‘Unfiltered’: How great agents make content work for them
Data and marketing pro David Childers shares content tips, 2025 predictions — and the best way to answer real estate questions at holiday gatherings.
December 13, 2024
Amie Fisher
Senior Director, News Editing
Amie is a Seattle-based real estate editor and writer with experience covering agent news, consumer housing, rentals and the luxury market. She has led content and editorial teams at Pacaso and Zillow, and previously worked as the managing editor for a regional lifestyle magazine. A Pacific Northwest native, she grew up in rural Southern Oregon among tall trees, baby goats and a territorial rooster.
- The Ten: NAR’s new rules and the ‘messy’ race to complyNAR’s settlement staved off “extinction-level litigation” but created snags by requiring buyer agreements and moving compensation off multiple listing services.December 11, 2024
- Realty ONE gives agents the option to leave NARThe global brokerage has formed a Phoenix-based subsidiary, allowing area agents to discontinue association membership while retaining MLS access.December 10, 2024
- ‘Unfiltered’: Which real estate companies are winning right nowWatch the conversation with analyst John Campbell as he places bets on Zillow, CoStar and public brokerages — and shares Wall Street’s perspective on the CCP.December 6, 2024
- ‘Unfiltered’: ‘More litigation’ coming, predicts industry leaderWatch the conversation with Russ Cofano, a proptech, association and brokerage exec who warns of a leadership void and a “bullseye on the real estate industry.”November 30, 2024
- Educating buyers: What happens between signing and closing?For clients, getting an offer accepted might seem like the end of the homebuying process. A new guide from NAR helps explain all the steps that follow.November 21, 2024
- First-time homebuyers may not be who you expect, NAR saysInexperienced buyers have a lot of questions — about financing, buyer agreements, resources for first-timers and more — and agents need to have the answers.November 12, 2024
- ‘Unfiltered’: Buyers are ‘DIYing themselves down the funnel’Watch the conversation with Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman as he explains why savvy shoppers are better for agents, and why private listing networks are “just bad.”November 5, 2024
- Making your pitch: What sellers want to know10 questions every listing agent had better be able to answer, from whether to list on the MLS or offer buy-side compensation to what goes into pricing a home.November 1, 2024
- Is RE/MAX starting to turn things around?Numbers were down, but revenue declines slowed. Leadership painted a cautiously optimistic picture — and presented its point of view on Clear Cooperation.November 1, 2024
- ‘Unfiltered’: It’s time to make big moves — not ‘cry and whine’Watch the conversation with consultant Jack Miller as he discusses The Opportunity Report, which delves into agent pay, NAR policies, the role of MLSs and more.October 26, 2024
- 10 questions every agent should be able to answerNAR’s latest consumer guide tells buyers exactly what to ask a prospective agent. Agents should be prepared with compelling responses that play up their value.October 25, 2024
- What NAR wants consumers to know about fair housingEveryone involved in a transaction must steer clear of discriminatory practices, says NAR, warning sellers not to direct their agents to avoid certain buyers.October 14, 2024
- Buyers value community — and agents who are connected to itA recent survey from Century 21 found that buyers rank community higher than the home itself, and they rely on their agents to provide local insights.September 18, 2024
- Mortgage rates flirt with 6% — your move, FedThe downward trend hasn’t fired up buyers (yet), but predictions of more cuts this year could move rates closer to 5% and amp up the market next spring.September 12, 2024
- Sellers willing to pay buyer agents — but not in all marketsAgents are talking about compensation “in more depth than ever before” and clearing up a lot of confusion as agent fees stay “mostly the same,” Redfin found.September 11, 2024
- Agents, here’s some motivation for uncertain buyersA bright spot in a tough market? The best time to buy in 2024 — and save upwards of $14,000 — is just weeks away, says Realtor.com.September 10, 2024
- Record share of consumers expect mortgage rates to fallA Fannie Mae survey found that despite sour attitudes about homebuying, there’s hope that rates and prices will decline — and a geographic divide over selling.September 9, 2024
- Data shares expand in the Southeast, renew in ColoradoAgents in four states — Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas — can now access 1.9 million shared listings, while REcolorado and IRES re-up their partnership.September 7, 2024
- NAR to consumers: Agents must put client interests firstWith new industry rules now in effect, the association has released additional resources for buyers and sellers that focus on ethics and steering.September 4, 2024
- Real ‘surpassed expectations’ as revenue, agent count soarsThe company reported strong Q2 numbers, noting that its rev share model and tech will continue to give it an edge, while “traditional models may struggle.”August 7, 2024
- Housing market angst won’t swing the election (probably)Renters and buyers are frustrated by high housing costs, but homeowners — the largest share of likely voters — are focused on other issues.July 20, 2024
- C.A.R. releases new forms after weeks of criticismThe California association has been the subject of a DOJ inquiry and a scathing CFA report. Updates released this week may allay some of those concerns.Updated July 12, 2024
