12/1/25

December is known for two things. Gift-giving and looking back at the year. That’s why we’re combining both in this message. Take an adventure with us as we review our favorite blogs of the year.

While our teams would love to hear that you read our blog every week, we know things get busy during the holidays – and otherwise. But don’t worry, we dug into the archives to find our best pieces – and how the lessons taught by them can still apply to success in 2026.

This nice list starts with a piece on the importance of customer testimonials. It’s full of actionable tips to make your review-gathering a fun process that’s easy to get into the habit of, rather than a marketing chore. Plus, you don’t even have to wait until the New Year to put this advice into action. After all, some kind words make the perfect – and a free – holiday gift.

Our second piece features our own Jenny Martin talking about building and maintaining a strong internal culture. It was a look behind the curtain that shows why the Futura Family of Companies is so dedicated to our team members, customers, and the communities we serve. If your 2026 goal list includes showcasing what you do internally to your external partners, there are plenty of lessons in this blog with Jenny!

Lastly, we’re putting another spotlight on first-time homebuyers. While most of us in real estate identify this group as our favorite demographic, the people who actually make up this group keep changing. They’re older than they’ve ever been – 38 when this blog was written and 40 now – but many of their needs remain the same. They need the guidance of many caring, knowledgeable real estate professionals to find their way home.

Did you have a favorite piece of ours that didn’t make this list? We’d love to hear from you! Of course, if there’s a topic you’d like to see us tackle in the next 365 days, we’re all ears. Reach out to your local branch anytime!