Here is what I learned, and thanks to my friend for helping me understand. 

Serving as an executive, employee, or volunteer leader in a REALTOR Association or an MLS comes with responsibilities that reach beyond meetings, committees, and governance documents. The minute you accept the role, you accept a higher standard. Members, consumers, and community partners see you as an extension of the organization, and that means your public behavior becomes part of the institution’s credibility. In real estate, our organizations are explicitly bipartisan.

That includes social media!

Political expression is a personal right, but leadership inside REALTOR organizations demands neutrality in public forums. The industry relies on cooperation among people with widely different views. The REALTOR Association and MLS exist so competitors can work together. These organizations thrive when members trust that their leaders represent the entire membership, not a political slice of it. When a leader appears partisan online, that trust erodes.

Political posts can also be misunderstood or taken out of context. A casual comment can look like an endorsement. A joke can look like a policy stance. A shared link can look like organizational alignment. Once that impression is created, it is almost impossible to undo. Members start to question whether leadership decisions are being influenced by personal politics. Stakeholders wonder whether the association or MLS is favoring one side or another. Staff and volunteers feel pressure to respond. The organization is pulled into debates it never intended to join.

Being bipartisan does not mean being silent. It means being mindful of your role. When you speak in public, you speak with the weight of your office. That requires discipline, restraint, and a commitment to protecting the reputation of the organization you serve.

The goal is simple: keep the institution focused on professionalism, cooperation, and service to the market.

Model the behavior that helps members trust each other. Create space for every viewpoint without signaling alignment with any single one. Your neutrality is not about avoiding politics. It is about protecting the integrity of the office you hold.

Two industry executives I know have retired in the past five years. One of them is very Republican, the other is very much a Democrat. They were close industry friends when they held their posts. Now they bitterly collide on Facebook. Despite working closely with the two of them for years, politics never came up and I never knew their positions. They exemplify the understanding that I hope this article will convey.

If you are looking for a CEO job, please reach out to Marilyn Wilson to see if there is a fit. 

The post Why real estate leaders must stay bipartisan, especially on social media appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

WAV Group explores how the innovative shared infrastructure model of Repliers reflects a broader shift in real estate technology.

When veteran real estate leader Rhett Damon accepted the CEO position at Repliers, it prompted curiosity across the industry. After decades in senior roles at Opendoor, realtor.com®, and Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, Damon’s decision to lead a startup raised an important question: what does Repliers represent that the industry has been missing?

Recurring Frustrations in Real Estate Technology

Throughout his career, Damon has seen the same technological obstacles appear repeatedly, regardless of company size or market reach. From early ventures like his open house listings directory to his time leading at major real estate brands, one reality persisted. Innovation often stalls when infrastructure is built in silos.

“In all of the roles I’ve had over the years, there were projects where Repliers would have been extremely helpful,” Damon explained. “Joining the team was an instant fit. The vision for the company is very clear and one that resonates with me.”

A New Approach to Enterprise-Grade Capability

What makes Repliers different? According to Damon, it’s about democratizing access to enterprise-grade technology that’s typically reserved for tech giants.

“Under the hood, they have all the capabilities that the industry is racing to equip themselves with,” Damon noted. “MCP servers, AI-powered search capabilities, both natural language and vector-based, that tech giants have already brought to market.”

Most real estate organizations lack the capital or scale to build such systems independently. Repliers’ model offers a shared, flexible foundation that allows firms to innovate without reinventing the wheel.

“Why do companies build their own technology backbone? Because they have to,” Damon emphasized. “This kind of flexible, shared innovation approach has been rare in our industry.”

Timing: Why “Innovation-as-a-Service” Matters Now

Repliers calls their approach “innovation-as-a-service for real estate,” and the timing couldn’t be better. The industry is undergoing a massive shift and replatforming effort, with companies racing to keep pace with technological change but lacking clear pathways forward.

“Companies can integrate this technology into their solutions and workflows with flexibility,” Damon explained. “Anyone can use this, from startups to large companies. This comes at a time when the industry desperately needs partners who can help them navigate this transformation.”

The Missing Piece: Industry Relations

Repliers was founded and built by a team of passionate software engineers with decades of experience, creating a strong technological foundation. But as Damon acknowledged, technical talent alone has limitations.

“The company’s strength before I joined was technology,” he said. “That only gets you so far.”

Damon’s arrival fills that gap. His network across brokerages, MLSs, and technology providers will help position Repliers for accelerated adoption in the U.S., transforming a capable platform into an accessible partner for the industry.

A Vision for Empowering the Industry

At its core, Repliers aims to empower all stakeholders in the real estate industry with innovation that was previously out of reach. In an era where technology access often determines competitive advantage, Damon sees Repliers as a levelling force.

“Repliers is bringing shared infrastructure to an industry that’s ready for it,” Damon concluded. “And I’m excited to be part of making that vision a reality.”

For more information about Repliers and their innovation-as-a-service platform, visit their website.

The post Rethinking Real Estate Technology Through Shared Infrastructure appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

The 2025 NAR Realtor Technology Survey confirmed what we already know: eSignature is the most heavily used technology in the real estate industry. Seventy-nine percent of realtors report using eSignature tools, edging out even social media and drone photography as the most adopted technologies. When adoption reaches this level, it signals more than convenience; it marks a category that shapes how the industry does business.

Forms: The essential ingredient

WAV Group has long studied transaction management adoption, and our foundational research in this area still holds true today: forms are the essential ingredient.

As we noted decades ago, “Without forms, transaction management systems are empty shells. They are the currency of the contract, the most important asset of every REALTOR® association, and the foundation of cooperation with the government for the benefit of consumers and professionals alike.” 

