Real (Estate) Talk: Are "Love Letters" Really So Bad? An Attorney of Color's Take (Video)

<div><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><p style="text-align: center;">As featured in my <a href="https://www.inman.com/2021/10/21/are-love-letters-so-bad-real-estate-attorney-weighs-in-real-estate-talk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">monthly Inman News column on Race and Real Estate</span></a>.  </p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i>“I could imagine where the Christmas tree would go and my kids coming down the stairs on Christmas morning. I love cooking, so I imagined myself making dinner for these families, and I really tried to visualize myself and express those feelings in this house.” <a href="https://eminetra.com/homebuyer-love-letters-risk-fair-housing-violations-but-some-feel-risk-is-worth-it-news-tucson-arizona/761358/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The letter</span></a> was accompanied by a picture of the Soko family.</i></span></blockquote><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Did that opening paragraph have your fair housing, spidey senses tingling like it did mine? It should be clear that this so-called "love letter" can also be a fair housing <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/fair-housing-corner/love-letters-or-liability-letters" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">liability</span></a>. (If you are wondering how, check out this <a href="https://vimeo.com/r/3k1w/ZnpNRGp0Z2" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">refresher</span></a> for no fee using the exclusive promo code "inmannews".)</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">As a friendly reminder, "<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/real-estate-love-letters-spark-concern-over-racial-bias-11631352602" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Love Letters</span></a>" allow prospective buyers to express how much they love a home and why they should be the next owner. That seems innocent until we review the sorted history of people being denied housing because of very superficial characteristics like race, number of children, religion, sexual orientation, and other NOW-protected housing classes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: inherit;">The characteristics that potential buyers may innocently volunteer to prove their worthiness to purchase a home MAY qualify them -- or backfire and disqualify them -- while violating fair housing all at the same time.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Yeesh.</span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">To that point, in one instance a home seller was indeed "<a href="https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-09-30/banning-love-letters-in-home-sales-could-backfire" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">turned off</span></a>" that the prospective buyer wrote a "love letter" (and sent flowers) to reveal their Jewish commonality in hopes of persuasion. Double yeesh.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Less we forget, Fair Housing used to unaffectionately be called openly "<a href="https://news.wttw.com/2018/04/12/50-years-fair-housing-act-segregation-persists" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Forced Housing</span></a>" by some real estate agents and home sellers during some of our lifetimes (leading up to and during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and -60s).<br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"Even the National Association of Realtors acknowledges that it was on the wrong side of history in 1968... 'The rationale back then was, ‘We want to stop government from forcing me to sell to someone I don’t want to sell to,’' said Fred Underwood at the National Association of Realtors. 'That was what ‘forced housing’ was.'"</span></blockquote><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://news.wttw.com/sites/default/files/article/file-attachments/FairHousingDocs_NAR_2018-03-21.pdf" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="1638" height="370" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLcEK3snkpk/YVH3C8l7z8I/AAAAAAAAcHo/1L1s4tz5AooWKAQzijE8dD89veSpIuJJQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h370/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-09-27%2Bat%2B12.52.16%2BPM.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.moosejawtoday.com/local-news/realtors-group-worried-that-liberal-plan-could-criminalize-how-people-sell-their-homes-4266190" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Today</span></a>, some North American agents, as well as homeowners, still want to protect not being “forced” to sell to certain people based on certain superficialities and erroneous implicit associations.<br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Case in point,<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>it was <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-09-22/how-a-hot-housing-market-exacerbates-racial-inequality" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">documented</span></a> that “​​...a White seller told a White real estate agent that they didn’t want a 'Middle Eastern' buyer to purchase their home because they didn’t want to 'support terrorists'.