10 Things you missed at the Realtors Broker sumit in Charlotte if you did not attend.

1) Great conversation and networking with agents from other areas.  We sat with agents from GA, WV and FL as well as chatted with ones from HI, IL and TX.

2) Round table discussions on everything relating to owning and managing a real estate brokerage.  We learned that Starbucks has an influence on real estate as well as coffee.  Their service is one to copy.

3) LEIGH BROWN, check her out on You Tube, she is great in person too. She brought up the 1099 going away.  Her best advise was to make sure "EMPLOYEE" was not on the label for the agent handbook.  At this time Agents are not Employees.

4) Anthony "AB" Bourke, he flew F-16's. He is the founder and CEO of Mach 2 consulting.He gave a new perspective on how you should review each appointment you go on to figure out what went right and what you can improve on.  Made me realize flying a mission is very similar to going on a listing appointment. Debrief all your agents on a regular basis, as do pilots after every mission. A safe exchange where everyone is treated as equals...all comments should be constructive.

5) Maria Ferrante-Schepis, managing principal of Insurance and Financial Services,  gave the view from outside the jar.  Many times we are so taken with what is happening in our space we fail to look from the outside in to see what is really happening.

6) NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun, predicts that lenders are going to open the credit box and make financing more available.  He expects interest rates to go up but stay 5% or lower on 30 year fixed mortgages.

7) NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun,  also said the shadow inventory is shrinking rapidly and if your business model is based on this you need to re-evaluate your business model, unless you are in NJ.

8) Lastly, NAR Chief Economist Dr. Lawrence Yun also noted that rentals will be fueling inflation as they are in short supply and big demand.

9) The REALTOR (R) Association has created safe houses in different offices, so if you are out showing and feel uncomfortable you can go to one of these to make copies and get help or defuse a stressful situation before it gets out of hand.  Safety is a big issue and common sense goes a long way to keeping you out of harms way.  All store front brokerages need to sign up for this feature for the good of our organization.

10) Nick Kremydas, Chief Executive Officer of the South Carolina Association of Realtors,  was all around shooting pictures and tweeting about the event.