One of the best places to learn from fellow educators and education consultants is to attend The Bringing Educators & Associations Together for Success (BEATS) Conference. The BESTS conference is the premier event of the year for Real Estate Education Directors, Event Planners, and Speakers. Designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and professional growth,
We all know that AI is moving faster than light. At WAV Group we look at new AI solutions all the time. The demo I have attached for you though is next level, though.
Success comes from the brokerage culture, leadership, and the agent’s hard work.
NAR membership trends have historically followed the economy and the strength of the overall real estate market. As shown in the attached chart, NAR experienced significant membership growth following the market crash of 2008 to 2010 and continued on that growth trajectory until recently when the real estate market slowed significantly because of high interest rates and more limited buyer demand. While there have been minor decreases in membership since 2023, we hypothesize that these declines are more likely due to limited market opportunities and retirements rather than the rise of Open MLS subscription offerings.
When a company gets third-party validation like this, it should be everywhere.
For decades, real estate associations have traditionally owned and operated MLSs, providing brokers with access to property data while generating revenue from subscription fees. However, a growing movement is challenging the status quo, advocating for brokers—who supply both the data and the subscriber base that powers MLSs—to have a greater stake in ownership and profitability.
The acquisition is significant because it extends these AI-powered capabilities across Inside Real Estate’s vast customer base, ensuring a broader audience benefits from a more intuitive, engaging, and accurate home search process.
Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) have long operated under a standard subscription model in which subscribers pay a flat rate per agent, regardless of the size of the brokerage they belong to or the revenue the brokerage contributes to the MLS. This pricing structure is designed to ensure equal access to the database for all real estate professionals but does not recognize or reward the revenues delivered to MLSs from larger brokerage firms.
Last week, I encountered a white paper by Contentsquare titled "2025 Digital Experience Benchmarks." This paper resonated with me because of Victor's article, "High-Tech vs. High-Touch Brokerage—AI May Change Strategy," which discusses the consumer experience with real estate brokerages. Every brokerage has an online presence with a website. Still, I have only seen a very select few who revere it as a marketing asset that must have an ROI attached to it. Brokerages spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to ensure the website has the proper branding narrative; they seldom focus on the digital experience that their audiences demand. As [...]
The fear of an Open MLS is largely unfounded. The experience of states that have embraced this model proves that associations can thrive without requiring NAR membership for MLS access. By focusing on value-driven membership, enforcing professional standards through MLS regulations, and embracing industry evolution, associations can secure their future while fostering a fair, competitive market for all licensed professionals.
The one measurement that there is no substitute for and that overarches all others is your firm’s value.
Brokerages are now facing a crucial decision: lean into technology or double down on the personal connection that has long defined the industry?