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That’s problematic and ILLEGAL. If you missed why, then let's run that back: the home seller made an erroneous implicit association that middle eastern heritage is automatically and unequivocally equivalent -- no ifs, ands or buts about it -- to being a terrorist and is not willing to sell the home to a buyer solely on race. This is the moment that the Anti-Racist Real Estate Pro should speak up and educate the seller on fair housing and "what we not gonna do". </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4DVooeS2o4/YVH6ZKMzgcI/AAAAAAAAcHw/XJlTOC70VnMevGe7YbhJKzkF794rVV6jACLcBGAsYHQ/s1736/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-09-27%2Bat%2B1.07.23%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="1736" height="290" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4DVooeS2o4/YVH6ZKMzgcI/AAAAAAAAcHw/XJlTOC70VnMevGe7YbhJKzkF794rVV6jACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h290/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-09-27%2Bat%2B1.07.23%2BPM.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">But not every seller works with an agent that is committed to fair housing beyond the logo being on flyers. To that point, <a href="https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/oregon-bans-buyer-love-letters/283-2168d502-c3a9-4dcd-8225-e0a255c6a5f3" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Oregon</span></a> has been a trailblazer in BANNING “love letters”. Should other states follow?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>In this video, </span><span>Mehrnush Saadat, esq. -- who I like to call </span><span>the people's choice of closing attorneys because she's <i>that </i>good -- of the award-winning </span><a href="http://www.blueinktitle.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Blue Ink Title</span></a><span> discusses:</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>As a closing attorney, what have you seen when it comes to love letters?</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>What should be the focus for agents, home buyers, and home sellers?</b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>And, how can our furry friends be part of the solution?</b> </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ENktsClbg6g" width="320" youtube-src-id="ENktsClbg6g"></iframe></div><br /><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span>Bonus Real Talk: by the way, why is it important to have a Person of Color's viewpoint on this topic? </span><br /><span><br /></span><span>Let me first ask you a question: as an adult, have you ever had someone discuss issues that impact you while you are standing just feet away without including you? If so, did you like it?  Probably not and it is likely that whatever was being discussed, lacked the nuance that only your first-hand perspective could add to the conversation. </span><br /><span><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Similarly, when we are discussing fair housing and specifically the protected class of race, it is a disservice to the very people that have faced harm based on their race (who we want to protect) to not include us in these vital conversations. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><blockquote><b>In essence, "don't talk <i>about</i> us <i>without</i> us"!  </b></blockquote></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of course, no one experience is necessarily universal but the more diverse experiences are heard, the likelier we will see a more complete picture.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I hope this conversation gives you some food for thought!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Sound off -</b> I would love to hear from you!  Give me a shout on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LearnWithDrLee" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/learnwithdrlee" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/leedavenport8?sub_confirmation=1" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or by visiting </span><a href="http://www.learnwithdrlee.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LearnWithDrLee.com</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.  </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Download today your complimentary (aka NO FEE but for a limited time so hurry) copy of my new book, <a href="https://dl.bookfunnel.com/luem6y7zox" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">How to Be an Anti-Racist Real Estate Pro</span></b></a>. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want more tips </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">from fellow real estate pros (like Leigh Brown, Kim Hayden, and Sarah Johnston to name just a few) to help you become even more resilient in real estate?</span><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grab our new book, </span><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resilient Real Estate Women</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00WTAE5L4" style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">clicking here</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want more of the best practices of our nation's top producers? Grab your copy of the short read, <b><span><a href="http://www.learnwithlee.realtor/p/resources.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Profit with Your Personality</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and, the classic, 5-star rated workbook, </span><a href="http://amzn.com/1508652325" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plan to Win</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, to transform their real estate sales game plan. Or, get your "training on" with these <a href="http://vimeo.com/ondemand/learnwithdrlee" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">on-demand classes</span></b></a>. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's to your success! </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">#LearnWithDrLee</span></div></div></div>

