Drive With NAR

The REALTOR® organization's strength lies in how the local, state and national levels work together to amplify advocacy, streamline ethics enforcement and enhance member resources. In this episode, recorded live at the AE Institute, Drive with NAR podcast host Marki Lemons Ryhal speaks with NAR President Kevin Sears, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations Jarrod Grasso and Denver Metro Association of REALTORS® CEO Brendan Bailey. Learn how this collaborative structure ensures a unified REALTOR® voice, protects consumers and can help your business succeed.    Meet the Guests...  Kevin Sears, a 30-year real estate veteran from Springfield, Massachusetts, is the 2025 President of the National Association of REALTORS®. He is a Broker-Associate with Lamacchia Realty.    Jarrod Grasso is the Senior Vice President of Industry Relations at the National Association of REALTORS®. Before his current role, Jarrod served as Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey REALTORS® for nearly 17 years.  Brendan Bailey is the CEO of the Denver Metro Association of REALTORS®, with nearly a decade of public affairs, advocacy and real estate industry experience. He was named Vice Chair of NAR's Association Executives Institute Advisory Board in 2023. 

What happens when two real estate appraisers give different values for the same property? In this episode, broker Lutalo McGee and appraiser Maureen Sweeney join host Marki Lemons Ryhal to explain the real estate appraisal process, why home appraisals can vary, and how real estate agents can effectively communicate with appraisers to help ensure accurate home valuations.   Learn tips for preparing for a home appraisal, how to handle a low appraisal, and when to request a reconsideration of value. Plus, hear why appraisal contingency risks matter in today's market.  Meet the Guests...  Lutalo McGee, ABR, GRI, is the owner and managing broker of Ani Real Estate in Chicago. He currently serves as the president-elect of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and is a member of NAR's Real Property Valuation Committee.  Maureen Sweeney, RAA, is a Chicago-based real estate appraiser who specializes in residential and small income-producing properties. She is the 2025 chair of the Real Property Valuation Committee and serves as member of the Illinois Real Estate Appraisal Administration and Disciplinary Board.  

Host Tracey Hawkins delves into the critical role of negotiation leverage in real estate transactions, focusing on how to protect your client's interests at the negotiating table. Joined by experts Matthew Rathbun and Amy Steele, discover key strategies to avoid common pitfalls, safeguard your client's bargaining power and enhance your negotiation skills. Learn about the impact of digital security, social media and AI on real estate transactions, and gain practical tips to ensure both safety and success.   Meet the Guests  Matthew Rathbun, ABR, CRS, is a broker with Coldwell Banker Elite in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He serves as the 2025 president-elect of the Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® and the 2025 president of the Real Estate Business Institute (REBI), an NAR affiliate organization. Rathbun is an instructor of NAR's Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE) certification course.  Amy Steele, ABR, SRS, is an agent with JPAR Real Estate in Grapevine, Texas, who also is licensed in California. The owner of a short-term rental property, Steele focuses her real estate expertise on investment properties and vacation homes. She has a personal library of more than 3,000 books. 

The real estate cycle doesn't always follow typical patterns. You may experience a surge or a dip in business at the times you least expect. It's unclear whether the upcoming spring homebuying season will be busy or a bust. Are you prepared for whatever comes? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks to Chicago real estate leaders Kat Barry and Lateefa Neal about managing the unpredictability of the market and sticking to your individual formula for success. Meet the Guests... Kat Barry, CIPS, is a broker and leader of the Modern Living team at Compass in Chicago. She specializes in residential and mixed-use real estate, and she has been featured on multiple HGTV shows, including “House Hunters.” Barry was named one of REALTOR® Magazine's “30 Under 30” in 2009. Lateefa Neal is the founder and managing broker of NTS Realty Group in Chicago. She appeared in the fourth season of NAR's docuseries, “First-Time Buyer,” which follows agents who are REALTORS® as they help consumers navigate complex transactions to purchase their first home.

Being a safety conscious real estate professional is essential for protecting yourself, your clients, and your transactions. It's also a powerful way to show your expertise, build trust, and win more business. In this episode of the Safety Series, host Tracey Hawkins talks with Chris Atwell and Chris Garrett about strategies to incorporate buyer and seller safety into every interaction. Learn how to vet buyers, prevent wire fraud, safeguard vacant homes and approach FSBOs (For Sale by Owner) with a safety-first mindset that shows your professionalism and enhances your reputation. Leading with safety can help you stand out and build your pipeline, whether you're working with buyers, sellers or FSBOs. Meet the Guests Chris Atwell is a real estate agent at Empire Network Realty in Orlando, Florida. He serves as the 2025 vice chair of NAR's REALTOR Safety Advisory Committee. Chris Garrett is a Broker/Co-Owner at Weichert REALTORS®--The Andrews Group in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is the 2025 chair of NAR's REALTOR Safety Advisory Committee and is the 2025 president-elect for Tennessee REALTORS.

