Paul Boomsma: Why local leadership still wins in the brokerage consolidation race

On this episode of the Real Trending podcast, Tracey Velt sits down with Paul Boomsma, CEO of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE)  to unpack the biggest forces reshaping the real estate industry — from consolidation and private listings to AI and the changing expectations of agents. Boomsma describes today’s market as a moment of “hectic opportunity,” where mergers, acquisitions, AI innovation and economic uncertainty are all colliding at once. But amid the noise, he says strong leadership has never mattered more, especially for independent brokerages navigating uncertainty among agents and consumers alike. The conversation dives into why local brands still hold a major advantage in real estate, even as national consolidation accelerates. Boomsma argues consumers remain focused on trusted local professionals, not corporate ownership structures, creating opportunities for regional independents to differentiate through culture, leadership and community presence. Tracey and Paul also explore the future of brokerage models, generational changes among agents and the growing importance of collaboration-focused office environments. Boomsma explains why younger agents value teamwork, coaching and shared learning more than the traditional independent contractor model. The episode also tackles hot-button industry topics like private listings and AI adoption. While Boomsma believes private listings may be receiving more hype than necessary, he sees enormous potential for AI in agent coaching, role-playing and helping professionals sharpen their client conversations faster than ever before. Throughout the discussion, one theme stays consistent: the brokerages that thrive over the next few years will be the ones that lean into authentic local leadership, adapt to changing agent expectations and stay focused on consumer trust. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Real estate is still fundamentally local despite industry consolidation. Strong leadership matters more than ever during market uncertainty. Younger agents prefer collaboration, coaching and co-working environments. AI is becoming a powerful tool for agent training and productivity. Private listings may be overhyped compared to other industry shifts. Independent brokerages still have a strong competitive advantage through local trust and community presence. Related to this episode: Paul Boomsma's LinkedIn Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE)  The RealTrending podcast features conversations with the brightest minds in real estate. Every Monday, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts join us to share their secrets to success, trends, and the lessons they’ve learned. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.