PRESENTATION: A New Era of Home Buyers Is Here
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Jessica Lautz is the Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS®. She has been with NAR since 2007.
The real estate market never stands still—and neither do today’s buyers and sellers. From shifting expectations about how we live and use our homes to entirely new ways of searching and buying, the housing landscape is undergoing rapid transformation. Today’s consumers are redefining what “home” means, how they find it, and what they expect from their real estate professional along the way.
At the same time, affordability challenges and limited inventory have made the journey to homeownership more complex than ever. Yet, buyers are proving resilient—finding creative and innovative ways to break into the market despite these headwinds.
Layered on top of this is a profound demographic shift. The question is no longer just what homes people want—but who today’s housing consumers are. Who is today’s buyer and seller? What motivates them? And how must agents and brokers evolve to meet—and exceed—their expectations?
This session dives into the changing face of real estate, offering insights into consumer trends, emerging behaviors, and the evolving role of the real estate professional in a dynamic market.
DR JESSICA LAUTZ: Dr. Jessica Lautz is the Deputy Chief Economist and Vice President of Research at the National Association of REALTORS®. She has been with NAR since 2007.
The core of her research focuses on analyzing trends for both NAR members and housing consumers. She is in demand as a speaker and by major media outlets to provide commentary on the real estate market. She has testified before Congress on behalf of NAR.
She also volunteers at Nottingham Trent University as an industry fellow mentoring real estate graduate students, is a committee chair at the National Association of Business Economics, bakes birthday cakes for underserved youth with Cake4Kids, and sits on the board of the Food Recovery Network.
Dr. Lautz has been recognized by Housing Wire’s Women of Influence and RISMedia’s Newsmaker award.
Jessica received her Doctorate of Real Estate from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. She also holds a Master’s in Public Policy from American University and undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Law and Justice from Central Washington University.
VISIT OUR VENDOR FAIR! Featuring SMDRA Affiliate Industry Partner Members. Learn more about products and services that can help you build your real estate dream team to serve your clients and grow your business! You MUST RSVP to attend this event!
VENDOR FAIR TABLE RESERVATIONS/PAYMENT – DUE AUGUST 28, 2026
Get the word out about your business – Vendors Wanted! Looking for a great opportunity to let the SMDRA Community know…
We are currently accepting reservations for Vendor Tables at the upcoming SMDRA REALTOR Appreciation Breakfast and Vendor Fair!
A $450 Vendor Table will include:
