Vida & Co. Ltd. (San Ignacio, Belize) United States Chisum Realty Group (Angel Fire, New Mexico) Christie's International Real Estate Bluegrass (Lexington, Kentucky) ClearView Realty, LLC (El Paso, Texas) Denovo Realty (Melbourne, Florida) DiPietro Group Real Estate (Windham, New Hampshire) DJ & Lindsey Real Estate (Saint Augustine, Florida) Galles Properties (Pagosa Springs, Colorado) Hogan Associates Christie's International Real Estate (Middletown, Rhode Island) Homepage Realty (Louisville, Kentucky) Huntington & Ellis, A Real Estate Agency (Las Vegas, Nevada) Liz Moore & Associates (Williamsburg, Virginia) Meservier & Associates (Auburn, Maine) St. James Properties (St. James, North Carolina) Wallace Real Estate (Knoxville, Tennessee)

[Podcast] Brokers Sharpen Brand Value to Invigorate Agents
Many real estate agents who are frustrated with their business amid a stalled housing market may be thinking it's time for a change. They might be tempted to seek greener pastures at another brokerage where they think their growth will be better supported. During times of instability, brokers are wise to invest in greater training, mentorship, technology and other tools aimed at providing agents an advantage in their market. When agents can see and feel the value of working at your company, they're more likely to stay and deepen their loyalty to your brand. Recorded at NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience, in Anaheim, Calif., host Marki Lemons Ryhal invites three brokers — Valerie Belardo, Tiffany Curry and Nova Tower — onstage in front of a live audience to discuss what their doing to strengthen agent retention and keep talent from giving up in difficult moments and walking out the door. Their strategies include making sales meetings a can't-miss event, boosting education and training programs and underscoring a close-knit company culture. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Libsyn Visit the episode homepage for show notes and more detail.

How to Structure URLs for Your Real Estate Website: A Guide
Welcome to the world of real estate website URLs — it's a bit like a digital maze where every slash and dot has a role to play. But don't worry, we're here to be your friendly guides through this online journey. Imagine us as your digital map, helping you navigate the twists and turns of web addresses. Together, we'll make understanding real estate website URLs as easy as a walk in the park. So, let's embark on this adventure with a simple and smile-inducing guide to tackle those sometimes-tricky website addresses! Why is a Well-Structured URL Important for Real Estate Websites? Having a well-structured URL is crucial for both search engine optimization (SEO) and user experience. A URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, serves as the address of a webpage on the internet. It not only helps search engines understand the content of a page, but also impacts how users perceive and interact with your website. A well-structured URL provides clear and concise information about the content of a webpage. It should be descriptive, relevant, and easy to read. By optimizing your URL structure, you can improve your website;s SEO and make it more user-friendly for potential homebuyers or sellers. Let's dive deeper into the components of a URL and explore best practices for real estate websites. Components of a URL Let's break down the different components of a URL. A typical URL consists of several parts, each serving a specific purpose: Protocol: The protocol determines how data is transmitted between a web browser and a web server. The most common protocol is http:// or its secure counterpart https://. Domain: The domain is the main part of a URL and represents the specific website you're visiting. In the case of a real estate website, the domain could be something like www.realestatecompany.com. Subdomain: A subdomain is a part of the main domain and precedes it with a dot. It can be used to organize different sections of a website or target specific markets. For example, blog.realestatecompany.com could be the subdomain for a blog section. Path: The path refers to the specific location of a webpage within a website. It's often represented by a series of slashes ("/") and can include directories, categories, or individual pages. For instance, /listings/properties could lead to a page showcasing available properties. Parameters: Parameters are additional information included in a URL that provides instructions or data to the webpage. They are usually represented by question marks ("?") and ampersands ("&"). For example, /listings/properties?city=NewYork could filter the properties based on the city of New York. Now that we have a clear understanding of the components of a URL, let's move on to the next steps — how we can optimize it for real estate websites. Ways to Optimize URL Structure To optimize your real estate website's URL structure, consider the following best practices: Incorporating keywords in your URL Including relevant keywords in your URL can significantly improve the visibility of your real estate website in search engine results. When search engines crawl and index your website, they analyze the URL to determine its relevance to a user's search query. By incorporating keywords related to your real estate niche or specific property listings, you increase the chances of ranking higher in search results. For example, instead of using a generic URL like /properties/12345, consider utilizing a keyword-rich URL such as /luxury-villas-for-sale-in-malibu. This not only helps search engines understand the content of the page, but also provides potential visitors with a clear indication of what they can expect. If you want more information about keyword strategy of your website, check out this article: Real Estate Keywords. Make it easy to read and understand It's crucial to create user-friendly URLs that are easy to read and understand. A user-friendly URL should provide a clear indication of the content on the page and help visitors navigate your real estate website more efficiently. Avoid using long, complex URLs with unnecessary characters or numbers. Instead, opt for shorter, descriptive URLs that accurately represent the content of the page. For instance, a URL like /listings/condos/central-park-view is much more user-friendly than /listings/12345?property_id=6789. URL structure listings and property pages Real estate websites often feature a vast number of listings and property pages. To optimize the URL structure for these pages, it's crucial to follow a logical hierarchy and incorporate relevant keywords. For instance, consider structuring your URL as follows: /listings/city/category/property-name. This structure provides clear navigation paths and helps search engines understand the context of each listing. Additionally, incorporating relevant keywords, such as the city name and property type, can boost your website's visibility in local search results. More Tips to Maximize Your URLs' Effect on SEO Keep it simple and concise: Long and complicated URLs can be difficult for users to remember and share. Aim for shorter URLs that accurately describe the content of the page. For example, www.yourrealestatewebsite.com/condos-for-sale is much simpler and more user-friendly than www.yourrealestatewebsite.com/listings/condos/buy/marketplace/sale. Use hyphens to separate words: Hyphens are preferred over underscores or spaces in URLs because they are more readable to both users and search engines. For instance, www.yourrealestatewebsite.com/3-bedroom-homes is more readable than www.yourrealestatewebsite.com/3bedroomhomes or www.yourrealestatewebsite.com/3_bedroom_homes. Avoid using unnecessary characters: Special characters, such as exclamation marks or ampersands, can make URLs appear cluttered and confusing. Stick to alphanumeric characters and hyphens to ensure compatibility across different platforms and devices. Be consistent in URL structure: Consistency in URL structure not only helps users navigate your website more easily, but also assists search engines in understanding the hierarchy of your site. For example, if your main categories are "buy" and "rent," use a consistent structure like www.yourrealestatewebsite.com/buy/property-type and www.yourrealestatewebsite.com/rent/property-type. That's it! Utilize these simple tips and tricks to help improve your website visibility in search results. If you enjoyed this article, you might like these two, too: Optimizing Crawl Budget for Real Estate Websites SEO Titles and Meta Descriptions for Real Estate SEO Thank you — let's keep SEO-ing! To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

Global Survey Reveals Affluent Home Seekers Expanding Reaches and Sustainability Is Top of Mind
Sotheby's International Realty published its 2024 Luxury Outlook report, a comprehensive exploration into high-end real estate markets across the globe. Following several years of residential real estate frenzy, the report reveals that buyers have begun to acclimate to a new normal of higher interest rates, with high-end home seekers expanding their reaches to more parts of the world with Australia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey poised for growth. The report explores the trends shaping real estate investment decisions in the year ahead, from the intergenerational transfer of wealth, to pinpointing parts of the world where tax incentives are increasingly enticing. "Our goal for the fourth edition of the Luxury Outlook report was to couple the expert insight of our agents with the perspectives of leading global institutions on the trends affluent buyers can expect in the months ahead to help them make opportunistic transactions in 2024," said Bradley Nelson, chief marketing officer, Sotheby's International Realty. "Despite higher interest rates, demand remains strong in many corners of the market, as people move both because they're going through major life events—such as new children or new jobs—or simply because they want to upgrade their home and, with it, their lifestyle." The Sotheby's International Realty 2024 Luxury Outlook report was compiled by surveying Sotheby's International Realty agents around the world who transact in the US$10M+ price category. This information was complemented by gathering supporting data from other leading industry experts, including UBS; The Brookings Institution; McKinsey & Company; and property technology and security firm, Kastle Systems; in addition to art and luxury experts at Sotheby's, the famed auction house, to round out luxury trends in the year to come. Key findings featured in the report include: The international market remains robust; policy and regulatory changes are closely linked with real estate markets and are driving investment decisions High-net-worth individuals being more mobile than ever – maintaining multiple residences – and looking at transactions with a modified perspective in light of higher taxes, new government incentives, or in the face of a changing climate The real estate industry using the synergy of the real world and the cyber world to market and sell homes The dominance of telecommuting and hybrid work shifting the demands of affluent homebuyers Sustainability moving from a niche interest to now being top of mind for many buyers A historic rise in mortgage interest rates translating into a higher percentage of all-cash deals around the world Owners needing to be strategic to minimize the tax impact of their wealth transfer given a strong appreciation of real estate values in recent years and the looming drop in the estate tax exemption More than 80% of leading Sotheby's International Realty agents said AI is likely to have the biggest impact on the real estate industry in the next five years vs. virtual reality or blockchain "As we continue to navigate shifts in the real estate market, Sotheby's International Realty agents from 83 countries and territories around the world continue to lead the way," said Philip White, president and chief executive officer, Sotheby's International Realty. "Luxury Outlook offers our clients unparalleled and trusted expertise as they seek to make informed real estate decisions in the year ahead, whether buying, selling, or investing, wherever they may be." Click here to read the complete report.

