NAR REALTOR® News Change Agents

Brandon Holtz: REALTOR® by Day, Masters Golfer by… Also Day

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 passions on hold.

The Real Costs Agents Must Explain Before a Deal Falls Apart

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 discuss HOA fees, insurance, and property taxes upfront, why they pull insurance quotes during showings, and how that full-service consultation model has been central to their 100 years in business. She also gets candid about Miami's international buyer landscape, the Canadian market slowdown, domestic migration trends from the Northeast and California, and what the industry's shift toward buyer representation agreements means for agent value propositions. If you work in a complex market with high carrying costs, this one's for you. TAGS: Change Agents podcast, Christina Pappas, Keyes Company, Miami real estate, South Florida real estate, buyer consultation, HOA fees, real estate agent training, NAR podcast

Realtor.com & the Battle Over Listings, Exposure and Transparency with Damian Eales

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 marketplaces and private listing networks—and why that choice directly impacts exposure, competition, and seller outcomes. You'll hear: * Why listing visibility is becoming a competitive advantage * The real risk behind private listing networks * How pre-market listings should be used without limiting exposure * What Realtor.com Plus means for agent control and client relationships Bottom line: More exposure leads to more buyers, more offers, and better outcomes—but only if agents lean into transparency instead of restricting access.

Why NextHome Joined eXp—What the Deal Means for the Real Estate Industry with James Dwiggins

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 unlock growth, innovation, and long‑term sustainability. At the same time, he offers a clear‑eyed warning: the industry risks sliding back 40 years, becoming more fragmented and less transparent. He notes most real estate agents don't realize that the industry is "one policy decision away from catastrophe," and says that while the past few years have been turbulent, "the next 36 months may be some of the most interesting we'll ever see in this business." A thoughtful look at where real estate is headed—what's promising, what's at stake, and how leaders are preparing for what comes next.

What's Driving the 2026 Housing Market — Insights from Danielle Hale and Lawrence Yun

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 [http://realtor.com/] , 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 sellers. * Together, they unpack: * How listing data and consumer search behavior reveal where buyers are really headed * Why cross‑market demand and migration trends matter more than ever for referrals and lead generation * What agents should know about mortgage rates, the Federal Reserve, and buyer misconceptions * How baby boomers, millennials, and Gen Z approach homeownership differently — and what that means for marketing and client strategy * Why telling a clear, relatable housing story is critical for building trust with today's consumers