I’m back from a fun-fun-fun time in San Francisco. Chez Berg is still intact. A brief head count tells me that both the cat’s and the dog’s basic needs were met in my absence. And Steve survived (barely), although he is now secretly wishing I had missed my flight, having suffered the last twenty-four hours listening to me blather on about all of my “take aways.”
The latest installment of the Inman News Real Estate Connect conference was three days of information overload that only a geek could love. The buzz for years has been about social media in our business, and this year was no exception. The big talk this time, however, was about mobile – the importance of those little PDA extensions of ourselves in the way we communicate, search, and, for the agent, conduct business.
Between all of the talk about digital marketing, social search, and optimizing our web personas for those things formerly known as talking devices, was the ongoing conversation about the brokerage of the future. While we may always be debating certain “pressing” issues – WAP versus App, Facebook versus blog, Mac or PC — one thing we all agree on is that the face of real estate is changing.
To that end, and given that I am still trying to reboot my brain after the near-fatal power surge, we take this short commercial break.
Sherry Chris, CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, made a presentation on the next-generation real estate brokerages or, as she calls them, “Beta Brokerages.”
Some of these brokerages were founded by agents working within traditional organizations who felt the need to step out of past and into a present that their brokers either misunderstood or ignored.
Yep, that’s us. And I am proud to say that we were included in the short list of national brokerages attempting to retool and redefine – in short, to do it right.
Funny that we are listed right below Redfin, but that is only because we failed to consider the unfortunate alphabetical order implications when naming our firm. Regardless, we are honored to have been included.
Now we return to our regularly scheduled programming.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kris Berg is Co-Owner and Designated Broker of San Diego Castles Realty. If not-so static web sites are your thing, go here at once where you will find loads of real estate information including homes for sale, market trends, floor plans and more. Kris's hobbies include fencing and spot welding. She likes kittens. 
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{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Congratulations Kris! Quite an honor…
Congrats Kris & Steve! Honored to share a spot on the list with you.
San Diego Castles Realty was recognized as a “Next Generation” brokerage by Better Homes and Garden Realty. We’re… http://fb.me/ETnuh2hp
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
Congratulations to Kris for a terrific visit, to Steve fir surviving alone, and to both of you for the recognition . (from your east coast fan base)
Thanks, Irina. Bill and Jay — Awesome seeing you both again!
CONGRATS!!
A well-deserved recognition, Steve and Kris. And from the looks of the others on that list (Hawaii Life included), it’s certainly a Who’s Who of RE leaders of the future. Glad to have those setting a higher standard of professionalism in real estate.
Very well said. That sounds interesting and cool. My best wishes to you and your blog. Keep blogging. Stay in touch.
Congratulations Kris. You’re miles ahead of Redfin in my book.
Kris, congratulations I’m soooo jealous. Keep up the good work!