In April, I was fortunate to attend Stefan Swanepoel’s T3 Summit in Miami, and got a sneak peek into the future of our profession. You can read more about and see pictures from this awesome event on page 40, but here are a few of my take-aways:

•    Change will happen! We need to be cognizant or it will take us by surprise.

•    Traditional brokerages will not go away, but we have to stay relevant.

•    Consumers want transparency and they want knowledgeable agents. They’re willing to pay for true expertise, so we must demonstrate value.

•    Use of Artificial Intelligence and predictive analytics will change how we do business.

The great news is that these ideas and others shared at T3 helped to shape our own NVAR Strategic Plan: Vision 2020 (NVAR.com/stratplan). Our volunteer leaders and staff are staying ahead of the curve by studying industry trends, exploring the latest tools, and collaborating with the best business partners to deliver resources that will keep us all ready and relevant in today’s marketplace!

On April 13, we hosted the first in a series of quarterly NVAR Broker IDEA-X programs. One of my goals as your Chairman this year is to engage

our NVAR brokers in discussions that will lead to greater member engagement, professionalism, and ultimately relevance for our clients and our community.  At this first IDEA-X, Dr. Terry Clower, director of the George Mason University Center for Regional Analysis, asked the brokers in the room about our experiences in the Northern Virginia marketplace. Their feedback will provide the Realtor® sentiment component of Dr. Clower’s next NVAR market forecast, which you can share with your clients.

Our partnership with GMU is just one example of NVAR’s collaborative efforts to keep our members at the center of the real estate transaction. Together with a host of technology partners, NVAR is continuing to explore tools and services that will add value to your business. You’ll be learning more about these exciting advancements over the next several months.

Being front and center in our local communities also contributes to relevance in the eyes of homebuyers and sellers – plus, it’s the right thing to do! This month, NVAR is the Media Day sponsor for Habitat for Humanity’s “Over the Edge” fundraiser. Check out the information on page 35 to learn how you can go over the edge in support of housing by winning the chance to rappel down the Hilton Headquarters building on Saturday, May 19!

Please stay in touch, and share what matters most for your business today. I am listening!