Real Tea Podcast – Season 2: Episode 9

00:00:02:02 – 00:00:20:15
Angela
Today we have a very special treat. We have Jared Grasso, who is the senior vice president of industry relations at NAR. Has come all the way from Chicago to join us here in Knoxville, Tennessee because we’re here at TNsights. So let me say welcome to you.

00:00:20:17 – 00:00:24:14
Jarrod
Well thank you Angela, it’s a pleasure being here. I’m excited for our conversation tonight.

00:00:24:15 – 00:00:40:02
Angela
I have to before we kick off. We have a tradition with this podcast. I didn’t give you any warning, but we are called the Real Tea podcast. And what we do is we ask every guest, what do you take in your teacup?

00:00:40:04 – 00:00:51:20
Jarrod
In my teacup? That’s an interesting question. Well, I’m a, at night, if I’m doing a sleepytime tea, I’m, just a little bit of honey in there. It about it.

00:00:51:21 – 00:00:52:21
Angela
So you do drink tea?

00:00:52:22 – 00:01:03:27
Jarrod
I do at night. Yes. When I’m not on the road and I’m home, my wife and I, some nights we’ll get a nice, cup of, sleepytime tea and we’ll put a little honey in.

00:01:04:00 – 00:01:11:06
Angela
Nowadays, we have so many people who tell me they don’t drink tea. They are all coffee all the way. They don’t want anything less than.

00:01:11:06 – 00:01:17:15
Jarrod
I’m somebody who believes that. You know, you have to be open to everything that’s, you know. So I have coffee in the morning. Sometimes tea at night.

00:01:17:15 – 00:01:30:08
Angela
That’s awesome. That’s awesome. Well, there we go. We know something new about you. Yes. Well, great. So you made the transition to the National Association of Realtors®. How many months ago?

00:01:30:10 – 00:01:48:14
Jarrod
Boy, it was back in March. So it was about five months ago. I could say that it’s been a very rewarding experience for me. I’m not saying that just because I’m being recorded. I really, truly believe in, what I signed up for. And I’m sure we’re going to talk a little bit more about it. But it’s been really fun.

00:01:48:21 – 00:01:53:10
Jarrod
It’s an exciting and it’s a lot of good conversations that are happening across the country.

00:01:53:13 – 00:02:13:28
Angela
And I can say, I’ve known you now for many years as we’ve both worked in this industry for quite some time. I feel like we’ve both grown up in that, from one side to the other. But, and I’ve always found you to be a phenomenal seed. You know, and, and and just such a great job. So I’m excited to see you in this role.

00:02:13:28 – 00:02:30:15
Angela
I think I think you’re going to bring so much to, the role itself. My question is, since joining the National Association of REALTORS®, what have you found to be the most, eye opening in your experience?

00:02:30:17 – 00:02:54:28
Jarrod
And I think that, so Nikki, right, are my boss. You know, I’ve had these conversations and I think the most eye opening was the silos that were built within the organization and that different departments didn’t really communicate with each other. And and other, too. And the departments had no continuity or context of what the other department was doing.

00:02:55:00 – 00:03:20:17
Jarrod
And, and what we’re doing now is we’re taking down those silos as it were, where, where we’re taking down the walls. We’re creating a network of communication inside that hasn’t been seen in, I don’t know, years. At the National Association so that the departments are talking to one another and we’re, we’re sharing resources with one another. And making sure that the members see the real value of the organization.

00:03:20:18 – 00:03:29:08
Jarrod
So it’s a different world inside. And I’ve and I like I said, I’ve only been there since March, of this year, and I could already see a change.

00:03:29:11 – 00:03:38:09
Angela
I think so, so many times, with a longstanding company, you just get used to doing things the same old way, and you don’t even see that that’s happening.

00:03:38:11 – 00:04:03:07
Jarrod
Yeah, I think that, And I’m not criticizing past CEOs of the organizations, but I’m just going to say that I think that there was a sense of cruise control. And that, you know, the departments were doing their jobs individually, but they weren’t talking to one another. So without talking to one another, you’re losing that, continuity and connectivity.

00:04:03:07 – 00:04:04:02
Angela
And efficiency.

00:04:04:02 – 00:04:24:22
Jarrod
And efficiency. Think that’s a great word? Efficiency. So I think now that we that Nikki’s at the helm and she has kind of challenged us and we’re going to talk about like the whole new team that we have. I mean my gosh we we have so many new faces. And the senior vice president level, including myself, that we we’ve nikias built a whole new team.

