Back in August, Rayanne and I headed to Nashville for the 2026 REMAX Broker Owner Conference. And yes, it is now September and I am just getting around to writing about it.

For the record, I am also just about to finish unpacking my suitcase. Mostly because I need the suitcase again. So apparently unpacking the trip and unpacking my thoughts about the trip are happening on about the same schedule.

We went a little early because if you're going to Nashville, you should actually see Nashville. We ate some fantastic meals, did a little shopping, made our way down Broadway and toured the Grand Ole Opry. We had a lot of fun.

But we also came home with a lot to think about.

REMAX Bastrop Area is in our 26th year as a REMAX franchise. That's a long history with one brand, and I'm proud of it. But I've also been in this business long enough to know that longevity doesn't come from doing everything the same way forever.

If you aren't changing, you aren't growing.

And that was probably my biggest takeaway from Nashville.

Two Strong Brands and a New Chapter

The opening session was one I especially wanted to hear. We learned more about REAL's acquisition of REMAX, the technology and innovation REAL brings to the table, and what bringing these two companies together could mean for the future.

I've believed in REMAX for a very long time. There is a reason we've been part of this brand for 26 years. One of REMAX's greatest strengths has always been its agents. We are known for our professionalism and our production. REMAX agents work. That's something I've always been proud to be a part of.

But I also think we needed a spark.

And I think REAL may be exactly that.

REAL has built its business around technology and innovation, and that is a big part of what excites me about this acquisition. Real estate is changing quickly. The way we market, communicate, run our businesses and serve our clients is changing right along with it.

I don't want us just trying to keep up. I want us to have access to better technology and actually use it to make our businesses better.

But there is something else about REAL that I really like: the collaboration.

There seems to be a genuine emphasis on working together, sharing ideas and helping each other succeed instead of always looking at the agent next to you as competition.

I got a little glimpse of that recently when a REAL agent called to schedule a showing on one of my listings. We were finishing up the call and she said, “By the way, welcome to the family.”

I loved that.

Real estate is competitive. That's not going to change. But I don't think being successful means we can't help each other, learn from each other and want other people to do well too. In fact, I think we're better when we do.

That's what makes this combination exciting to me. REMAX brings the brand, the history, professionalism and an incredibly productive network of agents. REAL brings technology, innovation and a culture of collaboration.

Two very different strengths coming together at a time when our industry is changing tremendously.

What We Brought Home

Of course, the conference wasn't only about the acquisition.

Rayanne and I sat through sessions about the changing real estate industry, technology, recruiting, training, productivity and, most importantly to me, how we can help agents grow their businesses.

There were a couple of messages that especially caught my attention.

One slide simply said:

“Always find ways to make agents' lives better.”

Another talked about creating a culture where agents feel supported, challenged and connected.

I liked both of those.

They also hit pretty close to home because they line up with a lot of what we've been working on at REMAX Bastrop Area.

My job as a broker isn't simply to provide a place for agents to hang their licenses. I want us to continue building an office where good agents can grow their businesses, learn, collaborate, use better tools and ultimately provide better service to their clients.

We came home with plenty of notes, plenty of ideas and, of course, a longer to-do list than we left with.

Twenty-Six Years In, We're Still Growing

One of the things I love about attending conferences like this is getting outside of our own little bubble for a few days.

You hear what other brokers are doing. You learn what's changing across the industry. Sometimes you hear something that makes you rethink the way you've been doing things. Other times, you realize you're already headed in the right direction.

Then you come home and figure out what makes sense for your business, your agents and the people you serve.

And that's what I've been working on since Nashville: taking what I learned, deciding what makes sense for REMAX Bastrop Area and looking at where we can continue to improve.

Twenty-six years into our REMAX story, I'm not interested in standing still. I don't want REMAX Bastrop Area to simply be able to say we've been here a long time. I want us to keep getting better.

I want us to keep learning, keep changing, keep collaborating and keep finding better ways to serve our agents and our clients.

There are changes coming to our industry and changes coming to REMAX. After what I heard and learned in Nashville, I'm excited about where we're going.

If you aren't changing, you aren't growing. And I think we're about to do some growing.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I apparently have a suitcase to finish unpacking.