fair housing, love letters

Real (Estate) Talk: Are "Love Letters" Really So Bad? An Attorney of Color's Take (Video)

As featured in my monthly Inman News column on Race and Real Estate .   “I could imagine where the Christmas tree would go and my kids comin...

It's the 4th Quarter -- Is Your Lead Generation Ready for a New Year?

<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x-1q0lsHL7E/YU4cKmjsj7I/AAAAAAAAcHc/PdE-Y_SiGCghr5EP7umvn37SoxUmrziXgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/autumn-1758194_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1280" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x-1q0lsHL7E/YU4cKmjsj7I/AAAAAAAAcHc/PdE-Y_SiGCghr5EP7umvn37SoxUmrziXgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h428/autumn-1758194_1280.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">It's that time of year again for:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Pumpkin spice</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Apple cider</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">My grandmother's sweet potato pie</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Crisp leaves</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">And, a checkup of your lead generation.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Did you catch the last one?</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">The start of autumn should annually remind you to take inventory of if your business is a lead-generating machine or if changes need to be made. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Why this time of year? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Because for many of us, once the holidays hit, if we do not have effective lead generation tools (that include some level of automation),  we will start January (and perhaps February too) with the sound of crickets because our deals have dried up during the holiday festivities.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">What are the two critical things that you can do today to prepare for a winning new year? </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Check out this month's bite-sized coaching tip video below:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="padding: 56.25% 0px 0px; position: relative;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/613822904?h=4d9245dfbb&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" style="height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;" title="Is Your Lead Generation Ready for a New Year?.mp4"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script> <div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Sound off -</b> I would love to hear from you!  Give me a shout on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LearnWithDrLee" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/learnwithdrlee" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/leedavenport8?sub_confirmation=1" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or by visiting </span><a href="http://www.learnwithdrlee.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LearnWithDrLee.com</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.  </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Download today your complimentary (aka NO FEE but for a limited time so hurry) copy of my new book, <a href="https://dl.bookfunnel.com/luem6y7zox" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">How to Be an Anti-Racist Real Estate Pro</span></b></a>. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want more tips </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">from fellow real estate pros (like Leigh Brown, Kim Hayden, and Sarah Johnston to name just a few) to help you become even more resilient in real estate?</span><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grab our new book, </span><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resilient Real Estate Women</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00WTAE5L4" style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">clicking here</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want more of the best practices of our nation's top producers? Grab your copy of the short read, <b><span><a href="http://www.learnwithlee.realtor/p/resources.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Profit with Your Personality</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and, the classic, 5-star rated workbook, </span><a href="http://amzn.com/1508652325" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plan to Win</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, to transform their real estate sales game plan. Or, get your "training on" with these <a href="http://vimeo.com/ondemand/learnwithdrlee" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">on-demand classes</span></b></a>. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's to your success! </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">#LearnWithDrLee</span></div></div>

lead generation, new year

It's the 4th Quarter -- Is Your Lead Generation Ready for a New Year?

It's that time of year again for: Pumpkin spice Apple cider My grandmother's sweet potato pie Crisp leaves And, a checkup of your le...

Real (Estate) Talk: How "Women in Real Estate" Are Thriving from the Clubhouse App