00:04:24:25 – 00:04:28:06
Jarrod
You know, we have some, individuals. Shannon McGann. I mean.

00:04:28:08 – 00:04:30:10
Angela
She’s right.

00:04:30:12 – 00:04:44:27
Jarrod
And, we are so fortunate to have Shannon, but, you know, she’s somebody that’s been there for a few years now. Mark Birchbox, another one who’s been around for a few years. Handling our business relationships and second century ventures. But, Lawrence Yun.

00:04:44:27 – 00:04:46:13
Angela
Lawrence. Yes. He was just here.

00:04:46:13 – 00:05:07:00
Jarrod
He was there today. Right? And I’m sad I missed him. But, you know, Lawrence is, another like, part of that foundation of the organization. But what Nikki has done is she’s built upon that foundation with some, fresh perspectives. We have Elizabeth Rano, who is, heading our education department now and event. We’ve got Bennett Richardson.

00:05:07:03 – 00:05:29:06
Jarrod
Who is amazing on the comms team. And he brought in his new guy, Raffi, who is our vice president. And I’m telling you, the communications, and the the, the initiatives that we’re going to be putting forward are second to none. Well, really, I’m really excited to be part of this new process. And of course, we have our new, CEO, CFO.

00:05:29:09 – 00:05:47:24
Jarrod
Matt. And, I mean, and what he’s doing to make sure that we are fiscally sound, you know, responsible Sharon White, who is our new head of HR for the National Association of REALTORS®. It’s just a new perspective. It’s new it’s and it’s just not sound cheesy, but it’s like a new vibe inside. It’s really cool.

00:05:47:26 – 00:05:49:02
Jarrod
It’s great to be a part of.

00:05:49:02 – 00:06:04:04
Angela
Right. I think it’s always exciting when you are coming into something that feels like it’s growing or reforming or building or, and quite frankly, I think we can even feel it from the outside that you can kind of it’s the synergy that’s starting to happen, I believe.

00:06:04:10 – 00:06:26:04
Jarrod
Yeah. No, I and it’s, you know, Angela, you touched upon us like you know, you and I have been around for a while. I mean, I was with the new Jersey Realtors for 26 years. I started as our government affairs director, worked my way up the CEO in 2008, and I, I’ve sat in the audience, at RLM or NXT and back in the days we call Mid-Year.

00:06:26:04 – 00:06:51:05
Jarrod
Yeah. As in November meetings. But, you know, and I sat there and I, I remember sitting in those seats saying like, gosh, there’s so much more that I’m hoping to hear or, I want to be a part of. And, I feel like now, like coming out of RLM this past May, I felt like there’s a different, message coming out, a different vibe coming out.

00:06:51:09 – 00:07:08:27
Jarrod
Like, people are more engaged. And the conversations felt more real to me, and I. And I did forget to mention our, chief counsel, our new chief counsel, John McCloskey. Amazing individual. Really? His legal mind is second to none. And we are so fortunate to have him in that post.

00:07:08:27 – 00:07:12:25
Angela
I imagine as we talk, you’re going to keep thinking of more people that are moved around.

00:07:12:29 – 00:07:18:18
Jarrod
I think I got all the updates. I think I got what who’s

00:07:18:21 – 00:07:33:07
Angela
With that dynamic team, there’s got to be some challenges that NAR is going to be facing. So as you kind of look at the landscape, what are some of the things that you see on the horizon that you think any are going to be facing as far as challenges go?

00:07:33:09 – 00:07:46:15
Jarrod
Well, I think John’s team, Will Kowski, who I mentioned just earlier, I think that they are hyper-focused on the lawsuit. I mean, we still have a lot of pending lawsuits that are out there, and challenges in that field.

00:07:46:21 – 00:07:51:01
Angela
And I want to say this before you keep going is I think people forget we’ve always had lawsuits.

00:07:51:02 – 00:07:52:19
Jarrod
Oh, yeah. It’s a you’re right.

00:07:52:19 – 00:07:52:26
Angela
Yeah.

00:07:52:26 – 00:07:53:14
Jarrod
It is.

00:07:53:21 – 00:07:57:25
Angela
We get so focused on what’s happening right now that we forget they’ve always fought lawsuits.

