As part of their capstone project, the 2025 NVAR Leadership Institute class developed in-depth presentations exploring emerging technologies, their implications for the real estate industry, and how industry leaders can leverage these tools to gain a competitive advantage. The project challenged participants to think critically about innovation while strengthening their understanding of marketplace issues, evolving trends, and Association priorities.
At the end of 2025, participants presented their findings to key Association leaders. Below is an overview of each team’s project focus.
DISCLAIMER: Reference to specific products, services, or platforms does not constitute an endorsement by NVAR. All examples were presented by 2025 NVAR Leadership Institute participants as part of their class project.
Team 1: Brick ‘n’ Byte
Brick ‘n’ Byte focused on how emerging technologies are transforming the real estate industry. The team explored five key innovations:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Augmented Reality (AR)
- Smart assistants
- Blockchain
- Cryptocurrency
The team examined how these are being used today and what they could mean for Realtors® and trade associations. Their work highlighted the importance of early engagement with technology to help the industry stay relevant and adaptable as the marketplace continues to evolve.
Potential local partnerships include:
- Unstuck Labs (Arlington, VA) helps early-stage tech founders turn ideas into real, working products by providing hands-on help with building apps and websites, and offering guidance from experienced mentors.
- Brightline Interactive (Alexandria, VA) is a creative tech agency that builds immersive digital experiences, specializing in spatial computing (AI/VR/AR) for brand activations and training simulations.
- Appinnovista (Alexandria, VA) is a full-service digital agency specializing in custom software and web/mobile app development, focusing on fintech, AI, blockchain, cloud solutions, and UI/UX design to build scalable, secure, and innovative digital products for startups and enterprises.
- Sandbox VR (McLean, VA) offers fully immersive, social virtual reality experiences.
Brick ‘n’ Byte’s presentation highlighted how these technologies can enhance consumer experiences and support business growth for real estate professionals.
Team 2: Future-Ready Realtors®: Leveraging Emerging Technologies in Northern Virginia Real Estate
Future-Ready Realtors® explored how Northern Virginia Realtors® can build a complete, future-ready lead conversion system — one that generates, manages, and converts leads efficiently from first touch to closing. Their project focused on integrating emerging technologies into a streamlined workflow designed to improve conversion outcomes.
Generating Leads with Smart Automation
- Adwerx creates and places targeted ads across media outlets — keeping agents top-of-mind without constant manual input.
- Opus Clip uses AI to transform long-form videos into short, high-impact social media videos by identifying the most engaging moments and adding captions.
Managing Leads Effectively
- Follow Up Boss serves as the central hub for lead and relationship management. Customizable deal pipelines provide clear visibility from initial contact through closing, eliminating the chaos of managing leads across multiple platforms.
- RealScout delivers real-time MLS updates to buyers, sends smart alerts based on client behavior, and provides agents with detailed insights into what clients are viewing and engaging with — enabling more informed follow-up.
Enhancing Lead Conversion
- Gamma AI is an AI presentation software that can help Realtors® deliver dynamic, data-driven presentations to clients that elevate professionalism and trust.
Together, these tools demonstrate how Realtors® can leverage emerging technology to save time, increase conversions, deepen client engagement, and gain a competitive edge through stronger branding and more efficient workflow.
Team 3: Tech Trends in Real Estate — An NVAR Guide
Team 3 examined emerging technology tools that are reshaping how Realtors® research markets, generate leads, create content, and engage clients. Their project highlights AI-driven solutions that help agents work more efficiently and elevate their professional brand.
AI-Driven Predictive Lead Generation
- SmartZip uses data and AI to identify homeowners most likely to sell, allowing Realtors® to focus their farming efforts on high-probability sellers.
AI-Powered Research & Market Intelligence
- Perplexity provides real-time, cited answers to real estate questions, enabling Realtors® to quickly research pricing, zoning, and neighborhood trends. The tool supports hyper-local market analysis and allows instant comparisons between regions, making it especially valuable for relocation buyers and clients seeking data-backed guidance.
AI-Generated Video Content
- HeyGen enables Realtors® to create professional, branded videos using AI avatars and text-to-speech, eliminating the need for being on camera. It also allows agents to engage multilingual audiences through translated video.
Instant AI Website & Landing Page Builder
- Durable.co uses AI to generate full websites and landing pages in under 30 seconds, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with custom web development. Realtors® can quickly launch niche neighborhood- or campaign-specific sites that integrate lead capture and scheduling.
24/7 Website Chatbot & Lead Qualifier
- Roof.AI engages website visitors instantly at any time of day, qualifying leads and automating appointment scheduling to convert casual browsers into actionable opportunities.
Multimedia Editing & Transcription
- Descript simplifies video and audio editing by providing accurate transcription and turning recorded content into blogs, captions, and social posts for more consistent digital marketing.
These tools empower Realtors® with predictive insights, faster research, and automated client engagement.
We are incredibly proud of our 2025 NVAR Leadership Institute class and the dedication, insight, and collaboration they brought to the program. Their commitment to growth and service reflects the future of leadership at NVAR, and we can’t wait to see the meaningful impact they will continue to make within the association and across our industry.