Why I left NAR (but not the industry)
When a longtime member lets their dues lapse after recalculating the value of association membership, that's worth paying attention to.
March 6, 2026
Agents Decoded
- Want to succeed in 2026? Stay productive during the slow seasonJust 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
- 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
More Agents Decoded
- 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
- Agent-built AI chatbot serves up real advice with a sense of humorJay Thompson created the "Real Estate Therapist" AI assistant to talk agents off the ledge, draft tricky messages and add some levity to a tough job.July 11, 2025
- Agents Decoded: How to get more from your MLSIt may not be flashy, but your MLS is still one of your most powerful tools. Here’s how to use it better — and why it needs your support.June 14, 2025
- How agents should handle the private listings dramaBrokerages are battling each other (and the portals). Things have gotten loud and contentious, but here’s all you really need to know when talking to clients.May 17, 2025
- Industry shakeups: Corporate chaos or business as usual?How much should agents care about brokerage leadership changes, acquisitions and earnings reports? Enough to stay informed, because clients read headlines too.May 13, 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
- 5 ways small firms can make a big impact without a big budgetAs a smaller brokerage or team, you may not have the backing of major brand or franchise, but you have some unique advantages. See how to make the most of them.November 16, 2024
- Agents Decoded: Finding opportunities in changeThe industry has weathered many storms, and through it all, has grown and thrived. So can agents. Jay Thompson shares 4 ways to leverage the changes ahead.July 19, 2024
- 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: Burned out? It’s time to slow downConstantly reacting to real estate market whiplash — or industry-shaking news — takes a toll, and veteran agent Jill Leberknight suggests a different approach.March 23, 2024
- Agents Decoded: The future is uncertain — but don’t panic!NAR’s proposed settlement in the commissions cases has quickly led to a flurry of headlines — many of them wrong. Here’s what agents need to do.March 19, 2024
- Agents Decoded: Thinking about opening a brokerage? Start here.For Jay Thompson, starting his own firm was a career highlight. He lays out the pros and cons, and the questions agents should ask when pondering this big move.February 24, 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: How to choose a real estate brokerageJay Thompson's 3 essentials for landing at the right firm: Define your needs, understand the different brokerage models, and go deep during interviews.December 22, 2023
- 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: Don't fear acquisitions (even when it's Zillow)When your favorite company or tool is acquired, it's normal to have concerns — but try to set your biases aside instead of running for the hills.November 12, 2023
