So a C-List Celebrity Is Selling Your House?
Reality-TV stars and influencers are getting into real estate.
TL;DR
- Kelly Killoren Bensimon, formerly of *Real Housewives of New York*, transitioned to real estate after a career in modeling and book writing, leveraging her MBA and social platform.
- Other celebrities like Nēv Schulman, Vanilla Ice, Emma Slater, and Joseph Baena are also entering the real estate profession.
- The National Association of Realtors (NAR) membership has more than doubled since 1995, now outnumbering homes for sale, indicating a saturated market.
- The accessibility of real estate as a flexible, gig-like job requiring minimal schooling contributes to the high number of agents.
- For consumers, this oversaturation means a higher risk of encountering inexperienced agents, making it a 'game of roulette' to find a good one.
- The real estate industry has faced similar issues with underqualified agents in the past, leading to the formation of NAR to establish professional standards.
- Changes in brokerage models, such as agents becoming independent contractors and brokerages reducing costs for hiring, have also contributed to the increase in agent numbers.