00:07:57:26 – 00:08:09:16
Jarrod
And the reason why we probably didn’t know about them as much is because of social media right now, that with social media, everything’s happening at a rapid pace. So people are seeing and hearing things a lot more frequently and more often.

00:08:09:16 – 00:08:12:14
Angela
And from so many different people with so many different opinions.

00:08:12:14 – 00:08:44:24
Jarrod
Right? Absolutely. You’re absolutely right. But yeah, but back to your question. I think, I mean, as we’re working through that process, I think that, and then let’s change gears to like, Shannon McGann and what she’s been doing, in Washington, D.C., defending the 1031 Exchange. Right. And, and, SALT Deductions. I mean, her team has been at it since the, the the minute the they saw that the elections were over, they started, plugging our initiatives with the new Congress, with the new administration.

00:08:44:24 – 00:09:04:26
Jarrod
And we’re starting to see the fruits of their labor now. Right. You know, and they’ve gotten some many, great victories. You know, from the advocacy team, but from challenges, we have so many things happening at once. And it’s hard for me to say that there’s one specific challenge that we’re going to be facing, because I say this to my wife at night.

00:09:04:29 – 00:09:22:10
Jarrod
I feel like, you know, we’re on sound footing every night when I go to bed and then something else pops up and that’s that’s just the world we live in, right? It’s the industry that we’re a part of. And and, you know, we’re we’re subject to change. And there’s so much change that’s out there. And that’s what makes real estate.

00:09:22:12 – 00:09:38:00
Jarrod
So unique. And, you know, and it’s a challenge for our members. Right. And our members are constantly learning. And as an organization, we have to constantly learn and we have to adapt, right? I think that’s what we’re trying to be is more adaptive to what’s going on in the field.

00:09:38:02 – 00:09:53:14
Angela
Especially when we are an industry that impacts so much of the economy. Yeah, we had to expect that we would be more absorbed into everything that’s changing and everything that’s impacting us. We had to be touched by a little bit of everything, right?

00:09:53:16 – 00:10:30:24
Jarrod
Absolutely, absolutely. But and just lastly is the communications part. I think that, a challenge is making sure that our members are staying plugged in. Yes. And I think that’s the hardest thing from a national level, from a state level and from our local associations, you know, because we were trying to pump out so much information to them that sometimes it becomes overwhelming for the members and, and try and find unique ways so that we’re we’re touching the members, and they’re getting the information that they want, and the way they want it and, and, and so that they feel plugged into the organization on all three levels.

00:10:30:25 – 00:10:52:20
Angela
And knowing that’s the reliable source. I know one of the things that we all face is that our brokers get so they’re inundated. They are receiving so much information from everywhere. So just knowing that they can count on the information that they get from national and from state and their local association, and hopefully not that we’re saturating them.

00:10:52:20 – 00:10:53:17
Angela
Right.

00:10:53:20 – 00:11:16:19
Jarrod
Angela, I think I think the real challenge and I’m going to put this out there for you, and I think for anybody listening to this is going to be how can we streamline that information? Right. How could we, as a national association, work with you on a state level and then the local association and, and get us all on one platform or one wavelength so that we’re all pumping out the same information and it’s like a one stop shop.

00:11:16:21 – 00:11:20:29
Angela
Oh, I agree, I think that’s a great idea. Cool. Yeah, that would be let’s work on that. All right.

00:11:20:29 – 00:11:22:22
Jarrod
You got.

00:11:22:25 – 00:11:36:02
Angela
So. All right. So, if you could think of one thing that you would like members to really, like, just grab onto and know about Nar or the role of Nar, what would that be?

00:11:36:05 – 00:11:59:13
Jarrod
I think that, the one thing that I really want the members who are listening here today to know is that NAR Strong and that, you know, we’re well over 100-year organization and that we’re going to be here for another 100 years or or beyond. I can tell you that because we’re adapting and and I keep saying that word because that’s not a kids word.

00:11:59:15 – 00:12:17:20
Jarrod
Nicky has a vision for us. And and her vision is to make sure that we’re more business oriented, we’re more in tune to the members needs, and we’re responsive in a more nimble way as an organization. And once we hit that point, I’m telling you that the members are really going to see that value.

00:12:17:23 – 00:12:40:10
Angela
I love that I was having a conversation with Lawrence Yun earlier today, and exactly what we were talking about is the fact that staff members like Lawrence, staff members like you that are so approachable and members can actually go up to and talk with them. I mean, you see Lawrence on tv, right? I mean, he’s like a rock star.

