Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

Advertise on Vendor Alley! Download 2026 Rate Card.

Month-long sponsorships for 2026 are now available for Vendor Alley.

First come. First Serve. We sold out in 2025.

This year I will be extending my offer of doing a podcast recording on my popular Listing Bits podcast, as part of your sponsorship. It’s a great way to get your message out in an audio format. Perfect if you releasing a new product or making a big announcement.  The podcast episode will also be promoted on Vendor Alley.

Download the 2026 Rate Card here.

Promote your product or service specifically to Vendor Alley’s audience of real estate insiders, geeks, vendors, MLS peeps, association staff, brokers, and franchisor heavies.  If you want your message to reach the top decision-makers, influencers, and connoisseurs of fine satire in Organized Real Estate (ORE) you’ll get it at Vendor Alley.

Monthly Sponsorships

SCHEDULE:

Jan   2026 – Available

Feb.  2026 – Available

Mar   2026 – Available

Apr   2026 – Available

May  2026  – Available

Jun   2026  – Available

Jul    2026 – Available

Aug  2026 – Available

Sept 2026  – Available

Oct  2026 – Available

Nov  2026 – Available

Dec  2026 – Available


PRICE: $6,000 per month-Includes featured interview on my Listing Bits podcast.  To reserve your space or find out more please email me at: gregrobertson@gmail.com

For more information check out out our VA Sponsorship Page

MLS Reset – Action Items

Two things I wanted to make sure anyone who is attending or is interested in attending MLS Reset next year, February 9-11 in Scottsdale.

  1. Ticket Prices. MLS Reset rates go up on January 1. Now is the moment to secure your spot!
  2. Conference Jackets. We are doing things a little bit this year. You need to register by Dec 19 to guarantee your conference jacket (we’ll be locking sizes and quantities then). Tell a friend.

What you can expect at MLS Reset 2026:

  • Same candid, no-fluff conversations about where the industry needs to go next
  • Newly remodeled rooms and grounds at Scottsdale Plaza (soon to be Kimpton Miralina Resort & Villas)
  • Monday extras (Feb 9): Golf at Camelback

In case you missed it: Molly McPherson (TikTok’s “PR Lady”) is our keynote speaker bringing practical, crisis-proof communication playbooks for leaders who need to move fast and speak clearly. She is a great follow on Instagram.

See you in Scottsdale!

VestaPlus [Sponsor]

My thanks to VestaPlus™ for sponsoring Vendor Alley this month. 

VestaPlus is a premier MLS technology provider dedicated to delivering innovative, intuitive solutions that empower real estate professionals and streamline MLS operations. Its comprehensive suite of products — including VestaPlus™ MLS, ShowingPlus™, SearchPlus™, MarketSnap™, and CheckMate™ 

I wanted to highlight MarketSnap this week. With MarketSnap (formerly Neighborhood SnapShot) agents can access real-time property data to educate their clients on today’s market conditions with one of real estate industry’s most flexible analytics tool. Check out this short video below:

My thanks again to them for sponsoring Vendor Alley.

Board of directors announced for CMLS

CMLS Announces 2026 Board of Directors

“2026 Board of Directors

Chair: Nicole Jensen, CEO, realMLS
Past Chair: John DiMichele, CEO, Toronto Regional Real Estate Board and PropTx Innovations Inc.
Vice Chair: Justin Haag, CEO, Northwest MLS
Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Bosch, CEO, IRES LLC

Brad Bjelke, CEO, UtahRealEstate.com
Chris Carrillo, CEO, North Texas Real Estate Information Systems, Inc.
Art Carter, CEO, California Regional MLS
Matt Consalvo, CEO, Arizona Regional MLS
Shayne Fairley, COO, Stellar MLS
Richard Haggerty, CEO, OneKey® MLS
Chris Haran, Managing Director and CTO, MRED
Jerry Legrand, CTO, APEX MLS
Shelley Specchio, CEO, MIBOR Broker Listing Cooperative
Rob Wagoner, Senior VP & MLS Director, Heartland Multiple Listing Service”

Congrats to all!

Vendor Alley 2025 Holiday Gift Guide

It’s that time of year again, and normally I’d give you a whole list of gifts guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face.

But this year I have only one recommendation.

Time.

And the way you gift yourself time is simple, hire an assistant.

After selling W+R Studios and starting Giant Steps Advisors, I knew I still wanted to contribute to the industry by doing “meaningful work.” I’m still sorting out exactly what “meaningful” means, but I knew I had a lot I wanted to build and explore. What I didn’t have was the bandwidth to do it all alone.

I first heard about Athena on a podcast. They pitch themselves as a service where you can hire elite assistants.

Some of you already have executive assistants and know how truly impactful they are for your time and productivity. I’d never had one, and honestly, the idea of hiring one felt a little pretentious. That was something I had to get over…and I’m glad I did.

The magic with Athena is you can get an incredible executive assistant for $3,000 a month.

If you want a deeper look, check out a recent episode of the a16z Podcast where they interview Jonathan Swanson, Athena’s founder. The host, a16z General Partner Erik Torenberg, uses an Athena assistant himself. My thinking was pretty simple: if it’s good enough for a GP at one of the best VC firms on the planet, it’s probably good enough for me.

