Data has changed the market: Here's how agents stay ahead

In this episode of the REB Podcast, deputy editor Emilie Lauer sits down with Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo, chief economist at PRD, to discuss how real estate agents can harness data to grow their footprint.

Dr Mardiasmo unpacks how the explosion of accessible data has changed the balance of power between agents and consumers. Where market intelligence once came from industry knowledge, buyers and sellers now arrive armed with Google searches, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, and price trackers – meaning you need to be more accurate than ever.

The discussion examines how agents can differentiate themselves in a data-saturated market, with Mardiasmo arguing that value now lies in interpretation, crafting clear and credible narratives.

The episode also dives into the risks of oversimplification, the importance of data literacy across agencies, and why business data is critical for smarter resourcing and competitive strategy.

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