James Kleimann on Ryan Serhant’s new reality TV show
Jul 12, 2024
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James Kleimann, Managing Editor, discusses Ryan Serhant's reality TV show and NAR membership report. They explore income disparities among agents, challenges in the luxury market, and drama among agents on the show. Concerns are raised about the focus on drama potentially harming the brokerage's reputation.
Membership in the NAR decreased by 2% in 2023 due to tough market conditions.
Real estate reality shows like 'Owning Manhattan' may skew public perception of real estate professionals.
Deep dives
Declining NAR Membership
Membership in the National Association of Realtors declined slightly from about 1.58 million members at the end of 2022 to roughly 1.55 million members at the close of 2023, reflecting a decrease of about 2%. This decline was attributed to the challenging housing market conditions in 2023, with existing home sales hitting their lowest point since 1995. Despite reports of impending major shake-ups in the real estate industry, the decline in membership is seen as part of an ongoing trend due to lawsuit settlements and tough market conditions.
Decrease in Transaction Sides and Sales Volume
In 2023, the average realtor completed 10 transaction sides, down from an average of 12 in 2022, depicting a decrease in deal activity. Additionally, the typical sales volume plummeted from about $3.4 million in 2022 to roughly $2.5 million in 2023, marking a significant $900,000 drop year-over-year. These declines influenced the median gross income of Realtors, which decreased from $56,400 in 2022 to $55,800 in 2023, indicating incremental declines in production, income, and the number of agents active in the market.
Impact of Reality TV on Real Estate Agents
Real estate reality shows, like Ryan Serhant's 'Owning Manhattan,' give viewers a glimpse into the luxury real estate world, but may not always portray the day-to-day realities of real estate activities accurately. While these shows can attract attention and lead to increased leads for featured agents, there is a distinction between dramatic TV personas and the diligent, hard-working nature of many actual real estate practitioners. The portrayal of agents on reality shows may create misconceptions about the industry, potentially influencing public perception and even real-life decisions regarding real estate transactions.
On today’s episode, Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler talks with Managing Editor James Kleimann about the wild reality TV world of Ryan Serhant’s new hit show and what the agents on his team are making. The two also discuss the latest NAR membership report.
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