<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">As featured in my monthly <a href="https://www.inman.com/2021/09/17/real-estate-talk-how-women-in-real-estate-are-thriving-on-clubhouse/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Inman News column Real (Estate) Talk</span></a>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://youtu.be/TIY3m7FhhHo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZDd3V1OapE/YQ7EvstMrRI/AAAAAAAAcCM/2ILJtn0E-UsnvZ6wR9Mw6bZWQMnj2gMSgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/YT%2BClubhouse%2BApp%2BInterview%2B%25282%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I love the ingenuity of our industry. When we were told sizeable networking groups -- the lifeline for some of our businesses -- could not gather in person, many of us creatively figured out ways to network and build supportive communities all while social distancing with existing and new technology. Salute!</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>As guidelines continue to vary, I am a firm believer that our business growth can remain consistent if we learn such creative lessons to thrive. Today's lesson comes from <a href="https://www.clubhouse.com/@btheboss" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Brittany Rose</span></a>, a co-founder (along with</span><span> </span><a href="https://www.clubhouse.com/@kelanib" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Kelani Blackwell</span></a>)<span> of the thriving Clubhouse community, <i><b>Women in Real</b></i></span><span><i><b> Estate</b></i>. (Not sure what Clubhouse is? I wrote about it when we were in the throes of "pandemonium" <a href="https://www.learnwithlee.realtor/2021/01/starved-for-community-and-lead.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></a>.)</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Ready to either get on the Clubhouse app or, if you are already on, make it a viable part of your real estate business? </b></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Check out all of the tips from serial entrepreneur, REALTOR® and community connector Brittany Rose </span><span>of the 54,200+ followers strong Clubhouse community </span><span>(that is not a typo folx!)</span><span>, </span><a href="https://www.clubhouse.com/club/WomeninRealEstate" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Women in Real Estate https://www.clubhouse.com/club/WomeninRealEstate</span></a> <span>in this exclusive interview. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">We discuss:</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></div></span></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><span><span><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>1) T</span><span>he unspoken mantra of real estate is </span><i>Community, Community, Community</i><span>. </span><span>How has the Clubhouse app provided a platform for you to create a community for <i><b>Women in Real Estate</b></i> (reminder: it's 54,200+ strong) in this unprecedented time </span><span><span>of our generation </span><span>of social distancing? </span></span></span></div></span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span><span><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><span><span><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">2) With the Clubhouse app, how can we build a community -- partners, vendors, clients, mentors and the whole shebang --  that supports our real estate business in a way that actually gets us off the Clubhouse app and outside (safely of course) to make deals happen?</span></div></span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span><span><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><span><span><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">3) When and how can we monetize our Clubhouse connections?</span></div></span></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Why does this matter?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Why is community building -- a.k.a. finding (or better yet creating) our own tribe -- vital for all of us, particularly marginalized groups like women and People of Color?</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">As Brittany Rose mentions in this video interview, although it is 2021, there are spaces that demean different groups. She found that to be true from firsthand experience on the Clubhouse app (along with <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2021/02/11/is-clubhouse-creating-an-equitable-environment-for-all-its-users/?sh=714ff4011c5a" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">various other Clubhouse users</span></a>) so she and her co-founder did something about it. Necessity -- to be seen, heard, and included -- seems to be the mother of invention for these she-roes.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Plus, for context, it is <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/most-residential-realtors-may-be-women-but-inequality-is-still-prevalent-in-the-real-estate-industry-143341098.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">no secret</span></a> that:</span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">1) The largely self-employed residential real estate industry has a <a href="https://www.nar.realtor/women-in-real-estate" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">majority</span></a> of women practitioners; not so for the commercial side of the industry.</span></div></span></div></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">2) We are in the midst of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/hollycorbett/2021/07/28/the-great-resignation-why-employees-dont-want-to-go-back-to-the-office/?sh=7455f0fd2000" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">"The Great Resignation"</span></a> with Black women <a href="https://usafacts.org/articles/black-women-business-month/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">leading self-employment</span></a> among women.