NAR REALTOR® News Change Agents

The Future of MLSs: Transparency, Cooperation, and Consumer Choice

As conversations around off-market listings, private networks, AI, and consumer choice continue to reshape residential real estate, what role will MLSs play in the future? In this episode of Change Agents, NAR CMCO Bennett Richardson sits down with Shelly Specchio, CEO of the MIBOR REALTOR® Association and Broker Listing Cooperative, to discuss why listing exposure, transparency, and cooperation remain critical to efficient real estate markets. Together, they explore the risks of marketplace fragmentation, how buyer access can be impacted when inventory becomes harder to find, and why consumer education matters more than ever. Shelly also shares how MLSs are adapting to changing seller needs through coming-soon listings, new marketplace tools, and emerging AI technologies designed to help agents work more efficiently and better serve clients. Looking ahead, she offers her vision for MLSs as trusted infrastructure that powers transparency, competition, and opportunity across the housing market

From $0 to Industry Leader: Ryan Serhant on Going All In

What does it really take to succeed in real estate when the market turns against you? In this episode of Change Agents, Bennett Richardson sits down with Ryan Serhant to break down the mindset, discipline, and strategy behind long-term success in real estate. Ryan shares how he got his start in 2008—the same day Lehman Brothers collapsed—and why those early struggles shaped everything that followed. From making less than $10,000 his first year to building a global brand, he explains why agents must go "all in," pick a clear direction, and commit for the long game. This episode dives into: * Why real estate success comes years after the work * The power of building attention and personal brand * How to choose your "real estate AND" to stand out * Why consistency and daily decisions drive long-term income * What agents get wrong about patience, growth, and momentum If you're serious about building a sustainable real estate business—not just surviving the next market cycle—this is your playbook.

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.