Weekly Roundup | Father's Day Edition

👋 Welcome!

Let’s make your week a little easier. The Empire Weekly Roundup newsletter brings you real estate tips, market know-how, and CE updates—all in one quick email.

🗣️ Quote of the Week

“Just once on Father's Day I wish my kids would give me a #1 Dad mug instead of one with my actual ranking.”
― Andy Borowitz (Writer and Comedian)

🚀 Featured Article

"Dad-isms" in Life and Real Estate

Father’s Day is around the corner, and it’s got us reflecting on those classic “dad-isms” – the eye-rolling one-liners and nuggets of wisdom our fathers or mentors shared. Funny thing is, a lot of that dad advice sticks with us, especially in the real estate world. In honor of all the father figures out there, here’s a lighthearted look at a few dad-inspired lessons that prove dad might really know best, even in real estate.

→ Read More

🎉 Father’s Day Sale – 30% Off Real Estate CE

Whether you're a dad in real estate or want to honor one, celebrate Father’s Day with 30% off all continuing education courses at Empire Learning. Invest in your future — or help a Dad invest in his.

👔 Shop the Sale Now

Offer valid through Midnight, Sunday June 15

🏆 Trending on Empire Learning

🌴 Workcations

Summer vacation season doesn’t mean business grinds to a halt. In 2025, more agents are mastering the art of the “workcation” – balancing beach time with client time. With nearly half of Americans planning a big summer trip, real estate is going mobile: deals are being negotiated from RVs, airport lounges, and poolside patios.

• Embrace tech to stay connected. Virtual showings and e-signatures mean you can finalize a contract while your toes are literally in the sand. Wifi + ocean view = new office vibes!
• Prep clients for your remote status. Let them know you’ll be checking emails between sightseeing so they feel assured you’re still on top of things (even if you have a piña colada in hand).
• Leverage your network. Team up with a trusted colleague to cover in-person tasks while you’re away, and return the favor for them. It keeps deals moving, and everyone gets a turn to recharge.
• Vacationing clients? No problem. Offer video-chat tours or send quick market updates to folks out of town, so wanderlusting buyers don’t miss out on a hot listing just because they’re at Disney World.

🤳 Insta-Famous Houses

Thanks to Instagram and TikTok, some homes are turning into overnight celebrities. A weird or wonderful listing can rack up thousands of views on social media, drawing gawkers from around the globe. But does being insta-famous actually help you close a deal? Sometimes the buzz pays off – one quirky Illinois home doubled its showings after a viral post and even sold to a buyer who discovered it online. Other times, you get a flood of likes but no serious offers (viral fame doesn’t guarantee a sold sign).

• Use viral potential wisely. A standout feature or funny video tour might indeed unleash a tidal wave of attention, but be ready to field inquiries from curious non-buyers along with true prospects.
• Coach your seller beforehand. Going viral means opening the listing to the peanut gallery of public opinion. Prepare them for oddball comments and armchair critics – once a home’s a viral hit, everyone will have an opinion.
• Turn eyeballs into leads. If a post blows up, capitalize on that interest. Collect contact info via your listing site or DMs so you can follow up with potential buyers who are genuinely intrigued (not just browsing for fun).
• Keep fundamentals first. Viral hype is icing, but pricing, staging and good old-fashioned marketing are still the cake. Likes don’t replace a solid strategy – they just amplify it. Make sure the home shines online and in person.

💧 Pools are the Real MVP

Pools are the MVP of summer home features in 2025. In fact, the number of for-sale listings boasting a pool hit an all-time high this spring (333,000 homes – nearly a quarter of all U.S. listings). And buyers are diving in eagerly: a home with a pool now commands about a 54% higher price on average than a similar home without one. That’s one pricey splash, and it shows how much folks crave a backyard oasis when the mercury rises.

• If a listing has a pool, make a splash with your marketing. Showcase sparkling poolside photos and even consider a fun “summer splash” open house theme. You’re not just selling a home, you’re selling a lifestyle of weekend BBQs and cool dip days.
• No pool? Highlight the next best thing. Maybe there’s a great community pool, swim club, or space to install a future pool. Help buyers imagine ways to beat the heat – even if the yard is currently all grass.
• Be ready for pool questions. Have info on the pool’s maintenance or recent upgrades (new pump, anyone?). A well-maintained pool puts buyers at ease about upkeep and lets them envision hassle-free summer fun from day one.
• Safety and extras count. Point out that new child-safe gate or the jacuzzi spa attachment. Little details like pool safety, heating, or eco-friendly filters can turn a “meh” into a “wow!” for families and tech-savvy buyers alike.

🎯 Quick CE Tip of the Week

✅ Turn CE into a summer game: Challenge a fellow agent to a CE course race, and the loser buys the winner a summery treat (ice cream, anyone?). A little friendly competition can sweeten the study grind and motivate you both to knock out those credits with a smile. 🍨🏆

→ Sign Up for Online CE Courses and Start "Racing" Today!

📈 Market Highlight: The High-Dive Plateau

🔥 Did You Know? Welcome to early summer 2025, where the real estate market is serving up a refreshing cocktail of higher rates, rising inventory, and a splash of sanity. Think of it as the “new normal” – not quite bubbly, not totally flat – just a steady fizz that gives buyers and sellers something to sip on. Whether you’re coaching clients through sticker shock or spotting golden opportunities in growing listings, now’s the time to lean into strategy over speed.

→ View Full Market Highlight

💡 Feedback Welcome!

We'd love your feedback. The lifeblood of any good business is figuring out what their customers truly care about — the best agents also learn this about their clients.

If you have any thoughts, ranging from what topic should be discussed in next week's newsletter to more in-depth ideas on how the CE experience can be the best it can be, please reach out via the email link below — we're truly all ears.

P.S. Want CE deadline reminders by text?
👉 Click here to sign up

Happy Learning,

— The Empire Learning Team
www.empirelearning.com