Michael Catarevas

When the wildfires that consumed so much of Southern California raged for weeks on end earlier this year, the whole world watched with dismay. All across America, homeowners were thankful it wasn’t happening locally, but also likely wondered about the aftermath once the fires were extinguished.  Could what happened there happen where they were? What…

Mortgage. Appraisal. Market. Agent. Millage. Acre. Those are the kinds of M and A words normally associated with residential real estate. Not M&A as in Mergers and Acquisitions. But the latter has more and more become industry news lately, in addition to frequent consolidations as well, with smaller firms joining national brands in order to…

People don’t normally DIY it when a lawyer, electrician or other professional is needed. But some homeowners think selling their properties with no agent will save gobs of money on commissions. Almost always they come to regret it, settling on a price that could have been better, not to mention spending way more time on…

Editor’s Note: The Playbook is a monthly RISMedia segment centering on what brokers and agents are doing to ensure they not only survive but thrive in challenging times. Industry professionals explain the strategies they’re employing and unique ideas they’ve formulated. Check in on the third Thursday of every month for another addition to the series.…

As had been widely speculated, the Fed on March 19 decided to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.50%, its second consecutive meeting of keeping interest rates unchanged. Uncertainty about the U.S. economy and the effect of President Trump’s tariffs policy were likely reasons for the non-action. The central bank kept rates steady in…

Most people enjoy talking about what they do for a living, the ins and outs, how they go about it, the highs, the lows. But few will be told by a listener in another line of work that they want to try it themselves. Not many with established careers seriously contemplate pivoting to become an…

In the latest RISMedia webinar—”Owning The Commission Conversation: Articulating Agent Value in a Post-Settlement Landscape”—panelists James Dwiggins, co-CEO of Rayse and CEO of NextHome; Michael Hickman, CEO of Seven Gables Real Estate; and Lisa Nguyen, team leader of The International Group with RE/MAX Professionals, talked about how in today’s shifting real estate landscape agents must…

When you label yourself a “top-producing REALTOR® at Compass” on LinkedIn, you best have earned such a label. For Suzy Minken, based in Short Hills, New Jersey, that’s been the case year after year, regardless of market conditions, industry issues, mortgage rates or any other impediments to success. Minken’s professional background has helped her become…

Hurricanes, wildfires and other natural calamities are a homeowner’s worst nightmare, and forward-thinking homebuilders are doing something about it. As housing demands rise, the need for homes that are resilient, energy-efficient and sustainable has never been more critical.  But can those three goals be achieved without sacrificing affordability? That was the main question addressed March…

Above, Jason Haber, co-founder of the American Real Estate Association When in February of 2024 a new organization, the American Real Estate Association (AREA, our acronym, not theirs), was launched as a potential alternative to the embattled National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), founders Jason Haber, with Compass, and The Agency’s Mauricio Urmansky, did not have…