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GA REALCAST with Maura Neill

GARealcast: Post-Pandemic Real Estate with Kenneth Jenny

Season 1, Ep. 16

"Change is the way to realize opportunity," --Kenneth Jenny

REALTOR® friends and colleagues: I have a few questions for you. Have you made some changes to your business in the last few weeks, in response to COVID-19? In response to the pandemic, to self-quarantine, to shelter in place -- to keep yourself and your clients safe? Have those changes and the circumstances causing them made you think about your business differently? Have you begun considering which changes are temporary and which may be less fleeting? And which may actually make more sense in a more permanent sense?

That’s what my conversation is about today with Kenneth Jenny -- Managing Director and CEO of tranCen, a consulting company which offers unique strategic business solutions for companies focused on the residential real estate industry. With clients like Zillow Group, MoxiWorks, OpCity, Trulia, Homefinder.com, PRIMEDIA Inc, LendingTree and the list goes on, it may seem like a conversation with tranCen’s CEO may not be accessible or applicable to an everyday practitioner, but I disagree. A former REALTOR® himself and now one of real estate's foremost trend-predictors, Ken is the perfect person with which to have this particular chat.


HEY! What's that song Ken talks about and titled his blog post after? Here it is:

"Defying Gravity" from Wicked - Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth(Ken refers to this song, so as promised, here's a link): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5V9KwppMfs&feature=youtu.be

Lyrics to "Defying Gravity" from Wicked: https://www.allmusicals.com/lyrics/wicked/defyinggravity.htm


I also reference Ken's blog a few times during this episode. To read more, you can access it, here: https://www.trancen.com/blog (and I highly recommend it -- quite good reading!).


KENNETH JENNY: Ken Jenny is an expert in the residential real estate brokerage industry and real estate marketing. Ken is a proven leader and management professional with over 38 years of progressive and diversified experience in the residential real estate industry. From sales agent to corporate executive to visionary, Ken has viewed residential real estate from nearly every strategic vantage point. Real estate firms, media companies, portals and technology companies worldwide have utilized his expertise, strategies and innovations to address the constant challenge of change facing the residential real estate brokerage industry.

You can learn more about Ken, here: https://www.trancen.com/meet-ken-jenny

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  • 18. GARealcast: The CARES Act and Mortgage Forbearance - What You Need to Know to Help Your Clients

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    Today’s episode focuses on another timely and much-discussed topic – one that I’m sure you’ve been hearing and reading about in the media, on the news, on social media, and perhaps even in your conversations in office sales meetings and with your clients. We’re talking about mortgage forbearance in the time of COVID-19, and we're seeking to separate myth from fact.A very real consequence of the Sheltering-in-Place and quarantining across the country has been a financial one. With mandatory shut-down of businesses and essential vs. not essential classifications, as well as unemployment and furloughs, comes financial strain, and for homeowners that can mean the inability to pay their mortgage. The CARES Act has put some very specific provisions in place regarding mortgage forbearance, and here to talk with us today are Susan Stewart, CEO of SWBC Mortgage Corporation and Chair-Elect of the Mortgage Banker's Association, as well as Georgia’s own Rebecca King, loan officer and branch manager of the Blairsville, Georgia, SWBC Mortgage Corp location.Does Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac Own Your Client's Mortgage? https://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/get-answers/Pages/get-answers-find-out-mortgage.aspx-- Look Up Your Fannie Mae Mortgage: https://www.knowyouroptions.com/loanlookup-- Look Up Your Freddie Mac Mortgage: https://ww3.freddiemac.com/loanlookup/NAR's Coronavirus Resources for Property Owners: https://www.nar.realtor/coronavirus-resources-for-property-owners-- Printable Version of the Above For Your Clients: https://narfocus.com/billdatabase/clientfiles/172/28/3581.pdfNAR's Coronavirus Mortgage & Personal Finance FAQs: https://www.nar.realtor/political-advocacy/coronavirus-mortgage-and-personal-finance-faqsNAR's Coronavirus Provisions for REALTORS® and Their Consumers: https://narfocus.com/billdatabase/clientfiles/172/21/3613.pdf (printable)CFPB: CARES Act Mortgage Forbearance - What You Need to Know: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-mortgage-forbearance-what-you-need-know/REALTOR® Magazine: "As Forbearances Requests Rise, NAR Dispels Myths: https://magazine.realtor/daily-news/2020/04/08/as-forbearance-requests-rise-nar-dispels-mythsSUSAN STEWART: Susan Stewart is the Chairman-Elect of the MBA and Chief Executive Officer of SWBC Mortgage headquartered in San Antonio, TX. Stewart’s visionary leadership has been the catalyst behind the company growing from 3 employees serving the Texas market to more than 650 employees in over 70 branch locations. Under her unwavering focus, SWBC Mortgage has grown from a small regional broker to a national industry leader, providing a full-service origination-to-servicing experience for borrowers in 43 states. Stewart leads a team that leverages cutting- edge technology, delivering industry-leading speed and service while providing a personal, experienced touch to the dream of home ownership.Stewart currently serves as a member of the MBA’s Board of Directors and is past Vice Chair of the MBA’s Residential Board of Governors (RESBOG). She and SWBC Mortgage are committed to making the communities they serve brighter, more hope-filled places, and to that end she serves on the board of the MBA Opens Doors Foundation. Both Stewart and SWBC Mortgage have been recognized personally and corporately as Guardian level donors to the Opens Doors Foundation. REBECCA KING: My career in Banking led me to work with banks both large and small local banks in Management, Commercial and Retail lending. I was serving as Senior Vice President and City Executive for Bank of Hiawassee in 2008 -2014. After the downturn, I chose to leave traditional banking and focus on mortgage lending – which had always been my true passion – helping people obtain the dream of homeownership.  I joined Corridor Mortgage group in 2014 opening a branch in Blairsville. Corridor joined with SWBC mortgage in October 2018 – a move that has given us many more products and the capability to better serve our clients and REALTOR® partners.Rebecca can be reached at 706.487.8003 (office) via email at rebecca.king@swbc.com and also online at swbcmortgage.com/rebecca-king.
  • 17. GARealcast: A Conversation About Teams with the GA Real Estate Commission

