The argument could be made that policies are even more important to have in place — and up to date — in real estate. The fact that most brokers are independent contractors means that they have much freer rein than many other professionals out there. So if managing brokers don’t have a document they can point to that spells out what brokers can and can’t do, they’re automatically at a disadvantage.

It’s important for real estate professionals to understand how unique the lending picture is in America because of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and how regulators and lawmakers are proposing to change the situation.

“In an effort to save workers from being exploited, lawmakers all over the country are considering rules that could dampen the gig economy. But as someone who has freelanced myself, has seen many colleagues build viable careers out of this way of life, and who has written for and about those who find success as independent contractors, I see a way of life that’s being unfairly maligned.”

While Jan. 1, 2020, indeed marks the end of a year, it is also the end of the decade. So my question to you is: Is this the end of an era?

In many ways, the work of an agent and a managing broker could not be more different. Agents compete, while managers consult. Agents rustle up new clients to call their own, while managers recruit others to join their team. Agents are accountable to their own yardsticks, while managers answer to a whole host of parties, from the public to brokerage owners to their own sales associates.

This is the broker I hope you’re striving to be: Someone who understands your clients and your area well enough to be a celebrated matchmaker.

Though this is an individualistic and competitive industry, it’s also one where we regularly lift each other up. And for many of those doing the lifting, it comes as naturally to them as drinking water and breathing air.

When evaluating a threat, there are two conflicting tendencies that pull human beings in different directions. The part of us that favors stasis and calm is predisposed to brushing off concerns about potential disruption. But as real estate professionals know well, this stance can backfire. What if the threat is real and complacency delays our response?

“I’ve never run for office, convinced developers and officials to invest in my neighborhood, or petitioned for zoning changes or traffic rearrangements. These all seem like daunting, potentially exhausting activities, yet they’re all actions that have been taken by the otherwise relatively ordinary real estate professionals in our cover story.”

You can bemoan the state of marriage in this country, but it seems purchasing property is still a major part of the American dream, so much so that many couples don’t see the need to get married before they go in on a property together.

Associations are often rewarded for moving slowly, whereas the opposite is true in business. Not-for-profit organizations are risk-averse, but for very good reasons: You wouldn’t want some hotshot at the helm of your professional organization, gambling with your dues dollars, right?

Selling new construction is often a springboard for agents and teams, thanks to both its price point and the fact that successfully selling one condo can quickly lead to the sale of another. But that’s not to say this niche is easy to break into.

Whether you’re suiting up to compete with them, doing your best to manage them, or integrating your work life within them, read our latest issue for some excellent analysis and advice on teams.

Auction companies and consumers who are looking at auctions as a way to exchange property depend on agents to make it all happen. Our cover story offers not only a way to learn more about auctions, but also a possible avenue for expanding your business.

The fact that video isn’t as commonplace as perhaps it should be means that it still offers a smart way for real estate professionals (and companies) to differentiate themselves, and our cover story highlights those who are doing just that on a variety of levels.

What I really learned in my first year of editing our Who’s Who issue is that these people really care about the industry. They understand the value of investing in it, and know that the dividends of their dedication and hard work might pay off in a closing tomorrow or a referral two decades from now.