Erica Christoffer

By Erica Christoffer

Did you know there is no formal application process to start a Young Professionals Network? Nor is there a cost to join YPN.

YPN—an official program of the National Association of REALTORS®—is for those young at heart and young in the business. Its goal is to increase member engagement at the local, state, and national levels through networking, education, and special events.

Earlier this month, Rob Reuter, who oversees YPN as NAR’s director of member networks, was featured on Collin County Association of REALTORS®’ the Welcome to the Top Podcast to discuss the benefits of YPN.

There are currently 342 YPN groups in the U.S. and three in Canada. However, about 99 associations in the U.S. with more than 500 members do not yet have a YPN. The YPN Start-Up Kit offers a framework to help REALTOR® association and members get a local YPN off the ground.

Most members find their way to YPN through social media, Reuter said during his interview with CCAR 2020 President David Long and CCAR’s Chief Operating Officer Jonna Fernandez. There’s a 23,000-member YPN Facebook group where members share business ideas, seek technology recommendations, and ask one another for advice.

YPN often connects its members to other committees and service opportunities at their local and state associations. “YPN is an entry point for association involvement,” Reuter said.

Now that YPN meetings have largely moved to virtual platforms due to the pandemic, YPN groups are reaching across state lines to recruit speakers and panelists from around the country, said Reuter. The silver lining is that it has broadened YPNers’ exposure to other members they may not have otherwise met.

“People who’ve gotten involved in their local YPN have gone on to serve on their association committees, their board of directions, and in fact, the chair of the YPN Advisory Board last year was also the president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®,” he said.

Many real estate professionals who are new to the industry don’t know how to get involved. To that end, Reuter advises YPNers to approach others about joining their group or attending events.

“Members who are more engaged in their associations tend to stay in the industry longer,” he said. “It’s definitely a positive for anyone to get involved.”

Listen to the full episode:

A YPN Wedding: How Networking Can Help Your Business with Rob Reuter and Kyle Paris

Episode Description: How can networking help you have lasting success in the real estate industry? Listen in as Rob Reuter, director of member networks for NAR, shares about the Young Professionals Network (YPN) and what it can do for you. Stay tuned until the end for a North Texas Young Professionals Network (NTYPN) update from Kyle Paris, NTYPN 2020 chair.