Jef Conn

By Jef Conn

I am so excited to be in 2021, mainly because we can leave last year behind us! While the real estate market has become crazy in many cities over the last 12 months, agents like you and I are working hard to have a successful 2021. Here are five things I’m excited about this year:

1. The market is strong. Our own Chief Economic Lawrence Yun believes this will continue throughout 2021. I’m optimistic that agents who are working hard will find success this year.
2. In person meetings may return in the second half of 2021. I miss my REALTOR® friends, and I know I’m more productive in face-to-face meetings. I’m optimistic that travel will open up so we can have in person conferences in the near future. While 2020 had us stuck at home, the National Association of REALTORS® did a great job pivoting and creating a virtual conference experience for its members. If you’ve never attended a conference before, be sure to check out the virtual REALTORS® Legislative Meetings. It’s a great way to learn about the most pressing issue in real estate from the comfort of your home. When meetings are held in person again, come join us!
3. It’s a new year and that means new committee selections at NAR. If you have ever served on an NAR committee, you know the value of your service and how much fun it can be working on behalf of the industry. If you have not stepped up yet, here’s your chance. Fill out an application to serve a 2022 committee now through May 7. I’m excited about my choices for NAR committees next year, and I can’t wait to get my application submitted in the next few days.
4. We have figured out how to shift our business to be more virtual and nimble. In this ever-changing world around us, we, as real estate professionals, have proven once again that we can learn how to operate better, faster, and leaner to best serve our clients. For me, I learned how crucial communication is when the world was falling around us in 2020. Being a steady, consistent voice to my clients, and making sure I communicated more often, has made all the difference. I can’t wait to see how those lessons benefit our industry in 2021.
5. 

   Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels

   REALTORS® are still the key to successful real estate transactions. With all the noise in the world—and the mergers and acquisitions in the real estate industry—I’m most excited that REALTOR® are still critical in guiding successful transactions on behalf of our clients. We solve problems and often act as a counselor to our clients. We celebrate our clients’ wins and mourn their losses—they become friends and family. A computer can’t do that. A corporation cannot do that. Only a real estate professional can do that. That’s what makes me most optimistic about 2021. Our clients need us—they need a REALTOR®. So let’s go out there and serve our clients to the best of our abilities this year.

P.S. Don’t forget the NAR YPN Facebook page has more than 20,000 members who are willing to help and chime in with suggestions or referrals. If you’re not a member of that group, be sure to ask to join so you can chime in as well.

Go make 2021 your best year, whatever that looks like for you.

Jef Conn, CCIM, SIOR, is a commercial agent specializing in industrial, office, and investment properties with Coldwell Banker Commercial in Lubbock, Texas. Jef served as the 2017 president of his local association and currently serves as Region 1 vice president and executive board member for Texas REALTORS®. Connect with Jef on LinkedIn or via email: JConn@CBCWorldwide.com.