As an NAR member, you have exclusive access to world-class business resources, education, tools and real estate data that aren't available to nonmembers. How do you leverage these benefits in a way that demonstrates your preparedness to work with clients in any transaction? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks with industry leaders Matt Difanis and Christina Pappas about the value of emphasizing your status as a member of the National Association of REALTORS® to buyers and sellers. They will explain how to communicate the advantages to consumers when they work with an agent who is a REALTOR® and how to use your NAR membership to help you up your game and grow your real estate business. Meet the Guests... Matt Difanis is the broker-owner of RE/MAX Realty Associates in Champaign, Illinois. He is a former president of the Illinois REALTORS® and served as the 2024 NAR Association Leadership Committee Liaison. Christina Pappas is a third-generation real estate broker and president of The Keyes Company in Miami, Florida. She is the NAR 2025 Regional Vice President for Region 5 and served as the 2024 Chair of the REALTOR® Party Trustees for Campaign Services Committee.

Creating a sound REALTOR® Safety plan is as crucial as crafting a business plan for success. Join host Tracey Hawkins as she talks to real estate professionals Miguel Carreno and Susan Mertz about how to develop and maintain effective real estate agent safety plans. Learn strategies, tools, and resources for personal safety and agent emergency preparedness to ensure your real estate business thrives securely without reinventing the wheel. Meet the Guests Miguel Carreno is a broker with Allen Tate, REALTORS® in High Point, North Carolina, and serves on the NAR® Safety Advisory Committee. Susan Mertz is an award-winning agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties in Washington, D.C., now working in St. Petersburg, Florida.

You've heard the saying, “Fail to plan—plan to fail.” Because so much of your success depends on how you spend your time, you need a plan for managing it wisely. But how do you craft a time management plan, including both your professional and personal time, in a way that works for you? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal learns from real estate pros Vanessa Franz Barnes and Natalie Davis how they took control of their schedules.  Meet the Guests...  Vanessa Franz Barnes, CIPS, SRES, is a broker-associate with Keller Williams Realty in Celebration, Fla. With more than two decades in the business, Vanessa, along with her husband and business partner Jaime, has sold over $375 million in real estate, building a thriving multimillion-dollar business.   Natalie Davis, ABR, CRS, is a real estate agent from Denver who serves as NAR's 2025 REALTOR® Party fundraising liaison.  She was named the 2023 REALTOR® of the Year by the South Metro Denver REALTORS® Association, among many other industry awards.

Recorded live at NAR NXT in Boston, host Tracey Hawkins and an insightful panel of real estate professionals discuss how to effectively manage emotions and de-escalate tense situations with clients and colleagues. Gain practical strategies and tools to maintain professionalism, ensure safety and foster positive client relationships, even in the most difficult interactions when emotions run high.

Inside the “Enchanted Library” [LINK], an interactive space from NAR's consumer ad campaign, members attending the NAR NXT conference in Boston were asked to share stories of their greatest triumphs with clients. The tales were touching, like that of California real estate pro Denyse Wilson, who wrote about leveraging her network to help a widow and her four daughters get financing and find a new home in less than 30 days. These stories authentically fuel the consumer ad campaign's message. So, the library was the perfect space for “Drive With NAR” host Marki Lemons Ryhal to discuss with the media and creative minds behind the ad campaign how they execute their strategy and storytelling nationally and across a large mix of media platforms. Learn about the changing advertising landscape, what it takes to break through to consumers and why the campaign is so important to the REALTOR® brand. The chair and vice chair of NAR's Consumer Communications Committee join the conversation to share the benefits of the campaign to members and how they can leverage it.

Although housing inventory is slowly improving, real estate professionals may have clients who feel frustrated with the lack of options on the market. Marki and her solutions-driven guests share ways to reassure your clients that they, too, can realize their dreams of homeownership. They also share their ideas of how real estate professionals can offer inventory solutions where they live. Understand why the housing inventory in the U.S. has been low and what that means for first-time home buyers.

NAR Senior Counsel Deanne Rymarowicz highlights the essential dos and don'ts for working with buyers and sellers. From transparency in buyer agreements to ethical practices and state law compliance, this episode will help you navigate the practice changes resulting from NAR's proposed settlement agreement. Stay informed with guidance and resources at facts.realtor.

Property managers rely on many skills to succeed—from savvy financial management to great customer service. But one of the most potentially dangerous tasks that property managers face is delivering eviction notices. Also, a strong rental market can present opportunities for bad actors, from scams to difficult tenants. Host Tracey Hawkins talks to two experts from the “Show-Me” state of Missouri to hear their experiences and share actionable tips to use stellar skills to manage tough situations in the real estate industry.    