00:12:40:11 – 00:12:57:04
Angela
All of our members love him. Yeah, but he is so approachable. Any member who comes up to him, he can be right in the middle of a conversation, and they’ll want to have a picture made with him, and he’ll just stop and talk to them. And I think that is so important. And it just shows the the member focused organization that we are.

00:12:57:11 – 00:13:01:18
Angela
And I agree with you and I, art is not going anywhere. It is so important.

00:13:01:20 – 00:13:19:20
Jarrod
No, I think that, you know, we’ve had the issues in the past, but that’s our past and we have to put all the issues in the rearview mirror, but learn from it. Exactly right. And that’s the you have to make sure that you learn from history. Right. And we’ve learned from our from what has gone on.

00:13:19:20 – 00:13:21:10
Jarrod
And now we’re moving forward.

00:13:21:11 – 00:13:40:26
Angela
And focus on what it is that NAR gives. Like that research from Lawrence, like the advocacy that Shannon and her team is doing, because our members don’t have time to go and keep that legislation from happening. That’s going to hurt their business. They can’t be there every day to fight that. Somebody is going to be there for them.

00:13:40:27 – 00:13:54:28
Jarrod
Absolutely. And for homeowners. Right. I mean, we’re talking about our members, but a lot of the stuff that we do is to protect that so much. Yeah. And and if we weren’t there, if we weren’t the boots on the ground fighting those fights. Think about what would be happening at homeownership across this.

00:13:55:05 – 00:14:06:07
Angela
Right, right. I agree. So on that note, how does in our position itself to lead through the change of the industry?

00:14:06:09 – 00:14:38:26
Jarrod
I think it’s it’s listening first and foremost. I think it’s listening to the members, listening to our Association Executives, making sure that we’re getting the feedback from what’s going on so that we can then provide the level of services that they need. And I think that’s kind of what my role with that second of it is what my role as it’s I’m out here listening to what you need Angela and the members need across the country, and trying to make sure that I’m carrying that message back to the National Association so that we know what we need to provide to that.

00:14:38:28 – 00:14:44:00
Jarrod
So I think that’s the main point right there is just connecting with the members.

00:14:44:02 – 00:14:51:23
Angela
I was so glad to see that you brought on Michelle Holden to help you, because I was worried about how on earth are you going to do that all by yourself? You’re on the road so much, right?

00:14:51:24 – 00:15:10:04
Jarrod
Yeah. It’s funny when I. When I took the position. Well when the. So the quick story is Nikki calls me up in December of 2024 and says, “Hey, Jarrod, I want all the time with you. I want to explain to you about my vision for the organization, and I’ve created this role,” and she starts talking about the Industry Relations position.

00:15:10:04 – 00:15:34:22
Jarrod
And I said, “Wow, that sounds fantastic. I hope you find the right person.” And she said, “Oh, I did it, you know?” And I said to her, I’m like, “I’m okay in New Jersey.” And she said, “Hear me out.” And we had this conversation. And then after that, you know, talking to my family and going through the process of, you know, making sure that this is the right thing for me and my family because I have young kids and I’m going to be on the road a lot.

00:15:34:27 – 00:16:00:18
Jarrod
But, knowing my wife was okay with it. Okay. She is supportive of the position. I then started thinking about who do I want to be part of this process with me, you know, and I was looking around. I knew that from my perspective. I’m a state AG and people recognize me as a former state AG. I want to make sure that I had a local association executive who is well-respected within the industry that would join my team.

00:16:00:22 – 00:16:21:03
Jarrod
And luckily for me, I found Michelle, and she is a great part of the team and I don’t want to leave out. Another important person for my team is, Nikki Pippen. Nikki Pippen is, part of our broker relations team, right? So she’s helping with the small and medium brokers, making sure to connect with them. But of course we have Sherry.

00:16:21:03 – 00:16:23:13
Angela
Chris, I was going to say please explain her role is Sherry.

00:16:23:13 – 00:16:43:22
Jarrod
Chris is our consultant. So she’s not an employee, but she works with me and Nikki, to help us open doors with the large brokers. And Sherry is one of the best in the business, one of the brightest in the business. And we are so fortunate to have her as part of our team. And she’s been great as a resource to us.

00:16:43:25 – 00:16:49:10
Jarrod
And helping us formulate our positions and, and reconnect with the larger brokers out there.

