NAR REALTOR® News Change Agents

As conversations around off-market listings, private networks, AI, and consumer choice continue to reshape residential real estate, what role will MLSs play in the future? In this episode of Change Agents , NAR CMCO Bennett Richardson sits down with Shelly Specchio, CEO of the MIBOR REALTOR® Association and Broker Listing Cooperative, to discuss why listing exposure, transparency, and cooperation...

What does it really take to succeed in real estate when the market turns against you? In this episode of Change Agents , Bennett Richardson sits down with Ryan Serhant to break down the mindset, discipline, and strategy behind long-term success in real estate. Ryan shares how he got his start in 2008—the same day Lehman Brothers collapsed—and why those early struggles shaped everything that follow...

RE/MAX agent Brandon Holtz from Bloomington, IL made history as one of the rare REALTORS® to qualify for the Masters — and now he's headed to the US Open. In this conversation with NAR's Bennett Richardson, Brandon gets candid about time management, client communication, and why staying present is the key to succeeding in both real estate and golf. A must-listen for agents who refuse to put their...

Too many deals fall apart because agents wait too long to have the hard conversations. Christina Pappas, President of the Keyes Company — one of South Florida's largest independent brokerages with 4,000 agents across 50 offices — has a different approach: full cost transparency before clients ever make an offer. In this episode of Change Agents, Christina walks through how Keyes trains agents to d...

A new collaboration between Realtor.com and Zillow is changing how listings are shared—and raising bigger questions about where the industry is headed. In this episode, NAR CMCO Bennett Richardson talks with Damien Eales, CEO of Realtor.com, about why two major portals are now collaborating and what it means for agents, brokers, and MLSs. They break down the growing divide between open marketplace...

The acquisition of NextHome by EXP World Holdings marks a pivotal moment for the real estate industry. In this episode of NAR Realtor News Change Agents , NAR CMCO Bennett Richardson talks with James Dwiggins , co‑founder and president of NextHome, about why the deal makes sense now and how it positions brokers for the future. Dwiggins explains how scale, capital, and smarter cost structures can u...

In this episode of Realtors News: Change Agents , NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun sits down with Danielle Hale , Chief Economist at Realtor.com® | Homes for Sale, Apartments & Houses for Rent , for a candid, data‑driven conversation about the forces reshaping the 2026 real estate market in — and how agents can use those insights on the housing market and interest rates to better serve buyers and...

Reinvention isn't about abandoning what works — it's about evolving with purpose. In this episode of Change Agents , Tiffany Banks , CEO of Nevada REALTORS®, sits down with Jarrod Grasso , NAR's SVP of Industry Relations, to discuss leadership, adaptability, and what it takes to modernize organizations in today's real estate landscape. Banks shares how leadership development, advocacy, and a growt...

Being indispensable isn't about doing more — it's about doing the right things, consistently. In this episode of Change Agents , Bennett Richardson , Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at NAR, talks with Daniel Heider , EVP at TTR Sotheby's International Realty and founder of The Heider Company, about what separates top agents from the rest of the field. Heider shares how a service‑first m...

Integrity isn't a talking point — it's a leadership practice. In this episode of Change Agents , NAR CEO Nykia Wright speaks with Bess Freedman , CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, about what it takes to lead responsibly in a changing real estate industry. Freedman shares her views on professionalism, fair housing, and why putting consumers first is essential to building long‑term trust. The conversatio...

Real estate is changing — fast. In this inaugural episode of Change Agents , NAR CEO Nykia Wright sits down with Leo Pareja , CEO of eXp Realty, for a candid conversation about how technology, AI, and evolving consumer expectations are reshaping the real estate industry. Pareja shares his perspective on industry consolidation, shifts in buyer and seller behavior, and the growing importance of tran...