David Berenbaum, deputy assistant secretary for housing counseling at U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, shares insights on how housing counselors can help close deals and offers advice on ensuring fair housing for all Americans.

Leo Pareja talks about managing liability risks at eXp, the benefits of the U.S. MLS system compared to international markets, and the challenges he faced selling his mom's house in Belize—revealing the importance of efficient real estate practices.

Robert Morris, broker and renowned real estate trainer, talks about the changing industry, how brokers can lead through transition, the value of designations and certifications, and the one course every agent should take to elevate their business.

Bryan Greene, vice president of policy advocacy for the National Association of REALTORS®, reflects on NAR's advocacy successes and challenges from the 2024 elections, shares key policy discussions for 2025, and explores what's needed to close the growing racial homeownership gap.

Industry veteran Kevin Brown reflects on his 44-year career, discusses the challenges ahead as he prepares to lead NAR in 2026, and shares a message of resilience for real estate professionals navigating uncertain times.

Dr. Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of REALTORS®, breaks down NAR's latest Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, discusses buyer resilience and shifting market power for sellers, and offers advice on what real estate professionals should look for when interpreting market data.

NAR President Kevin Sears dives into the energy at NAR NXT and shares candid reflections on the state of the real estate industry, personal leadership lessons and the conversations shaping the future.

NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun shares his predictions on economic policy under the newly elected president, discusses the affordability crisis, weighs in on potential Fed rate cuts and assesses the housing inventory landscape going into 2025 and beyond.

You've worked hard to earn real estate certifications and designations to stay competitive in today's real estate market. But how can you turn your professional designations into real value for your clients? Broker-associate Jay Quigley from Tampa, Florida and broker-owner Charlene Roberge from Springfield, Ohio join host Marki Lemons Ryhal to discuss the strategies they use to show the benefits of working with a certified professional. This episode is sponsored by NAR's Center for REALTOR® Development.

Smart homes can offer a wealth of conveniences and customized experiences for your clients. However, smart home devices also can serve as an entry point for cyber criminals to access your clients' sensitive data. Host Tracey Hawkins discusses with two real estate pros in the smart home market how to highlight the conveniences while mitigating the potential risks.   

Sometimes, a pause in your business is exactly what you need to refresh and renew. Whether because of an illness, family emergency, vacation or an unplanned life event, you should set your business up so you can commit to “turning off.” But you may need to combat the fear of loosening the reins and turning your clients over to someone else while you're gone. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal and two real estate pros discuss smart ways to step aside when you need to take a break from your business.   This episode is sponsored by NAR's Center for REALTOR® Financial Wellness.  

Safety in the real estate profession is often framed around the perspective of residential agents. But commercial agents also need to think about their well-being in the field. Commercial agents deal with different kinds of clients, properties and transactions, so they have distinct safety considerations. Host Tracey Hawkins discusses the nuances between residential and commercial safety with two commercial agents who discuss the precautions they take.  This episode is sponsored by FOREWARN. Link:  https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/staying-safe-in-the-commercial-real-estate-space

“Psychological safety,” the concept of an open environment in which you feel comfortable speaking up about anything that bothers you, is a growing conversation in the real estate industry. How can brokers create psychological safety within their companies, and what can agents do to support this culture? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal discusses with two safety and wellness experts who say REALTOR® Safety Month is the perfect time to start thinking about your plan.  Get more real estate safety resources at nar.realtor/safety. 

Now that practice changes are part of a new reality for your real estate business, what does it look like to move forward with confidence as you adjust your operations and conversations with home buyers and sellers? You're likely prepared for the potential challenges, but you also need to focus on where the opportunities lie. Host Marki Lemons Ryhal discusses with two broker-owners how real estate professionals can navigate the road ahead. 

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. 

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 

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. 

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.

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. 

Adapting to change can cause stress and anxiety, but real estate pros who understand and embrace the industry changes that are coming under NAR's proposed settlement agreement will be in a better position for success. It starts with building your own confidence in your skills and expertise as an agent. What's the best way to do that? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal talks with two pros who have been through changes and learned how to help themselves adapt and succeed. 

Some consumers may have questions about how the practice changes will impact their experience buying or selling a home. Low-income home buyers, military veterans, and other underserved groups may need specific guidance to understand how compensation will work in their transactions. Do you know how to support your clients and keep them on the path toward homeownership? Host Marki Lemons Ryhal convenes a roundtable with three real estate pros who serve these markets. 

Half of real estate brokerages have no safety policies, according to NAR data. So, who's reminding you and your colleagues what to do to make sure you're working safely with clients? Every office could use a safety advocate who encourages agents every day to think about their well-being while on the job. And maybe that person should be you. Host Tracey Hawkins talks with two real estate pros about what it looks like to advocate for safe practices in real estate. This episode is sponsored by Forewarn.

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.

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.