RPR Commercial's 2024 Real Estate Market Outlook
Much like its residential counterpart, the commercial real estate market faced a pretty challenging year in 2023. Some say it was the most challenging ever. Big picture, the industry as a whole is suffering and still feeling the hangover effects of the pandemic. According to some experts, office space vacancy rates are at a 30-year high at 18%. This, coupled with rising interest rates and a potential recession on the horizon, have all been working against the business side of real estate. However, not all sectors of commercial real estate are scuffling. In fact, some are doing quite well, and are poised to offer more growth in the coming year. This is why RPR (Realtors Property Resource) is offering this 2024 commercial real estate forecast, as well as to offer some pointers about how using RPR Commercial can add value to your efforts as a commercial practitioner. RPR's 2024 Commercial Real Estate Forecast While many experts are expecting the residential market to bounce back a bit and improve across the board this spring, the commercial sector is a mix of optimistic growth and more of the same. Leading the more-of-the-same category (as in bad) is office space, which is predicted to be flat, or possibly worse. Office space As mentioned in the opening, office occupancy is historically low. The bottom line: people prefer working from home and corporations and businesses are trying their best to get them back to the office. But with unemployment low and individual productivity high or level, it's a tough sell to employees and businesses have almost no leverage to put butts in office chairs. Even hybrid schedules aren't enough to justify massive office buildings, as owners and investors try to pivot and figure out what to do with all the empty space. Some are getting creative and turning empty work buildings into apartments, while some are simply razing structures altogether and rebuilding for the future with an eye on data centers and warehouses. Either way, the future of office space is still bleak. On the flip side, here are some commercial segments that are primed for growth: Brick and mortar rebound? Even with e-commerce's continued growth and most mega malls being half empty, there is some hope on the horizon for neighborhood-focused retail success. Densely populated urban and suburban areas (strip malls) are propping up the retail sector with growth and positive numbers. With less new construction and therefore less competition, neighborhood and community shopping centers are showing strong vacancy rates and positive rent growth for the foreseeable future. When it comes to these types of retail locations, RPR Commercial can be a great asset. The Site Selection tool offers commercial agents an edge when it comes to finding ideal areas for retail business sites. Here's a top line of what it can do: Allows users to select specific attributes from broad data categories such as economic, demographic, spending, tapestry and more. With these attributes selected a user can search a large geography such as a county, and identify where these conditions exist in smaller geographies such as ZIP codes or neighborhoods. This drilling down allows a user to search for properties only in these geographies that have their desired attributes, ensuring that the core drivers of a client's business are in the area. For a strip mall focused site selection success story, check out RPR's article Spot-on Site Selection is how the Cookie Crumbls. Multi-family offers multi opportunities Multi-family (apartments and condos) investment opportunities appear to be on the rise. That's mostly attributable to rising mortgage rates from 2023 that have put homeownership beyond the reach of many families. Of course, housing shortages and a slowdown of new builds is also a factor. And while that might not be optimal for residential and the middle class as a whole, it does create demand for multi-family units and those who have the capital to invest in them. In fact, multi-family is among the few commercial categories that are seeing rent growth and increasing property values. When it comes to multi-family ROI research and number crunching, RPR is a great resource to tap into when you're working with commercial investment clients. The tools available to you in RPR, especially its collaboration with Valuate®, can help you assess a commercial investment in multifamily dwellings or buildings. Here's how to apply RPR Commercial to your multi-family research: Multi-Family Prospecting in RPR Commercial. Improve your commercial market forecast with RPR Commercial No matter what area you specialize in when it comes to commercial real estate, RPR Commercial can help. This digital tool, offered by the National Association of REALTORS®, offers practitioners access to 850K+ listings and 56 million+ off-market properties, allowing you to search, research and do your homework on commercial properties throughout the country. Plus, RPR offers indispensable, analytic tools such as Site Selection, Trade Area Reports, ROI and investment, and consumer segmentation demographics and data. As well as commercial comps, traffic counts and assessments, points of interest and climate risk assessment. Log in to RPR Commercial today for a successful tomorrow… and rest of the year! *References NAR Commercial Real Estate Market Insights NAR: Will the Commercial Market Hit the Reset Button in 2024? JP Morgan: Real Estate Commercial Trends Money & US News: The Commercial Real Estate Outlook CBRE: U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook 2024 What to Expect for CRE in 2024 Commercial Real Estate Trends for 2024 To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE): Implications for Real Estate SEO
Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE) has been introduced as a 'beta' using generative AI. I have been closely monitoring this new search experience over the last few months, and I believe it can potentially transform the user search experience. Google's newest AI technology, released in May 2023, may have an overall impact on how we perform Search Engine Optimization (SEO). As a real estate marketing professional, it's crucial to comprehend these changes and how they could influence your digital strategy due to the ever-changing digital landscape. A Brief Overview of Google SGE SGE is designed to provide more context to its search results, making it easier for users to find relevant content and immediate answers to questions. For example, as outlined in Google's "A new way to search with generative AI," people will be able to do the following: Ask entirely new types of questions that you never thought Search could answer. Quickly get the lay of the land on a topic, with links to relevant results to explore further. Ask follow-up questions naturally in a new conversational mode. And get more done quickly, like generating creative ideas and drafts right in Search. The outcome showcases two features that illustrate this new technology. First, AI-generated snapshots emerge at the top of search results that offer a quick overview of the topic, answering specific questions and presenting essential information. For example, if a user searched for a home with a kitchen with specific amenities such as a gas stove, SGE could provide a snapshot comparing different properties, highlighting their kitchen amenities that have a gas stove (see image). The second feature is introducing a new vertical experience for specific items. This feature provides a comprehensive overview of products, including descriptions, reviews, ratings, prices, and images. Google does claim that it assures us it will display reliable and current information in these features while giving importance to quality and responsible AI usage. The Impact of Google SGE on Real Estate SEO The Possible Benefits SGE delivers an enhanced user experience. For example, SGE's AI-powered snapshots and vertical experiences could offer a more detailed and comprehensive overview of properties and other real estate information. I believe SGE has the potential to greatly enhance user engagement and satisfaction. By providing users with a wealth of information at a glance, it has the ability to expedite their decision-making process. Improve information accuracy through better AI technology. Google's promise of quality and accuracy could result in more reliable and up-to-date information about properties in their search results. This can enhance the credibility of real estate listings and foster trust among potential buyers or renters. The Potential Challenges Possible reduction of organic and paid website traffic to branded sites. Due to their prominence, AI-powered snapshots could push traditional website links further down in search results. This could lead to decreased website traffic, translating into fewer leads for brokerages and agents. My initial guess would be a 20 to 30% decrease in traffic. As website traffic often forms a crucial part of lead generation in real estate, this could pose significant challenges. Another significant challenge is how to monetize or promote core or ancillary services. The SGE vertical experiences bypass traditional property review websites and affiliate links, potentially affecting the revenue streams of those relying on these methods. Put simply, when property information, reviews, and prices are easily accessible in search results, users may be less inclined to visit real estate websites. This can have a direct impact on their revenue from ads, affiliate marketing, and other related services. Strategies for Adapting SEO Practices in Light of Google SGE Despite these challenges, these are some of my thoughts on ways real estate marketing professionals can adapt their SEO strategies to leverage the changes brought about by SGE. Focus on high-quality content With SGE possibly delivering AI-generated snapshots of real estate information, creating specific and authoritative content relevant to buyers and sellers becomes even more crucial. Creating high-quality content, such as in-depth information or unique insights about a property or neighborhood, can still attract users who wish to dive deeper into a topic. In addition, if accomplished with consistency, it allows Google to recognize your website as the "topical authority" on a subject. Optimize for featured snippets SGE uses snippets of information to provide quick answers. Therefore, structuring content that directly answers common user questions can increase the chances of your content being featured. This requires the utilization of headings, lists, and succinct paragraphs to make it easy for search engines to pull relevant information. I believe this is going to be a very important strategy based on the last two months of Google Search updates, which were labeled as 'Helpful Content' updates. Leverage structured data! This is an area where real estate SEO experts keep missing the mark by doing only the basic implementation of structured data. Implementing structured data markup (Schema.org) on your website can provide additional context and information about your content. We discussed this in a previous article, "3 SEO Real Estate Web Strategies." This approach assists search engines in understanding and presenting your content more effectively. Build a strong brand presence Another way to remain competitive in the eyes of consumers is to build a strong brand presence. Real estate marketing professionals can build a strong brand using a shotgun (omnichannel) approach to distribute the brand message and engage with buyers and sellers using the latest tools on social media platforms. For example, creating YouTube shorts, Instagram Stories, TicTok, and Facebook Reels from full-length videos. Yes, there are AI tools available to easily craft and distribute this content. It seems brokerages tend to stay away from this strategy, which is a shame. People are generating tons of revenue through this media. Monitor and adapt to changes in website performance Finally, organizations should scrutinize and adjust changes in website performance. Real estate marketing professionals can improve website performance and remain competitive by tracking website analytics and adjusting as needed. Incorporate AI in its property search It's a good idea to have frank discussions with your website partners about utilizing AI tools to improve the property search user experience. If they are not, call me, David Gumpper. There are many such tools available. In Conclusion Using Google's Search Generative Experience has advantages and disadvantages for real estate. On the one hand, it offers users a convenient way to view properties and obtain reliable information. However, on the other hand, it can lead to reduced website traffic and limited control over information. Important Note: Google SGE is currently featured as an experiment in the Search Labs. While it's not widely released, you can access it through the Chrome desktop and Google App on Android and iOS. Search alone generated 57% of Alphabet's 2022 revenue, which amounts to $162B. So you have to believe Google will smartly implement SGE to allow the search service to continue to grow revenue. So you need to keep up your SEO tool belt tight and ready to work. In summing up, real estate marketing professionals can adapt to these changes by: Creating high-quality content Optimizing for featured snippets Leveraging structured data Improving user experience Building a solid brand presence Monitoring and adapting to changes in website performance. By implementing these strategies, real estate professionals can remain competitive in the industry and succeed in the age of AI-powered search. If you want more insight into SEO practices and an understanding of the future of AI, contact David Gumpper of the WAV Group. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