    44:54
    The topic of teams in real estate has been very much a topic of discussion by the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) over the past 12 to 18 months. Currently the real estate commissions in at least 33 states have some sort of regulation regarding real estate teams, and GREC has been working through the ways that they can better serve the consumer/public interest with regard to this somewhat controversial topic, while also keeping the lines of communication open between real estate licensees, REALTORS®, and REALTOR® AssociationsI had the opportunity to sit in on two such conversations -- back in February 2019 at the Georgia REALTORS® Conference and in March 2020 at the GREC office. The GREC proposal on teams was open to public comment and received over 85 written comments during the comment period, and then on March 11, 2020, the Georgia Real Estate Commission held a public hearing, at which approximately 20 real estate agents and REALTORS® attended to give a 3-minute testimony with their feedback on the teams proposal.Shortly after, of course, the coronavirus pandemic hit, and Governor Kemp issued his Shelter in Place orders for the state, which meant the temporary work-from-home orders for state agencies and a cancellation of in-person meetings for the foreseeable future. In today's episode, Chairman of the Real Estate Commission Paul Brower and Real Estate Commissioner Lynn Dempsey join me to talk the GREC-proposed regulations of teams and the forthcoming (though currently tabled) new ruling on teams from the Commission. We also briefly discuss the the feedback that was received on those proposed rules for teams, the process that has been embarked upon so far, and what the next steps are from the Commission. We also get an update from Commissioner Dempsey on how the real estate commission has fared during our state’s Shelter in Place, how staff was able to keep working and keep the work real estate licensing for the state moving during this time, and how it is to be getting back to work this week.You can visit the Georgia Real Estate Commission website, here: https://grec.state.ga.us/TO SUBSCRIBE to the GREC newsletter, go to https://grec.state.ga.us/ -- scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on SUBSCRIBE NOW and follow the promptsPAUL BROWER, CHAIR - Georgia Real Estate Commission: Paul Brower of Marietta has served for ten years on the Georgia Real Estate Commission and currently is Chairman. He is a Director of the Georgia Association of REALTORS®, a member of the Atlanta and Cobb REALTORS® Associations, and a Director of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials. He earned his salesperson’s license in 2003 and broker’s license in 2006. He has completed the GRI program and holds the ABR and other designations. He and his wife, Sheila, who was 2017 GAR President, are a team in the East Cobb Office of Harry Norman, REALTORS®.LYNN DEMPSEY - Georgia Real Estate Commissioner: Dempsey is a second-generation auctioneer and the former president and managing broker of Dempsey Auction Company. He is a past president of the Georgia Auctioneers Association and was named to the Georgia Auctioneers Hall of Fame. Dempsey was a member of the Rome-Floyd County Development Authority and served on the Georgia Auctioneer’s Commission. He previously sat on the boards of directors for the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Chamber. Dempsey is a graduate and past chairman of Leadership Georgia. He sits on the advisory board for the Exchange Club Family Resource Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and teaches Sunday School at Rome First United Methodist Church. Dempsey earned a bachelor’s degree in Real Estate from the University of Georgia. He and his wife, Katie, have two children and seven grandchildren. They reside in Rome.  
  • 15. GARealcast: Leading in Trying Times with Colin Mullane