</span></div></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">3) Realty leadership is male-dominated, and <a href="https://blog.coldwellbanker.com/cbwomen-even-in-female-dominated-industries-more-than-one-third-of-americans-agree-women-face-a-glass-ceiling-according-to-coldwell-banker-real-estate-survey/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">metrics</span></a> highlight the resulting <a href="https://www.globest.com/2021/04/07/recognizing-gender-equality-champions-in-cre/?slreturn=20210707085500" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">inequities</span></a>. </span></div></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><blockquote>"...the real estate industry has long been known as a 'boys’ club'. But that is a generalization. I believe there is great importance in recognizing the specifics of gender disparity in the real estate industry... I would coach myself to take more risks, speak up more and do the internal work necessary to build up my confidence sooner. It’s really hard as a young woman first entering the workforce to have that confidence, sense of self and conviction that will take your career farther in a shorter amount of time. Imposter syndrome is real, especially when you find yourself in an industry that you are not traditionally trained or educated in." --<a href="https://rismedia.com/2020/02/29/women-real-estate-gender-disparities/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Natalie Diaz</span></a>, chief of staff for Time Equities Inc. (TEI)</blockquote></span></div></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Sidebar: it is really hard to coach ourselves without such powerful hindsight when often we don't know what we don't know. This is particularly true if we are isolated from other pros, which this pandemic magnifies. Thus, when we tribe-build as oppose to tackling this solo (at any point in our careers), we can collectively overcome such hurdles.</i></span></div></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">4) It feels like adding salt to the wound but we must not forget that the <a href="https://som.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Gender_Gap_in_Housing_Returns_20200117.pdf"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">housing returns</span></a> for women (as real estate buyers and sellers) pale in comparison to men too. </span></div></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">5) Additionally and unfortunately, all this unwanted salt for women may be doubly concerning and clogging for Women of Color because the real estate industry is still wrought with <a href="https://abc11.com/real-estate-nc-housing-market-homes-for-sale/10882416/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">underrepresentation of People of Color</span></a> -- from clients to agents to appraisers and every service provider in-between. </span></div></span></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Like our physical health, our business health can be compromised and face premature death with all this salt, yuck.</span></div><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Thus, community spaces like <i><b>Women in Real Estate</b></i> -- which include <i><b>all</b></i> genders that champion <i><b>all</b></i> women -- can really be medicine for our souls and kale in our smoothies. I love to see it.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TIY3m7FhhHo" width="320" youtube-src-id="TIY3m7FhhHo"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Shout out to Kim Hayden of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lee-Davenport/e/B00WTAE5L4/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0"><span class="s1" style="color: #3d85c6;">Resilient Real Estate Women</span></a> for connecting us and being a tribe builder. Thanks, sis!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Sound off -</b> I would love to hear from you!  Give me a shout on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LearnWithDrLee" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://instagram.com/learnwithdrlee" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/leedavenport8?sub_confirmation=1" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">YouTube</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or by visiting </span><a href="http://www.learnwithdrlee.com/" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">LearnWithDrLee.com</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.  </span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />Download today your complimentary (aka NO FEE but for a limited time so hurry) copy of my new book, <a href="https://dl.bookfunnel.com/luem6y7zox" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">How to Be an Anti-Racist Real Estate Pro</span></b></a>. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want more tips </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">from fellow real estate pros (like Leigh Brown, Kim Hayden, and Sarah Johnston to name just a few) to help you become even more resilient in real estate?</span><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Grab our new book, </span><b style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Resilient Real Estate Women</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B00WTAE5L4" style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">clicking here</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Want more of the best practices of our nation's top producers? Grab your copy of the short read, <b><span><a href="http://www.learnwithlee.realtor/p/resources.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Profit with Your Personality</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and, the classic, 5-star rated workbook, </span><a href="http://amzn.com/1508652325" style="background-color: white; font-family: times; line-height: 22.08px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plan to Win</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, to transform their real estate sales game plan. Or, get your "training on" with these <a href="http://vimeo.com/ondemand/learnwithdrlee" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">on-demand classes</span></b></a>. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's to your success! </span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">#LearnWithDrLee</span></div></div></div></div>

