REALTORS® from across Texas connected with inspiring discussions and useful training opportunities during the Shaping Texas Virtual Education Series.
The September 8-10 and 13-14 event was organized after the in-person 2021 Shaping Texas Conference was cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. Attendees participated via Zoom or watched livestreamed sessions at ngskmc-eis.net. The event drew more than 4,000 total connections across 13 classes.
In an introductory video, the 2022 Texas REALTORS® Leadership Team reflected on pandemic challenges, recent legislative wins, and what’s next for the association.
“I am so proud of our members across the state of Texas who stepped up and faced adversity with resilience and energy,” 2021 Chairman Marvin Jolly said.
2021 Chairman-elect Russell Berry commented, “We’re looking at how we can make the transaction stronger and keep the REALTOR® as the center of that transaction.”
In his keynote address, Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, owner of Houston’s Gallery Furniture and longtime philanthropist, offered advice from the most pivotal moments in his life and career. He asked REALTORS® the same question University of Texas Athletic Trainer Frank Medina once asked him: “What are you saving it for? Why aren’t you giving it all you’ve got?”
“In life you’re going to get knocked down 10 times and you have to get up 11 times. Prepare for setbacks. A setback is simply a setup for a comeback,” McIngvale said. He told REALTORS® to show up, outwork your competitors, and never give up.
REALTORS® earned free CE credits in sessions covering some of the most pressing issues in real estate. Challenges in the appraisal industry and affordability in the housing market were among the hot topics. One session discussed how further automation in the real estate transaction will remove costs and friction, allowing REALTORS® to do more business with less effort. “The ABCs of Real Estate” covered disclosure and proper use of forms, while “Protect Yourself with Paperwork” discussed liability and common mistakes in documentation.
Politics and public policy took center stage in “Legislative Issues: How Public Policy Affects Texas Real Estate” and “Re-Shaping Texas: Redistricting, Politics, and You.” The sessions explained how what happens at the Capitol makes a difference in your real estate business. Attendees heard from Texas Sen. Larry Taylor; Texas Rep. Trent Ashby; Bryan Greene, NAR vice president of Policy Advocacy; Ross Ramsey, executive editor of The Texas Tribune; redistricting experts Michael Li, Bonnie Bruce, and Denise Davis; and Jim Henson, director of the Texas Politics Project.
Farm & ranch and commercial leaders teamed up to discuss sustainable ground-up development from the practitioner’s perspective. The association’s Global Committee hosted a panel of digital influencers, who discussed growing global networks through social media strategies. The Virtual Education Series featured an NAR Code of Ethics course that satisfied new training requirements. Another session discussed what’s next for MLSs in Texas.
Session recordings are available now at ngskmc-eis.net/conference. CE credit was only available for live attendees.
The Board of Directors met, with the Leadership Team participating from the Texas REALTORS® building and directors from across the state attending via video. During the session, members heard an update from Texan and 2022 NAR President Leslie Rouda Smith about the status of the U.S. Department of Justice antitrust settlement with NAR, housing inventory and affordability issues, proposed NAR governance-structure changes, and more.
The Board of Directors also approved a 2022 budget with no dues or assessment increases.
Honors announced at the directors meeting included Distinguished Service Award winners Hanne Sagalowsky of MetroTex and Kay Spiva of Abilene, REALTOR® Association Certified Executive (RCE) designees Jaime Lee of Texas REALTORS® and Matthew Church of MetroTex, Certified Association Executive designee Ken Hogan of Abilene, and retiring Texas REALTORS® Director of Meeting Planning Ruth Lyons, who was congratulated for 30 years of service to the REALTOR® organization.