On Thursday afternoon, the Research team presented the committee-directed redesigns and findings of several surveys and data projects to the Research Committee..  The purpose of the committee is to focus on market conditions in the real estate industry as well as developments in the general economy and to identify topics on which research and information is needed with an eye to improving the productivity and profitability of REALTOR® firms, state associations, and local boards, and how that data can be utilized.  The committee is comprised of three state or board association staff, 10 residential specialists, 10 commercial specialists (including 1 auction specialist), one REALTOR® appraiser, one AEC Representative, and 15 at-large members.  The Committee is Chaired by Karen Crowson and Vice-Chaired by Joanne Zettl.

Brandi Snowden, Director of Member and Consumer Survey Research, presented the findings of the 2019 Profile of Home Staging to the Committee.  New this year in the report was a discussion of the impact home staging-related TV shows have on consumer staging expectations.

Amanda Riggs, Research Survey Analyst, spoke about the findings of the 2019 Profile of Real Estate Firms, newly redesigned under a directive from the Research Committee.  The report includes new topic areas, such as career direction after staff leave the firm, and whether the firm utilizes virtual assistants.

Nadia Evangelou, Research Economist, and Jessica Lautz, Vice President of Demographics and Behavioral Insights, presented on a tax study and how the reduced SALT deduction will affect taxpayers by each state.  For more on the reduced SALT deduction, click here >