NEFAR President Kim Knapp’s 2025 Playbook: “Do It Right – Keep It Real” 

If you’re a real estate agent in Northeast Florida, you don’t need more noise—you need leadership, clarity, and a practical plan you can actually follow.

In Episode 311 of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, I sat down in the studio with Kim Knapp—now President of the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) while still leading the Fleming Island office for Coldwell Banker Vanguard—to talk about what’s changing, what’s not, and what it takes to win in the new normal.

Her leadership motto says it all: “Do It Right – Keep It Real.”

🔗 Listen/Watch Episode 311: www.tracyhayespodcast.com/311

Who is Kim Knapp—and why this episode matters

Kim isn’t just involved—she’s shaping the direction of one of Florida’s largest Realtor communities. In this conversation, she lays out a clear vision for 2025 that focuses on:

• Raising professionalism

• Improving contract knowledge

• Helping agents adapt to AI

• Strengthening broker communication

• Getting members more engaged and connected

This episode is a must for agents who want to stop feeling reactive and start operating with confidence.

Kim’s 2025 NEFAR priorities: what she wants members to feel this year

Kim’s theme is momentum through participation—less complaining, more leadership.

1) Top Five Forum (March)

Kim is pushing an event specifically designed for the top 5% of local market producers—not as an ego trip, but as a way to keep top performers plugged in, learning, and collaborating. The goal is to give busy producers something worth showing up for.

2) A bigger, stronger volunteer culture

Kim’s target is bold: 500 engaged volunteers. Why? Because association strength isn’t a staff thing—it’s a member thing. Her focus is building systems so volunteer leadership stays consistent and transitions cleanly year after year.

3) Better broker communication (monthly cadence)

She wants brokers to feel informed and supported with consistent monthly updates and resources—the kind of communication that actually helps broker-owners and team leaders run better meetings and manage risk.

4) Ready-to-use slide packs for broker meetings

This is smart: plug-and-play training slide decks that brokers can drop into meetings without reinventing the wheel—education, events, wins, changes, updates.

5) Regional lunch-and-learns and training access

Instead of expecting everyone to drive across town, Kim’s pushing training to the members through regional resource centers (Beaches, Orange Park, Putnam, etc.). Less friction = more participation.

The real talk: mindset is the difference-maker

Kim doesn’t sugarcoat it. If you’re struggling, it’s often not the market—it’s your mindset and your approach.

This isn’t motivational poster fluff. Her point is tactical:

• If you keep telling yourself the market is “impossible,” you act hesitant.

• Hesitant agents don’t lead clients.

• Clients don’t follow uncertainty.

The agents who win are the ones who own the new normal, get educated faster than everyone else, and stop waiting for things to “go back.”

“Combative agent energy” is costing you deals

One of the strongest moments of the episode is Kim calling out a pattern we’ve all seen:

Agents who show up defensive, aggressive, and combative—thinking it makes them look strong.

Kim’s take is blunt: that “bravado” often comes from lack of confidence, and it makes transactions harder than they need to be. The best agents know how to:

• Keep emotions out of negotiations

• Communicate clearly

• Protect the client without creating chaos

• Earn respect through competence, not conflict

AI isn’t optional anymore—agents need to adapt

Kim’s stance on AI is practical: use it to get faster, clearer, and more consistent—especially in marketing and communication.

Examples she emphasizes:

• Better listing descriptions (more descriptive, more conversational)

• Faster content creation

• More efficient workflows (without losing the human element)

The takeaway: AI won’t replace great agents—but agents who use AI will replace agents who don’t.

Contracts, compliance, and ethics: “Do it right” is not negotiable

Kim keeps coming back to one thing: know your contracts.

Assistants and transaction coordinators can help, but the agent is still responsible for what goes out and what gets signed. This is where careers get protected—or destroyed.

Her message for agents:

• Be proactive about learning

• Ask questions early (not at the closing table)

• Don’t wing it

• Treat contracts like a skill, not paperwork

What “Do It Right – Keep It Real” means for new agents

If you’re new, Kim’s standard is simple:

• Don’t pretend you know what you don’t know

• Be brave enough to ask for help

• Get into learning mode fast

• Build real relationships (not fake confidence)

• Do the work the right way, even when no one is watching

New agents don’t lose because they’re new—they lose because they avoid the uncomfortable learning curve.

Related episodes you should listen to next

If you liked Kim’s leadership + real-world strategy, here are three internal links to keep the momentum going:

• Kim Knapp – Episode 111: www.tracyhayespodcast.com/111

• Claire Sheehan – Episode 252: www.tracyhayespodcast.com/252

• Cole Slate – Episode 100: www.tracyhayespodcast.com/100

Final word

Kim Knapp is leading with a standard the industry needs right now: competence, clarity, and integrity. If you’re an agent in Northeast Florida, this episode is a blueprint for how to stay relevant, professional, and profitable—without losing who you are.

🎧 Listen/Watch Episode 311: www.tracyhayespodcast.com/311

Important Links

https://topjacksonvilleagents.com
https://topstaugustineagents.com
https://bestrealtorsjacksonville.com
https://bestrealtorsstaugustine.com
https://usedeli.com