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wise, even around here. I was shocked. I’ve been in this business for 32 years now, and I have never seen the escalation in prices. I can remember when people used to tell me, ‘If I’m going to pay $200,000 for a house, I’m going to build it myself.’” She also spoke on the change in the nature of realty, as she stated that when she began, the multiple listing service (MLS) database did not exist.

“When I first started, the MLS was people taking data sheets to each other’s office,” she recalled. I remember when I started at Tom Peterson’s office, and I walked in with a computer. He said, ‘What is that?’ I said, ‘I’m going to need internet,’ and he said, ‘What are you talking about?’” Davis continued, saying that Peterson obliged her request, and the office installed internet. Once internet was installed, Davis created an internetbased MLS for the area – an action that completely changed the landscape of local real estate.

“From there, it’s grown,” she added. “I would say that we were probably the first office to have internet here. I think Tom would agree with me. He got into the computers – the whole office got into computers. It was back when you had dialup. To think back, that’s only been only 30 or 32 years – to see what we’ve done now is crazy. Now, the whole real estate environment has changed.”

Davis also said that an August 2024 lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors had also marked a large change within the real estate industry. “The homebuyer was upset because the price of his home escalated and he thought buyers weren’t being represented. They are – buyers always have a choice,” she explained. “They may not choose to be represented, but they always have the option to be represented. And our commissions are never fixed – they are always negotiable.”

She continued, “After that, our environment has changed a lot. A lot of the sellers feel like they don’t need to follow the same practices that they used to, like if the buyer is going to be represented, then the buyer should have to pay. But the problem is buyers don’t have that kind of money – they have the money for their down payment and that’s about it – not all of them, but most. So, it’s created a pathway of educating your seller and educating your buyer, which is not a bad thing. I’m all for everyone knowing exactly what’s happening. I try to be very transparent in any kind of thing that I do.”

One of the most recent changes which Davis said impacts real estate is the purchase of Redfin Corporation – a popular residential real estate brokerage and mortgage origination company – by Rocket Mortgage. The transaction took place on March 10, and has left many realtors wondering what the future will be like.

“Our realtor world changed that day,” Davis emphasized. “Big conglomerates are now scooping everyone up. So, what’s going to happen is they are going to try to cut real estate agents out. Realtors need to be on guard and keep trying to figure out how to stay the center of the transaction. That’s going to be more and more difficult to do. I think that it’s going to be a lot more work – which is not bad. I don’t think any realtor minds getting in there and working hard. But it’s going to be less money, and that’s not always good because we are trying to feed our families. It’s not like we’re just selling houses for extra money.”

She shared that although real estate agents are not paid weekly but rather by commission, they still put in an equal amount of work into their career. With larger corporations now entering the mix, Davis fears for what may happen to these hardworking local realtors.

She stressed the importance of local realtors, as she explained that their value lies deeper than merely selling homes. “It makes me sad that people don’t see value in what we do. Some people do, but a lot of people really don’t. That does concern me because I hope it doesn’t get to the point where we do go away because I think that most of us are in this for the very right reasons. And that is to make it a career, but the majority of us give back to our communities and to our buyers and sellers, and they really work in a cohesive environment in their towns and areas that they work. People don’t realize what heart they put into it,” she said.

“I really don’t know what’s going to happen,” she reflected. “I get distressed over it because I don’t want to see it go away. It’s been a remarkable time for me, so I hope everyone can experience the same emotional gratitude that I have through my career.”

When asked if there were any other challenges in her career, Davis explained that every day brings new lessons and difficulties. “I face a challenge every day,” she remarked. “Every day is a new day, and every day I learn something that I didn’t know. It amazes me – it really does. A situation arises and you just figure it out.”

She added, “I’m a problem solver. So, if I don’t know the answer, I’m going to find that answer. Lucky for me, I know other people around the state that I can call and ask, or I can call a local expert around here in whatever field it is that we’re having an issue with, and they’re always ready to talk with me and help me. You make friends along the way in all the different industries that come into play [when selling homes]. You would be surprised how many industries work together just to make one transaction. So, when you have a problem, you can call them because you’ve made those connections. They’re always willing to help.”

Ultimately, it is those connections made through transactions with fellow professionals, buyers, and sellers – coupled with her passion for the industry – that inspires Davis to continue working in the field. “It’s the passion that I have for this industry,” she shared. “I just still want to get out there and help people. You meet people that you would have never, ever met before. You would have probably never crossed paths with them, and you never would have had the opportunity to enjoy their personalities. I guess that kind of drives me – the ability to make new friends. I have made a lot of friends just because I had a transaction with them.”

Davis says retirement is nowhere in sight, as she continues to find joy in her job every day. “You have to enjoy what you do. If you don’t, it becomes work. You don’t want it to be work; you want it to be fulfillment,” she concluded.

SERVING OTHERS – Arlene Davis has served others through volunteering throughout her career, and even served in Slidell, Louisiana, with the Georgia Association of REALTORS in April 2007.

LOBBYING FOR HOMEOWNERS – Davis said that realtors often have to lobby to protect homebuyers and sellers within the state and federal governments.