Core Insights - Ryan Serhant's brokerage, Serhant., is projected to close $6 billion in sales this year, highlighting the company's significant growth and success in the real estate market [1] - The company has established a strong network, with Serhant claiming to have met 101 billionaires and closed over $15 billion in real estate transactions throughout his career [1] - Serhant's approach to sales emphasizes relationship-building over transactions, which he believes is key to his success [4] Company Strategy - The sales strategy of Serhant. focuses on approachability, with the belief that people prefer shopping with friends rather than feeling sold to [4] - The company maintains a high agent retention rate of 99%, indicating strong internal culture and support for its agents [5] - Serhant engages with potential clients by following up quickly after initial meetings, reinforcing the importance of timely communication in building relationships [2][3] Networking Approach - Serhant employs a simple networking technique involving giving compliments and finding common ground to foster connections [2] - He aims to meet between five and 15 new people daily, viewing his contact list as "contact currency" that is built on relationships rather than mere transactions [3] - The company’s success is attributed to the trust established between buyers and sellers, as demonstrated by a significant $308 million in property sales made over the phone [4]

Group 1 - The Real Brokerage Inc. (NASDAQ:REAX) is recognized as a promising long-term penny stock investment, recently enhancing its team with Freeman Wang and his 50-agent group from Harvest Realty [1] - Harvest Realty, established in 2014, contributed over $2.4 billion in sales volume for 2024 and added 550 agents, strengthening the company's service to the Chinese community in Orange and Los Angeles counties [2] - Wang's team achieved a sales volume of $425 million in 2024, closing 430 homes, which expands The Real Brokerage Inc.'s presence in Southern California and underscores the effectiveness of its Private Label program [3] Group 2 - The Real Brokerage Inc. operates in real estate brokerage services, with its operations divided into North American Brokerage and Other segments, generating revenue through commissions from real estate transactions [4] - The Other segment includes revenues from title insurance, closing services for transactions, and premiums from mortgage facilitation [4]

Bellingham, WA, Dec. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Bayside Realty announced that Bellingham real estate professional Kari Davis has joined the firm, expanding its team of trusted advisors serving clients across northwest Washington. Davis brings extensive experience in residential and light commercial real estate, known for her strong client relationships, clear communication, and community-focused approach. Designated Broker Christine Farkas shared that Bayside Realty is plea ...

Core Insights - eXp Realty has announced two significant executive promotions aimed at enhancing its mission of empowering agents globally [1][2] - Carrie Lysenko has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer, while Holly Mabery has been appointed as Chief Brokerage Officer, both reporting directly to CEO Leo Pareja [2][3] - These leadership changes reflect eXp Realty's commitment to integrating advanced technology with strong brokerage operations [3][8] Executive Promotions - Carrie Lysenko, former CEO of Zoocasa, will focus on driving innovation and simplifying the agent experience as the new CTO [4][5] - Holly Mabery, previously Senior Vice President of Brokerage Operations, will enhance brokerage operations and compliance in her new role [6][7] Strategic Vision - Lysenko aims to leverage her experience in digital transformation to create intuitive technology that empowers agents [5][4] - Mabery emphasizes the importance of community and support for agents, ensuring operational excellence as the company grows [8][7] Company Overview - eXp Realty is the largest independent real estate brokerage globally, with over 83,000 agents across 29 countries [10] - The company operates as a cloud-based, agent-centric brokerage, offering competitive commission splits, revenue sharing, and equity ownership opportunities [10]

Regulatory Framework - The Changsha Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau has issued a notification to further regulate real estate brokerage services, focusing on five key areas: regulatory scope, housing source management, information standardization, transaction security, and punitive measures [1] Inclusion of New Entities - The new regulations expand the regulatory scope to include real estate-related self-media, online platforms, and technology companies, ensuring that traditional brokerage firms and online market participants are managed simultaneously [1] Housing Source Management - It is mandated that housing sources cannot be published without written authorization from the property owner, and all listings must be verified through official platforms. The publication of significantly below-market price listings for "low-price traffic" is strictly prohibited to eliminate false listings and price fraud [1] Information Regulation - The regulations explicitly prohibit the dissemination of unverified information, targeting the issue of "black mouth" phenomena in the real estate market, thereby aiming to purify the market information environment [1] Transaction Security - The regulations forbid brokers from concealing brokerage activities or using "hand-in-hand" transactions to evade fund supervision, which is aimed at preventing transaction risks [1] Market Position Abuse - There are restrictions on brokers misusing their market position, including prohibiting unauthorized assessments of real estate companies and banks [1]

