On August 24–25, .RealEstate joined REALTOR® association leaders from across the country in Chicago for the National Association of REALTORS® 2026 Leadership Summit, an annual event focused on preparing the next generation of leaders to guide their associations and the industry forward.
The invite-only summit brings together incoming presidents-elect and association executives from local and state associations, regional MLSs, commercial organizations, and NAR’s Institutes, Societies and Councils. Over two days, attendees had the opportunity to learn from one another, build stronger partnerships, exchange ideas, and prepare for the leadership roles they’re stepping into.
For .RealEstate, it was also an opportunity to connect directly with the people helping shape the future of the REALTOR® community and share how NAR member benefits can help REALTORS® build stronger, more visible brands online.
Throughout Leadership Summit, we had conversations with attendees about an increasingly important part of building a real estate business: what people find when they search for you online.
A referral, introduction, listing, or social media post may be how a potential client first hears your name, but their next step is often an online search. The website, domain, email address, and search results they find become part of their first impression of your business.
.RealEstate helps REALTORS® take greater control of that first impression with digital branding solutions designed specifically for real estate professionals. REALTORS® can claim an exclusive .realtor or .realestate domain, build a customizable real estate website, create a matching branded email address, and access SEO, AI, CRM, IDX, and lead generation tools depending on the needs of their business.
As an NAR member benefit, .RealEstate also gives REALTORS® access to exclusive member pricing and benefits that make it easier to create a professional digital presence that reflects the business and reputation they have worked to build.
Our presence extended beyond the booth as well. Throughout the conference, our video played on the main screens, sharing how REALTORS® can use their own domain and professional website to stand out online, strengthen their brand, and make it easier for potential clients to find them.
Since Leadership Summit brought REALTOR® leaders from across the country to Chicago, we wanted to give attendees a taste of the city while they were here.
Visitors to the .RealEstate booth could pick up a custom “Make Your Website Pop!” bag of Garrett’s Popcorn, learn more about the digital branding benefits available to NAR members, and enter our $250 Visa gift card giveaway.
The popcorn gave us a fun way to welcome people to the booth, while the conversations gave us the chance to learn more about the associations, members, businesses, and communities these leaders represent. Those face-to-face conversations are one of our favorite parts of attending events like Leadership Summit because they give us a better understanding of what REALTORS® need as they continue building their businesses and navigating an increasingly digital industry.
While in Chicago, we also had the opportunity to see the REALTORS® Relief Foundation installation at NAR headquarters, which felt especially timely as the Foundation celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2026.
Created in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the REALTORS® Relief Foundation provides housing-related assistance to families and communities affected by disasters. Over the past 25 years, the Foundation has demonstrated what is possible when REALTORS®, associations, and industry partners come together to support communities during some of their most difficult moments.
Seeing the installation during a week dedicated to REALTOR® leadership was a meaningful reminder that leadership in this industry extends far beyond business. It can also mean serving communities, supporting people when they need it most, and using the strength of the REALTOR® network to create a lasting impact.
Leadership Summit brought together an impressive group of incoming leaders who are preparing to guide their associations, support their members, and help move the real estate industry forward. We were proud to spend time with this community in Chicago and grateful to everyone who stopped by the .RealEstate booth, watched our video, talked digital branding with us, grabbed some Garrett’s Popcorn, or entered our giveaway.
We left Leadership Summit excited about the year ahead and looking forward to seeing how the leaders we met continue to strengthen their associations and the communities they serve.
Your reputation is built through the relationships you create, the expertise you bring to your work, and the experience you provide your clients. Your online presence should reinforce that reputation from the moment someone searches for your name.
With .RealEstate, REALTORS® can build a professional digital brand with an exclusive .realtor or .realestate domain, customizable website, branded email, and digital tools designed specifically for real estate professionals.