00:16:49:11 – 00:17:11:22
Angela
Yeah, I think it was a great time when NAR could really bring in house, the caliber of, mines that you all bring to the table to be able to really understand the industry in a holistic way. Right? I mean, because of all of those individuals, including yourself, that can actually say that this is what’s happening in the industry.

00:17:11:24 – 00:17:15:28
Angela
I just applaud Nikki for being able to do that and to see that was needed.

00:17:15:29 – 00:17:32:21
Jarrod
But she also knows her blind spots, right? So so Nikki, right, knew what blind spots she had and she knew how to to shed light on those blind spots and getting the right people in there to help shed the light. And I think that goes back to something we talked about, Angela. It’s about the moving parts of the industry, right?

00:17:32:29 – 00:17:41:25
Jarrod
There’s so many moving parts, whether it’s multiple listing services, the ESI rates, right, the local and state associations. But then the.

00:17:42:01 – 00:17:42:24
Angela
Broker.

00:17:42:26 – 00:17:58:02
Jarrod
And then the agents. There’s so many components to what we service and who we service as a national association. So I think that what we’re doing is we’re we’re making sure that we are connecting with all those components.

00:17:58:02 – 00:18:15:14
Angela
Right? I think that’s fantastic. So with all of those people in mind, what are some of the tools and resources, that you think the members as a whole are under utilizing that they should be taking a look at and maybe revisiting?

00:18:15:16 – 00:18:21:07
Jarrod
Well, I think that, is from an underutilization standpoint, let’s just talk about RPR.

00:18:21:10 – 00:18:23:28
Angela
Yeah. Oh, yes. Okay. That is a great product.

00:18:24:02 – 00:18:38:03
Jarrod
Realtor Property Resource. Now, Jeff Young and his team are fantastic. They’ve created this system that is pulling in data points that are so valuable. And guess what? There’s only one person to get hold of that information. And as.

00:18:38:03 – 00:18:39:04
Angela
REALTORS®.

00:18:39:06 – 00:19:06:27
Jarrod
So as a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, what’s ties you to the state association and to the local association. And they have access to the REALTOR® property resource. Right. And our PR is one of the biggest database systems in the world. Right. And we are so fortunate that that previous boards of directors of the National Association put money into this, this, data system to build this system.

00:19:07:00 – 00:19:27:28
Jarrod
So that is a true resource to the REALTOR® organization. So I think that to me is a underutilized resource by some. I know our commercial brokers rely on it heavily, but our residential, agents and brokers need to really take a hard look if you’re not looking at that PR, you should take a look at take advantage.

00:19:27:28 – 00:19:37:28
Angela
And there’s classes that you can take to learn how to use it better. So that’s I, I’m with you. I think everybody should learn how to use that. There’s so many tools in there.

00:19:37:28 – 00:20:01:17
Jarrod
And for you also and for our local EAS, I mean for connecting with the Congress about connecting with your local legislators, you can give them data points that they would not have access to that talks about their district. You know, and I could tell you that when I was a state AG, I would always make sure that I, pulled certain data points and said to my governor.

00:20:01:18 – 00:20:17:16
Jarrod
Yes. And my governor and I would have real conversations, whether it’s via text message or conversation, about what’s going on in the market and what certain things mean to him and to us as an industry. So it opens up that conversation. So it’s huge. Huge.

00:20:17:16 – 00:20:41:12
Angela
So also, tell me, how does NAR ensure its programs remain relevant to the agents in the market and from metro to rural, there’s so many different areas that you’re serving. So how are you focusing on making sure that everybody in all the different areas or being able to take advantage of it.

00:20:41:13 – 00:21:05:28
Jarrod
It’s hard to be all things to all people. But I think what we’re trying to do is keep that open mind and open year so that we’re hearing what, value what people see and value with what we’re providing, but also making sure that we change if it’s not valuable. Right. And I think that, NAR, as an organization, like I said, has been around a long time.

00:21:05:28 – 00:21:19:13
Jarrod
But I think now with the way technology works is that we really, truly need to be listening and and making sure that we’re adapting quickly. Right? Because technology will beat us to that if we don’t.

00:21:19:17 – 00:21:22:19
Angela
Yes. Especially with AI in the marketplace today.

00:21:22:22 – 00:21:24:10
Jarrod
Absolutely.