MLSs Truly ARE Business Generation Partners to Their Subscribers
We always love to share quantitative data that proves that MLSs truly help dial up business opportunities for their customers. ValleyMLS.com, an MLS that takes its job of generating views, leads and listing exposure very seriously, is a great example! According to ListTrac, the industry's most respected source for business generation reporting, proves the point that ValleyMLS is arguably the most affordable and most effective way to create business potential. For the last 30 days Valley MLS.com, the company's consumer-facing website has generated more inquiries than any other lead source. In the same timeframe, Paragon MLS, Paragon Collaboration Center and ValleyMLS.com have generated more saved listings than any other source by a large margin. And third, the IDX feeds that Valley MLS facilitates generated more listing views than any other source. These combined results are a great example of why MLSs are probably the most affordable business generation source for brokers, especially because all of these sources follow Fair Display Guidelines and the "Your Listing, Your Lead" philosophy. No referral fees or advertising fees are collected at all. If you're an MLS and subscribe to ListTrac, please share this type of information with your subscribers regularly. If you're a broker, take a second look at the business generation value delivered by your MLS. You will likely be pleasantly surprised! To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

Real Makes It Easier for Independent Brokerages and Team Leaders to Join
The Real Brokerage Inc. announced the launch of two programs that make it easier for the nation's 100,000+ independent brokerages and team leaders to join Real, while maintaining the brands and compensation structures that are right for their businesses. Already the fastest-growing, publicly traded real estate brokerage as measured by agent growth, both programs are designed to clear the path for independent brokerages and fast-growing teams to benefit from the technology, tools, training and culture of collaboration and performance that Real provides. "Real is a platform of possibilities. We are focused on providing agents and team leaders with the best platform from which to serve clients and build long-term wealth," said Real President Sharran Srivatsaa. "In today's market, independent brokerage owners and team leaders need a platform that gives them the ability to scale. Our Private Label and ProTeams programs give owners and team leaders the power to overlay the Real model – and all of the benefits associated with being a part of the fastest-growing, publicly traded brokerage firm – without losing their brand or having to alter their economic plan." Real Chairman and CEO Tamir Poleg said, "We've kicked off 2024 on a strong note, with over 500 agents joining Real in the first week alone, pushing our network past the 14,000 agent mark. With the launch of these new programs, we're set to further accelerate our growth, providing unparalleled opportunities for independent brokerages and teams to expand their businesses with unmatched flexibility and support." Private Label Specifically designed for independent brokerages that have spent years building a brand in their local marketplace, Real's Private Label program empowers brokerages to benefit from Real's cutting-edge transaction management platform while maintaining and continuing to invest in their local brand, which often comes with a strong customer base and emotional attachment. The Private Label program will be available immediately to brokerages through an application process in states that allow this type of representation. Real piloted the Private Label program in five markets over the last 12 months for close to $2 billion in sales volume, including Kofi Nartey and his 12-member Globl RED team, which joined in August 2023. "Being able to maintain our existing brand and get all the benefits of a tech-forward brokerage partner was a game changer," Nartey said. "We spent the previous three years launching our brand and building brand awareness. Real understood the value of what we had built with Globl RED and wanted to support our continued growth. The Private Label model made the transition easy, as we were able to have a seamless public facing brand transition, while working smoothly behind the scenes to onboard onto the platform. This allowed me and my team to keep our focus on our business and on our clients." ProTeams Real's ProTeams program, which launches today to select teams and which will be fully available throughout the U.S. and Canada by the end of the first quarter, gives team leaders the flexibility to customize their team members' caps, splits and fee payments down to the individual team member level, allowing them to continue to embrace the structure that works best for them and reap the benefits associated with being a part of the Real platform. According to Srivatsaa, the Private Label and ProTeams programs address the biggest concerns of independent brokerages and larger teams interested in making the move to Real. "Last year, we introduced a number of agent-centric benefits, including healthcare benefits resources and co-sponsored and willable revenue sharing programs," Srivatsaa said. "We are kicking off 2024 with a revenue share retirement benefits program for all Real agents and two game-changing programs that give individual brokerage owners and team leaders the ability to join Real with the brand they've spent millions of dollars building and the financial models that work best for them."

Draft Marketing: Picking Up Followers From Other Brands
It is that time of year. Time to take stock of your efforts last year, and set your targets for 2024; part of that is a brand assessment. You should be looking at how your brand shows up online. It's a thing – like measuring the growth of your children. If your measurements in 2023 were lower than 2022 – fix that. Here is a simple idea called Draft Marketing. Sometimes we use social media to dive deeper into something. Have you ever scrolled through a bunch of webpages, aka "gone down the rabbit hole," where one page takes you to another page? You find so many of them to be informational to your interests that you click "follow" on a slew of companies. You are not alone. Marketers understand the rabbit hole, and social media is structured in a way that highlights similar pages to whatever sparked your interest. Funny thing – most real estate brokerages (and agents and teams) have not figured this out yet. Let's start out with an example of how Draft Marketing works. I am going to use Taylor Swift as an example. I did not follow Taylor on Instagram, so I went to her page and clicked the follow button. Below is the page before I followed her. Then I clicked the "follow" button. Pay close attention to the red arrow that points to additional pages that I might like. These artists are draft-marketing off of Taylor's brand. Because I liked Taylor Swift, Instagram suggested that I also follow Selena Gomez, Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, "Taylor Nation," and Sabrina Carpenter. All competitors to Taylor Swift. Let's take a look at how it works on Linkedin — pretty much the same way. Once you hit the follow button, look what happens… Here, you will find that major brands are draft-marketing on Taylor's brand. So, take this idea to real estate in your market. The largest brand in my market is Compass. Good news – Compass is not developing social media at the office level. It is easy to beat a competitor that has not built office pages. Compass has over 300 offices and has not deployed a hyper-local social media strategy everywhere yet. I know that they read this blog, so maybe this will change soon. Shown in the image above here is the top independent brokerage in our area – San Luis Obispo Realty. They have a LinkedIn page that has not been claimed, yet. Please – if you have a brokerage – claim it on all social media platforms. These pages show up in search, and it looks bad when you have not taken some basic steps to do something as simple as claiming your own page. For those of you who hate social media, claim your page anyway – make sure that your address, phone number, and link to your website are correct. This is most likely what you see when you google a competitor. Again, in the example above, I have not followed them yet. Once I hit the follow button, here is what happens… Oddly, I get Generative AI and OpenAI as other companies to follow. In general, even the "People also viewed" links on the sidebar only have one competitor, JDR Property. This is a great example of a company that you can draft-market off of. I mean, they only have 56 followers – which is not a great showing – but it's something. Clearly their efforts to build and grow their community are not significant. If you build up your community to be larger and more engaged, that will not be a bad thing for your brand. Side note – agents look at this stuff when they are being recruited. If the digital footprint of your brand sucks, that is a strike against your recruiting efforts. Draft Marketing is the simple pursuit of finding look-a-like customers from your competitors' social media pages. To get started, create a spreadsheet in Google Drive or another shareable document space. Go to your competitor sites, add links to their profiles into the spreadsheet along with a screenshot. Do the same thing for your pages. Pay close attention to the number of posts per month and the number of followers. This is a race, so you need to track your progress. Look what happens when you follow, or unfollow them. Who shows up? Do you show up? If you don't show up, you need to invest in the time to fix that. Here is an article that explains how to get followers on Instagram for draft marketing. You can do the same draft marketing on LinkedIn. If you do show up as a suggested follower, where do you show up? Position 1, 2, 3, 4, 5? Keep track for the race. Be sure to check mobile apps vs. browsers too. As you do your work, track what happens and how your position changes. It takes time for this to happen. The race is more of a marathon. The good news is that most real estate brokers are not paying attention to these things. Per the teachings of just about every real estate guru, it is not super hard to put enough effort into winning on social media. Ninety-nine percent of brokers do a crappy job. If you have more money than time, hire us and we can work on it for you. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

