The Rand NewsReal

Joe Rand, our Editor-in-Chief and lead contributor is the Chief Creative Officer at Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty.

He is the founder of the “Client-Oriented Real Estate” (“CORE”) school of real estate education, based on the idea that real estate agents should build their business by learning how to be great at the job of helping clients buy and sell homes.

He has been a featured speaker and moderator at Real Estate Connect, the RIS Media CEO Conference, the Women’s Council of REALTORS Annual Conference, and many other industry events.

He is a regular contributor to Inman Media, writing about industry issues mostly relating to agent education and client service.

He is a graduate of Georgetown University, Georgetown Law Center, Stanford Law School, and a former law professor at Brooklyn Law School and Fordham Law School.

He lives in Nyack, New York with his wife and two children.

Howard Hanna Rand Realty Named Best Real Estate Company in the Hudson Valley for the 11th Consecutive Year

Hudson Valley, NY – Howard Hanna Rand Realty has been named Best Real Estate Company in the 2025 Hudson Valley Community’s Choice Awards, marking the 11th consecutive year the company has received this honor. The Hudson Valley Community’s Choice Awards are determined entirely by public vote and recognize the local businesses that residents trust and […]
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A Cozy Recipe and Seasonal Adventures Across the Tri-State Area

Winter transforms the Tri-State Area into something truly special. Snow-dusted landscapes, glowing light displays, and a full calendar of seasonal activities make New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut an ideal place to embrace the colder months rather than hide from them. Whether you’re planning a weekend outing, looking for a family-friendly adventure, or simply searching […]
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Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Enters New York City

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the nation’s largest privately held and family-operated brokerage and the fifth-largest real estate company in the country, has officially entered the New York City market through the acquisition of Manhattan-based Elegran Real Estate. This strategic expansion marks a powerful new chapter in the company’s continued growth along the East Coast, […]
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Howard Hanna Real Estate Services Named Most Innovative Brokerage by LeadingRE for Pioneering the Buy & Borrow Bundle

The Howard Hanna Family of Companies, spanning 13 states in the East and Midwest,  received 20 awards across multiple categories at the 2025 LeadingRE Awards  PITTSBURGH (March 4, 2025) – Howard Hanna Real Estate Services has been recognized as the Most Innovative Brokerage by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) for its groundbreaking Buy & Borrow […]
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Howard Hanna Rand Realty Leads 2024 Middletown Community’s Choice Awards

Howard Hanna Rand Realty has once again emerged victorious in the 2024 Middletown Community’s Choice Awards, claiming the coveted title of Best Real Estate Company for the 10th consecutive year. This achievement highlights the firm’s unwavering commitment to service excellence and community leadership. The company’s success extended to individual recognition, with June Cosgrove Hays earning […]
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Howard Hanna Rand Realty Announces Key Leadership Appointments in Westchester, Bronx, Putnam, and Connecticut Regions

White Plains, NY, [October 8, 2024] — Howard Hanna Rand Realty is excited to announce two significant leadership appointments to strengthen its team and support its growth strategy. These changes aim to enhance recruitment efforts and ensure continued success across the Westchester, Bronx, Putnam, and Connecticut regions. Joe Maymi has been named Regional Growth Manager […]
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Howard Hanna | Rand Realty Introduces the Buy & Borrow Bundle

NANUET, NY (July 22, 2024) – Howard Hanna | Rand Realty is proud to announce the launch of its Buy & Borrow Bundle, a program designed to offer significant savings and convenience for homebuyers. This innovative program combines mortgage and real estate services, providing a seamless and cost-effective home buying experience aimed at promoting homeownership […]
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Howard Hanna Rand Realty Welcomes the MIGO Team to Monroe-Woodbury Office

Howard Hanna Rand Realty is thrilled to announce that Frank Golio and Nick Miessmer, formerly of the Hudson Valley Realty Center, are joining our Monroe-Woodbury office as the MIGO Team. This strategic move brings together two dynamic forces in the Hudson Valley real estate market, further strengthening our position in the region.   “We are […]
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Celebrating Excellence: Howard Hanna Rand Realty Agents Shine in RealTrends Verified Rankings

At Howard Hanna Rand Realty, we are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our agents who have been recognized in the prestigious RealTrends “RealTrends Verified” rankings this year. This recognition is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving our clients with excellence. The RealTrends Verified rankings are an esteemed […]
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Joseph Rand Honored With 2018 RISMedia Real Estate Newsmakers Award


