Episodes
Which Housing Stats Matter Most to Your Business?
The real estate market is changing on a daily basis, and the housing data you’re looking at today may not be relevant tomorrow. So, how do you know which statistics to pay attention to, and how reliable can they be? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal goes behind the numbers with real estate pros Barb Betts and Mark T. Donnelly, both of whom have developed specific strategies around applying industry research to their business and sharing actionable data with their customers. They say the best data you can find lies within a tool you likely use every day.
Dec 1 - 24 min 02 sec
Safety Basics New, Seasoned Agents Should Remember
When real estate professionals develop a comfortable work routine, it's easy to fall into patterns of practice that potentially could put you at greater risk. An agent with more than 20 years of experience and one who's been in the business just under a year talk about their impressions of safety in the industry.
Nov 20 - 24 min 39 sec
Help Military Buyers Overcome Stigmas Around VA Loans
Real estate professionals can honor military veterans by getting educated about how VA financing works. This knowledge will help agents bust pervasive myths that sometimes put military home buyers at a disadvantage in the transaction. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal discusses serving those who serve with two military experts who teach NAR’s Military Relocation Professional certification. Hear why they say military clients may require extra support in the homebuying process.
Nov 6 - 22 min 38 sec
Your Information Is Probably on the Dark Web
Even if your personal data, like passwords, credit card numbers or transaction details, are in the hands of cybercriminals, there are steps you can take to minimize the potential damage. Of course, it would be more advantageous for real estate professionals to make a habit of following these best practices before their data is at risk. Host Tracey Hawkins speaks with IT expert Burton Kelso and Marki Lemons Ryhal, host of sister podcast “Drive With NAR: The REALTOR® to REALTOR® Series,” who tells an alarming story about what happened once when she posted her location on social media.
Oct 23 - 27 min 57 sec
The Sitzer/Burnett Trial: A Pivotal Moment in Real Estate
The National Association of REALTORS® is at trial defending the American MLS model, which is being challenged in two class-action antitrust lawsuits. The first case in Kansas City, Mo., known as Sitzer/Burnett, is happening now. And the outcome could have a lasting impact on the way real estate transactions operate. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks to NAR Chief Legal Officer Katie Johnson to help you get the details you need to know about this important moment for the real estate industry. Get updates on the trial, as well as information on actions you can take to support NAR’s position, at
Oct 16 - 24 min 50 sec
What Real Estate Pros Can Learn From MLS Cyberattack?
The cyberattack on MLS vendor Rapattoni, which took down 23 MLSs nationwide for weeks in August, has left real estate agents and brokers wondering how they can prepare for the next time something like this happens. (After all, hackers are virtually guaranteed to target MLSs again in the future.) Podcast host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with two members of NAR’s MLS Technology and Emerging Issues Advisory Board, who delve into the issue and offer cybersecurity action items real estate pros can take now.
Oct 3 - 22 min 19 sec
How Does Your Real Estate Business Survive a Disaster?
When preparing for a natural disaster, real estate professionals need to think about safety in terms of not only their physical workplace—whether at their home, office or elsewhere—but also their access to critical business and client data. Take it from REALTOR® Rocky DeVon, whose community in Washington state was burning in a wildfire at the time this episode was recorded in August. Host Tracey Hawkins talks to DeVon about how his real estate business is powering through the 20th blaze in his lifetime, as well as how the REALTORS® Relief Foundation saved his neighbors. Former FEMA inspector and trainer Coni Meyers, who faced a tropical storm in Las Vegas, where she lives, also joins the conversation with disaster preparedness and insurance tips.
Sep 18 - 26 min 46 sec
Real Estate Agents Are Under Constant Threat Online
“There is no such thing as privacy.”That’s a warning from national real estate safety trainer and educator Tracey Hawkins when it comes to how practitioners operate online. All the tools real estate agents and brokers use on a daily basis—even Google—are capturing their personal data and that of their clients, Hawkins says. And new real estate technology enhancements, like artificial intelligence, are helping cybercriminals find new ways to infiltrate private data.
Sep 5 - 25 min 2 sec
Are Brokers Responsible for Their Agents’ Safety?
Though real estate agents are independent contractors, brokers are wise to offer safety training and other resources to help agents protect themselves on the job—partially to avoid possible liability. Brokers who have built safety programs for REALTORS® at their companies discuss how they did it and how it’s helping.
Aug 21 - 27 min 25 sec
Why Real Estate Tech Developers Need Your Feedback
Real estate technology developers aim to solve pain points in the transaction. But unless they have intimate knowledge of how the real estate business works, how do these developers know whether their products are making a difference for you? That's where real estate pros come in. You can work with developers to offer insights into how their solutions are working in the market and what they can do to bring more value to agents and their clients. Join host Marki Lemons Ryhal as she discusses technology with two pros who are exploring the future of real estate.
What Should Workplace Safety Look Like in Real Estate?
An Indiana real estate agent tells her harrowing story of being attacked at a vacant property. Thought leaders assess the real estate industry’s effectiveness at highlighting workplace safety issues and discuss how real estate agents and brokers can consistently avoid becoming a victim of crime. Plus, an honest take on the threat level for women versus men.
