Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the power of the Inman Community, and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!
Each week on The Download, Inman’s Christy Murdock takes a deeper look at the top-read stories of the week to give you what you’ll need to meet Monday head-on. This week: As Howard Hanna CEO Hoby Hanna offers his unvarnished opinions on NAR, we’re looking at other industry leaders who are calling for change while focused on growth.
Diplomacy is an essential element in the practice of real estate. After all, we’re always looking for win-win solutions, staying chill during intense negotiations and measuring our words when working with clients.
Sometimes, however, it’s time for some truth-telling and plain speaking, especially from those in positions of leadership and authority. That’s why this week, readers couldn’t get enough of Howard “Hoby” Hanna’s straight talk on the National Association of Realtors (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement and the brokerages, including his own, that were left high and dry.
Howard Hanna CEO threatens to leave MLS: ‘The world has changed’ and Howard Hanna CEO Hoby Hanna: ‘NAR sold industry down the river’ by Andrea V. Brambila
In a wide-ranging two-part interview, Hanna discussed how he believes NAR’s MLS rules punish innovation, especially in the middle of a tough housing market, while making it harder for brokerages to compete against consolidating rivals with big public money to back them.
He also talked about Clear Cooperation, Internet Data Exchanges (IDX) and Virtual Office Websites (VOW), and told Inman why he’s thinking about leaving NAR and its affiliated MLSs.
“Am I leaving tomorrow?” Hanna asked. “No. But I am sitting back and saying NAR has to get its house in order. NAR has to focus on what they do best, which is homeownership advocacy. And I’ll sit back and watch a little bit and see how it plays out.”
Today on The Download, we’re looking at industry leadership, including those who are accomplishing big things while helping others make the most of new opportunities and those who are calling for change.
We’re also asking you to weigh in on this week’s Pulse question: What aspect of real estate has changed most in the past 5 years?
How empowerment builds profitable, culture-first
Treat real estate agents right, broker-owner Michelle Valverde writes, and results will follow, including brokerage growth and resilience.
Finding Financial Freedom: How Danielle Lurie paves the
Coach Melanie Klein profiles an industry leader who helps women leverage real estate as a wealth-building tool that provides long-term security, flexibility and the freedom to pursue their passions.
In a post-settlement world, let’s get rid of procuring
According to managing broker Spencer Krull, with mandatory buyer-broker agreements, it’s time for NAR to get rid of the “participation trophy” of procuring cause.
Aggravated agents? The problem isn’t the market (it’s
Many agents lack structure and support, branding expert Alyssa Stalker writes, but what they need is real business mentorship, repeatable systems, ongoing marketing education and more.
Christy Murdock is a writer, coach and consultant and the owner of Writing Real Estate. Connect with Writing Real Estate on Instagram, and subscribe to the weekly roundup, The Ketchup.
