During a time of historic disruption in the real estate industry, Minnesota’s Realtors® are ready to embrace change and build a better future.
This summer, Ryan Torpey, MNR Legal Counsel, and I traveled the state with a mission to inform Realtors® about updates to MNR’s forms* following the NAR settlement and subsequent rule changes. Along the way, through all those miles, we learned something bigger about Minnesota, its people, and the indomitable spirit of real estate professionals.
As we rolled across this vast terrain, I was amazed by its beauty. There seems to be a lake every five miles, home to loons and bass and walleye and muskies. Cabins ring the shorelines, nestled in forests of pine and birch and maple. Herons and eagles glide above, ready to pluck a fisherman’s prize before he can bait the hook. We’re a thousand miles from the nearest coast, but so many of our great towns and cities were founded by water. You might say we’re a water people. It’s in our blood and bones. We come together around lakes and rivers, finding peace and joy there—if only for an afternoon. While I sat behind the wheel, it took all I had to resist pulling over, tossing a line in the water, and seeing what was biting.
The water restores us. Maybe that’s part of why our Realtor® members are so resilient. During our cross-state treks, I spoke with thousands of members about the changes to our industry. Most of them were eager to embrace change and tackle challenges. Sure, some were frustrated and concerned about the future of their businesses. But even in those darker moments, there was a calm determination to move forward and serve their clients as they have in the past.
As lawyers, we are trained to consider the worst-case scenario and prepare for the worst possible outcomes. We work our way back up from there. By contrast, Realtors® tend to be more optimistic and stoic. As the industry truism goes, Realtors® wake up unemployed when the sun rises and have to rebuild their businesses before the sun sets. Each and every day. Realtors® understand the value of hard work and the earning of trust. More than anything, they want to help their clients achieve their dreams and find success in the market. This is why Realtors® are so willing to adapt and change.
Rest assured, there is more work to be done. More changes are coming, but Minnesota Realtors® will be there to help you manage them. Meanwhile, go out and find a lake, even if it’s frozen and the leaves are off the trees and a north wind is picking up. There’s beauty in every season. Come get your fill. And just know that when the next challenges come along—no matter what they are—we’ll tackle them together.
Jonathan Kopecky
MNR Senior VP Legal Affairs
To read this article in the November/December 2024 digital issue of The Minnesota Realtor®, click here.
*These changes went into effect on August 1, 2024.