New RE/MAX CEO, Amy Lessinger is a sharp leader that looks you in the eye, speaks clearly with acute knowledge, listens carefully, and smiles in the face of adversity. She will emerge as another great leader for RE/MAX. The challenge ahead for RE/MAX is daunting. If you look at the growth of companies in America today, the franchise model has been losing agent count to the national brokerage model led by Compass, EXP and REAL. Although franchises deliver a tremendous amount of value for a sliver of broker dollars, agents and teams do not seem to care. As my friend Mark McLaughlin has long said ..read more

In the dynamic world of real estate, where every listing and every client interaction counts, efficiency and consistency are paramount. Edina Realty, the top real estate sales company in the Midwest for over two decades, has continually sought innovative ways to streamline its marketing efforts while maintaining the highest standards of quality and service. Recently, they’ve made significant strides in this endeavor with the introduction of their automated digital agent assistant called Emma, powered by Inside Real Estate’s (IRE) CORE Listing Machine (CLM) and Design Center. (More information ..read more

By Kevin Hawkins with Korey Hawkins | Vol. 2 Post 15 Real AI is a 100% human-created weekly roundup of all things AI in real estate and emerging AI innovations in other sectors likely to impact real estate, posting weekly. AI will make the big, bigger Today, AI is in the business news headlines everywhere you look. Within 12 hours this week, OpenAI, Google, and Meta announced new AI versions. The French AI startup Mistral also released its latest version. Meta is launching its third version of Llama. Google released Gemini Pro 1.5 at Google Next 24. OpenAI issued its final version of GPT ..read more

In light of impending alterations stemming from the settlement agreement in the anti-trust litigation, updates to broker and agent websites are inevitable. It is imperative to initiate planning for these modifications immediately. Do not assume that your vendor is already addressing these changes; it is crucial to initiate the conversation proactively. While it may seem like the sky is falling, there is potential for brighter outcomes. “The rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated.” – Mark Twain Two decades ago, the emergence of IDX and VOW sparked concerns about the future of real estate ..read more

In 2023, we asked over 250,000 agents and brokers how interested they would be in statewide lockbox access where they hold a license.  Nearly ¾ of respondents (72%) across multiple markets want statewide lockbox access.  Respondents told us they don’t understand why lockboxes are used as artificial barriers to business opportunity. If they have a client that needs their help in any part of the state, they don’t understand why gaining access beyond their local market has to cost them. They really get frustrated by the neighboring market that will not allow them access to listings with ..read more

Journalist Michele Lerner has crafted an impeccably researched piece for the Wall Street Journal’s Mansion Global publication titled “Real Estate Commission Settlement May Shift Luxury Market Practices.” In this article, Lerner delves into the potential ramifications of the Sitzer/Burnett settlement on luxury property sales. Over the years, negotiations over commissions have been particularly pronounced in luxury and hyper-luxury sales, signifying what the Department of Justice (DOJ) aims to address by joining the court and plaintiffs in challenging the practice of advertising buyer compensati ..read more

In a recent interview conducted by WAV Group partners Victor Lund and Kevin Hawkins, Art Carter, CEO of the California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS), shed light on the organization’s proactive approach towards addressing the ramifications of anti-trust complaints within the real estate industry. With over 110,000 participating real estate professionals in California, CRMLS has been diligently preparing contingency strategies over the past five years to navigate through the complexities arising from legal challenges against listing brokers offering compensation to buyer brokers thro ..read more

As a marketing professional, I often leverage email for client outreach, invitations to webinars and events, educational communication, and prospecting.  I’m often asked for advice on how to improve open rates and engagement, and I want to start with the most overlooked, but absolutely crucial part of the email…the subject line! A compelling email subject line is what’s going to land you in the inbox, enticing your audience to open and engage with your content.  Below are five proven tips for crafting effective email subject lines, as well a list of words and/or phrases that deliver ..read more

By Kevin Hawkins with Korey Hawkins | Vol. 2 Post 14 Real AI is a 100% human-created weekly roundup of all things AI in real estate and emerging AI innovations in other sectors likely to impact real estate, posting weekly. Chatting with the ChatGPT app A splash screen inside my ChatGPT app on my iPhone 14 recently popped up, inviting me to select a “voice.” Its prompt was that I could converse with ChatGPT rather than a text search. So, I went into Settings, which is a little tricky to find. First, go to the top left of the screen and tap the two uneven bars. Then look at the bottom left of yo ..read more

MLS Now, the leading MLS organization serving Ohio and West Virginia, has announced the appointment of a new CEO following the retirement of long-serving executive, Carl DeMusz. After a thorough search process conducted by a committee of the Board of Directors, a finalist has been selected based on his extensive technology background, experience, and security expertise. Effective Monday, April 8th, Garry Marsoubian will assume the role of CEO at MLS Now, bringing with him a wealth of industry knowledge and leadership acumen. Marsoubian’s tenure coincides with significant changes within the MLS ..read more