Jul 14 - 23 min 34 sec
Use Your Network to Connect to Causes You Can Support
When Jenean Watson was searching for an avenue to give back to her community, she tapped her local REALTOR® association in Sacramento, Calif., for ideas. That opened doors leading to the creation of a homebuyer expo, which now educates hundreds of underserved would-be owners. Watson joins 2020 Good Neighbor Linda Brown—who builds tiny home villages for people experiencing homelessness—and host Marki Lemons Ryhal to discuss how to build a plan of action for your philanthropic passion. Remember, the
Jul 5 - 23 min 5 sec
Property Energy Audits Can Sway Your Clients’ Decisions
Many of your clients want to upgrade their home or commercial space to be more energy efficient. But the question is: What do they need to invest in to achieve that goal? Should they replace all their windows? Purchase all-new Energy Star appliances? Install a new HVAC system?
Jun 5 - 24 min 56 sec
Your Role in Solving the Inventory Crisis: Use Your Voice
You and your clients feel it every day: the inventory crunch. Your clients are frustrated with too few options on the market, and you might be feeling stuck, wondering what you can do to make the situation better. You’ll find that your voice as a REALTOR® is one of the most important tools you have to create change for your clients. Drive With NAR host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks to two REALTORS® on both the residential and commercial sides of the business about the inventory issues in their communities and the action they’re taking to help fix the problem.
Apr 28 - 23 min 4 sec
Help Clients Get an Objective View of Local Schools
A lot has been happening in America’s schools lately. Battles over the appropriateness of classroom curriculum and books in school libraries have captured the national conversation. This may lead to more questions from your clients about the suitability of local schools for their children. You must remember that it’s a violation of fair housing law to give customers your opinion about school quality and steer them toward or away from certain schools. But what can you discuss with clients, and how can you add value to the conversation without crossing the line? Two REALTORS® who are taking on this issue every day join host Marki Lemons Ryhal to discuss this important topic.
Apr 3 - 23 min 27 sec
Agents and Appraisers: Create a Winning Team for Your Clients
Potentially the most contentious part of a real estate transaction, the appraisal can cause angst for both agents and their clients. Buyers and sellers want reassurance that the value of the home will hold up, but you, as the real estate pro, may think it’s completely out of your hands. Not so, say two appraisers who also have experience working as agents. In this episode, listen to their advice on how agents can work ethically with appraisers to ensure a fair and accurate property valuation.
Mar 6 - 24 min 51 sec
Serving a Diverse Clientele Raises Your Credibility
You’re excluding a lot of potential customers by not serving different types of communities. Two REALTORS® explain why DEI is a business decision.
Feb 5 - 23 min 27 sec
Prove Your Value to Clients When You Lack Experience
New agents may find it challenging to win over potential clients’ trust when they don’t have a track record in real estate to point to. Even experienced agents who are entering a new niche may have trouble articulating their competence in a market that’s unfamiliar to them. This is when you can amplify your status as a REALTOR®. Two pros who are in the early stages of their career explain how they used the REALTOR® brand, among other tools, to assuage prospects’ concerns about their inexperience in the business.
Jan 17 - 26 min 30 sec
Business Plan Supports More Than Your Professional Goals
As you prepare for the year ahead, are you creating a business plan for 2023 that not only supports your professional growth but also your work-life balance? Two REALTORS® who lead agent development at their companies discuss how to use your annual business “roadmap” to set expectations for both your job and your life.
Dec 2022 - 23 min 42 sec
Be Who You Are, But Keep It Professional
You may think of professionalism in terms of how you’re dressed for client appointments, whether you respond to calls and emails in a timely manner, or what you say out loud when you’re touring a home. But your interactions with clients aren’t the only consideration when thinking about your level of professionalism. What about how you work with cooperating agents or take advice from brokers and mentors? Two REALTORS® who have helped develop the platform, which tests real estate pros’ knowledge of professional standards, discuss what kind of effect your dealings with your colleagues can have on your reputation.
Nov 2022 - 25 min 51 sec
What to Do If Your Business Faces a Ransom Threat
Evolving wire fraud schemes and ransomware attacks are putting you and your clients at risk every day. Randy Hatada, CRS, broker-owner of Xpand Realty in Las Vegas, had his company’s phone line—which was in operation for 13 years—taken down and held for ransom. Bill Soffel, president and CEO of ERA Team VP Real Estate in Chautauqua, N.Y., has helped his agents and their clients recover from wire fraud schemes. They share their difficult experiences bouncing back from these scams and impart lessons for other real estate professionals to keep their sensitive information, business operations and clients safe from cybersecurity threats.
Oct 2022 - 23 min 14 sec
When Your Instinct Tells You to Run
Jen Stanbrough lost her close friend and fellow real estate agent Ashley Okland, who was shot and killed at an open house in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2011. Kitty Wallace was stalked for months, finding notes on her windshield from a man who had three years’ worth of her real estate ads in his trunk. These two REALTORS® say practitioners can’t ignore the inherent risks of their job and must adjust how they interact with clients to put safety top of mind. Listen to their stories for yourself.