That statement still applies today.

Forms and Forms Libraries are copyrighted, typically owned by REALTOR® Associations, and remain one of the most valuable member benefits. They represent decades of REALTOR® association collaboration with government at the local, state, and national levels. For realtors and consumers alike, even in states where attorneys manage closings, these forms are essential.

The signature is the most vital legal event on the contract. eSignature platforms will highlight their feature sets, but in the eyes of the law, every leading provider delivers a binding, legal signature.

• DocuSign holds the brand lead and consumer trust. Consumers may experience Authentisign in a real estate transaction, but they use DocuSign for everything else.
• Authentisign enjoys powerful industry adoption through Lone Wolf’s platform bundling.
• Sabal Sign, a new entrant through Florida Realtors’ Forms Simplicity platform, offers REALTOR® associations a path toward technology sovereignty.

The Agent vs. the Transaction Coordinator

From the early days of transaction management, a key adoption challenge has persisted. Agents often view transaction management systems as bloated and cumbersome, while transaction coordinators and administrators embrace them for compliance and workflow oversight.

Our research has consistently shown that “agents adopt transaction management when required for commission disbursement, but they rarely champion it. Compliance officers and transaction coordinators, however, consider it indispensable.” 

This divide continues to define adoption patterns, and it explains why, despite decades of availability, transaction management hasn’t achieved the same universal embrace as eSignature.

Interoperability: The unsolved problem

The larger issue isn’t usability. It’s interoperability. WAV Group has authored many papers on this topic, and the challenge remains unsolved. 

As one of our earlier reports put it: “Transaction management fails when systems cannot talk to each other. Real estate is inherently collaborative, yet our tools remain stubbornly isolated.”

Real estate is fundamentally about two companies collaborating. If Broker X and Broker Y are using different transaction management systems that don’t communicate, the system fails. The challenge doesn’t stop at brokers; mortgage, title, insurance, inspection, and appraisal companies all run their own systems, creating a patchwork of disconnected silos.

The entry point of AI in transaction management

The entry point of AI into transaction management is already well underway. Leading firms are actively working with WAV Group’s wholly owned subsidiary, Fluente, to address two persistent enterprise pain points:

• Forms selection: AI is proving adept at learning the rules that govern what forms are required for a transaction. By reducing the risk of a missing form—a problem that can delay closings and frustrate REALTORS® and customers alike—AI ensures greater compliance and smoother workflows.
• Contract review: Today, contract review remains one of the most labor-intensive parts of transaction management. Fluente projects are training AI to become expert reviewers. These AI assistants are sharp-eyed, flagging potential errors or inconsistencies ahead of human review. The human will always be in the middle, but now they’re supported by an AI force-multiplier that enables more transactions to be processed with greater efficiency and fewer mistakes.

Looking ahead: AI, sovereignty, and MCP

It’s not likely to be solved in 2026. But by 2030, we speculate that adoption of MCP servers across companies could enable Agentic AI workflows that securely bridge systems. These AI-driven platforms would allow brokers, lenders, title, and other transaction participants to collaborate seamlessly without forcing everyone onto the same transaction management system.

Such solutions will tend to favor the large incumbents like DocuSign, who already have global scale and brand trust. But sovereign solutions, like Sabal Sign’s entry, will continue to appeal to REALTOR® Associations determined to keep control of their contracts and protect member benefits.

As we wrote more than a decade ago, “Transaction management will only achieve its full potential when interoperability is solved. Until then, adoption will remain partial, compliance-driven, and uneven.” 

That prediction continues to shape the path forward.

As consultants, we recognize this is speculative. But part of our role is to see first what others eventually see. Interoperability, powered by AI and MCP, is the missing link and the future battleground in transaction management. And let’s not forget that Fidelity’s Skyslope and Zillow’s DotLoop are still in the game. 

Size matters in this battle. If State Associations and leading Franchises that serve over 100,000 real estate agents start selecting the same provider, a king will be crowned. Position your business now. Reach out below to explore how AI-driven interoperability and next-gen eSignature solutions can future-proof your transactions and give your agents the edge.

The post Why eSignature is real estate’s most essential technology—and its next battleground appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

From Left to Right: Rajeev Sajja, Rajeev Sajja from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, Michael Hickman from Seven Gables Real Estate, Matthew T. O’Connor from Terrie O’Connor Realtors, Kevin Greene from Cotality Real Estate Solutions, and Kevin Hawkins from WAV Group Communications

Some of the best conversations happen behind closed doors.

That’s probably why one of my absolute favorite events for years has been the RISMedia CEO & Leadership Exchange. Unlike our industry’s bigger conferences, this gathering is more intimate. It attracts the top brokerage leaders, many of whom you rarely see at other events.

What really sets it apart is that nothing is recorded. You are either in the room, taking notes from C-level execs sharing their insights, or you miss out. That exclusivity drives higher attendance and keeps more butts in seats than probably any other conference I attend.

Content that mostly delivers

The quality of the content overall is excellent – year in and year out, and 2025 was no exception.

Are there occasional sponsor sessions that sound more like infomercials than thought leadership? Absolutely. But the keyword here is occasional, and they are mostly tolerable.

When you examine the entire agenda, with more than 120 people on stage, including the foremost MLS executives and leaders from the leading regional and national brokerage brands, the balance tips firmly in favor of high-value content. And a shoutout to Darcy Sledge at RISMedia, who did a terrific job in herding these cats.

The atmosphere feels different

The vibe of this event is what other smaller conferences lose as they grow. The size makes it easier to navigate, the networking feels more natural, and the entire thing has that VIP quality.

