Spotlight On: Brian Levine, CEO, Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors®
Invest: met with Brian Levine, CEO of Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors®, to discuss its strategic vision, industry challenges, and efforts to support both Realtors® and the community amid a rapidly evolving real estate landscape.
Given your new position, what is the long-term strategic vision for the organization over the next few years?
Long-term plans can often feel like trying to nail a jellyfish to the wall. They are difficult to solidify in such a dynamic environment. Right now, the real estate industry is under intense pressure. We’re dealing with significant litigation at the national, state, and local levels, as well as investigations by the Department of Justice. My immediate hope is to stabilize our industry and act as a steadying force. Once the dust settles, we want to focus on working with consumers and our members to rebuild confidence in the real estate industry.
How do you see the real estate landscape evolving, and where do you see Monmouth Ocean Realtors® fitting into that vision?
Right now, we represent about 11,000 members, and our primary goal is to strengthen communication and support. We want to make sure people know that real estate is here to stay. Land is finite, and property ownership will always be a significant investment. We’re advocating for buyers and sellers alike, helping them navigate what can be one of the most challenging purchases of their lives. Buying real estate is a massive financial commitment, and it’s risky to go through the process alone. For instance, as an attorney, I’m often asked if someone can represent themselves in court. The answer is yes, but it’s not advisable. The same principle applies to real estate. You’re dealing with hundreds of thousands of dollars—it’s wise to have professional guidance.
Our role is to assist the public while also educating and empowering our members to serve better. This partnership helps foster strong relationships, ultimately benefiting everyone involved.
How is your organization adapting to higher interest rates, and what are the biggest challenges the industry faces today?
It’s a tough market, no doubt. We’re still in a seller’s market due to low inventory. Sellers benefit from this because properties command higher prices and move quickly. On the flip side, buyers face significant challenges, including higher interest rates (around 7% compared to 2%–3% in past years) and inflated property prices. This creates a competitive environment where many, especially first-time buyers, are shut out of the market and pushed into rentals.
This rental trend creates a vicious cycle: demand for rentals increases, landlords raise rents, and it becomes harder for people to save for homeownership. Additionally, many homeowners with low mortgage rates are reluctant to sell because they don’t want to trade their current 2%–3% rate for a 7% mortgage.
However, there’s hope. Lawrence Yun, the chief economist for the National Association of Realtors®, predicts we might see stabilizing interest rates soon, which could bring relief to buyers and encourage homeowners to sell, increasing market inventory.
What specific resources or programs are you offering to help members adapt to these market conditions?
We’re fortunate to have a strong partnership between the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), the New Jersey State Association of Realtors®, and our local association. On the national level, NAR advocates for homeownership rights and promotes transparency in the industry. On the state level, new laws now require written contracts between buyers and agents, ensuring transparency around commissions and fiduciary duties. In an effort to help disseminate this information, we offer training to our membership and information to the public to help everyone involved understand these changes.
Locally, we’re focused on fundraising, advocacy, and education. For example, we raised 118% of our goal for RPAC (Realtors® Political Action Committee), which supports political efforts promoting homeownership rights. We also offer free training and resources to our members, including handbooks and guides to help them better educate their clients.
Additionally, we contribute to our communities through charitable donations and volunteer efforts. Realtors® aren’t just salespeople; they’re integral parts of their communities, supporting local causes and creating positive change.
How does Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors® foster a sense of community among its members?
We organize numerous events and initiatives to bring our members together. For example, we host seasonal festivals, fundraising events, and community service projects. These activities help members connect and build camaraderie while giving back to their communities.
We also encourage involvement through committees—whether it’s finance, advocacy, or young professionals (YPN). This involvement helps members build leadership skills and work their way up to higher decision-making roles within the organization.
In addition, we celebrate holidays together and host training sessions across our three office locations in New Jersey. Our goal is to create a supportive, inclusive environment where members feel valued and connected.
How is your organization leveraging technology to improve training, education, and overall operations?
Technology plays a crucial role in everything we do. Our multiple listing service (MLS) is constantly being updated to ensure it’s user-friendly and accessible across all platforms, from desktops to mobile devices.
Since COVID, we’ve embraced virtual tools like Zoom to conduct meetings and training sessions, which is especially useful given the size of our territory. We also leverage AI for a variety of purposes, including checking for discriminatory language in listings, ensuring photo accuracy, and streamlining administrative tasks. AI is the future, and we’re working to help our members adopt it effectively so they can focus more on serving their clients.
What are your top priorities for Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors®?
Our primary goal is to rebuild the public’s trust in Realtors®. Recent litigation and industry scrutiny have impacted our reputation, so we’re launching a campaign to demonstrate our value through actions, not just words.
We also want to engage directly with our members and the public to show the hard work and dedication that goes into what we do. Advocacy, community involvement, and education will be at the forefront of our efforts. Ultimately, we want to be seen not just as real estate professionals but as trusted advisers who genuinely care about helping people achieve their homeownership dreams.
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