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For nearly two decades, REAL Trends has facilitated several groups for residential brokerage CEOs and executives. These groups are comprised of between 12 to 18 company leaders that get together twice a year for three-day meetings (usually in the spring and fall) to confidentially share information and knowledge in order to better run their companies. The members are all from unique geographic markets (so that there is no overlap of offices and ideas can be freely shared) with each group having its own set of goals and bylaws as well as its own unique character and culture.

 

REAL Trends organizes the meeting logistics, helps to analyze some of the data that is being shared, and facilitates at the meetings themselves. The groups will typically have general idea-sharing sessions for a day before engaging in a thorough peer review of one of the member companies (which includes financial and operational review, interviews of staff and agents, office visits, and a summary report back to the member company suggesting areas of improvement). Members are free to discuss any topic of interest that does not violate any anti-competitive laws or statutes or NAR’s Code of Ethics. Members pay an annual membership fee as well as their share of travel, lodging, and meeting costs.

We currently have six groups: The Vision Group, The Leadership Council, The Broker Council, The Trendsetters, The Mezzanine, and a the Association Executive CEO Council.

Our primary goal is to help our existing groups reach their highest possible potential - although most of the groups are at capacity now (with the exception of the No Names which was recently formed and is still growing), we are always looking for new candidates who run successful, multi-office brokerages and are willing and able to contribute their time and knowledge.

At the same time, we have been approached by several others about forming new groups which we are open to but do not yet have the "critical mass" in any one group to get started. Some of the ideas for new groups include:

* A group for "100% commission" companies
* A group for "non-traditional" brokerages (virtual brokerages, employee-based firms, etc.)
* A group for Canadian brokerages
* A group for MLS executives
* A group exclusively for CFOs/Financial executives
* A group exclusively for CIOs/technology & marketing executives
* A group for smaller to mid-sized firms (under $10mm GCI)


If you are interested in learning more about either joining an existing broker group or being part of a new group, please email us at realtrends@realtrends.com or call 303-741-1000.