Speaking to the Future of Real Estate: My Morning with YPN
By Tom Rosario – Chief Media Officer, Media Engage LLC
There’s something electric about being handed a microphone and stepping in front of a room full of real estate professionals who could become your next collaborators, clients—or even friends. That was the energy in the air during my morning with the Young Professionals Network (YPN) of the Realtor Association of Acadiana.
The event took place at The Room at Corner Bar in Lafayette, and while I’ve led many conversations before, this one felt different. It was personal.
The Calm Before the Mic
I arrived early. Our production coordinator, Cate Foley, was already set up with a display of beautifully designed flyers that showcased what we offer at Media Engage LLC—not just pretty pictures, but strategic media that helps homes sell faster and for more money.
Side A:
Side B:
I found Dyllan Hawkins, board member of YPN and my biggest champion throughout this process, already there. It was Dyllan who gave me this platform, and I don’t take that lightly.
Still, I was nervous.
Not because I didn’t know what I was talking about—but because I believe in it. Deeply. And when you’re speaking from the heart, you always run the risk of not connecting. But I showed up fully. That’s the only way I know how.
Setting the Tone: Mindset Matters
My presentation centered around mindset—specifically, the mindset of the seller, the agent, and the buyer.
-The Seller
Selling a home is often an emotional process. For many, it’s not just a house—it’s years of life, memories, milestones. And now, it’s time to let that go.
That’s where the real estate agent comes in—not just as a salesperson, but as a mindset coach. A guide who helps the seller “hit the factory reset button.” That means depersonalizing, decluttering, and preparing the property to become a product.
Because when you do that, you position the home to stand out and sell for the most money possible.
According to a Redfin study, homes with professional photography and staging sell 32% faster and for up to $11,000 more on average.
The National Association of Realtors also confirms that 83% of buyers’ agents say staging makes it easier for buyers to visualize a property as their future home.
I likened it to detailing a car before you sell it. You buff it, you fix the small issues, maybe throw on new tires—and suddenly, you’re not just getting market value… you’re getting top dollar.
The Agent
Real estate agents are the epicenter of every transaction. Every deal runs through them. From mortgage brokers and inspectors to title attorneys and media teams—everyone benefits from that one connection.
So I challenged agents to see themselves as more than just facilitators. They are influencers of the market.
I also reminded them that they don’t have to go it alone. At Media Engage, we help agents secure sponsorships to offset the cost of premium listing media. These sponsors get exposure through branded content, and the agent gets top-tier marketing at a fraction of the cost.
We also seek to educate the sellers, and see us as a valuable part of the sales team.
Your media team should be a partner, not a vendor. And your job as an agent? Be of service. Be a connector. Be someone whose impact elevates your entire community.
The Buyer
Buyers are on a journey. They’re looking for a new home… but they’re also looking for a new life.
We don’t “level set” buyers—we meet them where they are. Our goal is to craft experiences that stop their scroll, capture their imagination, and show them what could be.
“Objections are the direct result of unanswered questions.”
That’s the mantra I live by.
If a buyer has doubts, they’ll move on. But if we create content that tells the full story—beautifully, clearly, and emotionally—we remove the doubt. And we move them to act.
That’s why we don’t just rely on Zillow. We build websites, blogs, social media posts, ads, email blasts, and texts. We shout the listing from the rooftops so that everyone looking hears about it.
And if you’ve done all that—truly done it all—and it still doesn’t sell?
Then the only thing left is time or price. Time, as in the right buyer hasn’t shown up yet. Or price, as in you’re not in the right range to unlock your pool of buyers.
How It Felt to Share This
When I finished my presentation, I felt a wave of relief—and pride.
There were no tech issues (thankfully), the room was full (50+ agents!), and more importantly… people leaned in. They asked questions. And I got to engage, one-on-one, with professionals who saw the value in what we’re building at Media Engage.
That’s all I could ever hope for.
Gratitude + What’s Next
I want to end with gratitude:
To the Realtor Association of Acadiana, YPN, Dyllan Hawkins, and Tyler Rush—thank you for the invitation and support. To Drawing Winners, congratulations again on winning, looking forward to working with you soon! And to The Keaty Real Estate Team, thank you for showing up en force and standing by me.
You have no idea what that meant.
I hope this is the first of many talks like this. Because real estate deserves better media—and media deserves better strategy.
And that’s what I’m here to bring.
📸 Coming Soon:
Stay tuned for more educational content on marketing, strategy, and tech!
In the meantime, if you’re a real estate professional looking to elevate your listings, visit MediaEngageLLC.com. Let’s build something remarkable…together.
Gratefully,
-Tommy R.