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As the housing market slows, real estate pros may find it’s a perfect opportunity to explore new niches and expand their business opportunities. They’re finding that NAR Spire, the National Association of REALTORS®’ mentorship program, may provide guidance and encouragement.
The program, which kicked off last year, aims to help real estate professionals in underserved areas grow their businesses. Participants are matched with experienced agents and receive one-on-one mentorship and tips on business operations. Participants also can take advantage of live educational events and use NAR Spire’s online platform to connect.
“Through Spire, it is our hope ... to lead new and blossoming members through their own processes of professional growth, advancement and transition,” NAR CEO Bob Goldberg writes in a recent column for The American Genius. The program aims to attract people from different backgrounds to the real estate profession.
Goldberg highlights an example of how the program has helped real estate pros discover new niches and business pathways. He shared the story of real estate pro Ahmed Islam in Lehigh Valley, Pa., who took part in the program to finally fulfill his dream of jumping from residential real estate to commercial real estate. He first became involved with NAR Spire in 2021. Islam said he tried unsuccessfully for seven years to make the jump into commercial real estate, and his mentor helped him make the leap in seven months. They met every other week via Zoom initially and continue to meet at annual NAR conferences.
“Mentors are not there to build your business—they’re there to guide you,” Ahmed said, as noted in Goldberg’s article. “And [my mentor] was a great guide.”