clubhouse

Real (Estate) Talk: How "Women in Real Estate" Are Thriving from the Clubhouse App

As featured in my monthly Inman News column Real (Estate) Talk .  I love the ingenuity of our industry. When we were told sizeable networkin...

Welcome-ish: UN-Fair Housing and the Part Left Out of Nursery Rhymes (Video)

<div class="separator" style="text-align: center;">As featured in <a href="https://www.ypn.realtor/the-lounge/unfair-housing-and-the-part-left-out-of-nursery-rhymes/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">REALTOR Magazine's YPN Lounge</span></a>.   </div><div class="separator"><br></div><div class="separator"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zBKpvbe42Zs/YSkucGs_68I/AAAAAAAAcGE/u1wYdLU_iwQLkOZYVrM6n1E3xW1YV05UACLcBGAsYHQ/s1280/Welcomeish.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zBKpvbe42Zs/YSkucGs_68I/AAAAAAAAcGE/u1wYdLU_iwQLkOZYVrM6n1E3xW1YV05UACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h360/Welcomeish.png" width="640"></a></div><div><br><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">In a recent report, there were over <a href="https://www.housingwire.com/articles/fair-housing-complaints-remained-elevated-in-2020/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">28,000</span></a> fair housing complaints <a href="https://nationalfairhousing.org/reports-research/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">filed</span></a> just last year. I repeat, there were TENS of THOUSANDS, ugh!  </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span></span></span></div></div>

featured

Welcome-ish: UN-Fair Housing and the Part Left Out of Nursery Rhymes (Video)