    01:04:32
    I hope you are doing well and finding new ways of thriving -- not just merely surviving -- through these days of working from home and adjusting to a new normal. If you are a Georgia REALTOR® listening to this podcast, I hope you have been watching the weekly video updates from our President, Faron W, King, during which he is providing valuable information and messages of support and encouragement to our members. Our GAR Leadership -- along with our fantastic staff led by our CEO Deb Junkin -- have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep us up-to-date on the important issues facing REALTORS® during these strange times we’re living in, as well as to provide online education and resources for REALTORS® all across the state.That’s what today’s episode is all about: Leading -- and Leadership -- in Trying Times. My guest today is my good friend, REALTOR® Colin Mullane, from Southwest Oregon. Colin has served in a variety of leadership roles at all levels -- local, state, and national. He and I often have conversations -- just like this one -- and so he seemed like a natural fit to sit down for a chat “on the record” so to speak.However, this episode isn’t just for “the leaders” -- or more specifically, it’s not just for those that the average person might identify as a leader. It’s not just for those elected or appointed to a traditional leadership position. Colin and I wanted to discuss a topic that we have regularly batted around in our casual conversations -- at convention, sitting at the bar, late night over a beer. What is leadership? Who are the leaders? What makes a leader? How do we spot them? How do we train them and bring them up? How do we lead and encourage others to do the same? And so important right now: how do we lead in trying times? And even more importantly, what do leaders do to prepare?COLIN MULLANE: Colin Mullane is a Broker/Owner of a small brokerage, Full Circle Real Estate in Ashland Oregon. Licensed since 2000, Colin has been a top producer in his market from the outset. He immigrated from Ireland in 1997, worked for 4 years in the service industry before getting into real estate. Colin is a strong believer in the profession of real estate being a cornerstone of the American Dream and has been thankful for the many opportunities it has provided him and his family. Colin is a past President for his local MLS, State President for the Oregon Association of REALTORS®, a graduate of the National Association of REALTORS® Leadership Academy, Past Regional Vice President for the National Association of REALTORS® and past Liason for Global Committees at NAR. Balancing a busy career, family life and his volunteer leadership roles makes for a full schedule, but one he relishes. A firm believer in ensuring REALTORS® and Brokers are surrounded with the best resources possible to stay relevant and thrive in todays market. Colin is also a big advocate for the work NAR does on behalf of consumers and real estate professionals everywhere, taking on the toughest issues so we can all do what we do, running our businesses. 
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    30:53
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  • 13. GAREALcast: Social Media Best Practices for REALTORS, COVID-19 and Beyond

    01:12:49
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    53:16
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  • 11. GAREALcast: Engaging with Clients During (and After) COVID-19

    44:36
    Keeping in touch with clients can be one of the most important pieces of a REALTOR®'s business/marketing plan -- providing an unforgettable client experience and following up thoughtfully, long-term, is the key to creating lasting relationships, a long and fruitful pipeline of clients, and client loyalty. But what happens when a life event -- or say, a global pandemic -- changes your plan? How do you keep up your engagement and maintain relationships? How do you stay top-of-mind with clients who have so much else to deal with in their everyday lives? How do you pivot your plan to make sure you are still seen, in the eyes of your clients (rather than just in the eyes of the government) as "essential"? REALTOR® Shay Hata joins us to discuss these questions -- and more -- in an informative episode that will help you to keep your business going now, during COVID-19 and your own self-quarantine or Shelter in Place, and more importantly, into the future.SHAY HATA: Shay Hata is an Ivy League grad, mom, and residential REALTOR® in Chicago, IL with Berkshire Hathaway. She moved to Chicago in 2012 and jumped into real estate in a brand new city where she didn’t know anyone and was new to real estate. Within three years she was averaging $30M a year in real estate and now has a small team consisting of her, a buyer’s agent, and four assistants. Shay is passionate about animal rescue as well as making sure every child has access to a quality education; therefore, she donates a portion of each commission to local animal rescue groups and local schools. Find her online at www.shayhata.com.
  • 10. GAREALcast: Best Practices for REALTORS During COVID-19 with Bobbi Howe

    01:01:01
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