NAR President Kevin Sears joins Byron Lazine in this exclusive, unfiltered BAM Interview. They discuss Kevin’s time as president so far, what’s next for the association and industry at large, and how Realtors can all move on together. Plus, Byron asks Kevin to clear up NAR’s budget—including its spend on marketing groups and staff salaries—how NAR expects to keep member dues low, and why membership data has disappeared from the website.

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Timestamps:
00:00–00:59 Intro
01:00 Glamorous life traveling as NAR President
04:31 Embrace the changes coming
05:32 Kevin’s journey to NAR President
09:28 How important are relationships within the association when climbing the ladder?
10:49 Are there too many politics in the national and local Realtor associations?
12:28 What’s the control dynamic between Nykia Wright, CEO, and President?
13:12 Nykia is in charge of the staff, collaborative effort on the leadership team
14:06 Kevin is the chief spokesperson for NAR
15:02 Extending Nykia’s contract and what’s next for a new CEO in 2025
17:43 Why is the spend for Havas marketing group between $30-$50 million a year?
19:19 Is there data on the impact marketing has had on the association or its members?
20:50 Do you like the NAR ad campaign?
22:18 One of the biggest benefits for members and their dues dollars is advocacy
23:18 Elected officials are seeing what’s happening… NAR has great relationships with them
24:00 Two talking points for legislative meetings on Capitol Hill (more info at flyin.realtor)
25:36 What’s your opinion on staff salaries?
27:45 Member dues are not going up—and timeline for NAR settlement
29:32 How NAR plans to streamline its budget
30:46 This is an opportunity for us (NAR) to get better
32:02 What’s next for brokers left out of NAR settlement?
37:06 Is NAR covered on copycat lawsuits? What about the buy side?
39:18 What about the DOJ?
42:45 Tie-in agreement between local, state and national associations—is that changing?
44:18 Agent count fluctuates.
47:11 Why has the membership data been removed from the NAR website?
48:07 Kevin’s “On the Road” videos—a message to his critics
51:25 Any progress with VA loans?
55:22 Thoughts on the RDC campaign and Damian Eales op-ed
56:22 Is there any NAR support from Zillow?
58:39 Final words from Kevin Sears

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