Credit also goes to the RISMedia team that pulls it together. The group includes stalwarts in our industry, led by the iconic John Featherston, one of our industry’s top advocates and evangelists. John has even come around on AI. Not long ago, at RISMedia’s Power Broker session at NAR, he noted that the session would break ranks and not focus on AI, but instead double down on human intelligence. Today, he uses AI every day. That is remarkable progress.

Today’s RISMedia team is a terrific mix of industry veterans and creative newcomers, and what ties them together is how approachable, down-to-earth, and genuinely nice they are.

Moderating the AI panel

A highlight for me was moderating the AI panel, “Upping the Ante on AI Strategies.”

Rajeev Sajja from Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Fox & Roach, Michael Hickman from Seven Gables Real Estate, Matthew T. O’Connor from Terrie O’Connor Realtors, and Kevin Greene from Cotality Real Estate Solutions made it one of the best sessions of the event.

The panel delivered real-world takeaways, sharp insights, and memorable quotes, including a laugh-out-loud reference to an “AI putter” – thank you to the other Kevin. We were the only thing standing between the audience and the cocktail reception, yet engagement stayed strong until the end. That says a lot about the quality of what was shared, and I was honored to be part of this group.

More AI, from first-rate to misfires

Beyond my panel, I was able to audit Michael Thorne’s 90-minute working lunch on AI, and it was a mini-class all its own. Michael, who runs the AI Bootcamp for Buffini & Company, is a British Columbia-based Realtor and broker with an arsenal of AI tools and tactics in his day-to-day practice.

Michael delivered a first-rate session, and I admit I am biased since we share many of the same beliefs and philosophies about how agents should use AI.

Across the conference, there were plenty of nuggets of wisdom and even some hysterical life-story confessions that made the takeaways even more memorable. But not everything landed. Like every conference, there were a few misfires, and some of the AI content outside of our panel did not measure up. I plan to put a spotlight on a few of those AI miscues, separately.

What was missing

One area the event could improve on is incorporating audience Q&A. With the tech we have today, it should be possible to crowdsource the most popular questions and get at least the most popular or compelling one to the stage. Having that kind of interaction would add another dimension to the sessions.

Looking ahead

Next year, the RISMedia CEO & Leadership Exchange will celebrate its 38th edition and make two significant changes. The dates move to September 30 through October 2, 2026, so there is no longer a Labor Day conflict. Additionally, the event remains in DC, but the venue relocates to the Fairmont Hotel in Georgetown.

This remains an event where being in the room matters and one you’ll want to mark down on your 2026 calendar.

The post Takeaways from the 2025 RISMedia CEO & Leadership Exchange. appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

Rising insurance premiums and coverage changes are putting flood risk in the spotlight. Flood damage often isn’t covered by standard homeowners insurance, which makes consumer awareness even more critical. Buyers are increasingly asking not just if a property is in a flood zone, but what that means for their long-term costs and protection.

Our 2025 WAV Group Natural Disaster Homeowner Sentiment Survey makes it clear that the expectation falls squarely on agents. When homeowners were asked who should disclose flood risk, real estate agents came out on top—well ahead of inspectors, appraisers, or local governments. 

The challenge is that agents can’t meet this expectation without the right tools and support. MLSs and brokers can help by integrating flood risk data into listings, offering training on interpreting FEMA maps, and providing clear disclosure templates that agents can use with confidence.

It’s not just about checking a box. Helping agents meet this expectation strengthens credibility, reduces risk, and shows clients you’re on top of what matters most.

Get the full report

The 2025 WAV Group Natural Disaster Homeowner Sentiment Survey is packed with actionable insights for MLSs, brokers, and agents.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY!

The post Real Estate Agent’s Need to Lead the Natural Disaster Risk Education Process appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

Huge congratulations to this year’s honorees: Gene Eidelman, Terrence Nickelson, and Katherine Aronsson. These three forward-thinkers are showing us what it looks like when innovation meets intention and execution. 

The iOi (Innovation, Opportunity & Investment) Summit and community has become a vital year-round engine for surfacing cutting-edge thinking in our space. As one of the attendees of the very first iOi in San Francisco many years ago, it’s exciting to see how far the organization has come!

Let’s take a moment to applaud the powerful work of this year’s winners.

Gene Eidelman – Building a More Affordable, Sustainable Future

Gene Eidelman, co-founder of Azure Printed Homes, is on a mission to tackle the housing shortage while also addressing the massive waste problem in traditional construction. Traditional construction is one of the largest contributors to global warming. 

Azure’s approach uses recycled materials and 3D printing to deliver beautiful, efficient, and affordable homes. With construction times up to 70% faster and costs 30% lower, Gene is proving that affordability and sustainability can and should go hand in hand.

He’s also proving that innovation isn’t about tech for tech’s sake. It’s about impact. Since launching in 2019, Azure has built over 100 homes and generated $35 million in preorders. But what stands out most is Gene’s heart: “Housing is more than shelter…it’s dignity, stability, and opportunity,” he says. It is exciting to see this technology that has been established in developing countries make its way to North America. 

Terrence Nickelson – Keeping Real Estate Deals on Track and On Time

Anyone in real estate knows: deals fall apart. But few have tackled this frustrating, costly reality as boldly as Terrence Nickelson, founder of Goby Homes.

Terrence saw the gaps firsthand, especially noting how a lack of transparency and communication can stall or derail a deal. In response, he created an AI-powered platform that unifies everyone involved in a transaction: agents, buyers, sellers, lenders, and beyond. Goby Homes doesn’t just manage workflow. It anticipates problems and smooths them out before they become deal-breakers.

