LEADERSHIP
PRESIDENT
JEFFREY M. FAGAN
Watson Realty
My priorities as ORRA’s 2019 president include supporting the association
in articulating its value to members and the public. We
need to be open to alternatives that increase the eff iciency in delivering
that value. In addition, I’d like to work toward erasing artificial
geographic boundaries and expanding services with the goal of ultimately
delivering higher quality benefits to our members.
The most pressing real estate issue I would like to see ORRA address
during my term as president is aff ordable housing, which is
at or nearing crisis levels in the Orlando area. ORRA needs to spearhead
an eff ort with area leaders from the business, government,
and real estate/builder communities to mitigate and eventually
reverse this problem.
The most valuable services that ORRA off ers to members are
education, leadership development, professionalism training, and
advocacy on issues aff ecting our livelihood and our communities.
The best thing that has happened since I started volunteering
with ORRA is witnessing the improvement of Orlando’s housing
market. A close second is experiencing the current renewed vision
and excitement around ORRA.
What I wish others knew about ORRA is that just one person or
just one idea can make a diff erence, and that we have so many
opportunities for members to get involved.
The factors most aff ecting the future of Orlando’s housing
market are many. There’s the lack of inventory in general, and
now some excess inventory in the upper end. There’s probably
a market shift coming due to inventory and interest rate
increases; industry disrupters who are funded by venture
capital are having an impact; and there is — sadly, to
me — what appears to be a shift away from relationship
selling and toward transactional selling.
The most important real estate lesson I’ve learned
is to ask questions and listen because it’s more important
to DO right than BE right.
The best real estate advice I’ve received is to under
promise and over deliver, and to set proper
and achievable expectations.
The best way to stay competitive in real estate
is to always listen, never stop learning, and always
be open to change.
What comes first… success in ORRA leadership or
success in real estate? For 2019 ORRA President
Jeff rey M. Fagan, who transitioned into real estate aft er a
20-year career in the poultry agribusiness, the two are as
intertwined as the fabled chicken-egg paradox.
“My involvement in ORRA has had an enormous
impact on my real estate career by introducing me to
mentors and other wonderful people who have taught
me important lessons about not only real estate but life
in general,” says Fagan. “I’ve learned from them, for example,
that as REALTORS® we can positively or negatively influence
and aff ect the lives of people in our communities
by how we navigate what is to most people the largest
investment of their life.”
“Ours is a massive responsibility, and the real estate
business is not simply a series of transactions,” continues
Jeff . “It’s a relationship business. As REALTORS® we need
to reconnect to the consumer directly and deliberately.”
Jeff brought along this same philosophy when he
served as chairman of the ORRA Professional Development
Committee and oversaw the creation of ORRA’s
Excellence in Professionalism – Gold Key Certification
program, an achievement that earned him the association’s
2015 REALTOR® of the Year award. His additional
involvement in ORRA includes years of service on the
board of directors and a slew of committees, and
Jeff puts in volunteer time as a director for both
the National Association of REALTORS® and Florida
Realtors® as well.
When Jeff isn’t busy handling the many
responsibilities as president of a 15,500-member
organization, he oversees 17 off ices, 16
managing brokers, and 475 sales associates
for Watson Realty Corp in his
position as regional vice president,
Central Florida. Jeff has held a real
estate license since 2001.
He and his wife, Vicki (an
agent with Watson Realty Corp),
have four grown children, one
granddaughter, and a new
grandson. They reside in Sanford.
Read on to learn a little more
about the goals and philosophies
of the 2019 ORRA leadership team,
starting on this page with Jeff .
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