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In this month’s MetroCast, Coach Oliver and I talked about where the market stands as we head toward the end of the third quarter. Buyers and sellers are still being cautious, interest rates continue to affect affordability, and some homeowners are staying in their homes longer than we have seen in the past. But that does not mean business has stopped. There is still plenty of work to be done in 2026, and the agents who stay consistent now will be in the best position when the market begins to move more quickly.
We also revisited the topic of Lingering Listings and the importance of properly positioning a home from the beginning. We are seeing some sellers chase the market with price reductions instead of getting ahead of it. Pricing, condition, competition and honest conversations with sellers are more important than ever. Buyers have plenty of information at their fingertips, so agents need to use the market data, study the competition and help sellers understand what it takes to stand out.
We also welcomed Bryan Shaw as our featured guest, who recently returned home to Metro Brokers after briefly leaving for another brokerage. Bryan shared that after 26 years in his previous career, he accepted an early retirement package and decided it might also be time to reevaluate his real estate business. He eventually moved to a smaller boutique brokerage, but within about a month, he realized it was not the right fit and began looking at how he could come back to Metro Brokers.
Bryan’s story is a great reminder of the value that comes from having the right tools and support system around you. After leaving, he quickly realized how much he had taken for granted, including access to the MLS systems, technology, Broker Support, technical support, training, coaching and the camaraderie of being around other agents. A higher commission percentage may sound appealing, but as Bryan said during the episode, 100% of nothing is still nothing. The real question is whether your brokerage gives you the tools and support you need to build a productive business.
We also talked about the idea that changing brokerages does not automatically change your results. If your business is not where you want it to be, sometimes the answer is not changing where you work, but changing the work you are doing. Bryan came back, reconnected with his clients, began utilizing the tools again and started identifying new opportunities. If you feel stuck, reach out to your office manager, Coach Oliver, Broker Support or our staff and let us help you get moving in the right direction.
In the Coach's Corner, Coach Oliver and I focused on having the hard conversations before they become harder conversations later. If a seller wants to “try” a higher price, establish in advance what will happen if the market does not respond. Set a date to reevaluate the price, take your sellers out to see the competition and help them look at their property through the eyes of a buyer. The seller may set the asking price, but ultimately the buyer determines the value. The goal is not simply to put a property on the market. The goal is to position it to sell.
We closed the episode with a reminder that our attitude matters just as much as our activity. There is plenty of negativity and uncertainty out there right now, and our job is not to add to it. Look for opportunities to encourage people, stay positive, keep working and be someone buyers, sellers and the people around you want to move toward. There are still transactions happening, there is still opportunity in this market, and there is still time to make the fourth quarter count.