RISMedia, publisher of Real Estate magazine, will honor Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty General Manager and Chief Creative Officer Joseph Rand as a 2018 Real Estate Newsmaker during an awards ceremony to be held on May 17 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the National Association of REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo taking place that week. RISMedia’s first annual Real Estate Newsmaker Awards are designed to recognize those individuals making headlines for their […]

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Real Estate Market Report: 1st Quarter 2018 – Hudson County, NJ

Hudson County’s lack of inventory had its expected impact, driving sales down sharply but prices up dramatically in a strong first quarter. Although overall sales for all property types were up 1.6% from the prior rolling year, they were down 9% from last year’s first quarter, dropping for the first time in over three years. They were down for all property types, falling about 7% for single‑family and multi‑family homes, and over 10% for condos, simply because we don’t have […]

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Real Estate Market Report: 1st Quarter 2018 – Sussex County, NJ

Sales in the Sussex market continued to surge in the first quarter, rising almost 7% and marking over three straight years of increasing transactions. This demand continues to winnow down the inventory, which was down almost 22% and is now getting close to the six‑month level that usually denotes the beginning of a seller’s market. But Sussex homeowners are still waiting for some meaningful appreciation, with prices flat for the quarter and still down for the year. We continue to […]

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Real Estate Market Report: 1st Quarter 2018 – Essex County, NJ

Growth in the Essex market was stifled by a lack of inventory, which was down over 17% from last year and kept sales relatively flat. But increasing demand chasing fewer homes for sale drove prices up, with the average and median both rising about 2%. We’re now seeing sustained appreciation in Essex, with the yearlong prices up almost 2% on average and over 4% at the median. These rising prices will eventually attract more homeowners into selling their homes, but […]

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Real Estate Market Report: 1st Quarter 2018 – Morris County, NJ

The Morris market cruised through the first quarter, with increases in both sales and prices. Even an almost 20% drop in inventory did not hold sales back, with closings up over 4% from last year. But that lack of inventory did have its expected impact on pricing, which was up over 3% for both the average and the median. We’re now seeing sustained appreciation, with yearlong pricing up over 3% on average and almost 4% at the median. These rising […]

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Real Estate Market Report: 1st Quarter 2018 – Passaic County, NJ

Passaic sales growth was stifled by a lack of available homes for sale, which fell over 21% and is now down to 5.3 months of inventory. That lack of inventory drove sales down almost 4%, but also had a dramatic impact on pricing, which was up almost 6% on average and 7% at the median. We’re now seeing a sustainable appreciation trend, with yearlong prices up almost 4% on average and 5% at the median. These rising prices will eventually […]

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Real Estate Market Report: 1st Quarter 2018 – Bergen County, NJ

Growth in the Bergen market was stifled by a lack of inventory, which suppressed sales even while it drove meaningful price appreciation. Sales were down for both property types, falling 5% for single-family homes and over 13% in condos. This was not due to a lack of demand, but a lack of supply, as inventory fell again and is now well under the six-month level that usually signals a seller’s market. That drove significant appreciation, with single-family homes now up […]

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Real Estate Market Report: 1st Quarter 2018 – Northern New Jersey

The housing market in the Northern New Jersey suburbs of New York City has become a fully‑realized seller’s market, with declining inventory stifling sales growth while driving meaningful price appreciation throughout the region. The regional market continues to suffer from a lack of inventory. The number of homes available for sale compared to last year fell sharply in every market in the region. At the current absorption rate, we are now down to well under six months of inventory in […]

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Real Estate Market Report: 1st Quarter 2018 – Dutchess County, NY

Dutchess single‑family home sales were down sharply in the first quarter, a consequence of a lack of inventory unable to meet strong demand. That’s why prices were up dramatically, rising over 10% for single‑family and almost 18% for condos. This kind of appreciation is probably not sustainable, but the yearlong numbers are also good, with average prices up almost 5% for single‑family and over 2% for condos. We expect that this pricing will eventually attract more sellers into what will […]

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Real Estate Market Report: 1st Quarter 2018 – Putnam County, NY

Putnam’s housing market exploded in the first quarter, with sales and prices sharply up. Inventory continues to fall, which will likely suppress sales in the spring market but should continue to put pressure on prices. Although the eye-popping quarterly 10% average and 9% median sales price increases are not sustainable, the yearlong appreciation of 5% on average and over 6% at the median is a welcome trend for Putnam homeowners. Indeed, the average single‑family price for the past year is […]

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