Even more powerful? Terrence is using this technology to drive equity in real estate. Goby Homes was honored with a National Fair Housing Alliance Innovation Impact Award for its work in reducing bias and promoting fairness. 

Katherine Aronsson – Empowering Agents with Smart, Human-Centered AI

Katherine Aronsson, co-founder of Kevin AI and an agent with Pinnacle Realty Advisors, is reimagining lead generation, and giving agents the superpowers they need to grow faster and more authentically.

Kevin AI goes far beyond surface-level prospecting. It uses machine learning and property signals to uncover real opportunities—turning cold contacts into warm, insightful conversations. The platform also automates personalized outreach, monitors neighborhood activity, and even delivers insights via chat, voice, email, or text.

But Katherine’s focus isn’t automation for efficiency’s sake. It’s about giving agents time and space to do what they do best: build relationships. “Real estate is about people,” she says. “Kevin AI helps agents connect faster and more meaningfully.”

Katherine, your work bridges the best of tech and the best of humanity. Your leadership is exactly what this industry needs right now.

Congrats again to all three of these talented and inspiring winners!  

The post Celebrating the 2025 iOi Innovators of the Year: Honoring Bold Thinking and Real Impact in Real Estate appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

Let’s clear the air: the Cotality rebrand wasn’t just a cosmetic change – it was a strategic move with purpose. As we published last week on WAV Group, the new brand strategy is about recasting the company. It may also hint about things to come. I am making a prediction.

CoreLogic was taken private in 2021 – led by private equity giant Stone Point Capital and Insight Partners. In many ways, the rebranding to Cotality is the final part of the company’s reorganization since the private equity transaction. 

Today, Cotality is a representation of a company that is a materially different company from the CoreLogic of 2021. If you are a customer, you feel the difference. Customer satisfaction ratings for their products among users and MLSs have grown significantly higher over the past few years. This management team fixed a lot of product and service issues that were plaguing the company. 

Here are a few examples: That dreadful mobile app? It’s history. In its place: MLS-Touch, a best-in-class tool for agents on the go. The client portal is so much better now with OneHome. Certifications for updated RESO standards are now taking a day with Trestle. There are many more examples, but if you rewind the clock to 2021, you will agree with me. These examples are for the residential real estate industry. When you look across the company into fintech markets like mortgage, insurance, and the many other industries they serve, these improvements are profound. 

The biggest accomplishment since 2021 is the development of the CoreLogic Integrated Property Number – CLIP. They connected (not merged) thousands of data assets in disparate databases through a unifying numbering system. It eliminates inaccurate data by connecting and reconciling inconsistencies across multiple property data records. This matters because CLIP finally solves one of the industry’s biggest pain points: inconsistent property data, ensuring cleaner, more accurate records that power everything from valuations to fraud prevention.

Cotality is poised to lead proptech in AI development. 

If you have learned one thing about AI, do it safely. That means you do not give away your data (or the data you may be licensing from others) to AI. You always protect the data, but this does not mean that you avoid AI. The best practice is to securely develop and train AI on top of your data assets. Cotality is in a leading international position to deploy AI for the industries they serve. 

If you have had the pleasure of visiting the Dallas operation of Cotality, it hopefully included a tour of the discovery center and the demo of 360 Property Data. As I wrote back in June of 2024, this is the new superpower of Cotality. In the article, I assert that Brad Inman was wrong in his prediction that Zillow will lead AI for real estate. I picked CoreLogic. For me, the difference is the data AI will be trained on. When it comes to AI, data isn’t just the fuel – it’s the engine. And the leader will be the one with the best data.

That’s why I’m making this call. While some say predicting the future is a fool’s errand, I’ll take the risk: Cotality is public before August of 2026. On our calls about the real estate industry, the capital markets view Cotality as a hot prospect. If you spend any time talking to Wall Street types, you know that investors are salivating over data companies because of AI. 

Stone Point and Insight Partners agreed to a 51% premium to CoreLogic’s stock price in 2021 totaling $6 Billion. Cotality is worth a lot more today. At the time – the EV/EBITDA for CoreLogic was 15x. Today, peers like CoStar are at 239x, Zillow at 88x, MLSCI and Envestnet at 27X.

I expect Cotality to go public north of $12 billion USD offering. Pretty good win for Stone Point Capital and Insight Partners (this is highly speculative since I have no clue about Cotality’s current revenue or profits). 

The typical timeline for a company to go public via an Initial Public Offering (IPO) ranges from 6 to 12 months, depending on company readiness and market conditions. Here’s a simplified breakdown:

1. Pre-Planning (1–2 months): Internal discussions, hiring advisors (investment banks, legal, auditors), and preliminary financial audits.
2. IPO Readiness & Due Diligence (2–4 months): Audited financials (usually 2–3 years), governance updates, legal clean-up, and drafting the S-1 registration statement.
3. SEC Review (2–4 months): File the S-1 with the SEC, respond to comments, and revise as needed. This step can take longer depending on complexity and feedback.
4. Marketing (2–3 weeks): Roadshow to pitch the IPO to institutional investors and set the price range.
5. Pricing & Listing (1 week): Finalize the IPO price, allocate shares, and officially list on the stock exchange.

I have no evidence that Cotality is talking to investment banks or doing any of these things. But their name keeps surfacing in my banker calls. One thing’s certain: Cotality will use this rebrand to redefine how the market sees them.

Will my prediction prove right? Time will tell. Feel free to let me know what you think – leave us a comment!

