I reject the idea that younger people can earn a living as real estate agents just because they are “tech savvy,” and that this somehow gives them an advantage that enables them to compete with more experienced agents.

I believe that there is plenty of business for agents young and old, and that we should encourage young people to join our profession. But we might be going about it all wrong. The Internet has been around for more than 30 years. Smartphones have been with us, in one form or another, for 15 years.

Before that we had the Palm Pilot. Many of us “old” agents have evolved, adapted and kept up with the times.

Some of us have even been innovators and early adopters of technology like the iPad, which some experts told us would be useless for business. In some real estate associations and offices, I see an emphasis on having young, “tech savvy” agents teaching older agents about technology.

I think the future of the real estate industry would be better served if older, more experienced agents spent more time teaching younger agents how to be real estate agents.“Young Professionals Networks” (YPNs) for real estate agents have sprung up all over the country.

Many of them offer opportunities for agents to go to bars and parties and social events and network with each other. They also offer occasional educational opportunities that focus on how to use technology.

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2013/11/15/being-tech-savvy-is-not-what-get-real-estate-agents-business/#sthash.NkQxJR9S.dpuf