For instance, as consumers now have ever more real estate-related information at their fingertips from both third-party and industry sites, the role of the real estate professional has shifted from gatekeeper of information to enabler, Masnick said.

“There is still a role for middlemen to (help consumers) understand the process and the pitfalls and the best practices (of real estate), but their role is no longer as a gatekeeper,” he said.

One way real estate professionals can adapt is to change the way they look at the market and what they can do to make the consumer experience better, Masnick added.

Read more from Inman News

Hope you can join us at the Inman Data Summit next week!

This is a first ever event for Inman and I am honored to be involved on the Board of Advisors with some of the smartest people in the business.   Check it out and I hope to see you there on July 25-26.  I will also be staying the rest of the week.  Why not, it’s San Francisco!

I’ll keep you posted with more details of the Inman Data Summit as they become available.

The first one is that in times of uncertainly, people are constantly looking for direction and answers. This is one of those times with great uncertainty about the economy, jobs, interest rates, the government’s role, RPR and more. All of these represent major game-changers that are currently in play. They are disrupting the status quo and making it more difficult than ever for leaders to predict the future. People are looking for direction right now and they are asking questions, listening, and seeking answers from everywhere, including the people on and off the stage at Inman this past week.

This is great news – that so many of the industry’s leaders would come out to learn, share stories and seek direction to help them invent their own futures. This is one of the things that makes our real estate industry so dynamic. It’s fun to be a part of it, especially right now. The future is full of opportunities.

Another contributing factor to the increased attention and involvement at industry events is the #RPR. The Realtors Property Resource is a big deal and it is causing people to think about their current business models and the products and services they currently offer. RPR has already resulted in some positive changes in direction, strategy and planning for the future – and the RPR hasn’t even launched yet.

Some of you may know that I was on the volunteer RPR Advisory Board for the past year and a half. This was a positive experience for me as I was given a unique opportunity to participate in a very small way in the development of this new initiative.  I’m passionate about giving back and making a difference in the industry. Once the RPR model was solidified and the contracts were signed with LPS, NAR announced the RPR in San Diego. Finally, the important discussions could begin with key stakeholders including NAR members and MLS leadership based on the proposed model.

Since NAR San Diego, I have been advising my clients to keep an open mind, ask a lot of questions of the people who have the answers and learn everything they can about RPR. Once they have the information they need, they should develop their own RPR strategies.

Last week, I resigned from the RPR Advisory Board because I want to continue to serve my clients by providing them with the most objective and productive advice and assistance as we focus forward together. Some people perceived that I was somehow conflicted in my role with RPR or that I was too close to RPR to be objective. My perspective was that I was uniquely qualified to assist my clients. Regardless, I resigned from the RPR Advisory Board to clear this up and better serve my clients and continue to grow my business. I left on very good terms and I wish the RPR leadership the best.

We are all anxious to review the terms of the RPR agreement and better understand all the details and the resulting value proposition in the coming weeks. There are a lot of outstanding questions and answers, which I will write about through my blog. Another good channel for information is the RPR blog for ongoing updates.

What do you think about all of this? What are your questions? I want to talk with you and assist in developing the RPR strategies and plans for your business and your future. Stay tuned!