The post CoreLogic Rebrand to Cotality is a Strategy appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

Real Estate Brands Building Community Engagement

If you pay attention, you can find great examples of how companies build community-driven brands and engage with consumers – often at no cost beyond your effort. Take this collaboration for example; Freedom Boat Club partnered with the Tampa Zoo to have a community event. Many communities, rich with museums, historical societies, zoos, and other local attractions, would gladly collaborate with a real estate organization on events. In this case, Freedom Boat Club did a little bit more than just send out an email; they committed their staff to attending and socializing with customers who’ve decided to attend. The common link between the two is that boating and zoos attract family outings. 

How real estate companies can build stronger brands through community partnerships

Real estate is about more than buying and selling homes; it’s about helping people find a place to belong. 

The best way for companies to show they understand that? Get involved with the community. 

Partnering with museums, zoos, botanical gardens, theaters, sports venues, and other local attractions isn’t just good PR, it’s a smart business move. (Yes – you’d want to kick off the program with a press release and pitch the local media).

These partnerships create meaningful touchpoints with buyers, sellers, and agents, turning one-time transactions into lasting relationships. A home’s location matters, but so does the lifestyle that comes with it. When real estate brands support the places that make a community special, they stand out and stay top of mind.

Why these partnerships make sense

People want more than just a house. They want a neighborhood that offers things to do, places to go, and experiences to enjoy. By aligning with cultural and recreational hubs, real estate companies position themselves as more than just service providers; they become community builders. Many folks hear and know about these things, but are more likely to attend when personally invited.

For agents, these connections provide real value. For example, a closing gift of a family membership to the local zoo, or a set of season tickets to the symphony does more than just say “thank you.” It ties the homeowner to the area and gives them something to look forward to. That kind of gesture sticks with people and makes them more likely to refer friends or return when they’re ready to move again.

How real estate brands can engage through local attractions

1. Host events in unique spaces – Instead of a typical open house, why not hold a client appreciation night at an art gallery or a historic landmark? A well-placed networking event at a botanical garden or a VIP night at a theater helps create memorable interactions.
2. Offer exclusive perks – Partnering with a museum or sports team to offer discounts, VIP access, or early entry can make buyers feel like they’re getting more than just a home—they’re getting access to a richer community life.
3. Give meaningful closing gifts – Skip the standard bottle of wine and opt for a membership to a local attraction, a gift card to a beloved restaurant, or a year-long pass to a performing arts center. These gifts keep real estate brands top of mind long after the deal is done.
4. Get involved in local initiatives – Sponsor events, participate in fundraisers, or offer volunteer opportunities for agents and clients. A real estate company that actively supports a city’s cultural and recreational spaces is one that people remember.

The long-term impact

When real estate companies integrate themselves into the cultural and social fabric of a community, they build trust. People want to do business with brands that invest in the places where they live, work, and play. Agents get more opportunities to connect, clients feel more connected to their new homes, and businesses earn loyalty that translates into repeat business and referrals.

It’s not just about real estate—it’s about making a neighborhood feel like home.

To share another beautiful example, below is a screenshot of a post by Keyes CEO, Mike Pappas from a fundraising event that his Real Estate Teams attended.

The post Creating a Community Brand appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

“We built our offices for Easter Sunday”

A quote that I will never forget which came from former HomeServices CEO, Ron Peltier – “We built our offices for Easter Sunday.” The quote was from a conversation we had at a Realty Alliance meeting when the crippling housing foreclosure economy collapsed brokerage operating profits. The quote really stuck with me.

This quote has evolved into a broader implication for me today. It applies to every expense of the business. In a recent WAV Group 2025 M&A Outlook webinar with Howard Hanna and Compass, we talked a fair amount about brokerage valuations. It’s commonly understood that brokerage buyers pay a multiple of profits. It’s more complicated than that, but in general, firms are trading for 3x to 9x profit. In context, expenses cost you between $3 and $9 dollars for every dollar spent… If you are selling – keep this context in mind.

Today’s brokerage is aggressively chasing technology. At times, it’s a strategy to recruit and retain agents. It also delivers system improvements and automation which should sell more real estate, more effortlessly. In today’s market, brokerages need to stay curious about tools that will deliver these benefits. For example, many brokers who were competing against Compass Concierge launched HouseAmp (normally whitelabeled under their own product name). Similarly, although many brokerage firms had already launched Rayse, more brokers are jumping on that platform because of Compass One. 

Monitor Outcomes

When you see a leading competitor launch something new, pay attention and determine if they’ve gained an advantage. Tech vendors give demos to sell benefits. It’s normal for vendors to provide testimonials of existing customers. Be sure to call them – but do more than that. If possible, look into the MLS and see what happened to the firm’s agent count and transaction volume. Is the technology living up to the vendor’s promise of benefits? Better yet, if the broker is not in your market and you cannot see their agent count and transaction data, find a few of their agents that seem to be doing transactions and call them. They will absolutely tell you the truth. 

For more than two decades, WAV Group has been a great partner to help brokers make the best possible decisions to improve the success of their business. We review the firm holistically – operations, agent satisfaction, technology satisfaction, back office audits, recruiting efforts, and more. These reviews inspire strategy. But the keynote is always execution, something we can also help with. Feel free to reach out!

The post Brokerage CEOs Must Remain Curious, Monitor Outcomes appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

According to the press release below, Constellation Data Labs will be doing more than MLS data aggregation and normalization. New customer categories beyond brokers and the tech companies that build software for them include asset management, inspection, appraisal, insurance, and mortgage. This move is part of Constellation Real Estate Group’s ongoing investment in innovative solutions tailored to customers’ evolving needs.

