Howard Hanna makes its Carolina debut with Allen Tate, a masterclass in brand migration
By uniting under one banner, a local powerhouse gains the scale, resources, and marketing reach of the largest family-owned real estate brokerage in America.
By uniting under one banner, a local powerhouse gains the scale, resources, and marketing reach of the largest family-owned real estate brokerage in America.
To continue providing meaningful value, MLSs must align closely with broker priorities, support their evolving strategies, and help them regain competitive footing in a rapidly changing marketplace.
We’ve worked with brokerages of all sizes. Some were thriving. Others were barely holding on. The difference wasn’t market size, brand, or even production. It was leadership. Here’s what the top-performing firms are doing that others miss:
Technology is one of the largest expense items on a broker’s P&L. CRM systems, marketing automation, lead nurturing tools, CMA platforms, websites and social media services are just a few of the technologies brokers offer today. They feel like they have to offer a robust suite of tools to compete effectively today. But ask most brokers how many of their agents are using those tools consistently, and the answer is usually, “I’m not sure.”
You’re not just selling a business. You’re selling years of leadership, decision-making, market insight, and trust. It’s personal – and that’s what makes it powerful. But buyers don’t make decisions based on emotion. They’re looking at your brokerage through a different lens: return on investment.
Brokers operating in multiple MLS have an avalanche of complications they have to deal with - Slight market by market variances in Rules and Regs, redundant fees, patchwork quilt of data, Duplicate/triplicate data entry, and market specific tech tools. Operating in multiple MLS increases the complexity of running a brokerage and can take a bit out of the already razor thin broker margins.
Expanding opportunities for regular sales coaching is one of the most overlooked opportunities in a brokerage today. The WAV Group Broker Technology Utilization and Access Study Part II uncovered that brokers want more than just tools for their agents. They want systems that help their managers coach, motivate, and support agent performance. And right now, they don’t feel they have what they need.
Recruiting and retaining the right agents in more than just commission splits or lead generation systems. The most successful brokerages understand that culture is their strongest recruiting tool and retention strategy, especially when you want to make sure that an agent is the right fit. A well-crafted culture doesn't just happen by accident—it requires intentional effort, consistent reinforcement, and authentic leadership. Here’s 10 culture-building tips that will help you build a brokerage where agents thrive.
You built a brokerage with your name on the sign, your fingerprints on every decision, and your heart poured into every relationship. But at some point, every successful leader has to ask: What happens when I step away?
If you’ve ever wondered why agents aren’t using the tech tools you’ve worked hard to provide, the answer might be simpler than you think. According to the recent WAV Group Broker Technology Utilization and Access Study Part II, brokers are frustrated by low engagement with their technology platforms. And the reason? Agents are overwhelmed by how hard it is to even find the tools, let alone use them consistently.
Imagine an AI that understands not just language but the structure of real estate transactions, compliance rules, timelines, and customer journeys.
Competing with national portals like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Homes.com is nearly impossible for brokerages. These platforms pour millions into advertising, dominate search engine rankings, and offer engage consumer-test functionality across every market in the country. So where does that leave local and regional brokerages trying to create a website that can compete for attention for real estate consumers? We want to hear from you in the WAV Group Broker Survey.