IN THE
KN W KN W IN THE
JANUARY 2026
INTERNAL NEWSLETTER
From the desk of the President Happy New Year!! Economists, thought leaders and real estate industry analysts all anticipate 2026 will be a year of REcovery for the real estate industry. According to Brian Buffini’s BOLD Predictions, 2026 should look a lot like 2019 with more homes on the market (2025 saw 1.36 million listings), increasing supply (4.7 months) and slightly longer days on market (34). Mortgage rates are expected to drop below 5.8% which would make 5.5 million households eligible to purchase (including 1.6 million renters) and increase home sales by 550,000. 2026 will mark the return to a more “normal” market, a significant departure from the “artificial” market of 2021. What’s different about 2026? The profile of your clients has changed dramatically. The median age of sellers today is 64 years old, and they’ve spent roughly 11 years in their current home. Why are they moving? 66% are seeking a smaller home, but the number one motivator is to be closer to friends and family. First time home buyers, which account for only 21% of all buyers, are now 40 years old (in 2019, the median age was 33). While half are married couples, single women account for 25% of buyers and only 10% are single men. The median age of a repeat buyer is 62 years old, 30% of which are able to pay CASH. Understanding the profile of your clients will help guide your marketing and prospecting efforts. According to Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist of NAR, experts anticipated 14% more sales in 2026 and 20% fewer Realtors. That means MORE OPPORTUNITY for each and every one of YOU!! How will you capitalize on this opportunity to grow your business? Don’t wait for the spring market; get to work NOW.
Sarah Sarah M. Drennan President
VOTE TOCR FOR BEST OF BERGEN
VOTE HERE UNTIL END OF DAY ON 1/9!
WELCOME TO TOCR! We’re excited to extend a warm welcome to the newest agents who have joined our TOCR family. Your energy, talent, and dedication will be a wonderful addition to our community, and we can’t wait to see the great things you’ll accomplish here. Welcome aboard!
Chinita Carroll Hudson, The Gateway Group Scott Johnson, Ridgewood Office Jasiel Johnson, Ramsey Office Laya Johnson, Ramsey Office Michael Best, Saddle River Office
TOCR INSTITUTE CLASSES January 7 - RealScout's Auto Nurture and Invite Flow hosted by Jose Manuel Garcia from RealScout. January 14 - The Benefits of Using a Professional Home Organizer hosted by Cheryl Bock, CBOrganizing January 21 - Inspection Disputes: Mitigating Risk and Resolving Conflict hosted by Stephanie Tengi, Esq. January 28 - Mastering the Quick CMA hosted by Madeline Rapp, Manager Hasbrouck Heights
DOUBLE CE OPPORTUNITY JANUARY 27 We’re offering a LIVE, IN-PERSON Double CE Class for the 2025–2027 License Renewal Cycle, running TWICE on the same day so you can choose the time that works best for your schedule Course: NJREC Agency Refresher Overview – Classroom This required course satisfies the new 1 Agency CE Credit requirement for the 2025–2027 renewal cycle and provides 2 Core CE Credits—all in one session.
📅 Date: Tuesday, January 27 🕒 Time Options (same class, same day): Day Session: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM Evening Session: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Terrie O’Connor Real Estate School (Live, In Person) 👨🏫 Instructor: Shane Walters 💲 Cost: FREE for TOCR Agents What You’ll Earn: 1 Required Agency CE Credit 2 Core CE Credits (All credits will be applied to your PSI account upon completion.) What the Course Covers The NJREC highly recommends this course to ensure agents are current on recent law changes and agency requirements, including: Designated Agency The new Consumer Information Statement (CIS) An overview of agency relationships applicable in New Jersey This is an easy, efficient way to stay compliant early in the renewal cycle—same class, two convenient time options, and no cost to you. Click Here to Register for Day CE Class Click Here to Register for Evening CE Class
AGENT APPRECIATION BREAKFAST
HOLIDAY HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST WINNERS
🎉✨ Congratulations to the Winners of Our Annual Holiday House Decorating Contest! 🎄🏆
THANK YOU FOR GIVING BACK
💚
Thanks to the incredible support of our agents, staff, and community, our recent Pop-Up Shop and Giving Tree initiatives were a great success! WE RAISED $720 THROUGH THE POP-UP SHOP AND AN ADDITIONAL $235 FROM THE GIVING TREE, FOR A TOTAL OF $955 TO BE DONATED TO SUPPORT LOCAL FOOD BANKS IN OUR COMMUNITIES. And the giving doesn’t stop there! Our Pop-Up Shop will have a Clearance Sale and will kick off on January 20th and run through the end of the month. All items will be deeply discounted, and 20% of all clearance sale proceeds will be donated to the Grace Foundation. Come snag some awesome deals! Thank you for continuing to show up, shop with purpose, and help us make a meaningful impact in the communities we serve.
THANK YOU FOR GIVING BACK
💚
A huge thank you to everyone who participated in our recent holiday drive for Covenant House New Jersey. Because of your generosity, we were able to provide essentials like diapers and gifts to families at Raphael’s Life House. We recently received this beautiful thank-you note from their team, and we wanted to share it with all of you. It’s a testament to the kind of impact we can make when we work together! A Note of Thanks from Covenant House New Jersey From: Anne Randolph, CRM/Administrative Manager To: Terrie O’Connor Realtors Date: December 29, 2025 "We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation of diapers and gifts for Raphael’s Life House and the $75.00 gift card this past holiday season. Your kindness and thoughtfulness has made a tremendous impact on the young people and families we serve. The gifts you provided were a special blessing, offering the opportunity for those in our care to purchase the essentials they need as well as a little joy during what can sometimes be a difficult time of year. Your support is a testament to the love and compassion you share for our community, and we are incredibly grateful for your partnership. Thank you again for your unwavering generosity and for making a positive difference in the lives of the young people we serve. We are blessed to have your support and look forward to continuing to work together in the future."
UFMG CONTEST!
🥳 Winner Revealed at the Agent
Appreciation Breakfast in February!
MARKETING FOCUS January 2026 is about building habits that last across all areas of your marketing. You don’t need to overhaul your strategy—just create a balanced rhythm you can maintain. The tools are already in your hands—use them to reconnect with past clients, engage your audience online, and keep your relationships strong. Simple Actions: Digital: Post 2–3 times per week using the Social Media Digest and personalize the caption so it sounds like you. Traditional: Schedule one touchpoint (mailing or note) to reconnect with your sphere. Relationship-Based: Reach out to 3–5 people in your sphere just to check in— no agenda required. Marketing Tip of the Month The strongest marketing plans combine visibility (digital), presence (traditional), and connection (relationships). Consistency across all three builds recognition and trust faster than any single tactic alone.