Industry Relations

What to do about Zombies

Feb 12, 2025

The debate rages on about the necessity of NAR's fight for survival. Bold real estate leaders like Michelle Harrington are advocating for authenticity over corporate jargon. With a recent settlement of $10.5 million, smaller brokerages feel the pressure of rising legal challenges. The discussion contrasts engaged 'super members' with the disengaged 'zombie members', emphasizing the need for genuine connections. Should NAR have surrendered years ago to avoid these issues? It's a thought-provoking examination of the industry's current landscape.

58:41

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Quick takeaways

Michelle Harrington’s authentic voice challenges corporate jargon, promoting real talk as essential for genuine leadership in real estate.

The podcast highlights the legal complexities facing brokerages, especially the implications of settlements and the risk of 'green mail' in the industry.

Addressing the disconnect between realtor membership and active engagement is vital for organizations to enhance their value propositions and relevance.

Deep dives

Engagement in a Competitive Market

In today's challenging real estate market, maintaining buyer motivation and loyalty is essential for agents. Utilizing advanced tools such as One Home by CoreLogic can create an exceptional client experience, leading to higher engagement rates. One Home not only integrates seamlessly into existing systems but also boasts impressive customer satisfaction scores, indicating its effectiveness in keeping clients connected. Agents can leverage its invite-only access features to enhance their service and build long-term relationships with buyers.

Intro

2min

Insights from a Bold Brokerage Leader

2min

Authenticity in Real Estate Leadership

13min

Impacts of a $10.5 Million Settlement

5min

Navigating Business Impacts of Recent Settlements

2min

The NAR vs. DOJ: Hypothetical Impacts on Real Estate

13min

Engaging Super Members vs. Zombie Members

16min

Reviving Zombie Members

5min

In this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg dive into one of the most heated debates yet—was NAR’s fight for survival a necessary battle, or did it do more harm than good? They analyze the fallout from the settlement, discuss the rise of leaders like Michelle Harrington who are ditching corporate-speak for real talk, and debate whether NAR should have surrendered years ago to avoid the lawsuits entirely.

Key Takeaways

• Michelle Harrington’s Blunt Truths: The First Team CEO calls the settlement “bulls***,” and Rob and Greg love her authenticity.

• Corporate-Speak vs. Real Talk: Why real estate leaders should ditch the PR fluff and embrace straight-shooting communication.

• The $2 Billion Club Controversy: Why independent brokerages feel abandoned and how the settlement exposed them to legal threats.

• Should NAR Have Surrendered in 2018? Rob argues they could have avoided everything if they had just given in earlier. Greg pushes back.

• Zombie Members or Hostages? Rob says NAR fought to protect dues from disengaged agents. Greg insists they were an opportunity, not a liability.

Inman story on FirstTeam CEO, Michelle Harrington; "A broker left out of NAR settlement gets candid: 'I'm still pissed'"

Todd Carpenter's LinkedIn post on "Zombie members vs. Super members"

Rob Substack, "Between Black Pill and White Pill"

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Connect with Rob and Greg:

Rob’s Website