I used to make predictions for the new year every December. I stopped a few years ago because my predictions were usually way off. But because everyone else’s predictions are likely to be just as far off I can’t see the harm in making a few for 2018.
Often the predictions that are being made are just wishful thinking on the part of the person doing the predicting, and they tell us more about that person than they tell us about the future.
For many of us, 2017 started with our participation in the largest march the world has ever seen. Women all over the U.S. and the world marched on Jan. 21, 2017. It was an epic event, and it lead to activism that will impact next year’s elections.
The “me too” movement happened this year too, and “the silence breakers” became the Time Magazine’s person of the year. The contrast between the 2016 person of the year and this year’s is stark.
My past is filled with “me too” moments that I probably won’t ever talk about or write about, but I think it’s wonderful that so many women are willing to share. It takes a lot of courage.
When I look ahead to 2018 as always, I feel a sense of optimism, especially if I don’t think about North Korea, California wildfires, mass shootings, hurricanes and the opioid epidemic and try to stay focused on my business.
Here are my predictions for 2018, which will be the first year of the woman as every year prior has been the year of the man, but no one called it that.
Although some may seem unrelated, they all focus on my outlook for 2018 and beyond, and they will greatly impact the real estate industry — and the world.
- All members of the House of Representatives elected in 2018 will be women, and most of the senators elected or re-elected will be women.
- By the end of 2018 everyone will understand that ERA doesn’t always refer to a real estate company or baseball statistics. It also stands for equal rights amendment.
- Oppression of women at work will end in 2018 for female professionals in executive and management roles and in government.
- In the first quarter of 2018, savvy real estate professionals will pre-pre-list homes to combat inventory shortages as well as to show their clients how quickly they can sell a home.
- NAR will have been proven right. After new tax laws are passed, the market will be flooded with homes for sale, and there will be no homes to sell in 2019.
- By the end of 2018, Facebook will become the most popular place to advertise homes for sale, prompting a flurry of articles to help Zillow Group employees adjust to change so they do not become obsolete.
- Inman will hire someone to take charge of photography on the site, so that when we read about real estate and technology, we see pictures of real women, just like us.
- In an unexpected policy change, NAR will no longer feature Realtors who work for or with their parents in the 30 under 30 column; instead, the national trade association will create an additional 30 under 30 group called “generations” to level the competition.
- Women will quietly start forming a separate national organization for women in real estate. As it grows in size and power, a group of men will begin mentoring men so that they can eventually become leaders in the new organization. It won’t be easy, no matter how much leadership experience they have.
- 2018 will be the last year of health insurance. People will continue to demand health care, which will be so expensive that insurance companies will not be able to pay for it and make a profit.
- Net neutrality will end. Facebook will be the only thing anyone can get for free on the internet. As a result, people will start reading books again.
In 2018, the first year of the woman, I hope to see tougher laws passed. It would be wonderful if there was a law against being naked, or partially naked, in a hotel room when there is a maid present; or if the minimum punishment for groping any woman is a huge fine and a sincere apology.
I have high hopes for the first year of the woman and will do all that I can to make it as inclusive as possible. I look forward to a time when more people own their homes because fairness is put into jobs and housing.
Many of my predictions have to do with women. I believe the future is female. There will be some backlash from the “me too” movement, but even though I am old and tired — I have not stopped fighting.
I feel like there is a kind of collective anger that spans generations, and just maybe, this time, women aren’t going to stand down.
I wonder if all women will be Time Magazine’s person of the year in 2018 or if it will go to just one woman?
Teresa Boardman is a Realtor and broker/owner of Boardman Realty in St. Paul. She is also the founder of StPaulRealEstateBlog.com.