Core Insights - eXp Realty is expanding its international presence, having successfully entered Romania and the Netherlands, with plans to expand into Luxembourg, marking a significant year for global expansion [2] - The company reported a revenue of $104.6 million for eXp International in Q3, representing a 74% increase year-over-year, highlighting the strong growth momentum driven by its expansion efforts [3] - eXp's strategy focuses on entering markets with high potential for agents, emphasizing flexibility, scalability, ownership, and global relevance, which aligns with the evolving needs of real estate agents [3][4] Group 1 - eXp Realty has expanded to seven international markets in 2025, including Peru, Ecuador, Turkey, South Korea, and Japan, with a targeted approach to growth [2] - The company is leveraging proprietary tools designed by agents for agents, such as the AI-native international real estate search platform LYVVE™, which connects agents and consumers across nearly 30 countries [4] - The rapid growth in new markets is evidenced by over 100 agents joining within the first 30 days of launch in some regions, indicating increasing influence and network effects [3][4] Group 2 - eXp Realty operates as a cloud-based, agent-centric brokerage, providing industry-leading commission sharing, revenue sharing, and equity opportunities to nearly 83,000 agents across 29 countries [6] - The company aims to build infrastructure and tools that lead the future of the real estate industry, reflecting the changing demands of agents who seek more than just commissions and training [3][4] - eXp's international expansion is characterized by collaboration with local market experts who understand the needs of agents, ensuring a strong market fit from day one [4]

Core Insights - eXp Realty has expanded into Romania and the Netherlands, with plans to enter Luxembourg, as part of its global growth strategy towards a 2030 vision [3][4] - The company has now expanded into seven countries in 2025, including previous entries into Peru, Ecuador, Türkiye, South Korea, and Japan [4] - eXp's international revenue reached $104.6 million through Q3 2025, reflecting a 74% increase compared to the same period last year [5] Expansion Strategy - eXp Realty targets agent-led markets with a rising demand for innovation, mobility, and ownership, ensuring that its platform delivers immediate value [4][5] - The company has successfully onboarded over 100 agents in the first 30 days in some of the newly launched markets, with welcome events attracting 400-500 attendees [5][6] - The expansion is characterized by a demand-driven approach, with local partners who understand their markets and align with eXp's operational model [6] Technological Innovations - eXp has developed proprietary tools like LYVVE™, an AI-native international property search platform, to facilitate connections between agents and consumers across nearly 30 countries [6] - The in-house global referral network allows agents to manage opportunities seamlessly, emphasizing the company's commitment to building purpose-driven innovations for a global, agent-led future [6] Company Overview - eXp World Holdings, Inc. is the holding company for eXp Realty and SUCCESS Enterprises, with eXp Realty being the largest independent real estate brokerage globally, boasting over 83,000 agents across 29 countries [8] - The company offers industry-leading commission splits, revenue share, equity ownership opportunities, and a global network to empower agents [8]

Core Insights - eXp Realty has launched LYVVE™, an international property search platform aimed at enhancing connections between agents and consumers across borders [1][2][3] Company Overview - eXp Realty is a subsidiary of eXp World Holdings, Inc. and is recognized as the largest independent real estate brokerage globally, with over 83,000 agents across 29 countries [7] - The company emphasizes an agent-centric model, providing agents with industry-leading commission splits, revenue share, and equity ownership opportunities [7] LYVVE Platform Features - LYVVE supports listings from nearly 30 countries and offers a user-friendly experience for exploring properties worldwide [2][4] - The platform includes features such as WhatsApp messaging for real-time communication between agents and clients, enhancing the buying and selling process [3][4] - LYVVE is designed to be a comprehensive marketplace that addresses challenges like fragmentation, visibility, and accessibility in the real estate industry [6] Strategic Vision - eXp Realty aims to expand into 50 countries by 2030, with LYVVE evolving to include more listings, markets, and features [5] - The platform is positioned to facilitate global real estate transactions, making it as easy to explore international properties as local ones [6]

Core Insights - U.S. pending home sales experienced a decline of 2.1% year over year during the four weeks ending November 23, marking the largest decrease in eight months according to Redfin's data [1] Group 1: Homebuying Demand Indicators - The daily average 30-year fixed mortgage rate is currently at 6.2% [1]

Core Insights - The typical retail worker in the U.S. earns $34,436 annually, which is 51.6% less than the $71,172 needed to afford a typical apartment costing $1,779 per month [2][8] - Rental affordability for retail workers has improved slightly in recent years, with the earnings shortfall decreasing from 56.8% in October 2022 to 51.6% in the latest report [8][10] - The report highlights significant regional disparities, with New York having the largest shortfall at 71%, while Cleveland has the smallest at 32.9% [11][13] Earnings and Affordability - A retail worker would need to work 83 hours per week to afford a typical apartment on their own, which is impractical for most [4] - Redfin defines rental affordability as spending no more than 30% of income on rent, based on wage estimates from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [3] Impact of Economic Conditions - The retail industry has faced significant job cuts, with 88,664 layoffs in 2025, a 145% increase from the previous year, attributed to falling sales and rising tariffs [6] - Seasonal hiring in retail is expected to decline, with projections of 265,000 to 365,000 seasonal workers in 2025, down from 442,000 the previous year [6] Behavioral Changes Among Renters - Nearly 1 in 4 U.S. renters struggle to afford housing costs, leading many to share rent, move further from work, or live in smaller spaces [5] - Renters are making lifestyle sacrifices, such as dining out less and borrowing money to meet rent obligations [5] Wage Growth vs. Rent Growth - Retail worker wages have been growing at approximately 3% year over year, while rents have increased at a rate closer to 2%, contributing to improved affordability [10] - The analysis indicates that even higher-earning retail workers (top 25%) still face affordability challenges, earning 44.2% less than needed for a typical apartment [7]