Brokers Need to Prepare for Upcoming Changes to Agent Commissions. Here's How
It seems like every day, there's a new headline about real estate commissions. Several high-profile rulings and cases are putting how agents and their brokers get paid under the microscope. To those of us in the industry, it may sound shocking, but the simple truth is that consumers don't know much about how real estate transactions work, and both buyers and sellers are surprised when they learn how their agents will be paid (and that buyers generally haven't been responsible for paying any portion of the commission, at least historically). But all of that may be on the verge of changing. Let's discuss the events that have led us to this moment and what brokers need to start doing to prepare. What is the Burnett v. NAR decision? Burnett v. NAR was a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of 500,000 home sellers in Missouri who argued that the NAR rule of coupling commissions paid to buyer and seller agents in exchange for the privilege of listing the property in the multiple listing service (MLS) unfairly inflated home prices and the commissions paid to buyers' agents. In October 2023, a federal jury agreed and ordered NAR to pay damages. Like many industry and legal experts predicted, similar complaints are starting to be filed across the country, including Grace v. NAR et al, which was recently filed in California. What do brokers have to do in response to Burnett v. NAR? For now, nothing… yet. The Burnett v. NAR verdict does not require brokers to make immediate changes to their commissions structures. But it has been reported that the Department of Justice may investigate the issue further, meaning it's far from being laid to rest. Brokers aren't being forced to change their practices overnight, but changes are coming—and they might involve the much-discussed unbundling of commissions. As Constellation1 President Brant Morwald predicted in his 2024 real estate industry outlook, the unbundling (or uncoupling) of commissions could lead to lower agent commissions (and therefore lower commission income for brokerages). And while the status quo remains, smart brokers would do well to get ahead of the issue, start talking about these issues now, and begin preparing for a future with more competitive (read: lower) real estate commission income. Shift how you think (and talk) about agent commissions State rules and regulations can vary widely, but two key tenets ring true: Agent commissions are (and always have been) negotiable A lot of top agents (and their brokers) take the "industry average" or "their normal commission" for granted, some going so far as to have the amount pre-printed on their listing agreement forms. Any broker operating this way would do well to change this practice immediately. Compliant forms do not list commissions on them and contain language that asserts the negotiability of real estate commissions. Since we know consumers don't always read the fine print, it's important that this point be a part of every client onboarding conversation, and one that brokers must train their teams to have—even if we culturally have a general discomfort around discussing money and compensation in North America. Commissions and other compensation should be disclosed Of course, since sellers are generally responsible for paying commissions on real estate transactions in the United States, the amount they are making is usually known to the seller, since it's coming out of their proceeds. But buyers are usually not privy to this information, often because it's not a required disclosure (or not enforced), and this is what is at the heart of many of the lawsuits that are being filed right now. Agents can also be compensated in other ways, and their clients might want to know this information, too. These two tenets can be the guardrails brokers and their teams use moving forward to settle on acceptable, fair, and most importantly, mutually agreeable compensation structures. How brokers need to prepare for the inevitable changes to agent commissions Whatever happens, the new focus, interest, and scrutiny on commissions isn't going to go away. In any case, brokers can start laying the groundwork now for a landscape where commissions are different than they are today, and where competition for the best sales talent will only be getting fiercer. Shift how you think about real estate commissions The first major change will be to shift how you and your teams think about commissions. For a long time, sales teams have shied away from talking about money in general and commissions in particular (apart from saying, "we're going to get you the best price on your house!") because, let's face it, talking about money is uncomfortable for a lot of people. But this new landscape is forcing the question, and the more you talk about it, the easier it will get. When real estate brokers and agents agree to represent a client in a transaction, they commit to acting as fiduciaries: they are bound by a legal obligation serve the best interests of their clients, not themselves or their businesses. This means there's an important balance to be struck between meeting your business goals (and charging a fair commission that reflects the amount of work your team does and your overhead) and ensuring fairness for your client as well. Explain how agent commissions and broker splits work As we stated above, before they seriously start considering buying real estate, most people have no idea how real estate agents make their money. Add in another layer of complexity: the different kinds of commission splits and how brokers make their money (read: how much of their commissions agents don't get to keep). What might seem to a consumer like an enormous sum of money might seem less so when the agent explains everything behind it: the split with the broker, brokerage and agent overhead, the cost of tools, licensing, staging, photography, marketing, the list goes on. Most consumers also don't know that agents are independent contractors who have to pay their own taxes, save for their own retirements, pay for their own benefits, and more. Remind consumers that agent commissions are negotiable Don't take 6% as a given anymore. Remind consumers that the amount your agent (whether they're representing the buyer or the seller) will make is up for negotiation, and then sell them on your value proposition and why you deserve what you are asking for. More on that below. That said, having a more flexible commission (and tools to help you deliver the same great customer experience with less effort and people power) could be a valuable tactic for getting more leads in this exceptionally competitive market. Home in on your brokerage's value proposition Agents work hard. It's so much more than snapping a few listing photos, putting them online, and watching the offers (and money) roll in. If only it were that easy! Being a broker is hard work, too. You're managing an entire sales and support team and often a brick-and-mortar location, maintaining your license and (if applicable) franchise agreements, working on recruitment and retention, deciding what agent benefits to provide and how to pay for them, and so much more. And most importantly of all, this work gets results: according to NAR's 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, for sale by owner properties typically sell for less than the selling price of other homes (a median of $310,000 in 2022) versus the median of agent-assisted homes ($405,000). A big part of your agents' work going forward will be explaining why you command a certain commission and why you deserve it. It is in your clients' best interest (remember, your fiduciary duty) to know what they're paying you for and to give them a chance to ask questions. So, what is your value proposition? Why do your agents deserve their commissions? What value do you add? Here are a few ideas to get the conversation started. Specific market knowledge and expertise The undeniable fact is that, since selling real estate is your bread and butter, you know more about it and have amassed considerable expertise about how it works in terms of the rules, best practices, and market. This means you're in a position to fetch the highest price for those who list with you. Negotiation skills This goes back to being a fiduciary. Just as a listing agent's role is to maximize profit for the seller, the buyer's agent's responsibility is to make sure they get the fairest price for what they're buying. This means honed negotiation skills and the ability to advise their clients when they aren't getting a good deal, and why. Proven track record The data speaks for itself: agent-assisted sales result in higher prices for sellers than FSBOs. This is a big selling point for sellers, and helping them means helping yourself, too. Where it gets tricky in this new landscape is ensuring that they know the buyer's side commission is also negotiable and to work that into the conversation. Additional tools Agents don't work with rotary phones and post-its anymore (and even if they did, they'd need to pass on the cost of using those tools to their clients). Agents use pretty sophisticated tools to market their listings, nurture their clients, and ultimately help properties sell faster and for a fair price. These tools cost money, and consumers might not realize the resources your agents are investing in to ensure their success. So, tell them! This is all, of course, on top of the role of being a trustworthy, confidential guide and advocate for the biggest purchases the average people make in their lifetimes! Keep the commissions conversations going This is just the beginning of what will likely prove to be a very long and evolving conversation across the entire industry. So, start now. Talk early and often with your sales team and their clients about these issues and stay abreast of more developments as they happen. To view the original article, visit the Constellation1 blog.

