NRBA Video News Replay – March 11, 2026

This meeting was the NRBA Video News for March 11th, hosted by Michael with guest Mike Olszewski. The discussion began with a recap of the recent NADP conference, where NRBA members were well-represented on panels and made a positive impression on attendees. Michael announced an exciting development regarding the CSSE (Certified Short Sale Expert) designation, revealing that it would be listed as a separate designation in Equator profiles, making it the only way agents can be listed and certified as short sale experts on the largest short sale platform. The meeting covered current market challenges including rising taxes and insurance costs (now consuming 21% of mortgage payments in some areas), declining consumer sentiment, and job losses, particularly in healthcare. Mike Olszewski shared his experiences from the Chicago market, noting increased receptiveness from home occupants to relocation assistance and emphasizing the importance of thorough buyer vetting and follow-up throughout the closing process. The discussion concluded with updates about the upcoming NRBA conference, including room availability and logistics, as well as reminders about communication preferences for member inquiries. Please contact us all through email for a faster response.

Michael hosted the NRBA Video News on March 11th, welcoming the attendees, many of whom had recently returned from the NADP conference. He provided a positive recap of the NADP conference, noting good organization and valuable sessions, particularly highlighting the head economist from MBA and Steve from New Res. The meeting began with casual conversation about the conference and personal updates, including Dan’s recent meeting with his granddaughter. Michael mentioned having some exciting announcements to share but needed to prepare his materials, indicating he would continue with the presentation later.

Michael praised the performance of NRBA members who participated in various panels at a recent conference, highlighting their strong representation and professional delivery. He noted that the NRBA members were well-known to clients and demonstrated a close-knit community, which impressed both attendees and non-members. The discussion also touched on the demand from non-members to join the conference and potentially become part of the NRBA, but Michael emphasized the group’s commitment to maintaining a private and exclusive environment. Additionally, Michael mentioned a significant development involving a collaboration with Equator for short sale processes, though details were limited due to an NDA.

Michael announced that the CSSE (Certified Short Sale Expert) designation will be listed as a separate designation in Equator profiles, making it the only way agents can be certified and listed as short sale experts on the platform. He recommended agents upgrade to Equator Elite membership to access additional training programs and certification. Michael also discussed a new VA partial claim policy that allows the VA to purchase back 25% of a loan balance as a second lien with zero interest, helping make mortgage payments more affordable for struggling veterans. He highlighted concerning market trends where taxes and insurance now consume an average of 21% of mortgage payments, with some areas like Pensacola, Florida facing even higher burdens of up to 43%.

Michael discussed findings from a study on borrower awareness of mortgage processes, highlighting that 60% of borrowers were unaware of how escrow works and 45% incorrectly believed their monthly payments would not change. He shared his experiences in the Chicago and Milwaukee markets, noting increased receptiveness to relocation assistance from home occupants, though he also reported challenges with buyers taking longer to close or backing out of deals. Michael emphasized the importance of thorough vetting of buyer agents, following up regularly with loan officers and title companies, and addressing municipal concerns directly to ensure successful closings.

The meeting focused on discussing closing scorecards and proactive measures agents can take to improve them. Cliff emphasized the importance of being proactive with title issues and deeds, suggesting agents check KPI dashboards regularly to identify and address problems before they affect closing scores. Michael reassured agents not to worry too much about scorecard fluctuations, caused by client delays as the same issues affect all brokers equally, and advised focusing on overall performance rather than perfection. The group also discussed the upcoming NRBA conference, with Cliff planning to present on using KPI dashboards to manage scorecards and improve closing processes.

Michael discussed the cooling labor market, noting a significant loss of 92,000 jobs in February, with healthcare being the largest affected sector. He highlighted how rising oil prices and increased costs for goods and transportation would further strain individuals already struggling with homeownership and credit card debt, predicting an exponential increase in defaults and distressed loans. Michael also touched on industry practices, mentioning common misconceptions brokers tell their agents about opening independent offices and the potential for profitability in specific market segments.

Michael discussed the current low consumer sentiment levels, comparing them to post-COVID conditions in 2022. He explained how large brokerages prioritize agent recruitment over production due to their revenue model, which relies heavily on monthly fees from a large agent base rather than transaction profits. Michael noted that this creates a conflict of interest where brokerages may underreport distressed sales numbers to maintain positive recruiting messages, presenting an opportunity for their team to focus on short sales and distressed properties.

Michael discussed current real estate market trends, noting a significant drop in first-time homebuyer numbers and transaction volume. He announced that the House Karma program would not be actively marketed until he sees improvement in these metrics. Michael highlighted that smaller independent brokerages have an advantage over larger firms in the current market, as they can focus on production rather than recruitment. He also mentioned a pending Senate bill that could impact institutional ownership of single-family homes, particularly affecting build-to-rent properties.

Michael warned about increasing fraud risks, particularly with AI-generated fake documents and potential resurgence of short sale fraud, attributing a significant increase in deed fraud to media coverage. The team discussed conference room availability, with Michael noting they may need to secure additional rooms for clients and potentially request cancellations from members. Shay asked about review placement, and Michael clarified that reviews should be posted in the designated review section rather than comments.

Michael announced that their team will help promote course completion by posting to participants’ social media pages and boosting posts on LinkedIn and Facebook. He confirmed that completed courses will be listed on NRBA profiles, Equator, and CSC directory, among others. When asked about accommodation at the NRBA conference, Michael suggested flexibility based on personal preferences, noting that some clients are staying at a different hotel. Michael also mentioned the launch of the NRBA / CSSE discount code, and yes members could use it for their own staff as well, which will be available for about four more months, and reminded participants to use email or phone for communication rather than social media.