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 you encounter something suspicious, like a potentially fake email. What’s the best way to approach these conversations, and what should your talking points be? Host Tracey Hawkins explores the safety practices that can help you and your clients with two real estate pros who have dealt with cyber threats in their transactions. And don’t miss the REALTORS® Land Institute webinar hosted by Hawkins, “Artificial Intelligence & Fraud Prevention,” on Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. CT. This episode is sponsored by Forewarn.

Link: https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/drive/are-safety-apps-effective-in-an-emergency

Get more tips about cybersecurity at https://www.nar.realtor/data-privacy-security

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 technology has improved their operational efficiency and has supported customer service tailored to their clients. 

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 advocacy about the true value of being a REALTOR®.

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, about how they’re preparing for the practice changes that are coming.

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 how you respond, you could easily introduce a fair housing problem. Listen as host Tracey Hawkins helps two real estate pros role play the scenario to come to the right answer.

Many real estate professionals may think all they need to know about fair housing is what the law requires of them. “It’s more than just the law,” says Sabrina Brown, an instructor of NAR’s “Bias Override” course. “It’s how you treat people. It’s how you practice your business on a daily basis.” To truly evaluate whether you’re representing your entire community—start by examining your client base—you need to go deeper in your self-reflection. Host Marki Lemons Ryahl and two fair housing experts discuss how to use NAR’s new fair housing training requirement, which takes effect in 2025, as an opportunity to challenge yourself and your business practices for the better.

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 happens next. Host Tracey Hawkins talks with the broker and a home inspector (who was not involved in this incident) about measures to take when working with properties that may be physically unsafe. This episode is sponsored by Forewarn.

The existing housing stock isn’t built to meet increasing consumer demand for greener living. So, if your buyers want a high-performance home, they’ll likely need to retrofit a property with energy-efficient features. That may sound like an expensive process, but there are financing options to help your customers reach their goals. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with two sustainable housing experts about the green financing avenues every agent should know. This episode is sponsored by the Center for REALTOR® Development.

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. Host Tracey Hawkins speaks with two experts who are creating these spaces for real estate professionals.

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

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, and they could become clients for life. Host Tracey Hawkins talks to two practitioners who have different ways of infusing safety best practices into client consultations.

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 with two practitioners who delve into the promises and shortcomings of safety apps. This episode is sponsored by Forewarn. 

Link: https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/drive/are-safety-apps-effective-in-an-emergency 

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

Many real estate professionals strive to be authentic on social media, but where is the line in the sand? What you say about your clients, your listings and yourself could reveal valuable information to bad actors who may be looking online for an easy target. Host Tracey Hawkins speaks with two social media superstars in the real estate profession about the online boundaries they set to protect themselves and their clients' privacy. One of them says she knows of a sale contract that was canceled over a social media post.

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. Recorded at NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience, in Anaheim, Calif., host Marki Lemons Ryhal invites three brokers onstage in front of a live audience to discuss what they're 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.

The real estate market is changing on a daily basis, and the housing data you’re looking at today may not be relevant tomorrow. So, how do you know which statistics to pay attention to, and how reliable can they be? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal goes behind the numbers with real estate pros Barb Betts and Mark T. Donnelly, both of whom have developed specific strategies around applying industry research to their business and sharing actionable data with their customers. They say the best data you can find lies within a tool you likely use every day.

When real estate professionals develop a comfortable work routine, it's easy to fall into patterns of practice that potentially could put you at greater risk. An agent with more than 20 years of experience and one who's been in the business just under a year talk about their impressions of safety in the industry.

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. 

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.

The National Association of REALTORS® is at trial defending the American MLS model, which is being challenged in two class-action antitrust lawsuits. The first case in Kansas City, Mo., known as Sitzer/Burnett, is happening now. And the outcome could have a lasting impact on the way real estate transactions operate. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks to NAR Chief Legal Officer Katie Johnson to help you get the details you need to know about this important moment for the real estate industry. Get updates on the trial, as well as information on actions you can take to support NAR’s position, at competition.realtor.

