President's Message - Embracing Change Together

" If we stand still, we will get left behind, so we must move forward and adapt to whatever the future holds."

by Jeffrey Jackson 2024 PRESIDENT, ORANGE COUNTY REALTORS®

As I mentioned in the last issue, my theme for the year is “Acknowledge the Past –Embrace the Future,” and those words are even truer now than they were then. As you’re all aware, our profession is going through some turbulent changes, but rest assured that we will come out of this even better than before. I consider the transformations within our industry, initiated by the proposed National Association of REALTORS ® (NAR) lawsuit settlement, to be an opportunity – not a setback. I see this as an opportunity to learn new skills, communicate with our clients differently, and be more effective in demonstrating our value. This is an opportunity to grow. If we stand still, we will get left behind, so we must move forward and adapt to whatever the future holds. In the words of Thomas Jefferson, “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”

Orange County REALTORS® is dedicated to keeping our members informed, and equipped with all the tools and resources you need to navigate these changes. I’d suggest that you join us for a virtual update on new and revised forms with Neil Kalin, Assistant General Counsel for California Association of REALTORS® (C.A.R.), on June 20th from 12:00 – 2:00 P.M. You can register for the webinar online at www.ocrealtors.org/new-forms. We’re also featuring an interview with Art Carter, CEO of California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS), on pages 15-17 detailing what the proposed settlement agreement will mean for REALTORS® regarding the MLS. In addition to our interview with Art, we will be hosting a NAR Proposed Settlement Update webinar with Ed Zorn, VP and General Counsel for CRMLS, on July 18th from 10:00 – 11:30 A.M. To sign up for that webinar, visit www.ocrealtors.org/settlement-update. I’d also like to remind you that you can contact the C.A.R. Legal Hotline with any questions at one of these numbers –for Agents: (213) 739-8282; for Broker-Owners, Office Managers, or Designated REALTORS®: (213) 739-8350.

As our industry continues to evolve, it’s important to stay informed and involved to ensure your voice is heard. One way to make an impact is to vote for the people leading our organization. With that said, I’m proud to introduce you to the ten candidates running for our 2025-2027 Board of Directors (see page 18). I encourage everyone to vote and help shape the future of our association. Voting begins on Monday, May 13th, at 8:00 A.M. and concludes on Tuesday, May 28th, at 5:00 P.M. All REALTOR® members of Orange County REALTORS® are eligible to vote and can do so by visiting www.ocrealtors.org/election during the voting period.

I would like to thank you all for your patience and understanding as we navigate these waters. As you may know by now, I am undergoing treatments for a return of head and neck cancer which has hindered my ability to be present for some events. Rest assured that I am getting stronger by the day and am determined to overcome this challenge.

Real estate professionals are nothing if not resilient. We’ve wavered many storms in the past and we will get through this too.

Until the next issue! Jeff