00:21:24:12 – 00:21:39:18
Angela
So if you’re looking out even just at the next 12 to 18 months, I know, there’s a lot going on. I know there’s a lot NAR is considering right now. What do you kind of see as things that you’re paying close attention to?

00:21:39:20 – 00:22:00:01
Jarrod
Well, I think first and foremost is, members dues. Okay. I think it’s imperative, as an organization. And they care, right? Gave us a directive. And the directive was, is that we want to make sure that we have a balanced budget. And we did want to have a dues increase. And that was something that we carried in as our Senior Vice Presidents.

00:22:00:01 – 00:22:17:17
Jarrod
We sat down and we went through our budget line items and made sure that we’re still providing high levels of service and and making sure that we are, true to our word that there was not going to be a dues increase for 2026. And that’s what we brought forth to the board of directors at the, all meetings in May.

00:22:17:17 – 00:22:29:14
Jarrod
And, that is what’s being carried forward. So I think what what I am proud of is that we are going into a, year of 2026 with no dues increase.

00:22:29:16 – 00:22:58:25
Angela
And I can say, I see a lot of efficiency from where things have been. Some may say cut out, some may say you just went through and you, cleaned the budget up however you want to put it. But there’s a lot of efficiency that took place. Some things did get cut out, but I think that there was some fluff that got cut out and some things that, look like he really did some study on with 1.5 million members, how many people were actually taking advantage of certain things.

00:22:58:25 – 00:23:02:26
Angela
And and you really did have to make some hard decisions and you should. What’s a business?

00:23:02:26 – 00:23:21:25
Jarrod
But Angela, that’s I think you just touched upon it. We have to be a data driven organization, and we have to look at what’s going on. And that’s that is Nikki, right? She is a data driven individual looking at the X’s and O’s, making sure that we are ahead of the game and making sure that we are looking at what programs are working and what programs are not working.

00:23:21:29 – 00:23:26:05
Jarrod
And can we make those programs that aren’t working better. And if not, we just got to got them right?

00:23:26:05 – 00:23:41:13
Angela
Well, and to your point, earlier, that’s how you run a business. So yes, that makes perfect sense. If you could give one piece of advice to REALTORS® looking to futureproof their business or their membership or their careers, what would that be?

00:23:41:16 – 00:24:03:25
Jarrod
I think, my biggest piece of advice is take advantage of your membership. You know, there’s so many resources available to you that will help you in your business, the networking, abilities to, I mean, just the networking alone and the value that comes along with that, because that helps you get to your next deal. Yeah. You know, that’s how you get that referral.

00:24:03:25 – 00:24:29:06
Jarrod
That’s how you build up those relationships so that it get you out there and get your name out there in your area out there that you’re covering as a realtor, and you’re going to make more money, plain and simple. So I think my biggest advice out there looking to the future is get engaged, get engaged on your local level, get engaged on the state level, and hopefully on the national level, because we need to hear voices and we want to make sure that you’re plugged in to what’s going on.

00:24:29:10 – 00:24:30:20
Jarrod
From the industry standpoint.

00:24:30:22 – 00:24:54:24
Angela
We hear so often that, oh, I don’t have time, or so-and-so told me it. Don’t focus on that right now. And I agree with you, because I hear from so many who say, I volunteered to serve on this. I met people from across the state, I met people from across the country, and that added to my business. So I 100% agree, because of those referral networks that you build 100%.

00:24:54:25 – 00:25:18:00
Jarrod
Angela, look at our leadership right from from my leadership when I was a state executive. And you’re a state executive now, I mean, how many times have your leaders come back to us that, oh my gosh, I got a phone call from so-and-so in Florida who was looking for somebody to relocate to Tennessee. Right. And it is because they had that network, because they had that connectivity to the organization.

00:25:18:00 – 00:25:19:11
Jarrod
So it happened.

00:25:19:11 – 00:25:29:03
Angela
And we had so many presentations during TNsights. Of all the people that are relocating to Tennessee that you need than a referral network just because of that.

00:25:29:05 – 00:25:35:04
Jarrod
That I’m sure a lot of people from my home state in New Jersey are be moving south or moving south. I know it’s happened.

00:25:35:04 – 00:25:49:21
Angela
There are a lot, so, what would you say to a REALTOR® who’s feeling a little disconnected or unsure about the value of the in our membership right now?

