As mortgage rates finally tick down and the industry gets comfortable with new rules, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of opportunity. To help real estate professionals hit the ground running, RISMedia’s 6th Annual Real Estate’s Rocking in the New Year returns on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET—a virtual event packed with powerful insights, proven strategies and market intelligence from some of the industry’s most respected leaders.
This year’s theme—“Turning the Corner in 2026: How to Make the Most of a Better Market”—will explore how top brokers, executives and agents are taking advantage of the shifting real estate landscape to maximize opportunities in the year ahead. Attendees will gain actionable takeaways to strengthen their business, including strategies for improving your value proposition, maximizing AI, revamping your marketing, forging connections with today’s buyers and sellers, and much more.
Register Now!
Featured Speakers
A powerhouse lineup of real estate leaders will headline this year’s event, including:
- Keith Ard, Chief Revenue Officer, Gold Nation; President, REMAX Gold
- Bess Freedman, CEO, Brown Harris Stevens
- Marco Fregenal, CEO, Fathom Holdings, Inc.
- Rick Haase, President, United Real Estate
- Marisela Harper, Broker/Owner, ClearView Realty
- Michele Harrington, CEO, First Team Real Estate
- Vince Leisey, President, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
- Billy Nash, Founder, Nash Luxury at The Keyes Company
- Kymber Lovett-Menkiti, CEO, Keller Williams Capital Properties; Regional Director, Keller Williams Maryland/DC Region
- Brenda Maher, President, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England, New York, and Hudson Valley Properties
- Laurie Mecier-Brochu, CEO & Partner, Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty
- Rei Mesa, President & CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty
- Christina Pappas, President, The Keyes Company and Illustrated Properties
- Bill Scavone, President, Weichert Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.
- Dr. Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist, Bright MLS
- Michael Valdes, CEO of LPT International & Global President of Aperture, LPT International
- Kouroush Sharifi, CFO and Vice President, REMAX Executive
- DeAnn Golden, President & CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties
- Debra Beagle, CEO, Managing Broker, Owner, REMAX Advantage
- Dennis Cestra Jr., President, Pennsylvania Region, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services
See the full list of speakers here.
Note: If one of the speakers represents your brokerage, you may qualify for free access! Ask your broker for details.
2026 Session Highlights
This year’s sessions are designed to tackle the most pressing issues shaping today’s real estate landscape, including:
- Special Keynote Presentation by Brian Buffini – Rest, Run and Win in 2026
- Economic Update with Dr. Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist, Bright MLS
- Taking 2026 By Storm: Seizing the Opportunities in Today’s Market
- Change Agents: How Top Real Estate Pros Have Adapted (and Prospered) in the New Normal
- Knowing Your Worth: How to Get Paid in a Commission-Wary Market
- The Private Listing Showdown: How to Guide, Educate and Do What’s Best for Every Seller
- Upping Your Game: How to Compete Amid the New Rules of Luxury Real Estate
- How to Diversify Your Skill Set to Build a Market-Resistant Business
- Tackling Homeownership Challenges: Strategies for Helping Buyers Get Into Homes
- From AI to Social Media: How to Modernize Your Marketing for a Digital-Centric Consumer
- Market Consolidation and the Pros and Cons for Agents
See the full schedule here.
Can’t Attend Live? We’ve Got You Covered!
Your registration includes full access to all session replays, so you can catch every insight on your own schedule.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the industry’s top minds and position yourself for success in 2026.