What Can Real Estate Software Learn from the Gaming Industry?
We like to joke that whenever we need to talk about something particularly technical, we're speaking geek. Usually, that means we're going to dig into integrations, or protocols, or even infrastructure. We've even used it to dip our toes into the nerdy side of things with blog posts about comic franchises before. But today, let's speak a different sort of geek: Gamer. It might not be the first industry you'd think of as being relevant for real estate, but the gaming industry does hold a lot of potential for those of us on the real estate software side. After all, it's not the niche hobby that it once was—as a whole, it boasts over 3 billion users and over USD$240 billion in annual revenue these days. Its demographics span generations and all kinds of interests, from the most casual of idle games made to let players relax to the most intense eSports leagues where professional players battle it out for fame and glory. Because of the nature of the gaming industry, and because it depends so heavily on its users for success, it's learned a thing or two about giving the people what they want and need—and those are lessons that real estate software should take to heart, too. Lesson 1: People should come first. Think about it. If you were to pick up a video game, whether or not you knew anything about it, and you couldn't figure out how to move your character around or do anything you needed to, would you keep playing? No, because you don't have to. Video game developers need to consider their players first and foremost because if they don't, they don't succeed. They need people to be able to understand and use and even enjoy their work, or they will founder. What we can learn: Unlike a game, what we build isn't something people choose to use. People don't use real estate software because it's fun, or they want to—they need to use it for their livelihoods. And if they have to use it, why shouldn't they expect the same intuitive and straightforward experience as they could get with optional software? Lesson 2: People should be involved. For decades, game developers have offered their users a way to have their say in how a game works before it ever hits the market through early access and alpha and beta testing. These programs let players get into games while developers were still working on them, so they could help identify bugs, missed opportunities, and new ideas to improve the game for when it launched. Though it was at first a tool used to build excitement for an upcoming game—because players got invested in the bragging rights that came with seeing a game before anyone else—it became standard procedure over time as developers saw the value in letting players put their work through its paces. Games came out sturdier, more functional, and sometimes, even with a few new details the designers hadn't considered before. What we can learn: We've said before that the future of real estate software is collaborative—and that extends to users, too. After all, it's something that our founder, Lorne Wallace, did with Lone Wolf software from day one, and what better way is there to make sure people come first than to let them show you how they operate? Lesson 3: Hype isn't as important as doing it right. I won't name any names here, but let me give you two scenarios. One video game, a somewhat niche title from a little-known publisher that barely advertises itself, runs an extended beta test period for players, slowly introducing new features and fixing the bugs players found. Another video game, an A-list title from a massive publisher that blows a huge budget on marketing, runs a beta test period that lasts about three weeks, and focuses on keeping interest through that period. At launch, one finds huge success, topping the charts for weeks on end and making headlines even now, months later. One fell off the charts quickly, and rarely comes up outside of search queries for tech support. I'll let you guess which was which. What we can learn: Though the same length of extended beta test period wouldn't really be reasonable in real estate software, the clear moral of the story is that you've got to do things right—because once you launch, you need to deliver on what you promised, and people will see right through a gimmick. The bottom line If there's one thing the gaming industry has gotten right, it's how it connects with the people who use its creations. And that's ultimately what all the lessons we've discussed here come down to: How software, and the people who build it, interact with the people who use it. Though there are plenty more lessons that we could include here, this is what matters. How we think about real estate software is due for a shift, and lessons like these are what will get us there. By thinking about how software directly works for the people, we can define the future of real estate software—how it grows and evolves over the coming years. To view the original article, visit the Lone Wolf blog.

[Podcast] Being Fully Present: A Conversation with Carolyn Rosson
Today's guest, Carolyn Rosson, is the President of Ebby Halliday, an established company with a reach spanning 12,000 square miles across Texas and Oklahoma. In her 40 plus years with the company, Carolyn—mentored by Ebby herself—has risen through the ranks to her current position as President, continuing the intentional leadership style that Ebby started 75 years ago. In this episode, we learn why Carolyn's emphasis on service, to her staff and clients alike, has made her such a central figure in the growth trajectory and sustained success of one of the most powerful brokerage companies in the southern United States. In this episode of Million Dollar Question: A company led by women: Carolyn's experience being mentored by Ebby Halliday Keeping cohesion across different brands amidst growth and expansion Embracing that the pandemic has forever changed the ways that brokers work Authenticity and presence: Carolyn's top tips for success Connect with Carolyn: LinkedIn: Carolyn Rosson Website: ebby.com Listen to this podcast on: Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts RadioPublic To view the original article, visit the LeadingRE blog.

[Podcast] The Secrets to Leading a World-Class Independent Company with Carol Bulman
Carol Conway Bulman is the CEO and Chairman of Jack Conway & Company, Inc., the largest locally-based independent real estate firm in Massachusetts. Operating since 1956, the company has 25 offices with more than 600 agents from Swampscott to Cape Cod. Offering one-stop shopping for its clients, it includes insurance, mortgage financing, title, staging, renovation, relocation and commercial real estate divisions. In today's episode, Jessica and Carol talk about Jack Conway's company values, the company's dedication to philanthropy, what it's like running a family business and more. In this episode of Million Dollar Question: Jack Conway's core values, history and rebuild A philanthropic obligation Learning from George Floyd's murder What it's like working alongside your children Carol's advice on leadership Connect with Carol: LinkedIn: Carol Bulman Website: jackconway.com Email: [email protected] Listen to this podcast on: Spotify Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts RadioPublic To view the original article, visit the LeadingRE blog.

5 Common Google Search Console Errors for Real Estate Websites
Is your real estate website not ranking as well as you'd like on Google? It could be due to some common errors in your Google Search Console (GSC). As you know, SEO is an on going process, so if you want to keep your pages up in search results, you must constantly update your website and monitor it to fix issues. One of the greatest tools for monitoring your performance and also fixing your issue is Google Search Console. This tool is owned by Google, so it's really crucial to use. If you want to improve your real estate website SEO, this article will help you understand GSC errors. Common Errors in Google Search Console Crawl errors Mobile usability issues Structured data errors Page speed problems (CWV) Security issues Let's talk about all of them more exclusively: Error 1: Crawl errors Crawl errors can prevent Google from properly indexing your pages, leading to lower rankings for your real estate website. These errors occur when Google's bots encounter issues while crawling your site. There are several crawl errors on GSC. The most common crawl issues in real estate websites are: Not Found (404) Crawled – currently not indexed Discovered – currently not indexed Page with redirect Server error (5xx) Fixing each one of these requires knowledge about SEO, and also a little about SEO plugins if you are using WordPress as your CMS. Error 2: Mobile usability issues In today's mobile-driven world, having a mobile-friendly website is crucial for real estate businesses. Mobile usability issues can negatively impact your website's performance and rankings on Google. If your site is not optimized for mobile devices, you may be missing out on potential leads and traffic. To identify mobile usability issues, go to the "Mobile Usability" report in your Google Search Console. This report will highlight any issues affecting the mobile user experience on your website, such as text that is too small to read, clickable elements that are too close together, or viewport configuration errors. Here are some solutions to common mobile usability issues: Use responsive design: Ensure your website is built using responsive design principles. This means that the website's layout and content will automatically adjust to fit the screen size of the device being used. Optimize font sizes: Make sure text on your website is easily readable on mobile devices. Use a font size that is large enough to be legible without zooming in. Space out clickable elements: Ensure that clickable elements, such as buttons and links, are spaced out enough so that users can easily tap on them without accidentally tapping on adjacent elements. Note that the Mobile-usability report will retire at the end of the 2023. Google announced that, in modern times, virtually all websites are mobile friendly and there is no need to have either this or the mobile usability test anymore. Error 3: Structured data errors Structured data helps search engines understand the content and context of your real estate website. It provides additional information about your properties, such as price, location, and availability. However, if there are errors in your structured data implementation, it can cause Google to misinterpret your website's content and potentially impact your rankings. To identify structured data errors, navigate to the "Enhancements" report in your Google Search Console. This report will show you any issues with your structured data markup, such as missing fields, incorrect values, or invalid markup. To resolve structured data errors: Use structured data testing tools: Google provides a structured data testing tool that allows you to validate your structured data markup. Use this tool to identify any errors and make the necessary corrections. Follow Google's guidelines: Ensure that your structured data markup follows Google's guidelines for real estate websites. This includes using the appropriate schema types and properties to accurately represent your properties. Test and monitor: After making corrections to your structured data markup, use the testing tool again to verify that the errors have been resolved. Regularly monitor your Google Search Console for any new structured data errors that may arise. Error 4: Page speed problems (CWV) Page speed is a crucial factor that directly influences user experience and search engine rankings. In the realm of real estate websites, where competition is fierce and user expectations are high, addressing page speed problems is paramount. One significant aspect of page speed that Google emphasizes is the Core Web Vitals (CWV). Understanding Core Web Vitals (CWV): Core Web Vitals are a set of specific factors that Google considers when evaluating the overall user experience of a webpage. The three main components of CWV are: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures the loading performance of a webpage by assessing the time it takes for the largest content element to become visible. Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Assesses the visual stability of a webpage by measuring unexpected layout shifts during the loading process. First Input Delay (FID): Evaluates the interactivity of a page by measuring the time it takes for a user to interact with the page after the initial click. Note that Google has just announced that FID is going to be replaced by Interaction to Next Paint (INP) very soon. Error 5: Security issues Website security is crucial for protecting your real estate website and the sensitive information of your visitors. Google takes website security seriously and may penalize websites that have security vulnerabilities. To identify security issues, use the "Security Issues" report in your Google Search Console. This report will alert you to any security-related problems detected on your website, such as malware infections or hacked content. To secure your website: Install an SSL certificate: An SSL certificate encrypts the data transmitted between your website and users' browsers. This ensures that sensitive information, such as login credentials and contact forms, is secure. Update your software: Keep your website's CMS, plugins, and themes up to date. Software updates often include security patches that protect against known vulnerabilities. Use strong passwords: Ensure that all user accounts on your website have strong, unique passwords. Encourage your users to do the same. Regularly backup your website: Perform regular backups of your website's files and database. This allows you to restore your website to a previous state in case of a security breach. That's it, These are the most common Google Search Console issues that might happen to your real estate website, No matter the type of real estate website you are using, you can increase the likelihood of ranking by solving these issues. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

