NRBA Video News Replay -February 18 , 2026

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The NRBA Video News meeting focused on market trends and strategic business development. Michael presented data showing rising underwater mortgages and discussed how specialization in specific market segments like REO and short sales could lead to higher profits. Sarah demonstrated how to create and implement QR codes for marketing purposes, while Chris emphasized the importance of consistent branding across social media platforms. The meeting covered upcoming industry changes, including new mortgage lead costs and the impact of AI on real estate search tools. Michael shared insights about the current housing market challenges and predicted opportunities for those who adapt to the changing conditions.

The meeting began with Michael welcoming attendees and discussing the upcoming NADP/REOMAC conference, encouraging members to participate and support each other. Michael highlighted the importance of “sharing” content over just copying and pasting, noting that it enhances Facebook ranking and maintains context. The group discussed the current real estate market. Sarah Lynn was introduced as the guest host for the day’s session.

The group discussed issues with Facebook posts, emphasizing the importance of sharing content appropriately and adding personal comments to increase visibility. Michael and Shay highlighted that copying and pasting posts can harm visibility and is against the algorithm’s preferences. Mike shared updates on upcoming short sale and REO market presentations, promising to provide detailed insights to members before broader distribution. The group also discussed the acquisition of Cenlar by PennyMac, which will result in significant changes to Cenlar’s operations and physical locations. Additionally, they briefly touched on the ineffectiveness of the Do Not Call registry in reducing spam calls.

Sarah discussed the data deletion capabilities of Cloaked, a privacy tool, and Michael shared insights about information accessibility through Truthfinder, highlighting the vast amount of personal data available online. Michael then presented statistics on the underwater housing market, noting that 1.1 million homeowners are seriously underwater (more than 25%), a 7-year high, and another 3.2 million borrowers also underwater (1 out of 12 homes having less than 10% equity). He emphasized the targeting potential in areas with high negative equity.

The meeting focused on the alarming rise in underwater mortgages across several cities, with Michael presenting data showing significant negative equity issues, particularly in Florida and Texas. Michael highlighted that homeowners who purchased after 2022 are facing more negative equity compared to previous buyers, and predicted that the industry’s portrayal of home equity might be misleading. The discussion also covered upcoming changes to mortgage trigger leads, with mortgage lead costs expected to increase by 45% starting March 1st, and emphasized the importance of client reviews for the CSSE course. Finally, the meeting addressed the softening housing market, noting that existing home sales are on track for 3.9 million in 2026, down from earlier projections of 4.1 million, and discussed targeting strategies for delinquent homeowners, particularly focusing on new homes with expired rate buy-downs and older FHA/VA loan properties.

Michael discussed the challenges faced by first-time buyers of older homes, highlighting issues with roofs, HVAC systems, and plumbing. He emphasized the importance of targeting specific zip codes for short sales and REO properties, and advised agents to enhance their social media presence and branding to increase their chances of securing more business. Shay agreed, stressing the significance of consistent engagement on social media platforms and signing up for NRBA client lists to generate leads. Both speakers underscored the need for agents to actively build their brand and leverage social media to stay visible and competitive in the real estate market.

Michael discussed social media strategies, emphasizing the importance of creating quality content to build authority and attract the right audience. He shared that he recently wrote an article about market trends that will be published in a major magazine in the next 2-3 weeks. Michael also advised on networking on social platforms, suggesting a balanced approach to connecting with potential clients, and stressed the significance of consistent engagement to improve visibility.

Michael discussed the importance of being interactive on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn, emphasizing the need to engage with others’ content rather than just creating posts. He also advised the team to use email or phone for communication instead of messaging apps, as it’s harder for he and the other board members to keep track of messages. Michael then provided an update on the mortgage industry, explaining how the ban on abusive trigger leads is driving up costs and leading to a shift towards AI and predictive modeling for loan companies. He advised the team to expect more loan officers seeking their business and to shop around for legitimate loan offers when working with borrowers.

Sarah presented on creating custom QR codes, explaining how they can be used to direct users to a single landing page containing multiple social media links and resources. She demonstrated various applications of QR codes, including business cards, videos, and marketing materials, and recommended using Bitly or Canva to create them. Michael had previously discussed the lead generation market’s pyramid structure and the increasing cost of leads.

Sarah demonstrated how to create QR codes using Bitly and Canva, explaining the process of shortening URLs and customizing QR code appearances. She introduced Linktree as a tool to consolidate multiple links into a single web page, which can be accessed by scanning a QR code. Sarah emphasized the ease of creating QR codes and encouraged attendees to use them on marketing materials, noting that Bitly offers a paid version for more advanced features if needed.

Sarah demonstrated how to create QR codes and short URLs using Canva and Bitly, respectively. She agreed to share the details of where she purchases her custom boxes. Michael suggested integrating ChatGPT with Canva’s AI for automated design work, though this would require a premium subscription. The group discussed the importance of QR codes for professional branding, with Chris and Michael emphasizing that marketing success depends on consistent promotion and a compelling value proposition. They agreed to organize a hands-on QR code training session at the next BDS event in Atlanta.

Michael discussed the current housing market challenges, predicting a potential housing emergency due to rising interest rates and high debt levels. He highlighted the importance of specialization in the real estate industry for financial success and encouraged members to complete foundational tasks before pursuing new marketing strategies. Michael also introduced upcoming webinars and promotional opportunities, emphasizing the need for agents to adapt to market changes and consider building teams to maximize profits.