Last year Rick Chantry concluded his Northeast Tennessee Association of Realtors (NETAR) presidency by saying it had been three years since the region had experienced anything like normal economic conditions.  

He also noted that during his tenure, the so-called new normal that evolved was confusing, frustrating and taxed explanations of previous local market norms. It challenged the Association and its members to stay current and to sharpen productivity while living up to its franchise as the voice for real estate in NE Tennessee and SW Virginia.  

NETAR’s members and staff stepped up to that challenge. 

It’s safe to say that a year later, during my tenure, the complexities and demands shifted into overdrive.  

So did NETAR’s members and staff. 

It has been enormously satisfying to have taken part in the extraordinary achievements that NETAR made this year. At the same time, it has been awesome to witness the level and quality of teamwork that’s often unseen but accounts for most of the successes in raising the performance bar during an era of transition.  

The association’s membership has increased. So has the number of business partners. NETAR’s role in advocacy for property reached new heights, as did the multitude of professional and community service projects. Expansion of NETAR’s technological presence and offering of services and member information to both members and the public has significantly increased. So has its social media presence. 

NETAR was the first local association to embrace the concept of regionalism and has been enhancing the real estate profession with that effort for over 20 years. We made some gains in our regionalism effort during the past year, and more are on the way. A couple of noteworthy examples are the ongoing enhancements to the regional Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and the Association’s Commercial Real Estate components.  

During 2023, the Association grew. So have the demands for Realtors® to increase demonstrating their worth and importance in the ongoing quest to enhance the real estate process for buyers, sellers, and investors.  

Remember that the real estate industry is dynamic and new challenges driven by technology disruptions, regulatory changes, demographic shifts, and increasingly geopolitical events have become the norm. It’s a norm that I’m confident NETAR’s members will again show their ability to accommodate.  

All of this is testimony to the fact that Realtors® and NETAR have unique skills, experience, and qualifications that are assuming increasing roles in today’s workforce, economy, and community leadership.  

Of course, none of these accomplishments would have been possible without the support and hard work of the Board of Directors, the Associations’ committees, and staff. The president may get to stand at the podium and hold the gavel, but it’s the often-unnoticed other professionals who do the heavy lifting. 

Here’s a big thumbs up to 2024.