Laying the Foundation for Effective Marketing
In today's dynamic business landscape, where data reigns supreme, marketing automation has emerged as a powerful tool for businesses to streamline their efforts and reach their target audiences effectively. However, the success of automated marketing doesn't solely depend on the sophistication of the software used; rather, it hinges on the foundational elements of identifying your audience, understanding your data, and having a well-thought-out plan for implementation. 1. Identify Your Target Audience The cornerstone of any successful marketing strategy is a deep understanding of your target audience. Before diving into the world of automation, take the time to identify and define your ideal customer personas. What are their pain points, preferences, and behaviors? Tailoring your marketing efforts to specific segments of your audience ensures that your message resonates and creates a meaningful connection. 2. Know the Data Effective marketing automation requires a comprehensive understanding of your data landscape. Utilize both internal and external data sources to build a holistic view of your audience. Internal sources may include customer databases, transaction histories, and interaction logs. External sources could range from social media insights to purchased lists. Aggregating this data provides a more nuanced understanding of individuals within your target audience, enabling you to craft more personalized and relevant messages. 3. Know Your Desired Outcome Clearly define your marketing objectives. Whether it's customer acquisition, event participation, product feature introduction, or encouraging the use of a current product, having a well-defined goal is crucial. Each objective may require a unique approach, so understanding your desired outcomes sets the stage for a more focused and effective marketing strategy. 4. Create Personalized Automation for Each Desired Outcome With your audience identified, data collected, and goals set, it's time to craft personalized automation for each desired outcome. Consider factors such as preferred communication style, timing of communication, and the design and copy of the message. A one-size-fits-all approach is no longer sufficient in the age of automation. Tailoring your messaging to individual preferences enhances engagement and builds stronger connections with your audience. 5. Measure Conversion of Your Desired Outcomes An often overlooked but critical aspect of automated marketing is the measurement of success. Implement robust tracking mechanisms to monitor the conversion of your desired outcomes. Analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to your goals, such as conversion rates, click-through rates, and customer engagement metrics. Regularly assess the effectiveness of your automation strategies and be prepared to iterate based on the insights gained from data analysis. In conclusion, the road to effective marketing automation is paved with strategic planning and thoughtful implementation. By identifying your target audience, understanding your data landscape, defining clear objectives, personalizing your automation, and measuring outcomes, you lay a solid foundation for success. Remember, it's not the lack of intent or the sophistication of the tools; it's the meticulous planning and execution that determine the triumph of your automated marketing efforts. To view the original article, visit the Wisdom Load blog.

Optimizing Crawl Budget for Real Estate Websites
In the fast-paced world of real estate, having a website that is easily discoverable by search engines is crucial for attracting more visitors and staying ahead of the competition. One key aspect that can significantly impact your website's visibility is its crawl budget. This guide aims to provide you with effective strategies to improve your website's crawl budget and ultimately enhance your real estate SEO. What Is a Crawl Budget? Crawl budget refers to the number of pages search engines are willing to crawl on a website within a given timeframe. It is determined by the search engine's algorithms and is influenced by various factors such as the website's authority, relevance, and overall structure. Essentially, the crawl budget dictates how efficiently search engines can discover and index the content on a website. Optimizing the crawl budget involves ensuring that search engine bots prioritize crawling and indexing the most important and relevant pages on a website. Understanding the concept of crawl budget is crucial for real estate websites, as it directly impacts their visibility in search engine results. By optimizing the crawl budget, real estate websites can ensure that their most valuable content is effectively crawled and indexed, leading to improved organic traffic and higher search rankings. Importance of Optimizing Crawl Budget For Real Estate Websites In the highly competitive real estate market, the visibility of property listings, neighborhood guides, and other relevant content is critical for attracting potential clients. Optimizing the crawl budget for real estate websites ensures that search engines prioritize crawling and indexing the most valuable and relevant pages, such as property listings, neighborhood profiles, and informative blog posts. By effectively managing the crawl budget, real estate websites can enhance their overall SEO performance. Moreover, with the ever-changing nature of real estate inventory and market trends, ensuring that new listings and updated content are promptly crawled and indexed is essential for maintaining a competitive edge. By optimizing the crawl budget, real estate websites can ensure that search engines promptly discover their latest property listings and market insights. Now a question must be answered! How to optimize the crawl budget for your website? Improving Site Structure for Better Crawl Budget Allocation The structure of a real estate website plays a crucial role in determining how search engine bots prioritize crawling and indexing its pages. By organizing the site's architecture logically and hierarchically, real estate websites can influence how the crawl budget is allocated across different sections and content types. Implementing a clear and intuitive site structure not only enhances user experience but also facilitates efficient crawling and indexing by search engines. Utilizing a flat and organized hierarchy, real estate websites can ensure that important pages, such as property listings, neighborhood guides, and market insights, are easily accessible and prioritized for crawling. Additionally, implementing internal linking strategies can further guide search engine bots to discover and index the most valuable and relevant content, ultimately improving crawl budget allocation and SEO performance. Utilizing Robots.txt and XML Sitemaps for Crawl Budget Optimization Robots.txt and XML sitemaps are powerful tools for controlling how search engine bots crawl and index a real estate website's content. By strategically utilizing Robots.txt directives, real estate websites can instruct search engine bots to prioritize crawling certain sections while excluding less important or duplicate content. This can help optimize crawl budget allocation by ensuring that search engine bots focus on discovering and indexing the most valuable and relevant pages. In addition, creating and regularly updating XML sitemaps allows real estate websites to provide search engines with a comprehensive roadmap of their content, guiding search engine bots to prioritize crawling and indexing essential pages. By leveraging robots.txt and XML sitemaps, real estate websites can effectively influence crawl budget allocation and ensure that their most critical content is promptly discovered and indexed. Managing URL Parameters and Duplicate Content Real estate websites often feature dynamic content and URL parameters, such as search filters and sorting options, which can lead to the generation of numerous variations of the same content. Managing URL parameters and addressing duplicate content issues is crucial for optimizing the crawl budget and preventing search engine bots from wasting resources on crawling and indexing redundant pages. Implementing best practices for handling URL parameters, such as using canonical tags and configuring URL parameter settings in Google Search Console, can help real estate websites consolidate the indexing of similar content variations, ultimately improving crawl budget allocation. Additionally, regularly auditing and resolving duplicate content issues through proper canonicalization and redirects can further enhance crawl budget optimization and SEO performance. By using site audit reports, you will have a great sight of how many of your pages are crucial for your indexing and ranking. Visit our article titled Site Audit Report For Real Estate Websites for more info about how to generate and use these reports. Monitoring and Analyzing Crawl Budget Utilization Continuous monitoring and analysis of crawl budget utilization are essential for real estate websites to identify inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement. By utilizing tools such as Google Search Console and third-party crawlers, real estate websites can gain valuable insights into how search engine bots are crawling and indexing their content, allowing them to make informed decisions regarding crawl budget optimization. Analyzing crawl data, identifying crawl inefficiencies, and addressing crawl errors are pivotal for maintaining an optimal crawl budget allocation. By proactively monitoring and optimizing crawl budget utilization, real estate websites can ensure that their most critical content is effectively discovered and indexed by search engines, ultimately improving their online visibility and SEO performance. Monitoring Google Search Console and other SEO tools' statistics might not be for everyone. You can seek help from professionals and real estate SEO experts. Conclusion and Key Takeaways In conclusion, optimizing the crawl budget is a crucial aspect of improving the visibility and SEO performance of real estate websites. By understanding the concept of crawl budget and implementing effective strategies such as improving site structure, utilizing robots.txt and XML sitemaps, managing URL parameters, and monitoring crawl budget utilization, real estate websites can enhance their online presence and attract more potential clients. Real estate professionals need to prioritize crawl budget optimization as part of their broader SEO strategy, ensuring that their most valuable content and listings are promptly discovered and indexed by search engines. Ultimately, All real estate agents want to have their property pages displayed in search results. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