Constellation Data Labs brings extensive expertise in both active property and public record data, including tax, deed, mortgage, and foreclosure information. This comprehensive coverage provides clients with the most up-to-date, consistent, and accurate data needed to power their platforms, expand into new markets, and make informed decisions.

The company has already delivered robust services to premier companies like Fathom Holdings, Engel & Völkers, Redfin, and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, helping them streamline nationwide market expansions3.

Andrew Seminari, General Manager of Constellation Data Labs, emphasized the company’s dedication to continuous innovation4. “We’ve built a strong foundation in real estate data, and while we continue to expand, our focus remains on delivering frictionless access to data that empower our customers to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace,” said Seminari. With this strategic expansion, Constellation Data Labs is poised to continue fueling growth and innovation across multiple industries.

Press release follows.

Constellation Real Estate Group Unveils Constellation Data Labs, Expanding Next-Generation Property Data & Analytics

New Business Will Continue to Build on Success to Fuel Cross-Industry Growth

Laguna Beach, CA – February 18, 2025 – Constellation Real Estate Group announces the launch of Constellation Data Labs, a newly formed business specializing in data and analytics for the property sector. Previously operating as Constellation1 Data Services, Constellation Data Labs will build on its proven success while expanding its reach to serve a broader range of industries, including asset management, inspection, appraisal, insurance, and mortgage.

With the establishment of Constellation Data Labs, Constellation Real Estate Group will further its investment in the development of innovative solutions tailored to customers’ evolving needs. Constellation Data Labs brings extensive expertise in both active property and public record data inclusive of tax, deed, mortgage, and foreclosure information. This comprehensive coverage provides clients with the most up-to-date, consistent, and accurate data needed to power their platforms, expand into new markets, and make informed decisions.

 “Constellation Data Labs is dedicated to continuous innovation,” said Andrew Seminari, General Manager of Constellation Data Labs. “We’ve built a strong foundation in real estate data, and while we continue to expand, our focus remains on delivering frictionless access to data that empower our customers to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.”

Constellation Data Labs has delivered robust services to premier companies including Fathom Holdings, Engel & Völkers, Redfin, and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices—helping them streamline nationwide market expansions. Recently, the company partnered with Optimal Blue, the mortgage industry’s only end-to-end capital markets platform, to integrate its loan analytics data.

“Constellation Data Labs builds upon our proven data infrastructure, extending our ability to deliver powerful insights to real estate professionals and beyond,” said Brant Morwald, President of Constellation Real Estate Group. “This strategic expansion will continue to fuel Constellations Real Estate Group’s mission of providing mission critical solutions to the industry.”

About Constellation Data Labs

Constellation Data Labs is a leading provider of property and analytics solutions for the real estate, mortgage, insurance, and asset management industries.  The company delivers standardized property information that powers enterprise platforms and consumer experiences. A division of Constellation Real Estate Group, Constellation Data Labs combines deep industry expertise with enterprise-grade data infrastructure to help businesses make informed decisions and drive innovation. For more information, visit www.cdatalabs.com.

Media Contact:

Hailey Laughlin
Constellation Real Estate Group
Email: hailey.laughlin@constellation1.com

The post Constellation Real Estate Group Unveils Constellation Data Labs, Expanding Next-Generation Property Data & Analytics appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

WAV Group so appreciates the positive impact that RIS Media has provided to the brokerage community – providing daily education, thought-provoking forums, all while humbly recognizing industry leaders around them. On behalf of Victor Lund, Kevin Hawkins, Bondilyn Jolly and myself, we’re humbled to be recognized for the guidance and counsel we provide to our clients and the thought leadership we provide to the industry. Its take a village as they say and we’re proud to be noted as a company trying to create positive WAVes of Change to ensure the long-term viability of brokerages, MLSs and the real estate industry.

Thanks to John Featherston, Anne Kraft, Maria Patterson, Beth McGuire, and the entire editorial team for your consistent partnership with us!

Below is the official news release highlighting the awards we received from RIS Media.

Four WAV Group Partners Named RISMedia 2025 Real Estate Newsmakers

San Luis Obispo, Calif. – Feb. 4, 2025 – WAV Group announces that four of its partners – Victor Lund, Marilyn Wilson, Bondilyn Jolly, and Kevin Hawkins – have been recognized as RISMedia 2025 Real Estate Newsmakers for their outstanding contributions to the real estate industry. This honor places them among an exclusive group of top industry leaders acknowledged for their newsworthy achievements that positively impact real estate professionals, consumers, and communities.

RISMedia, the leading U.S. provider of real estate news and information services, unveiled its prestigious list of more than 300 Real Estate Newsmakers on Feb. 1. The honorees are showcased in RISMedia’s online directory at RISMedia.com and featured in the February issue of Real Estate magazine. These influential leaders are categorized as Influencers, Trailblazers, Futurists, Achievers, Crusaders, and Luminaries, with an additional Hall of Fame recognition for select industry icons. 

About the WAV Group honorees:

Victor Lund (Arroyo Grande, CA) – Crusader: Victor Lund’s work as Founder and CEO  at WAV Group continues to shape industry-wide policy, technology, and brokerage strategies. In 2024, he advised major brokerages on data and technology strategies, advocated for redress of the Clear Cooperation policy, and led conversations about the evolving role of MLSs in a post-cooperative compensation landscape. Additionally, he played an instrumental role in relaunching the Broker Public Portal, ensuring it remains a vital industry initiative.

“Real estate is an industry full of great people who give to get,” said Lund. “The greatest reward of decades working with real estate brokers, MLSs, and technology firms is the friendships. I can go to any city in America and connect with colleagues and feel like I am visiting family.”