Aug 2022 - 27 min 33 sec
Community Development
People in countless communities across the country need help every day, and REALTORS® are stepping up to fill the void. Whether it’s providing holiday meals to neighbors or giving a local high school band new instruments, REALTORS® are showing up for their communities. We spoke to two community development advocates, Maria Landmesser, managing broker of the RE/MAX Concepts office in Ankeny, Iowa, and Ryan Gable, CEO of StartingPoint Realty in Palatine, Ill., about how they got started in philanthropy, how others can get involved, and why giving back can be good for business.
Aug 2022 - 25 min 50 sec
Getting Your Feet Wet in the Green-Home Market
Energy efficiency and sustainable home features may have seemed trendy a couple of decades ago, but now they’re becoming must-haves for today’s buyers. Two REALTORS® who have built their businesses in green real estate—Jan Green, an EcoBroker in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Christopher Matos-Rogers, founder of the sustainability-focused Matos-Rogers Group in Atlanta—share steps they took to break into the sustainability market, how green homes are changing and what other pros need to know about rising demand for these properties.
Jul 2022 - 23 min 55 sec
Clearing a Path for First - Time Buyers
First-time homebuyers today have more access to information than ever before. Thanks to reality television and the ubiquity of social media, first-time buyers often come to transactions knowing exactly what they want and what they don’t. But the current market—complete with rising prices,multiple-offer situations, and slim inventory—poses new challenges for this group. Two REALTORS®, Bethany Nolan and Blair Myers, share their experiences with first-time homebuyers in their respective areas, East Texas and Atlanta, what the latest generation of homebuyers wants and if the traditional “American Dream” still exists.
Jun 2022 - 26 min 18 sec
Joining the Frontlines to Fight for Property Rights
From flood insurance to transportation and infrastructure, it’s critical for real estate professionals to understand and advocate for policy initiatives that build strong communities on the federal, state, and local levels. We speak with two REALTORS® who've walked the halls on Capitol Hill and in their home state of Illinois to push initiatives protecting property rights and promoting a vibrant business environment. Dan Wagner is senior vice president of government relations at the Inland Real Estate Group of Companies Inc. in Oakbrook, Ill., and Nykaa Pippion McGriff is vice president of strategic growth for ColdwellBanker Realty in Chicago and a candidate forthe1stCongressional District seat in Illinois. BothWagner and McGriff are past presidents of the Chicago Association ofREALTORS®. They offer firsthand advice on how real estate professionals can get involved in advocacy and take the first step toward moving the needle on crucial industry issues.
May 2022 - 27 min 34 sec
Fair Housing: Who’s Being Left Out of the Conversation?
Issues of equality, including fair housing, are often viewed through the prism of the struggle between Blacks and whites. But that vantage point excludes many other people of different backgrounds who may continue to feel invisible. Three REALTORS® who identify with underrepresented minorities—Lorraine Arora, ABR, GRI, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in Alexandria, Va.; Stephen Beard of Keller Williams Advisors in Oakland, Calif.; and Tim Hur, CRS, SRS, of Point Honors and Associates, REALTORS®, in Duluth, Ga.—share their experiences encountering discrimination in real estate. They offer firsthand advice on how to spot biases and avoid fair housing violations. With almost three decades in the business, Arora gives back to the real estate profession by volunteering in numerous positions. She served as the president of the Northern Virginia Association of REALTORS®’ Board of Directors in 2018. She currently serves as vice chair of NAR’s Global Business and Alliances Committee, treasurer of the Virginia Association of REALTORS®, and a member of the Dulles Association of REALTORS®’ Budget and Finance Committee as well as the Education Advisory Committee. Additionally, she is an RPAC trustee at the local and state levels.
Apr 2022 - 29 min 51 sec
Women Take the Lead in Luxury Real Estate
Women who serve the high-end market are showing up and showing out with major multimillion-dollar deals in residential and commercial. Two powerhouses in the luxury space, Tiffany Curry of Houston and Deena Zimmerman of Chicago share how they forged their own leadership paths and provide tips for how other women in the industry can take aim at the glass ceiling.
Mar 2022 - 31 min 01 sec
Creating Space for DEI in Your Business
There’s been a renewed focus on greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the real estate industry, but how can individual agents and brokers be change-makers? Minneapolis broker Paul Ekstrom and Greenwood, CO, broker Natalie Davis talk about the steps they’ve taken to build a safe space for honest conversations in their companies. Plus, what grade does the industry deserve for its DEI efforts?
Mar 2022 - 33 min 23 sec
Tech to Help Your Clients in a Tight Market
Ultra-low housing inventory and super-fast home sales mean buyers and sellers must make quicker decisions. So, consumers are turning to you for technology that can help them speed up the transaction. Do you have the right tools? REALTORS® Sam Medvene of Washington, D.C., and Kristy Hairston of Nashville, TN discuss the innovations that are helping their clients become more competitive in a challenging market.
Mar 2022 - 20 min 19 sec