Redfin Launches AI-Powered Tool to Redesign Listing Photos
Redfin has launched Redfin Redesign, an AI-powered tool that lets consumers change the appearance of walls, floors and countertops in home photos. Powered by Roomvo, a leading home visualization platform, the feature empowers home searchers to envision the potential of a home, identify which homes they are serious about touring or buying, and experiment with design styles. The feature is available for all active Redfin listings and eligible sold Redfin listings in the U.S. on Redfin.com and iPhone. Redfin and Roomvo have also partnered with Bright MLS, one of the largest MLSs in the U.S. by listing count, to offer this feature for their listings across the mid-Atlantic. In total, Redfin Redesign is available for more than 75,000 listings across the U.S. To try Redfin Redesign, select an eligible home like this one from your Redfin search results. Click the "Redesign" button on the first listing photo, then select a room to redesign from a gallery of interior photos. Then, choose from a diverse range of flooring types, wall paint colors, and countertop finishes to customize the room to your preferences. Once the design is complete, use the slider bar to compare the before and after images. "Buyers often want to know what a home will look like with some changes, not just what it looks like right now," said Ariel Dos Santos, Redfin's senior vice president of product. "Sellers want their listings to appeal to the broadest pool of buyers, regardless of design preferences. Redfin Redesign uses Roomvo's AI capabilities so buyers can see what they could do with a space in just a few clicks. It's one way Redfin's using AI to make real estate better for buyers, sellers, and agents." "We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Redfin, a collaboration that echoes our deep conviction that everyone deserves a beautiful home," said Roomvo CEO Pawel Rajszel. "This partnership aligns seamlessly with Roomvo's mission to transform the way people envision and create their living spaces. This collaboration not only marks a significant milestone for Roomvo but also reinforces our dedication to making home design accessible to all, empowering homeowners to realize their dream spaces effortlessly." Redfin Redesign is part of Redfin's ongoing effort to modernize the home search and make the buying and selling process easier. Redfin was the first national brokerage to offer 3D walkthroughs on its listings to help consumers virtually tour a home. It is now using AI to enhance listing photos, which are the most popular feature on Redfin's home detail pages. "Through our partnership with Redfin and Roomvo, we are excited to bring the Redfin Redesign experience to Redfin consumers across the entirety of the Bright MLS footprint," said Amit Kulkarni, Bright MLS's chief marketing officer. "Helping brokers deliver innovative experiences is something that's foundational to Bright as an organization. We are excited to be the first MLS to partner with Redfin to offer this tool that helps people reimagine home from their desktop or mobile device." In order to make Redfin Redesign available for more listings, Redfin plans to explore partnerships with additional MLSs and brokerages who see how this tool can help agents market their listings to Redfin's audience of more than 50 million monthly visitors. Get more information about Redfin Redesign here.

Recruitment Success: Annual Business Planning with Your Agents
"If you fail to prepare, be prepared to fail." – Benjamin Franklin As we stand on the cusp of a new year, real estate agents across the United States are gearing up for the challenges and opportunities that the new year presents. This offers brokers a key opportunity for connection, mentorship and guidance in annual business planning exercises. Whether this is accomplished through group sessions, one-on-one mentorship, or virtual training and resources, assisting your agents with establishing obtainable goals and developing a measurable path for success plays a big part in your annual recruitment and retention efforts. I work with many brokerages each year in the development of strategic annual planning programs. Below are my tips, tricks and strategies for brokers looking to stand out from their peers and serve as true servant leaders. Setting the Course Though S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting Business planning is akin to charting a course for a ship in uncharted waters. It involves a meticulous analysis of past performance, a realistic assessment of the current situation, and a forward-looking vision for the future. The key is to assist your agents with setting clear objectives, identifying potential roadblocks, and devising strategies to navigate the challenges that may arise. Brokers should focus on helping agents with S.M.A.R.T. goal setting to ensure realistic, obtainable growth. S = Specific (Clearly Identity Each Goal)M = Measurable (Ensure You Can Measure Progress and Success)A = Achievable (Sent Goals That Are Realistically Achievable)R = Relevant (Set Goals That Are Relevant to Your Values and Long-Term Objectives)T = Time-based (Establish Incremental Deadlines via Task Prioritization) Financial Forecasting One of the key components of effective business planning is financial forecasting. By evaluating past years income and expenses, agents can make informed predictions about future revenue, expenses, and profitability. This not only aids in budgeting and resource allocation but also provides a solid basis for making strategic financial decisions. Whether it's allocating funds for lead generation, investing in new technologies, or managing cash flow, a well-thought-out financial plan is indispensable — especially in a business that is many times "feast or famine." Risk Mitigation In today's volatile and competitive real estate environment, risk is an inherent factor that cannot be ignored. Business planning exercises allow agents to conduct a thorough risk analysis, identifying potential threats and vulnerabilities. Armed with this knowledge, agents can proactively implement risk mitigation strategies, ensuring they are well-prepared to weather unforeseen challenges in the market. Having a "Plan B" acts as a shield against the uncertainties that may arise. Alignment of Resources Strategic planning facilitates the alignment of organizational resources with overarching goals and objectives. This not only maximizes agent productivity but also fosters a sense of purpose and direction throughout the year. When everyone within the organization understands the broader strategy and their personal contribution, it creates a cohesive and focused environment, driving the entire organization towards success. Adaptability and Innovation A well-crafted business plan is not a static document; rather, it is a dynamic roadmap that allows for adaptation to changing circumstances. By regularly revisiting and updating the plan, agents can stay agile and responsive to emerging trends. It prompts agents to explore new opportunities, embrace emerging technologies, and continuously seek ways to improve the end-to-end real estate experience. Download Our Annual Business Planning Workbook for Busy Agents Empower Your Agents Following is a list of resources that I suggest brokers present to their agents for annual business planning. Once again, you can offer these resources via group planning sessions (I'm a big fan of these!), one-on-one meetings, or via your online training / resource center (if applicable). Regardless of your approach, I recommend some sort of personal outreach and/or follow-up during the annual planning process, as well as a mid-year check-in to see how things are going. S.M.A.R.T. Planning Worksheet Encourage agents to self-explore questions such as: What do I want my real estate career to do for my overall life? Why is this important to me? Who else will benefit? How? What will drive me every day to accomplish my goals? What will my life look like in 1, 3, 5 years if I don't grow my business? These open-ended questions are a great way to understand the motivation around each agent's business and what is most important to them. S.W.O.T. Analysis Having agents take a look at their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats helps in setting realistic goals. Have your agents outline their top 3 business goals along with daily, weekly and monthly actions that will help them hit those goals over the course of the coming year. Financial Analysis via Income and Expense Tracking Provide agents with an interactive spreadsheet that will serve as a guideline for tracking month-by-month personal and business expenses in comparison with their income. Is your agent upside down? Help them seek opportunities to eliminate or offset expenses to mitigate risk, and evaluate the past year's production numbers to see where income came from, exploring how to redirect or "double down" on growth opportunities. By committing time each year to help agents be successful, brokers foster an environment of collaboration. These types of exercises also help brokers evaluate the tools and resources they provide their agents annual. For example, if your agents are struggling with lead generation, what types of products and / or training can you provide to drive greater success? Do you see specific trends across your agents' productivity throughout the year that you can help compensate for through ancillary revenue streams? Successful business growth is a team effort, and taking the time to support your agent's businesses is the sign of true servant leadership. Your time and effort will be repaid with not only good karma, but also with happy, productive agents that will stay with your organization and stand beside you through the ups and downs of the real estate market. To view the original article, visit the WAV Group blog.

Coldwell Banker Debuts 'Best of the Best' Guide of Must-Have Luxury Home Essentials
The Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program has released the "Best of the Best," an online, shoppable guide that reflects the most notable luxury home trends, amenities and in-demand luxury home products. Carefully curated from survey insights gathered from Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property Specialists, Best of the Best defines the most desirable amenities in a luxury home today and sheds new light on the must-have room comforts and features heading into 2024. "Best of the Best is a powerful asset to help agents support their clients in envisioning their dream home," said Jade Mills, president, Jade Mills Estates and International Ambassador of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury® program. "I love being able to offer my clients trustworthy insights into what's trending in the luxury home design space. This guide is truly a game-changer for wealthy consumers, supplying them with on-trend products that not only elevate their homes, but also add comfort and convenience to their lives." The following style trends are defining and shaping the future of the luxury home, according to Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property Specialists: The in-demand luxury home Affluent trendsetters are creating luxury sanctuaries and retreats from the outside world in the comfort of their own home. The most desirable homes are equipped with a chef's kitchen with unique features and tech-enabled appliances, multi-functional indoor-outdoor living spaces that provide a seamless connection to nature, spa-like bathrooms that bring an oasis into the comfort of home, and advanced smart home technology that controls, automates and optimizes functions such as privacy, security, entertainment, lighting, temperature and landscaping, accessible from anywhere. Two is better than one: Double duty kitchen islands are the leading feature in chef's kitchens To be called a luxury chef's kitchen, one must have: A double kitchen island with ample space for cooking, gathering and entertaining is the most important kitchen feature according to Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property Specialists A centerpiece of the luxury kitchen, elegant oven ranges and designer appliances provide sophistication with superior function Statement range hoods with pops of color and unique design features that add style and personality Reimagining a staycation: Cabanas and natural water features are the most popular additions to luxury backyards Two-thirds of Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property Specialists surveyed agree that the biggest trend in luxury outdoor spaces is the merging of indoor and outdoor living. The must-have amenities in indoor-outdoor living spaces include: State-of-the-art cabanas and pergolas offer resort-style comfort and relaxation in one's backyard Water features, from heated swimming pools to waterfalls, fountains and plunge pools, provide an oasis-like atmosphere that every luxury buyer seeks Outdoor living areas that serve as extended entertainment spaces such as sitting rooms, outdoor bars, expanded chef's kitchens with pizza ovens and built-in grills, expansive gas fire pits and movie screening areas under the stars Where elegance meets renewal: The freestanding soaking tub is essential in luxury spa bathrooms Having a spa-like bathroom with unique wellness features is top-of-mind for luxury homeowners. To have a spa-like bathroom, one must have: A freestanding soaking tub is the leading trend in luxury bathrooms that epitomize elegance and relaxation, allowing one to lean back comfortably and be fully submerged Hydrotherapy showers that offer a spa-like features with massage jets, customizable water pressure and a wide range of shower spray functions Designated treatment rooms with spa-design elements such as heated floors and towel racks, and infrared saunas Healthy living meets smart home technology: Wellness products, from advanced air purifiers to human-sized sound therapy pods, are the top tech products in luxury homes The key to smart home living is having a seamless integration where the technology enhances not only the home itself, but also the well-being of its inhabitants. Having technology that satisfies luxury consumers' personal wellness needs are significantly reshaping the modern luxury home. To own a smart home, one must have: Human-sized sound therapy meditation pods that gently mix body vibrations with immersive music, serving as a personal sanctuary to relieve stress Tech-infused fitness equipment including immersive smart gyms with touchscreen mirror displays virtually bringing a variety of fitness experts into the home Smart thermostats that allow complete control over the temperature of the home with voice command functions, real-time air quality monitoring and sensor technology that helps conserve energy Advanced air purifiers that guarantee a near 100% particle-capture efficiency rate to eliminate pollutants in the home's air, easily controlled from an app View the full guide here.