As featured in REALTOR Magazine's YPN Lounge .    In a recent report, there were over 28,000 fair housing complaints filed just last y...

4 "Automa-zation" Tools to "Set It and Forget It" in 2022

<div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: x-large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4wd1CxzEWW4/YSaGCkBCkYI/AAAAAAAAcFU/RTSMEuvaarQAniPQDtD09n7jbiyunMXaACLcBGAsYHQ/s1830/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-08-25%2Bat%2B2.02.41%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1830" height="376" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4wd1CxzEWW4/YSaGCkBCkYI/AAAAAAAAcFU/RTSMEuvaarQAniPQDtD09n7jbiyunMXaACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h376/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-08-25%2Bat%2B2.02.41%2BPM.png" width="640"></a></div><div style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">"<i><b>It's been a while</b></i>" are words we should never hear or say to prospects.<span></span></span></span></div>

"automa-zation", slideshow-v1

4 "Automa-zation" Tools to "Set It and Forget It" in 2022

" It's been a while " are words we should never hear or say to prospects.

Real (Estate) Talk: How to reenergize your diversity efforts to enact change

<div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">As featured in my monthly <a href="https://www.inman.com/2021/08/19/how-to-reenergize-your-diversity-efforts-to-enact-change/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Race & Real Estate Inman News Column </span></a>with an excerpt from <a href="https://dl.bookfunnel.com/yi5dxzq5tz" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">How to Be an Anti-Racist Real Estate Pro</span></a>©.  </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span>It has been over a year since George Floyd's murder moved not only our country but the world. In reflecting on the year since the summer of 2020, I have seen numerous tribute posts but one in particular by Kanarys Inc. labeled, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CPbPhOKHDdN/?utm_medium=copy_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><i>How the Murder of George Floyd Changed Corporate America Forever</i></span></a> made me wonder about the real estate industry: </span> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span>Has the real estate industry really changed forever? </span></b></i><span> </span></span></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p></div><div><blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Or, was the quest for equitable real estate solutions simply a trend that's fading out?</b></i></span></blockquote><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Then I came across Dr. Monica Cox's (the first Black woman to receive tenure as an engineering professor at <em>The</em> Ohio State University and iykyk I must say both <i>congratulations</i> and <i>Go Blue!</i>) now-viral tweet that you may have heard about as she has been since featured on cable news:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div><blockquote><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Instead of showing me your diversity statement, show me your hiring data, your discrimination claim stats, your salary tables, your retention numbers, your diversity policies and your leaders' public actions against racism. End performative allyship.</b></span></i></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">There are no lies there. She articulated a necessary challenge to every organization, including our real estate associations and firms:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><em><strong><span style="font-size: large;">In the past year, how have our organization's hiring data, discrimination claim statistics, salary tables, retention numbers, diversity policies and leaders' public actions against racism improved on the J.E.D.I. (justice, equity, diversity and inclusion) journey? </span></strong></em></div></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><div><div><em><strong><span style="font-size: large;">How can our organizations check this at least annually?</span></strong></em></div></div></blockquote><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">By the way, Dr. Cox calls anything less than this <i>playing diversity</i>. <i>Playing diversity </i>puts me in the mind of <em>playing doctor</em> where the players often get tired of playing at a whim's notice and can cavalierly move on to the next trendy topic of play. Such play was fun, and even appropriate, as children -- not so much as culpable adults.</span></div></div> <div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: large;">Well, if Gary Keller has anything to say about it, last summer's momentum has not gone kaput -- it is here to stay and Julia Lashay Israel (KW's new head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)) is charged with making sure of it. </span><span style="font-size: large;">If your brokerage is stuck, check out my interview with Julia Lashay for ideas that may re-energize your commitment to fair housing (and going beyond, to being a J.E.D.I. leader).</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1abji1TaNI/YMfMYIWL0pI/AAAAAAAAbz8/W7dWkICBPCgqzGaHLLa6n7KFRADLG_CbwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1125/IMG_5506.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1125" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z1abji1TaNI/YMfMYIWL0pI/AAAAAAAAbz8/W7dWkICBPCgqzGaHLLa6n7KFRADLG_CbwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h484/IMG_5506.jpg" width="640" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>KW's Julia Lashay Israel filming for Juneteenth</b></i></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </div> <div><span style="font-size: large;">In this video we discuss:</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: large;">+ Key DEI initiatives KW has begun that may be beneficial at your brokerage as well (they don't mind sharing secrets)</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: large;">+ Why top-down leadership is important to DEI work and who modeled it at KW</span></div> <div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div> <div><span style="font-size: large;">+ How to lead up if those at the helm of your brokerage or organization do not yet see the need for DEI work</span></div> <div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div> <div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div> <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ft2CdDvK-dg" width="320"></iframe></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>   <div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Pkcfv60pXc/YLqtK1RFOPI/AAAAAAAAbxU/xo8f17k5EPU5zaJmyvjeCfOpxqaUMUk2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1310/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-06-04%2Bat%2B6.42.03%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="1310" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Pkcfv60pXc/YLqtK1RFOPI/AAAAAAAAbxU/xo8f17k5EPU5zaJmyvjeCfOpxqaUMUk2gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-06-04%2Bat%2B6.42.03%2BPM.png" /></a></div>   <div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HW_sCQocAhU/YLqtKwcVbvI/AAAAAAAAbxQ/M06e9yj7-xgevf3NpdmE5_uBYn9CunSegCLcBGAsYHQ/s1314/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-06-04%2Bat%2B6.42.14%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1304" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HW_sCQocAhU/YLqtKwcVbvI/AAAAAAAAbxQ/M06e9yj7-xgevf3NpdmE5_uBYn9CunSegCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-06-04%2Bat%2B6.42.14%2BPM.png" /></a></div>   <div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spjOcnKrisM/YLqtK-ohUwI/AAAAAAAAbxY/5ELF1ghmZY41-Ogi2iK0AdgMtot2lUSxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1314/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-06-04%2Bat%2B6.42.24%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1312" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-spjOcnKrisM/YLqtK-ohUwI/AAAAAAAAbxY/5ELF1ghmZY41-Ogi2iK0AdgMtot2lUSxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-06-04%2Bat%2B6.42.24%2BPM.png" /></a></div>   <div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5x0ApMZ7vM/YLqtOvwpWvI/AAAAAAAAbx0/Loolt9W5busYB-GAK0Zd3OUaTyNb-o2zQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1298/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-06-04%2Bat%2B6.43.24%2BPM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1296" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M5x0ApMZ7vM/YLqtOvwpWvI/AAAAAAAAbx0/Loolt9W5busYB-GAK0Zd3OUaTyNb-o2zQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2021-06-04%2Bat%2B6.43.24%2BPM.png" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"></div>   </div> <span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'arial'; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Download today your complimentary (aka NO FEE but for a limited time so hurry) copy of my new book, <a href="https://dl.bookfunnel.com/luem6y7zox" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">How to Be an Anti-Racist Real Estate Pro</span></b></a>. </span></span> <div></div> <div> <div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'arial'; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's to your success! </span></div> <div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'arial'; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; white-space: pre-wrap;">#LearnWithDrLee</span></div> </div>

Real (Estate) Talk: How to reenergize your diversity efforts to enact change

As featured in my monthly Race & Real Estate Inman News Column with an excerpt from How to Be an Anti-Racist Real Estate Pro ©.     It...