Hoby Hanna on Hanna List, NAR and Seller Choice | Today with Jared James Ep. 144

In this episode of Today with Jared James, host Jared James sits down with Hobie Hanna, CEO of Howard Hanna, a leading privately held family real estate company. The conversation dives deep into Howard Hanna’s unique ecosystem model, built around a vertically integrated housing platform that includes brokerage, mortgage, title, and insurance services. Hanna emphasizes the company’s commitment to being a 'listing-first' firm and its strategic focus on data control, innovation, and agent retention. A major highlight is the launch of HannaList—a new tool that allows brokers to pre-market listings within their internal ecosystem before public release, giving them a strategic advantage while still complying with MLS rules. Hanna also discusses Howard Hanna’s stance on NAR’s settlement, criticizing the lack of transparency and inclusion in the process, and advocates for brokers to regain control over their data and distribution. The episode concludes with a broader industry reflection on innovation, competition, and the need for diverse business models in real estate. Key takeaways include: 1) Howard Hanna’s success stems from its integrated, family-owned ecosystem that prioritizes agent support and data ownership; 2) HannaList empowers brokers to control listing distribution and test market reactions before public exposure; 3) The industry must move beyond divisiveness and embrace innovation, even if it means challenging established norms; 4) Brokers should have the right to market their listings strategically within their own networks before going public; 5) Data control and tech enablement are critical for long-term competitiveness; 6) The future of real estate lies in strategic differentiation, not uniformity; 7) Agents and brokers should focus on delivering value, not engaging in ideological battles; 8) Consumer choice and market dynamics will ultimately determine which models succeed.