What Is an SEO Site Audit Report?
An SEO website audit report provides a comprehensive analysis of the website's performance, identifying areas for improvement and optimization. It examines various aspects such as site structure, content quality, user experience, SEO, and technical issues. No matter which types of real estate website you currently have, this report helps you identify and address any issues that may be hindering the sites' online visibility and user engagement, ultimately improving overall performance and success in the competitive real estate market. Importance of Site Audit Reports for Real Estate Websites Real estate websites are often complex, with a vast amount of content, property listings, and interactive features. A site audit report is crucial for real estate SEO, and these reports offer a holistic evaluation of the website's performance, identifying areas that require attention. It serves as a roadmap for real estate businesses to enhance their website's functionality, user experience, and search engine optimization. By addressing the issues highlighted in the report, real estate websites can attract more qualified leads, improve conversion rates, and ultimately gain a competitive edge in the market. Site audit reports also play a pivotal role in ensuring compliance with industry standards and best practices. With the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing and web development, staying updated with the latest trends and algorithms is essential for real estate websites to maintain their relevance and authority in the online sphere. A thorough site audit report provides actionable recommendations to align the website with current best practices, ensuring that it remains competitive and effective in capturing the attention of potential homebuyers and sellers. In addition, site audit reports can uncover technical issues that may be hindering the website's performance. From page load times and mobile responsiveness to broken links and metadata errors, identifying and rectifying these technical glitches can significantly enhance the overall user experience and search engine visibility of real estate websites. Ultimately, a well-executed site audit report empowers real estate businesses to optimize their online presence, drive organic traffic, and establish themselves as trustworthy and reliable sources in the competitive real estate market. Key Components of a Site Audit Report A comprehensive site audit report encompasses various key components, each playing a crucial role in evaluating the website's performance and identifying areas for improvement. These components include: Site Structure: This component evaluates the organization and navigation of the website, ensuring that it is intuitive and user-friendly. It assesses the hierarchical structure of the website, the accessibility of important pages, and the overall user journey through the site. Content Quality: The quality and relevance of content are pivotal for real estate websites. A site audit report analyzes the uniqueness, depth, and optimization of the content, including property descriptions, SEO titles and meta descriptions, blog posts, and informational pages, to ensure that it resonates with the target audience and aligns with SEO best practices. User Experience (UX): Evaluating the website's UX involves assessing factors such as page load times, mobile responsiveness, interactive elements, and overall design aesthetics. A seamless and engaging user experience is essential for keeping visitors engaged and encouraging them to explore property listings and relevant information. SEO Analysis: This component delves into the website's search engine optimization strategies, including keyword usage, meta tags, backlink profiles, and overall on-page and off-page optimization. It aims to identify opportunities for improving the website's visibility and ranking on search engine results pages Technical Issues: Technical aspects such as website speed, security, mobile-friendliness, and crawlability by search engines are critical for the website's overall performance. A site audit report identifies and prioritizes technical issues that may be affecting the website's functionality and visibility. Each of these components contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the website's current state and provides actionable insights for enhancing its performance and relevance in the highly competitive digital landscape. Common Issues Found in Site Audit Reports Site audit reports often reveal common issues that can impact the performance and effectiveness of real estate websites. These issues may include: Duplicate Content: Real estate websites frequently encounter duplicate content issues, especially when property listings are syndicated across multiple platforms. Addressing duplicate content through canonical tags and unique, descriptive content is essential for avoiding penalties from search engines and improving organic visibility. Page Load Times: Slow-loading pages can significantly impact the user experience and lead to higher bounce rates. Site audit reports highlight pages with extended load times and provide recommendations for optimizing images, scripts, and server response times to enhance overall page speed. Broken Links: Broken links within a website can frustrate visitors and harm the site's credibility. Site audit reports identify broken links and guide on updating or removing them to maintain a seamless user experience. Mobile Responsiveness: With a growing number of users accessing real estate websites via mobile devices, ensuring mobile responsiveness is crucial. Site audit reports evaluate the website's performance on various devices and provide suggestions for improving responsiveness and usability across different screen sizes. Metadata and Structured Data Issues: Optimizing metadata and structured data is essential for improving the website's visibility in search results. Site audit reports identify missing or poorly optimized metadata and structured data, offering recommendations to enhance the website's search engine presence. Site audit reports might not cover all the important issues your website might have. Issues related to Robots.txt and Sitemap.xml should be reviewed manually. Don't know how? Follow the links we mentioned. Tools for Generating Site Audit Reports In the digital marketing landscape, numerous tools are available to streamline the process of generating comprehensive website audit reports. These tools offer robust features for analyzing various aspects of website performance and delivering actionable insights for optimization. Some notable tools for generating site audit reports include: Moz Pro: Moz Pro provides a suite of SEO tools, including site audit capabilities that assess technical, content, and link issues affecting real estate websites. It offers actionable recommendations and prioritizes issues to enhance website performance. Semrush: Semrush offers comprehensive site audit features that analyze on-page SEO, technical SEO, and content issues. Real estate professionals can leverage Semrush to identify and address critical areas for improvement. Ahrefs: Ahrefs' site audit tool provides in-depth insights into a real estate website's technical health and SEO performance. It offers detailed reports on issues such as broken links, crawlability, and mobile-friendliness. Screaming Frog: The Screaming Frog SEO Spider tool enables real estate professionals to conduct thorough site audits by analyzing URLs, metadata, page titles, and other critical SEO elements. It provides detailed reports for technical and on-page optimizations. As a real estate SEO expert and also the writer of this content, I recommend Ahrefs, Learn more about this amazing tools at this link: ahrefs.com/site-audit. Case studies of successful site audit implementations in real estate Several real estate businesses have successfully leveraged site audit reports to enhance their website's performance and achieve tangible results in the competitive online landscape. These sample case studies demonstrate the impact of site audits on real estate websites and highlight the outcomes of strategic optimization efforts: Case Study 1: Real Estate Agency XYZ Real Estate Agency XYZ, a leading player in the local property market, commissioned a comprehensive site audit to identify opportunities for improving their website's performance. The audit revealed several key areas for enhancement, including slow page load times, inconsistent metadata, and content duplication across property listings. Armed with the insights from the site audit report, Real Estate Agency XYZ implemented targeted improvements, including optimizing images to improve page speed, standardizing metadata across listings, and implementing canonical tags to address duplicate content issues. As a result, the website experienced a notable increase in organic traffic, higher search engine rankings for key property keywords, and improved user engagement metrics. Case Study 2: Property Management Company ABC Property Management Company ABC sought to strengthen its online presence and generate more qualified leads through strategic website optimization. A site audit report uncovered significant mobile responsiveness issues, outdated content, and suboptimal internal linking structures within the website. Using the recommendations from the site audit report, Property Management Company ABC revamped its website to prioritize mobile responsiveness, refreshed outdated content with valuable insights and market trends, and restructured internal linking to improve user navigation. These efforts led to a substantial increase in website conversions, improved search engine visibility, and enhanced user satisfaction with the website's mobile experience. To view the original article, visit the Realtyna blog.

Inside the Tech Stack of a $500 Million Dollar Company
Tech enthusiasts, this one's for you. Whissel Realty, a $500 million company with over 100 agents, shares the technology stack that has allowed their business to scale, all while keeping costs and administrative needs low. How? They use systems and tools that let them achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness. In the video below, Kyle Whissel and Bryan Koci break down their company's top 10 most used systems, including: Their CRM IDX website Sales management system Transaction management system Team communication app Presentation app And more! Kyle and Bryan also dive into which processes they automate and how they integrate their systems using tools like Zapier to streamline operations. Watch to learn how a top real estate team uses technology to achieve real estate success: Related Reading 3 Unconventional Ways to Measure Tech Stack ROI Demystifying the Real Estate Tech Stack