DANGER Report follow-up to have new focus: Opportunity
A sequel to the industry-challenging assessment is expected in early 2025 and will focus on the future. “The time is now for the industry to transform itself.”
Key points:
- Stefan Swanepoel’s 2015 DANGER Report on threats to real estate attracted new interest in the past year when it surfaced as part of commissions litigation.
- Instead of producing a new report outlining current threats, Swanepoel plans to focus on what lies ahead for the industry.
- The Opportunity Report is expected to be released in early 2025.
A decade ago, strategist and best-selling author Stefan Swanepoel interviewed dozens of the top minds in real estate about the threats facing the industry. His work, commissioned by the National Association of Realtors, led to the remarkably candid DANGER Report — a "definitive analysis of negative game changers emerging in real estate."
The 2015 report received a new round of attention when the Sitzer/Burnett commissions lawsuit went to trial last year. Before jurors awarded home sellers nearly $1.8 billion, they heard how the report described increasing pressure on commissions and how changing the commissions process could upend the industry.
And this got people talking. One of the things they wanted to know: Will there be another DANGER Report?
Today, Swanepoel announced that there will indeed be a follow-up to the DANGER Report. But rather than making it another threat assessment, the new report will look to the future.
The Opportunity Report, set for release in early 2025, will focus on opportunities ahead for the residential real estate brokerage industry, especially in light of AI-driven innovation, new business models and industry-wide class action compensation lawsuits.
"The time is now for all facets of the real estate industry to transform itself, adopt innovative new technologies and substantially redesign the homeowner experience," Swanepoel said in a statement.
Swanepoel offered a similar message when he spoke to industry leaders at the annual T3 Summit earlier this year: "Nothing you are doing is wrong, but it's a prehistoric old way, meaning it's 10, maybe 15 years old. Most of what we do is slightly an old way. Let's find a better way."
Defining the opportunities
To create this extensive study, Swanepoel will follow the same path he took to produce the DANGER Report. He plans to interview more than 70 CEOs and other top leaders of brokerage companies, MLSs and Realtor associations, then synthesize the hours of material into a report that distills each opportunity to its essence.
Swanepoel, founder of the leading consultancy T3 Sixty and Real Estate News, has a longtime commitment to deeply researched, data-driven assessments of the industry. T3 Sixty produces the annual Swanepoel Trends Report; the SP 200, which highlights the top 200 most influential people in residential real estate; and the Real Estate Almanac.
"Swanepoel is known for his uncanny ability to quickly and accurately discern the key issues in complex situations," said Jack Miller, president and CEO of T3 Sixty.
Bob Hale, CEO of Houston Association of Realtors, is eager to see what opportunities lie ahead. "We look forward to another insightful and positive report."