The cyberattack on MLS vendor Rapattoni, which took down 23 MLSs nationwide for weeks in August, has left real estate agents and brokers wondering how they can prepare for the next time something like this happens. (After all, hackers are virtually guaranteed to target MLSs again in the future.) Podcast host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with two members of NAR’s MLS Technology and Emerging Issues Advisory Board, who delve into the issue and offer cybersecurity action items real estate pros can take now.

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 sponsored by the Center for REALTOR® Financial Wellness. 

“There is no such thing as privacy.”

That’s a warning from national real estate safety trainer and educator Tracey Hawkins when it comes to how practitioners operate online. All the tools real estate agents and brokers use on a daily basis—even Google—are capturing their personal data and that of their clients, Hawkins says. And new real estate technology enhancements, like artificial intelligence, are helping cybercriminals find new ways to infiltrate private data.
Hawkins joins host Marki Lemons Ryhal to talk about how real estate agents and brokers can plug the security holes in their business while exploring new innovations in the industry. Nashville, Tenn., broker Brian Copeland joins the conversation to talk about where agents need the most cybersecurity training and how that affects a company’s brand.

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.

Real estate technology developers aim to solve pain points in the transaction. But unless they have intimate knowledge of how the real estate business works, how do these developers know whether their products are making a difference for you? That's where real estate pros come in. You can work with developers to offer insights into how their solutions are working in the market and what they can do to bring more value to agents and their clients. Join host Marki Lemons Ryhal as she discusses technology with two pros who are exploring the future of real estate.

When Jenean Watson was searching for an avenue to give back to her community, she tapped her local REALTOR® association in Sacramento, Calif., for ideas. That opened doors leading to the creation of a homebuyer expo, which now educates hundreds of underserved would-be owners. Watson joins 2020 Good Neighbor Linda Brown—who builds tiny home villages for people experiencing homelessness—and host Marki Lemons Ryhal to discuss how to build a plan of action for your philanthropic passion. Remember, the REALTORS® Are Good Neighbors campaign has a well of suggestions for community service projects to get you started. Pros looking to expand their current charitable efforts can learn about support from the Good Neighbor Awards and Volunteering Works programs.

Many of your clients want to upgrade their home or commercial space to be more energy efficient. But the question is: What do they need to invest in to achieve that goal? Should they replace all their windows? Purchase all-new Energy Star appliances? Install a new HVAC system?

Location is a determining factor when deciding which green upgrades will earn the greatest return on investment. But there isn’t universal agreement. For example, while 36% of REALTORS® say solar panels increase the perceived value of a property, 30% say they have no effect, according to NAR’s 2023 REALTORS® and Sustainability Report. So, how should you advise clients who are considering energy efficient property updates?

Two REALTORS® who work in the sustainability space in their markets share insights into how they help clients with their energy goals.

You and your clients feel it every day: the inventory crunch. Your clients are frustrated with too few options on the market, and you might be feeling stuck, wondering what you can do to make the situation better. You’ll find that your voice as a REALTOR® is one of the most important tools you have to create change for your clients. Drive With NAR host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks to two REALTORS® on both the residential and commercial sides of the business about the inventory issues in their communities and the action they’re taking to help fix the problem.

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.

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.

You’re excluding a lot of potential customers by not serving different types of communities. Two REALTORS® explain why DEI is a business decision.

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 have been intimately involved in bringing these fields to fruition. This episode is sponsored by Offerpad.

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.

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.

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 Commitment to Excellence (C2EX) 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.

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.

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.  

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.

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.

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 opportunities for underserved consumers. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks with two real estate pros about how they use their business to bring more good to their communities. This episode is sponsored by Open Door.

With practice changes on the horizon, sellers need to understand their options and the benefits of cooperating with other brokerages, including the potential of offering cooperative compensation and the impact that may have on the home selling and buying experience. As home buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals adjust to these changes, it is important for members to have clear and transparent conversations with consumers. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal and two real estate pros discuss how and why it is important to emphasize the seller conversation following NAR’s proposed settlement agreement.