00:25:49:24 – 00:26:23:25
Jarrod
Take the time to educate yourself. I think that’s my base advice. Connect with your local association, your state association? Obviously, take advantage of the resources that we have available to you on the national level, but I think it’s really take that time to really look at what you gain by your membership. Right. And what, you know, that what benefits are out there for you so that you can end, feel like you’re getting true value from the organization at all three levels.

00:26:23:27 – 00:26:50:13
Angela
Rule first, not only Lynn’s rule, but lives rule two. And as a cooperative, they can offer products and services other lenders aren’t able to, from construction to land loans to financing homes in the country. They’ll walk you through the process to make your rule dreams a reality. And because community matters, they’re committed to investing in the communities they’re a part of.

00:26:50:15 – 00:27:31:29
Angela
Learn how you can get closer to what matters at rural1st.com Rural 1st is a registered trademark of Farm Credit Mid-America. In MLS 407249 Equal Housing Lender loans subject to approval and eligibility. So I’m going to add to that. So when it comes to social media, think about everything you’re reading on social media. Typically speaking, when you’re getting your messages about what’s going on with NAR, if you’re upset with with NAR, you’re going to go to social media and you’re going to put all the reasons why you dislike NAR.

00:27:32:05 – 00:27:52:11
Angela
But if you’re happy with NAR, which the majority of people, I’m going to argue are happy with their membership, they’re not going to go onto social media and put all the great reasons that they belong to the National Association of REALTORS®. It’s the disgruntled people, and that’s usually the loudest voices that like to put all the negative stuff.

00:27:52:13 – 00:28:18:15
Angela
I just caution people to say, don’t use social media as your resource, doing your research to say, should I or should I not belong? It’s the loudest people who go to social media, and that’s the case. It doesn’t matter if we’re talking about Froot Loops cereal and whether you like your fruit Froot Loops or not. The people who hate it are going to be the ones that are the loudest on social media, not the people who love it.

00:28:18:18 – 00:28:36:12
Jarrod
And I think, Angela, that’s a great point. I think that, with the advent of social media and the use of social media, I think what you hear is you hear a lot of the naysayers before you hear anything else, right? Because the positive people or the people who believe in whatever it is, they don’t engage at that level.

00:28:36:12 – 00:28:38:08
Jarrod
They don’t feel the need to engage at that level.

00:28:38:10 – 00:28:40:03
Angela
They don’t have time for the negativity.

00:28:40:03 – 00:28:57:16
Jarrod
Right, exactly. I mean, I look at my own town. I mean, so you go on your home town Facebook page and it’s never the positive person is posting, oh my gosh, thank you. Maybe sometimes for the police department or fire department, but for the most part it’s the people who are saying my garbage didn’t get picked up. You know, why isn’t the council doing this?

00:28:57:17 – 00:29:13:06
Jarrod
You know? So yeah, it’s the same type of thing. It’s same type of mentality that it’s more the negative that’s out there sometimes when it’s on the social media channels and also it’s a lot of the clickbait, you know, because people are just trying to get you to click through to their websites or whatever so they could get credit.

00:29:13:09 – 00:29:42:13
Angela
You know. Right. Yeah. Right. So I love that your, your advice is to actually research what you get. I would argue, take the amount of money that you’re paying for your dues, no matter which level it is. Calculate how much you would have to pay if you were getting all of the services on your own, and think about if it’s worth the benefit that you’re getting, because in most cases, you would never be able to get the benefit of what you’re actually getting for the amount that you’re paying for those dues.

00:29:42:13 – 00:30:00:17
Jarrod
Well, let’s just give real numbers $156 for the National Association of REALTORS® dues, plus a $45, surcharge for the advertising campaign. So that’s it. So, I mean, if you want to talk real numbers, it’s $156 for the dues.

00:30:00:17 – 00:30:06:24
Angela
Right. And you get all that research, you get all of that legislative actions team.

00:30:06:24 – 00:30:11:03
Jarrod
You get Lawrence’s team, you get our PR right? You get our PR alone.

00:30:11:03 – 00:30:28:06
Angela
Yeah. Like you would not be able to buy that platform for that. And I and I can add in to that because, the state is $105 plus. We have the $15 for Issues Mobilization. And then we have our forms library, we have our Legal Hotline, we have Professional Standards. We have classes. I mean I could go on and on.

00:30:28:13 – 00:30:33:26
Angela
So, it’s it’s the same value. And I know the locals can plug layers on and do the same thing outside.

