Drive With NAR

Sometimes, a pause in your business is exactly what you need to refresh and renew. Whether because of an illness, family emergency, vacation or an unplanned life event, you should set your business up so you can commit to "turning off." But you may need to combat the fear of loosening the reins and turning your clients over to someone else while you're gone. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal and two real es...

Safety in the real estate profession is often framed around the perspective of residential agents. But commercial agents also need to think about their well-being in the field. Commercial agents deal with different kinds of clients, properties and transactions, so they have distinct safety considerations. Host Tracey Hawkins discusses the nuances between residential and commercial safety with two...

"Psychological safety," the concept of an open environment in which you feel comfortable speaking up about anything that bothers you, is a growing conversation in the real estate industry. How can brokers create psychological safety within their companies, and what can agents do to support this culture? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal discusses with two safety and wellness experts who say REALTOR® Safety...

Now that practice changes are part of a new reality for your real estate business, what does it look like to move forward with confidence as you adjust your operations and conversations with home buyers and sellers? You're likely prepared for the potential challenges, but you also need to focus on where the opportunities lie. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal discusses with two broker-owners how real estate...

Cybercrime, including phishing scams, fake online property schemes and wire fraud, is a major threat to the real estate industry. Yet most consumers say real estate professionals are not educating them enough about the risks, according to recent data. You need to have conversations with your clients about cybersecurity , set expectations for how you will operate and create a plan of action in case...

Real estate professionals have so many tech products to choose from—but sometimes selecting the right tool for you and your business can feel daunting. It is within your power to determine the best ways to make real estate tech work for you and host Marki Lemons Ryhal and two real estate pros will share their insights on how they do so. Listen on as Marki and her guests discuss how embracing techn...

Safety apps, such as Forewarn and Life 360, can be helpful when trying to reach emergency contacts during a dangerous situation. But they alone will not save a real estate professional's life if he or she is attacked on the job. You must pair your use of safety apps with strong, common-sense practices to protect yourself and your business. So, what does that look like? Host Tracey Hawkins speaks w...

In a slow real estate market, agents' income may be falling along with home sales. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned practitioner, you may have difficulty deciding which expenses to cut from your business. Further, how should you reinvest the savings to bolster your nest egg? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal brings in two real estate pros who teach best practices for financial wellness. This episode is...

Many real estate professionals may start noticing new safety fields in their MLS. How MLSs gather information on property safety conditions can be important. But don't misunderstand what these safety fields are for because inaccuracies can cause a ripple of issues. Host Tracey Hawkins discusses the purpose of MLS safety fields, as well as best practices for using them, with two practitioners who h...

Real estate professionals often demonstrate community stewardship through volunteering and supporting charitable causes. But their everyday job to help people buy and sell homes has, perhaps, the greatest impact on the neighborhoods agents and brokers serve. Some pros are keenly aware that their business has the power to affect change. So, they focus their expertise on creating homeownership oppor...

With practice changes on the horizon, sellers need to understand their options and the benefits of cooperating with other brokerages, including the potential of offering cooperative compensation and the impact that may have on the home selling and buying experience. As home buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals adjust to these changes, it is important for members to have clear and transpa...

Adapting to change can cause stress and anxiety, but real estate pros who understand and embrace the industry changes that are coming under NAR's proposed settlement agreement will be in a better position for success. It starts with building your own confidence in your skills and expertise as an agent. What's the best way to do that? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks with two pros who have been throug...

Some consumers may have questions about how the practice changes will impact their experience buying or selling a home. Low-income home buyers, military veterans, and other underserved groups may need specific guidance to understand how compensation will work in their transactions. Do you know how to support your clients and keep them on the path toward homeownership? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal conve...

Half of real estate brokerages have no safety policies, according to NAR data. So, who's reminding you and your colleagues what to do to make sure you're working safely with clients? Every office could use a safety advocate who encourages agents every day to think about their well-being while on the job. And maybe that person should be you. Host Tracey Hawkins talks with two real estate pros about...

Amidst a tumultuous period in the real estate industry, NAR's massive advocacy machine has never stopped working for you. Over the last year, REALTORS® secured a reduction in FHA mortgage insurance premiums, got the FHFA to rescind proposed hikes on upfront mortgage fees and protected real estate pros' status as independent contractors. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks with two members steeped in adv...

The forthcoming rule mandating the use of written representation agreements and other practice changes that are part of NAR's proposed settlement agreement allows you to emphasize and communicate your value to clients. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal discusses with two practitioners how to maximize these opportunities with buyers.

Real estate professionals have always had to demonstrate tangible value to the buyers and sellers they serve. Now that's doubly important. NAR's proposed settlement agreement is prompting changes in the real estate industry, but you have all the tools and expertise necessary to navigate those changes smoothly and confidently. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with four pros, both agents and brokers,...

Let's say you have a buyer who heard about a car break-in a block away from the home you're touring, and that buyer asks whether she "needs to worry about that kind of thing around here." Pause and use your situational awareness skills. What kind of neighborhood are you in? Depending on the circumstances, the client's question could be a loaded one. And if you're not thoughtful and careful about h...

Many real estate professionals may think all they need to know about fair housing is what the law requires of them. "It's more than just the law," says Sabrina Brown, an instructor of NAR's "Bias Override" course. "It's how you treat people. It's how you practice your business on a daily basis." To truly evaluate whether you're representing your entire community—start by examining your client base...

Older homes and fixer-uppers, which buyers are turning to for greater affordability, are often in disrepair and can present hazardous safety conditions during a showing or inspection. One Florida real estate broker recalls a home inspector falling through the floor of an attic, landing on the agent in the garage below and crashing into the property owner's Porsche. You'll be shocked to hear what h...

The existing housing stock isn't built to meet increasing consumer demand for greener living. So, if your buyers want a high-performance home, they'll likely need to retrofit a property with energy-efficient features. That may sound like an expensive process, but there are financing options to help your customers reach their goals. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with two sustainable housing expert...

Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely experience. You are solely responsible for everything that happens with your business, and that kind of pressure can feel heavy at times. Real estate professionals, who are small business owners, need a safe space to express themselves and find camaraderie around common challenges and goals. Taking care of your mental wellness is part of practicing safety. Hos...

Not everyone understands or recognizes the vital role that diversity, equity and inclusion plays in real estate. Some even see the DEI movement overall as unfairly hostile toward people who are perceived to be privileged. This is a misguided notion—but one that real estate pros must confront in their quest to support a freer, fairer real estate market. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with two real...

When you're explain to clients and prospects what you do and why your services are worth it, don't leave safety out of the conversation. You can use your knowledge of how to protect customers, properties and transactions from physical and cyber harm as a point of differentiation and value. Help buyers and sellers understand why they're safer in the hands of a well-trained real estate professional,...

Real estate professionals consider their business plan their Bible, especially at the start of a new year. But chances are good that potential curveballs in the housing market may throw you off your goals as the year progresses. What's important is how you respond and adjust your plan of action in these challenging moments. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with two practitioners who have advice for...