With more than 50,000 members, Houston Association of REALTORS® is the second-largest local REALTOR® association in the country. Leading it is Rene Galvan, who stepped into the role of president and CEO in February after 30 years at HAR, most recently as executive vice president.
Leading a REALTOR® association well comes down one thing, says Galvan: Making members’ lives easier and helping them succeed. Another tip? Have fun. “We really try to create a workplace where people feel valued and enjoy what they do,” he says. “That means celebrating wins, recognizing staff for their hard work and creating opportunities for collaboration across departments.
“One of my favorite traditions is a community 5K, where staff members come together and participate as a team. It’s a fun way to build camaraderie and reconnect as a team.”
Rene, as you take on this new role at HAR, what lessons learned over your 30 years with the association are you leaning on?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that long-term success is built on both strong relationships and a willingness to innovate. Over the past three decades, HAR has continued to grow because we’ve remained focused on delivering value to our members while also earning the trust of consumers, agents, brokers, industry partners and the broader community.
I’ve also learned the importance of adaptability and forward-thinking leadership. Real estate is always changing, whether because of market shifts, changing consumer expectations or new technologies. Associations must be prepared to evolve alongside it. When we launched HAR.com in 1997, the industry looked very different than it does today. Embracing innovation early allowed HAR to become a recognized leader in real estate technology and consumer engagement. That same mindset still drives HAR today.
Equally important is organizational culture. HAR has always benefited from a highly collaborative and mission-driven team that is committed to supporting our members’ success. Maintaining that culture of excellence, innovation and service will continue to be a priority for me as CEO.
Speaking of innovation, can you share any recent tech innovations that HAR has built to help consumers and its members navigate the home buying and selling process?
We are always focused on technology that improves both the consumer experience and the member
experience. For HAR.com, our technology team has developed an artificial intelligence-driven search experience called AI Mode that allows consumers to search for homes conversationally instead of using only traditional filters. Consumers can search the way they naturally think and talk. For example, “Show me homes with short commutes and large backyards,” or “Show me two-story homes in Katy with a pool and hardwood floors.” AI Mode is expected to go live in the coming weeks.
We’re also continuing to expand tools that help members market properties more effectively. We have a whole suite of AI tools available for our members. One tool that members really seem to love is our AI Property Descriptions feature. It helps generate descriptions for listing photos. They can make changes to the AI-generated descriptions, but it helps save them time, and that’s our whole goal: to help streamline their workflow. Innovation doesn’t always mean creating something huge overnight. A lot of the time it comes from listening to members and hearing their pain points, then looking for better ways to help them do business.
Going back to HAR.com, can you talk about how it helps members get to their next transaction?
HAR.com has an average of 8 million unique visitors each month, so it gives our members significant exposure for their listings while also providing consumers with trusted, accurate and timely information. We also provide members with tools to help generate leads, build their brand and communicate more effectively with clients. Members also have access to market data reports, down payment assistance information, drive-time search tools, marketing resources and more.
Do you have any advice to help smaller local associations as they look toward innovation and tech to provide more benefits to members?
Listen with intention, collaborate and always look for ways to innovate. Innovation doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t always require a massive budget or a big technology team. Some of the best ideas really come from simply listening to members and asking, “What problem are we trying to solve, and how can we help members succeed?” Encourage members and staff to share ideas and give feedback.
Partnerships can also be incredibly valuable. You don’t have to build every solution yourself. Look for opportunities to collaborate with vendors, neighboring associations or other providers that align with your members’ needs.
As an accountant in your previous career, what guidance can you provide other association leaders as they work to educate consumers and support members during our current housing affordability challenge?
It’s important not to lose sight of the bigger picture. Right now, affordability is a major challenge for a lot of people. Consumers are watching interest rates closely, and they’re concerned about their monthly payments. Many are wondering if now is the right time to buy or sell. That’s where associations and REALTORS® can really step in and make a difference.
People are looking for clear, trustworthy information. Associations and REALTORS® can help consumers make more confident decisions by providing reliable data, education and local market expertise. Those resources matter even more when the market feels uncertain. It’s also important to educate consumers about down payment assistance and the programs that are available to them. We’ve integrated DPA information on most of the listings on HAR.com, and we also have year-round campaigns about DPA.
What are some other new ways HAR is supporting its members?
We’re always asking ourselves, “What can we do to make our members’ jobs easier?” Real estate agents wear a lot of hats every day, so we try to provide tools, training and resources that help save them time and help them stay connected with clients. We’re continuing to expand AI-powered tools that help members market listings, communicate with clients and streamline everyday tasks. At the same time, we’re investing in tools that improve the consumer experience, because consumer confidence in the platform ultimately creates more opportunities for our members as well.
What’s your secret to time management?
I’m a big believer in prioritization and time blocking. In this role, there are always going to be more meetings, projects and requests than there are hours in the day. I try to focus on the most important priorities first and let everything else fall into place from there.
Finally, what is the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is knowing that the work we do truly impacts people’s lives. At the end of the day, everybody needs a home. Being able to support our members while also helping consumers navigate one of the biggest decisions of their lives is incredibly rewarding.