00:30:34:01 – 00:30:42:03
Jarrod
Yeah. Right. At the value is there. It’s just take advantage from the members perspective. Take advantage of everything that’s being offered to you for that fee.

00:30:42:06 – 00:30:49:19
Angela
And then if you throw in the discounts that we secure it with some of the other products, you could get your money back on a lot of those discounts, right?

00:30:49:23 – 00:30:49:29
Jarrod
Yeah.

00:30:49:29 – 00:30:51:23
Angela
Absolutely crazy.

00:30:51:26 – 00:30:53:13
Jarrod
It’s there. Just take advantage of that.

00:30:53:13 – 00:31:08:25
Angela
Yeah, yeah. So, so to wrap up, let’s let’s go this direction. So again, we’ve both been in the industry for a while. So what is probably one of your favorite.

00:31:08:27 – 00:31:15:06
Angela
Memories benefits. The the best part about being in the world organization in your mind?

00:31:15:08 – 00:31:33:13
Jarrod
I honestly have to say, and I don’t want to make it sound cliche, but it’s the friendships that you build and the camaraderie that you have because really, we’re all working for the greater good, you know? And and I used to say this, when I, when I first started with the New Jersey REALTORS®, I had a five year plan.

00:31:33:18 – 00:32:02:15
Jarrod
Right. So I left the New Jersey legislature. I was going to go become the lobbyist for the REALTORS®, and I was going to go to a lobbying firm and, you know, just still make tons and tons of money in my mind. Right. And I and I took a step back and once I got into the organization and learning about the organization and seeing the value of what we do on a day to day basis, I think that’s my biggest takeaway is like, it’s so amazing about what we’re doing to help homeownership, right?

00:32:02:15 – 00:32:29:10
Jarrod
And for that American dream to build familial, well, wealth, right. And so the families could and generational wealth so that people could grow. And it’s just an amazing organization. So I think that’s the one thing I’m most proud of. You know, my 26-year career and now my few months and are is this the organization itself and the great greater good that it provides to families?

00:32:29:16 – 00:32:49:13
Angela
Right. I would agree 100%, 100%. So I think what I would add to everything you said, everything you said is that it’s meaningful work, but it’s the connections, just like you said. But you feel like there’s this bigger purpose. I always say to anybody who comes on my team is that you never know what you’re going to do.

00:32:49:14 – 00:33:06:17
Angela
Like when you come into work, you might have a whole plan and then you never know what you’re going to do, because every day is different. You never do the same thing. It doesn’t feel like. But you have this whole network of people that it’s not just acquaintances, is it? It really is. When we say the realtor family, it really is the REALTOR® family.

00:33:06:24 – 00:33:29:16
Angela
Like, you really get to know these people and you support everybody that you work for. And it’s really cool to see competitors that care for one another that will truly give you their game plan to make you better, because by making you better, you make the industry better and you make everybody better, and you just don’t see a lot of industry that do that.

00:33:29:19 – 00:33:36:21
Jarrod
No, it’s a it’s a tremendous support system. And they’re all lifting each other up. You know, our members. And it’s just an amazing thing to be a part of.

00:33:36:21 – 00:33:49:09
Angela
Yeah I mean I feel like we can just keep talking about that aspect of it a lot. I mean, you talk about the realtor really fun. You talk about all these, great people that try to educate people, too, just like you said, make everybody better. It’s it’s really a neat industry.

00:33:49:13 – 00:33:52:21
Jarrod
No, it really is. And I’m proud to be a part of it. Me too. You are too. Yeah.

00:33:52:24 – 00:33:59:03
Angela
Me too. But. Well, I appreciate you coming in, being a part of our ten sites and doing this podcast with us now.

00:33:59:03 – 00:34:16:04
Jarrod
It’s an honor to be here and thank you. And, and I’ll say this to the members, if, you hear something or you need something, please don’t hesitate to contact me at the National Association of REALTORS®. I am, I want to be boots on the ground with you and listening to you. So, please, I want your voices to be heard.

00:34:16:06 – 00:34:22:16
Angela
And we know that. So thank you. And, I hope to have you join us again some time.

00:34:22:23 – 00:34:23:09
Jarrod
That’d be my honor.

00:34:23:09 – 00:34:25:08
Angela
All right. Thank you, thank you.

00:34:25:14 – 00:34:25:25
Jarrod
All right.