President’s Perspective: August, 2026

July has flown by quickly—so quickly in fact that this month’s newsletter was done last minute. Usually I write a little throughout the month about what’s happening in the world of real estate, but this month was different. The first few weeks seemed normal, then I took a vacation with minimal cell service and internet… it was great. We should spend time to reconnect with our families/friends, recenter ourselves, and disconnect as best as we can from the industry we all know and love — and yet also often lose sight of work-life balance. As we move into August, I encourage you to take time for yourself if you haven’t yet this summer to find some downtime, recharge your batteries, and enjoy life; after all, it isn’t all about work. (Plus, I can see you on the beach with your laptop sending out docs for signatures!)

As we look ahead at our board makeup, nominations are now open as we begin the process to select new directors to serve on the board. I want to take a minute to thank the outgoing members whose terms are ending this year: Christy Conrad, Jeff Carlson, Mark Vos, and Pam Edwards. Thank you for serving our membership as board members and for volunteering on committees as well. It takes a village to keep things running at the board level and all your time and effort are appreciated. That said, if you haven’t done so yet, please nominate those you feel would be best as a member of the board for next year. We also have several seats open on the MLS and Finance Committees, and are accepting nominations for those roles too. All nominations for board and committee opportunities are due August 7.

Additionally, several Iowa law changes regarding HOAs, home inspection reports, and accessory dwelling units went into effect in July that affect our business. I encourage you to review the changes here.

As always, I welcome your comments and thoughts anytime.  Make it a great month!