Marilyn Wilson (Arroyo Grande, CA) – Crusader: As CEO of WAV Group, Marilyn Wilson is known for her deep understanding of how real estate’s ecosystem functions and evolves. Under her leadership, in 2024, WAV Group fielded more research than any other firm actively monitoring industry sentiment with practitioners and consumers encouraging brokerages and MLSs to take responsibility for shifting dynamics. Speaking at RISMedia’s 2024 CEO & Leadership Exchange, Wilson advocated for brokerage accountability in agent compensation marketing. Leading the company’s WAVes of Change educational series, Marilyn regularly advocates for better ways for Associations and MLSs to address the needs of the real estate consumers. She has also led efforts to encourage MLSs to open their subscriptions to all active licensees and to encourage statewide reciprocal lockbox access. 

“Real estate leaders have a responsibility to ensure every practitioner knows how to fully access and leverage the policies, tools, training and support available to effectively serve real estate consumers,” said Wilson. “Together, we make sure every American understands our industry’s undying commitment and passion to building their family’s generational wealth and helping them live the American dream.”

Bondilyn Jolly (Los Angeles, CA) – Futurist: As a partner at WAV Group, Bondilyn Jolly leads the company’s marketing division, assisting top brokerages and organizations with annual recruitment, retention, and communication strategies. In 2024, she launched a specialized marketing services division for brokerages, MLSs, associations, and technology firms, enabling them to execute high-impact national and regional campaigns. Jolly challenges companies to craft compelling brand stories and leverage innovative marketing strategies.

“I’m so blessed to work with some of the best minds in the industry,” said Jolly. “I love helping companies navigate the real estate landscape and grow their businesses, even in difficult times.”

Kevin Hawkins (Bainbridge Island, WA) – Futurist: Kevin Hawkins has long been a champion of technological advancements in real estate, recently helping firms embrace AI-powered solutions. In 2023, he co-founded REAL AI, real estate’s first weekly newsletter about artificial intelligence. REAL AI has become the go-to source for real estate agents learning about safe, practical AI tools and tactics. He also helped launch Revive AI – a presale renovation platform – and supported AI industry leader Restb.ai and its computer vision products and services. Hawkins also helped zavvie introduce AI innovations for mortgage lenders and loan officers to modernize Fintech processes.

“I’m incredibly grateful to work in an industry that I am passionate about because it positively impacts people in profound and life-changing ways,” said Hawkins.

RISMedia Founder, CEO and Publisher John Featherston highlighted the resilience and innovation of the 2025 Newsmakers, saying, “This year’s Newsmakers shine a spotlight on the innumerable ways this industry bravely confronted the sea change. Our 2025 Real Estate Newsmakers demonstrate the grit, tenacity, and resilience that dedicated real estate professionals have long been known for.”

RISMedia will celebrate the 2025 Real Estate Newsmakers, including the Hall of Fame inductees, at the upcoming Newsmakers Reception & Dinner on Sept. 5, 2025, at The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., held in conjunction with the 2025 CEO & Leadership Exchange.

About WAV Group

WAV Group is real estate’s premier business and marketing consultancy, serving leading real estate brokerages, technology firms, MLSs, and real estate associations. For over 20 years, WAV Group has provided strategic insights, consumer research, technology consulting and tactical marketing, PR and content services, helping clients navigate change and move the industry forward by driving evolution. The company’s mission is to create waves of positive impact in real estate through innovation and forward-thinking strategies. Learn more at wavgroup.com.

About RISMedia

For more than 45 years, RISMedia has been the trusted source for news, trends, and business development strategies in residential real estate. Through its flagship publication, Real Estate Magazine, leading industry website RISMedia.com, and premier events—including the CEO & Leadership Exchange and Newsmakers Reception & Dinner—RISMedia delivers timely insights and invaluable networking opportunities. Visit RISMedia.com for more information.

The post Four WAV Group Partners Named RISMedia 2025 Real Estate Newsmakers appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.

REAL AI is a human-created weekly roundup of all things related to artificial intelligence in real estate and emerging AI innovations in other sectors likely to impact our industry. Note: This content will soon only be available via our free newsletter, delivered every Monday. Please subscribe here!

Delta AI Survey: Real estate is an AI leader

Real estate has been a notorious tech lagger for decades. Despite millions in VC funds pumped into the category, widespread adoption of new tech by real estate agents has always been elusive. In fact, tech agent adoption rates above 30% are considered exceptional. AI is proving to be the ultimate exception to that rule.

Last year, real estate brokerage leaders reported that a stunning 80% of their agents were using AI in their business. This year, that number is approaching 90%. At 87%, that’s a 7% jump in just 12 months – that kind of rapid adoption of new tech is practically unheard of in any industry.

Remember: even though ChatGPT reports some 300 million weekly active users worldwide, just 6.7% of the US population uses ChatGPT daily. In real estate, our usage is off the chart!

What’s driving this? The latest 2025 Delta Real Estate Leadership AI Survey sheds light on the growing role of AI in brokerage operations, the evolution of agent adoption, and why AI is moving from a marketing tool to table stakes technology.

From content to operations: AI’s evolving role

Real estate has long been slow to embrace change, but our industry leans in hard when something works. AI’s real estate takeover started with content creation: listing descriptions, blogs, social media, and emails. But the new Delta AI survey shows brokerages are expanding AI use into deeper operational functions:

• Client services and support
• Data analysis and reporting
• Administrative task automation
• Back office support

The numbers are smaller but growing, indicating a more mature, strategic approach to AI adoption. What started as a go-to marketing tool is beginning to transform brokerage operations, unlocking data and insights that could help increase the efficiency of brokerage operations.