My assistant’s name is Tabby, and she’s had a huge impact on my life this past year. Now, like any new hire, you need to ramp them up. Tabby didn’t instantly know my business, my industry, or my preferences. And if you’ve never had an assistant, you’re also going to have to learn how to delegate effectively. I’m still learning, and Athena has tools to help both of us get better.

Here’s a link if you want to give them a try. I think you get a pretty good discount.

Happy Holidays everyone!

2026 RESO Board of Directors

2026 RESO Board of Directors Announced

“The campaign for technology company seats was particularly competitive this year,” said Rebecca Jensen, RESO Board Chair and President/CEO of Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED). “Innovation is at the core of creating data standards, and we are thrilled by our tech community’s willingness to lead the organization forward with the MLS, association and brokerage industries.”

Congrats to everyone. For the full list click here.

Real estate AI search, “actually useful”

I’m obsessed with Redfin’s AI search

“For all the questionable-at-best ways AI is being bolted onto things these days, AI search on a real estate website strikes me as actually useful. I realized that over my many years of searches — both when I was actively looking to buy a home and as a leisure activity — I’ve gotten really good at navigating the likes of Zillow and Redfin. This, I assure you, is a skill that comes with extremely limited benefits, and I probably could have spent that time doing something more useful, like reading a goddamn book, but here I am. With natural language search, you don’t need to spend hours tinkering with filters and keywords like I have; the AI just does all that administrative stuff for you.”

Interesting perspective on AI and Real Estate. Sadly, the article is being the Verge’s paywall.

How Much Transparency Is Too Much?

The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player!

Overview

In this episode, Rob and Greg dive into the recurring issue of embezzlement and financial mismanagement within small Realtor associations. Using recent cases as a jumping-off point, they debate what “transparency” should actually look like in a member-driven nonprofit, whether associations should provide full access to financial records, and what safeguards could reasonably prevent future financial failures. The discussion gets spirited as they explore audits, member oversight, governance culture, and how much transparency is too much—or not enough.

Key Takeaways

  • Embezzlement in small associations: Recent cases highlight how financially fragile many smaller associations are and how one incident can destabilize them. 
  • Audit funding proposals: Rob suggests that state or national associations should fund audits for smaller associations that can’t afford them.
  • Transparency debate: Rob advocates for allowing any member to inspect line-item financials; Greg argues that professional audits—not member investigations—are the correct mechanism for oversight.
  • Concerns about disruption: Greg emphasizes how untrained members digging through records could create confusion, waste staff time, or misinterpret legitimate expenses.
  • Proper purpose & confidentiality: Rob proposes a compromise where members may inspect records but must keep information within the association; Greg notes NDAs may be required due to vendor contract confidentiality.
  • Governance culture: Both agree that trust has eroded in parts of organized real estate, though they disagree on the extent and cause.
  • Association survival risk: When embezzlement happens in small associations, they may face insolvency or be forced to merge.
  • Checks & balances: Discussion includes dual-signature thresholds, expense-tracking systems like Ramp, and the importance of third-party annual audits.

Connect with Rob and Greg

Rob’s Website 

Greg’s Website 

Watch us on YouTube

Our Sponsors:

Cotality 

Notorious VIP

The Giant Steps Job Board 

Production and Editing Services by Sunbound Studios

VestaPlus [Sponsor]

My thanks to VestaPlus™ for sponsoring Vendor Alley this month.

VestaPlus is a premier MLS technology provider dedicated to delivering innovative, intuitive solutions that empower real estate professionals and streamline MLS operations. Its comprehensive suite of products — including VestaPlus™ MLS, ShowingPlus™, SearchPlus™, MarketSnap™, and CheckMate™ 

Speaking of CheckMate, they have been on a roll lately. The system has been licensed by several major MLSs and REALTOR® associations, including MIAMI REALTORS®, BeachesMLS, Arizona Regional Multiple Listing Service (ARMLS®), Oregon Data Share, and the Central Panhandle Association of REALTORS® (CPAR). Read full press release here.

That’s pretty impressive and makes CheckMate one of the most successful MLS led technology solutions.

My thanks again to them for sponsoring Vendor Alley.

MetroList expands, adds Calaveras County AOR

MetroList Expands MLS Footprint Through New Agreement with Calaveras County Association of REALTORS®

“We are pleased to welcome the Calaveras County Association of REALTORS® and its members to MetroList,” said MetroList President and CEO Dave Howe. “By bringing more associations together on a single MLS platform, we are creating a regional MLS that enables real estate professionals to better serve their clients and supports consumers who are increasingly searching for properties across county and regional boundaries.”

You ever read Mark Twain’s The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County? I did!

Quick story, long time ago I was with some friends on a river rafting trip. We stopped by Angels Camp. We had no idea at the time but there was a rodeo and fair going on with a frog jumping contest. I just remember the excitement of just happening upon this and all of us heading to the fair and having a great time that day.

Anyway, congrats to MetroList and CCAR. MetroList is already the largest MLS in the state of California and this partnership adds a few more giant sequoias to the mix.

The consolidation continues…

Sponsored By VESTAPLUS