Real estate agents are tracking the market more closely these days, as the fits and starts of the early spring market have made it difficult to predict if the industry will see a growth spurt this year or settle down into a modest trot through the end of the year.

It is in uncertain times like these that real estate industry professionals across the spectrum of sales, lending and settlement services need to optimize their strategies for deepening their personal connections within the industry.

Here are a few strategies to consider as you navigate the challenging 2026 market.

Become an Information Source

Data informs decisions and providing your clients with valuable and updated information will help them move ahead more confidently as the market evolves.

For instance, in a recent housing market update, Florida Realtors Chief Economist Dr. Brad O’Connor highlighted one key metric worth watching: how long it takes homes to go under contract. In April, single-family homes sold in Florida spent a median of 44 days from listing to contract, very to data gathered in April 2019 and April 2025.

“In 2019, time on market kind of settled down into the summer and remained pretty consistent the remainder of the year, whereas last year, time on market grew significantly over the remainder of the year,” O’Connor said.

Watching how this data shifts in the ensuing months and pushing these metrics out to customers can alert them to changes in the marketplace and help them with their forecasting process. This practice of giving value with no expectation of return expresses a genuine interest in your client’s success.

Build on Your Connections

When you connect with an industry professional, no matter how brief the contact, create a notation of the meeting and anything you learned or shared with the person. In this way, you build a database of information that can help you communicate with the person in a more knowledgeable and meaningful way in the future.

Don’t engage in meaningless conversations. Be prepared to move quickly past small talk to discuss more momentous industry issues or learn more deeply about the person’s current challenges to establish a deeper rapport.

Follow up with new connections and existing clients regularly to ensure they know that you are deeply interested in their work. Offer assistance as well as valuable information that you believe will be helpful.

Ditch the Conference, Go for the Local Meeting

Big conferences are educational and fun, but sometimes the more helpful connections – especially in the real estate industry, are those that you make at community meetings, such as the Rotary, the Chamber of Commerce, city council, or school board.

And don’t limit yourself to in-person meetings. Local online seminars where you get to interact with other attendees or small meet-up groups at the local coffee shop are an effective way to deepen relationships within the community.

At FAN, we maintain the highest standards in providing title, escrow and closing services throughout Florida. Our extensive connections throughout the state help us keep our fingers on the pulse of what is happening in Florida’s real estate industry in every market. Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your next transaction.