- DOJ ‘formal inquiry’ delays release of C.A.R. formsThe California Association of Realtors informed members that the DOJ expressed concern over new forms related to the NAR settlement and MLS practices.Updated June 24, 2024
- VA makes mortgage rule change officialA temporary policy revision allows military borrowers to pay their agents, something that was previously prohibited under VA lending rules.June 11, 2024
- More sellers are cutting prices as home sales slowThe share of homes with price drops reached an 18-month high as sellers try to jumpstart buyer interest in stale listings, Redfin reported.May 31, 2024
- Builder confidence takes a hit as rates, costs remain highSentiment drops for the first time since November, with persistent inflation and concerns about new federal rules dampening builders’ outlook.May 15, 2024
- In Focus: How the MLS drives innovation in real estateUtahRealEstate.com CEO Brad Bjelke believes the wealth of data provided by MLSs makes them “more important today than at any point in time.”February 19, 2024
- Colorado’s largest MLS makes 4-state data-share dealREcolorado has signed agreements with regional MLSs in Georgia, Florida, California and Kansas, increasing listings access for agents.January 11, 2024
- 2024 will be a better year for buyers — but how much better?Forecasts from Realtor.com and Bright MLS offer varying degrees of optimism, with a split on inventory and an eye on wild cards like inflation and the election.November 29, 2023
- The chills continue as mortgage rates keep risingExpect a “more dramatic” seasonal slowdown in home sales as average rates near 8% scare off buyers.October 26, 2023
- In Focus: MLSs face 'staggering and energizing' changesNorthstarMLS CEO Tim Dain offers his tech-forward view of the future, which includes transparency, consolidation and richer listings content.September 23, 2023
- In Focus: The biggest challenge for agents and brokers? Too many MLSsFMLS President and CEO Jeremy Crawford believes cooperation and consolidation are key to a healthy and efficient MLS network: “We are all better together.”September 16, 2023
- From ‘frenzy’ to ‘fatigue’ as mortgage rates, applications dipThe average rate on a 30-year loan settled at 7.12% this week, but a decline in mortgage applications suggests that “consumers are weary.”September 7, 2023
- Anywhere is back in the black after 2 quarters of steep lossesWhile down year-over-year, revenue and income were up over the previous quarter, but the company missed expectations on earnings per share.July 25, 2023
- Mortgage rates surge even as inflation fallsMortgage rates jumped for the third week in a row and are hovering near 7%, but lower-than-expected inflation could mean the economy is normalizing.July 13, 2023
- Real defies the odds, reports strong annual revenue gainsThe Real Brokerage more than doubled its agent count vs. last year, with chairman and CEO Tamir Poleg crediting its technology and “agent attraction model.”May 11, 2023
- Mortgage rates inch down, continuing a ‘sideways trend’Interest rates dipped slightly to 6.35% this week, and mortgage applications were up — but limited inventory is keeping the market “subdued.”May 11, 2023
- Prices up in 70% of metros — but that’s a big drop from Q4NAR’s latest quarterly home sales report found that most markets are still seeing annual price increases, with the biggest gains in the Midwest and Southeast.May 9, 2023
- 'Extremely challenging' market contributed to eXp's mixed results in Q1The cloud-based brokerage reported declines in revenue and transactions, but ended the quarter in the black and boosted agent count.May 2, 2023
- Zillow dominates the portals, but Homes.com gains groundA new report found that most portals lost traffic and market share over the past year, but a few companies improved or firmed up their positions.March 23, 2023
- KW reports modest growth in agent count, lower sales volume in 2022The franchise is approaching 200,000 agents worldwide and reported gains in its global markets, as U.S. and Canada numbers dipped.March 13, 2023
- Who’s No. 1? See which companies held on despite the downturnT3 Sixty’s ranking of the top real estate companies includes Compass, Keller Williams, Anywhere and other repeat leaders — plus a few surprises.March 13, 2023
- Douglas Elliman quarterly revenue down 40% from year beforeThe luxury brand reported steep quarterly and full-year losses, but said annual transaction volume outperformed the industry.March 10, 2023
- How Corcoran grew from a boutique brand to a global presenceFor most of its 50 years, Corcoran was a regional player. But in 2020, its affiliate network took off, and “it’s just the beginning of the story.”March 10, 2023
- Have down payment, will travelRelocation picked up in 2022, with buyers seeking out more affordable homes in Florida, Texas and California.March 9, 2023
- A fifth week of rising mortgage rates dampens hopes for a busy springFreddie Mac’s weekly survey reported yet another jump in the average 30-year mortgage rate, which is approaching its 2022 peak.March 9, 2023
- Share of million-dollar homes drops from 2022 peakAfter maxing out in June, the percentage of million-dollar homes fell and is nearly flat year-over-year. In pricey markets, the declines were more pronounced.March 6, 2023
- Mixed results for RE/MAX in Q4: Quarterly declines, annual gainsThe company noted that it closed out the year with a relatively small drop in revenue considering the sharp decline in home sales in 2022.February 16, 2023
- Bidding wars aren’t going going gone, but no longer dominateCompetition among buyers has been on a steady decline since the beginning of 2022, and has now dropped to the lowest rate since the beginning of the pandemic.October 17, 2022
