Want to succeed in 2026? Stay productive during the slow season
Just because your clients are taking a break from real estate doesn’t mean you should. Smart agents use this time to improve their skills and businesses.
November 25, 2025
J. Philip Faranda
Guest Columnist
J. Philip Faranda is a manager and associate broker at Howard Hanna | Rand Realty serving Westchester and Putnam Counties, just north of New York City. He was previously a broker-owner at J. Philip Real Estate, the top independent brokerage in the two counties by transaction sides, which he founded in 2005. He also writes a real estate blog which has been cited by major media outlets.
- Part-time agents need our help. What are we waiting for?Dual-career and part-time agents have a lot to offer — but they need access to the same kind of training and support that helps full-time agents find success.October 4, 2025
- How real estate has shifted dramatically in the past 5 yearsIn an industry often perceived as “old fashioned,” digital technologies are now the norm — and agents of all ages are embracing them. See what else has changed.September 1, 2025
- Decoded: The hidden costs of high commission splitsThe appeal is understandable, but many agents who choose a high commission split model today may not have the foundation they need to make the most of it.July 28, 2025
- Decoded: 5 things brokers can do to increase walk-in trafficFrom offering mortgage pre-qualifications to improving office signage, these simple strategies can help bring buyers and sellers back into your office.July 21, 2025
- Agents Decoded: Expect open houses to boom in popularityDespite technology’s growing role in real estate, potential buyers need open houses more than ever after the NAR settlement, says veteran broker Phil Faranda.April 26, 2025
- Agents Decoded: Stop giving showing feedbackThis outdated "professional courtesy," once expected of buyer agents, has passed its expiration date — especially as liability risks have increased.February 24, 2025
- Agents Decoded: Escalation clauses are not a magic bulletA practice that became common when the market heated up may have run its course, observes veteran broker Phil Faranda.June 1, 2024
- Agents Decoded: Want to prove your value? Bone up on assumable mortgagesMortgage assumptions aren’t new, but they’re about to get a lot more popular because the math works for both sides of the closing table.May 6, 2024
- Agents Decoded: How to train agents for when deals fall throughMost real estate training is based on the assumption that all deals close. When they don’t, too many agents are ill-equipped to handle it.April 6, 2024
- Agents Decoded: Rules matter — but agents should know when to break themReal estate has plenty of rules and best practices, but many are not set in stone. The best agents learn how and when they can be bent.February 3, 2024
- Agents Decoded: Commissions lawsuits won’t doom agentsReal estate agents hate change — but lawsuit outcomes like buyer agreements and greater transparency are nothing to fear, says industry veteran Phil Faranda.November 18, 2023
- Agents Decoded: Your database is a goldmine — if you use itMost clients want to work with their agents again, but few do. Why? Because agents don't take full advantage of their CRM and stay in touch with past clients.Updated September 4, 2023
- Brokers in Focus: Choosing to merge and retire a brandFacing a contraction of his brokerage business, J. Philip Faranda made a previously "unthinkable" decision. Now he wishes he had done it sooner.July 2, 2023
- Brokers in Focus: Rethinking a brokerage exit strategyJ. Philip Faranda grew a thriving brokerage business over 18 years. He never considered selling — but then the market shifted. Here's his story.July 1, 2023
- Agents Decoded: How to avoid falling victim to scamsShady lenders and vendors make big promises that are often too good to be true. Learn how to vet them, and how to spot red flags.May 15, 2023
- Agents Decoded: Networking is a long game — here's how to play itWhen you're building your business through networking, think beyond referrals. Make yourself indispensable by becoming a "resource directory" for clients.April 6, 2023
- Agents Decoded: There's no excuse for bad (agent) behaviorMost agents are hardworking and professional, says broker Phil Faranda. But those who aren't can damage your brand and the industry — and should be terminated.February 22, 2023
- Agents Decoded: Reality check! How to help clients cope with the new marketEven with ample market data at their fingertips, some clients are stuck in the past. J. Philip Faranda offers tips for providing a dose of reality.January 14, 2023
- Agents Decoded: When it's time to fire your clientBroker J. Philip Faranda knows how hard it is to give up on a client, especially after investing time and effort — but sometimes it's best to say goodbye.Updated June 16, 2023
