Overall Strategies

• Dress comfortably but professionally.
• Have a plan. Set a goal of who you want to meet at the event. If you can, do some research to find out who will be there. If you’re a little shy, determine how many connections you want to make, then leave when you hit that number. Also, set a timeframe for your participation, and don’t load up the rest of your day with other things that sap your energy.
• Stay focused on the person you’re talking to. Maintain eye contact and actively listen; ask open-ended questions; get the other person’s business card, but only give yours if asked.
• Look to provide value. Make your conversation all about the other person, finding out how you can help them.
• Follow up. After each contact, put notes on your phone about what you talked about, then send each person a handwritten note later—this will make a lasting impression.
• Build relationships. Networking is a long-term game. Single out the people you clicked with, and invite them for a coffee or lunch.

Where to Meet

The goal is to get in front of potential buyers, sellers, and people who can refer you.

• Business groups. These include Chambers of Commerce and other professional groups, such as BNI (Business Networking International) and local business meetups.
• Real estate conferences. Other agents are an excellent source of referrals. You can earn money by sending outbound referrals, and boost your business by becoming the go-to agent for inbound referrals in your area.
• Community events. Examples include seasonal festivals, craft fairs, farmers’ markets, parades, and community volunteer days. Look for them on the events page of town websites and in local Facebook groups. Local events can also provide you with great content for videos, social media pages, and newsletters.
• Investor groups. Investors are great targets because they often buy several properties, yielding multiple transactions from the same client. Be aware that some investors may be wary of real estate agents, so be sure to lead with value and not sound pushy. Visit Meetup, Eventbrite, and Facebook to find local investor meetings.
• Social groups. These include college alumni events, religious groups, garden clubs, etc. Though less business-focused, these groups are a great way to meet new people you have something in common with.
• Fitness groups. Gym classes, yoga studios, hiking, skiing, tennis clubs, and sports leagues tend to bond people naturally and provide built-in follow-up.
• Home and garden expos. These attract homeowners fixing up their properties, which they’ll sell at some point. Go as a visitor or invest in a booth as a vendor.
• Wedding expos. Engaged couples may be buying a first home. Some may need to sell two condos and buy a single-family home. This is a great place to have a vendor booth.

AI Not Expected to Replace Real Estate Agents

Microsoft found that AI did not earn high marks for emotional nuance or earning trust. These, of course, are both at the foundation of being a successful real estate professional, helping buyers and sellers get through some of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. The study reported, “When AI tries to directly provide support or advice, people are less satisfied.”

However, AI was seen as a good tool for people like real estate agents to use when helping clients in certain situations, making the process more efficient and productive. So, even though the report implied that AI cannot replicate agent-client relationships, it could push less productive agents out of the industry.

The key to not just surviving but thriving in the age of AI is to understand how to use it to improve both your work life and the client experience. You want AI to manage the things it’s good at, while letting you be the human professional you are. People want to buy homes from a trusted human advisor, but they also want the process to be efficient and responsive. Futurist Brown noted, “If that advisor isn’t using AI, they’ll lose out to someone who is.”

How AI Is Being Used in Real Estate Today

Another AI study was done by Delta Media Group, a brokerage technology company. Their CEO observed, “AI is no longer a new, shiny object; it’s fast becoming an irreplaceable tool for brokerages and agents alike.” The study surveyed more than 100 residential brokerage leaders, who see 2025 as a defining year for AI, as it moves beyond marketing and content creation into customer service and administrative support.

At the moment, creating property descriptions is the most common use case, but AI is gaining ground in data analysis, digital marketing, and client communications, as well as in any functions that increase operational efficiency.

The study did find that brokerages with fewer than 20 agents and less than $50 million in transactions are less likely to embrace AI. This is primarily because those brokerages lack the resources and are more likely to be concerned about AI risks, such as running afoul of regulations like RESPA.