Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered
Illustration by Lanette Behiry/Real Estate News
I am a big fan of this podcast, Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered, and I am a big fan of the industry news conglomerate Real Estate News, which recently mentioned in its article the episode of the Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered podcast where I was a guest back.
If you’re not familiar with the Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered podcast series, I recommend checking it out first on YouTube. It’s co-hosted by James Dwiggins and Keith Robinson, two very influential industry thought leaders whom I respect. These guys want to work with the real estate license law officials and state regulators to hear our perspective on the industry news and what we do on the daily to regulate license laws.
So let me start by stating my role in this. I am not a regulator myself, so therefore my point of view is from the trade association perspective because the members we serve are the state regulators (real estate commissions and boards who oversee real estate licensing). However, since I work with the regulators every day, it is my job to help communicate the brand and the issues for our members who are ensuring quality, fairness, and consistency are facing as our ever-changing industry expands. And that is why I agreed to sit down with James and Keith on their very popular podcast show.
We talked about a lot of different topics, but here are a few highlights:
PLNs or Private Listing Networks and their rise.
At the time of my Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered podcast recording, I knew that ARELLO® was preparing to host a major webinar on the rise of Private Listing Networks (PLNs) later that week. More on that topic later this month. This is a growing trend in the industry, and it’s something regulators and professionals alike need to understand.
PLNs are listings that are not entered into or marketed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Instead, they are shared privately—either within large brokerages among their own agents or in invite-only social media groups (think private Facebook groups or other underground networks).
The big concern here is that PLNs create challenges for regulators in ensuring that state and federal laws are being followed, particularly regarding Fair Housing compliance. When listings aren’t widely marketed, it raises questions about who is getting access to inventory and whether exclusionary practices—intentional or not—are occurring.
This issue has gained even more attention due to discussions about the potential elimination of NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP), which currently requires most listings to be entered into the MLS within one business day of public marketing. ARELLO® is not taking a stance on whether CCP should stay or go, but we recognize the importance of educating both our members and consumers on the implications of PLNs.
Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, 360-degree view of the pros and cons of PLNs—how they impact transparency, competition, and consumer access to housing. This is a critical conversation for the future of real estate, and one that will continue to evolve in the months ahead.
What is the JTA (Job Task Analysis)
In my opinion, the job task analysis (JTA) that is guiding and shaping the development of exam questions for the national exam was a little more fun to talk about. We touched on it in the podcast slightly about how many keyboard warriors complain that the real estate industry's problems today are due to too many licensees in the business.
One of the most common complaints we often hear is that the real estate licensing exam doesn’t always reflect what agents actually do in their day-to-day work. Instead, it often focuses on memorization of technical details that, while important, don’t necessarily translate into the skills required for success in the field. This is where JTA comes in—it defines the core responsibilities of a real estate licensee, and licensing exams are built around it.
The challenge? Some existing JTAs are outdated or not fully aligned with modern real estate practices. If the industry wants more competent, well-prepared professionals, we need to make sure the exam truly measures real-world knowledge and skills—not just how well someone can recall how many feet are in an acre.
At ARELLO, we are putting significant resources into strengthening the JTA process to ensure licensing exams better reflect the realities of real estate practice today. The goal is to move toward a more standardized, competency-based approach that sets new agents up for success and, in turn, enhances professionalism across the industry.
This is an ongoing effort, and it won’t be solved overnight. But by refining the way we evaluate and certify new agents, we can take meaningful steps toward raising industry standards and better serving consumers—which is what real estate regulation is all about.
Days On Market (DOM)
I weighed in on the ongoing debate about Days on Market (DOM) and whether it helps or harms sellers. Some argue that displaying DOM on listings creates a disadvantage for sellers by making properties appear “stale,” while others believe transparency is key for buyers and the industry as a whole.
From a regulatory standpoint, the most important factor is accuracy. If an agent is asked about DOM, they are legally and ethically obligated to provide a truthful and accurate answer. Misrepresenting or manipulating DOM—whether through strategic relisting, private listing networks, or other tactics—could potentially lead to misrepresentation issues or even legal consequences.
Additionally, I personally believe that DOM data serves a greater purpose beyond individual transactions. It provides valuable insights into market health, influences appraisals, and even impacts housing policy decisions. When listings aren’t accurately reported in the MLS, it distorts comps, affects affordability data, and ultimately misleads both consumers and industry professionals.
At the end of the day, the industry needs to focus less on skirting the facts and more on providing clear, honest information to consumers. Whether you’re a buyer, seller, agent, or regulator, transparency is key to maintaining trust and professionalism in real estate.
Overall, it was a fun podcast to participate in, and I love working with creative people who enjoy discussing the industry's good, bad, and even the ugly!
James and Keith told me that they are bringing in many more regulator perspectives, not just the realtor perspectives, again soon. Some of them will be with our own regulator members, both an executive director and a real estate commissioner—I am looking at you, Kansas and Louisiana RECs. 😉
In the meantime, you can watch/listen to the whole podcast here and then share your thoughts. But try to keep your comments industry-related, not about how much I overuse the term “…I think…” while speaking on a podcast- haha, we all have our quirks.