At a time when broker margins are paper thin, leveraging AI to help leaders improve efficiency, scale processes, and better identify and navigate productivity issues and market challenges could be a game-changer.

One other shift to note: Moving from AI skepticism to confidence

The Delta Media survey also shows AI fears are fading. While risk and liability concerns remain, the survey shows a noticeable decline in high-level AI worries.

Last year, 50.4% of brokerage leaders expressed major concerns about AI’s risks. This year, that number dropped to 42.2%, suggesting a growing comfort level with AI’s role in business.

This means brokerages are not hesitating about using AI but looking for the best ways to use it.

According to the survey, the biggest AI adopters are medium to large brokerages with 101-500 agents and transaction volumes between $101M-$500M. These firms have the resources and scale to implement AI effectively with all the right gates and guardrails to ensure responsible AI.

But on the flip side, smaller brokerages (under 20 agents, <$50M in transactions) are adoption laggers. The biggest barrier? Limited resources, not skepticism. AI is becoming more accessible, but cost and implementation hurdles still slow adoption for smaller firms. The risk of using public AI tools like ChatGPT without gates and guardrails increases liability and privacy issues.

If there’s one thing the Delta AI survey makes clear: AI is here and is here to stay. (-Kevin)

What’s Next for AI in Real Estate?

One AI highlight for me at Inman Connect that’s worth sharing some highlights from was a panel moderated by Jonathan Klein, featuring Drew Fabrikant, Founder of Scout, Amy Gromowski, VP and Head of Data Science at CoreLogic, Gaétan Rougevin-Baville, CEO of ProperShot, Mikus Opelts, CEO of Giraffe360.

Drew has a great opening salvo: That AI has the ability to answer real estate’s toughest marketing questions: Who to target? What to say? When to say it? He notes that AI-powered outreach is helping real estate professionals personalize messaging at scale, reaching the right buyers and sellers at the right time.

However, Drew also stressed that transparency is critical: agents must be upfront about AI’s role in their communications and ensure they comply with evolving regulations around data usage.

At risk? Trust: the foundation of real estate. Drew noted that clear disclosure and accountability will set the best agents apart as AI becomes more embedded in marketing.

Amy at CoreLogic highlighted AI’s ability to remove the administrative burdens that slow agents down. Instead of manually researching comps or risk factors, AI can instantly generate hyper-specific market insights and will dramatically alter search.

AI search can get rid of the checked boxes and the pull-down filters as home search will instead use natural language queries:

“Show me homes in Chicago priced between $500K-$600K, with a low flood risk and a roof in great condition.”

To do this, Amy notes, AI must analyze spatial data, property valuations, climate risks, and even image-extracted details like roof quality, all in real time. Generative AI is helping to make these processes seamless, allowing agents to spend more time building relationships instead of manually inputting data.

Mikus of Giraffe360 sees AI driving the cost of producing visual content – floor plans, videos, virtual tours, and 3D model rendering – to nearly zero.

He’s talked about going well beyond the Matterport 3D “dollhouse” tours, with the next wave of AI-driven creating a more immersive experience, replacing the plethora of static images. He said buyers will be able to fully interact with digital property models, virtually planning renovations (see Revive Vision), rearranging spaces, and customizing homes before they buy.

The most significant impact of this more immersive and accessible tech, Mikus said, would be faster transactions, predicting days on market will drop by as much as 20% in the next two years.

Finally, Gaétan of ProperShot talked about how AI staging is changing the game for real estate professionals, noting agents will be able to generate multiple AI-powered staging variations instantly, helping buyers envision a property’s full potential.

One looming caution among all the speakers: as AI adoption skyrockets, the industry must tackle critical questions about data quality, gates, guardrails, and privacy. Amy pointed to CoreLogic’s AI Governance Council, which brings together legal, compliance, and data science leaders to address issues like data privacy, ethical AI use, and collaborating with organizations to establish AI best practices. (-Kevin)

AI Facts and Stats

1. 87% of brokerage leaders said that their agents use AI for their business – Delta Media
2. Listing descriptions are the number one use of AI by real estate agents – 26% – Delta Media
3. 75% of brokerage leaders said their agents use AI for content creation – Delta Media
4. 52% of brokerage leaders admit they plan to expand or adapt their use of AI in social media management for 2025 – Delta Media
5. Only 16% of brokerage leaders said that their agents utilize AI for data analysis and reporting – Delta Media

Source: 2025 Delta Real Estate AI Survey (-Korey)

AI Headlines

Why AI succeeds where previous real estate ‘Disruptors’ failed | 1/30/25 Elite Agent
AI is enhancing rather than replacing the human touch in real estate.

Deepfake Deception: How AI Is Fueling Sophisticated Real Estate Scams | 1/30/25 Candy’s Dirt
Bad actors are upping their game using AI for real estate scams – here’s a list of red flags.

Is nuclear energy the answer to AI data centers’ power consumption? | 1/23/25 Goldman Sachs
Nuclear power has a big role to play in meeting the needs of AI data centers.

How AI in Real Estate is Catalyzing a Paradigm Shift – 16 Applications and Real-World Examples | 1/30/25 Appinventiv
Another look at how AI is influencing and transforming real estate.

CoreLogic adds aerial imagery partner for post-disaster AI analysis | 1/24/25 HousingWire
In the wake of the LA fires, data-king CoreLogic leverages a vast image library covering 90% of where the US population lives. (-Korey)

AI Quote of the Week

The post REAL AI: Real estate is an AI leader, What’s next, AI facts, headlines and AI quote of the week appeared first on WAV Group Consulting.