If you’ve been in real estate long enough, you already know: Change isn’t a moment; it’s the job. The brokers who thrive aren’t the ones with a crystal ball — they’re the ones who stopped looking for one. Staying on top of industry shifts is important, but they also know how to tune out the noise. Great companies double down on what they’re actually good at and only adjust based on what makes sense for their agents and their brand.
Right now, the pace feels different, the decisions weightier. Texas REALTORS® recently hosted a webinar to help brokers make sense of it all, and I moderated a conversation with three people who see this landscape from different angles: Jack Miller, CEO of T3 Sixty; Erin Cestero, San Antonio division president of JB Goodwin, REALTORS®; and Mike Murphy, longtime MLS executive and chair of the Texas REALTORS® MLS & Technology Committee.
The information these leaders shared was enlightening, reassuring and ultimately, energizing.
Change is moving faster
Miller painted a picture of accelerating change. Brokerage consolidation continues, with the top 100 brokerages doing 50% more sales volume than five years ago. There are now 300 fewer MLSs than in 2015. Finance companies are buying major brokerage companies, and AI is reshaping day-to-day operations everywhere. None of that is hype. The pace is not slowing down.
Miller offered this perspective: “There are new tools, systems and business models that are going to pressurize the historical way that we’ve done business. And we don’t think that’s going away.”
But he noted that change is not a new force in our industry. We’ve successfully evolved in the past with franchising, corporatization, new business models, the internet and iBuyers. As Jack put it: “None of those changes took away the fundamentals. The broker and agent creating a great transaction for their client is valuable no matter what.” As for the inevitability of change, he says the key is not to be fearful but to embrace it.
Keep the brokerage at the center of the conversation
Cestero sees this reality up close as her agents focus on what changes mean for their businesses. “Not every headline represents a fundamental shift in the industry. Some of today’s conversations are genuinely new, but many are variations of debates we’ve had.” She reminded us that real estate isn’t a one-size-fits-all business. There’s room for a variety of business models.
She also pointed out that our industry overestimated the effect of some past changes, but that we can’t operate in a bubble today. Some shifts require our attention. Cestero’s brokerage includes brief industry updates in sales meetings, so agents have a reliable place to bring their questions rather than turning to social media. It builds trust and keeps the brokerage at the center of the conversation.
“Change doesn’t mean chaos or crisis,” Cestero said. “Stay informed, stay curious, but don’t feel compelled to react to everything.”
Your MLS and data choices matter
On the MLS side, Murphy has seen that brokers are frustrated with fragmented data, inconsistent MLS rules and multiple MLS memberships — and MLSs need to respond.
“There’s competitive pressure from the public portals. PropTech companies and large brokerages have pushed MLSs to be more broker-centric,” Murphy said.
He cautioned that as brokers consider new options, it’s important to know who owns the data, whether they monetize your data, and if they can solve brokers’ business problems. Just as important: Are brokers represented in the decision-making?
Murphy described a future where MLSs function as true technology partners for brokers, not just listing repositories. His advice to the broker community is to make your voice heard. “It’s time to partner together,” Mike said, “before some external disruptor tears apart our industry.”
Amidst all the change, you have support
One recurring theme from the panelists reinforced my long-held belief that whatever is best for consumers is what our MLSs and brokers must deliver. And that’s where Texas REALTORS® is focused — providing you the information, tools and advocacy built for this moment. Resources like this webinar cut through the noise so you can understand the broader trends and deliver for your clients. Whatever changes we’re facing now and in the future, our association’s commitment to members is a constant you can count on.
Jennifer Wauhob is the 2026 chairman of Texas REALTORS®.