Celebrating innovation, collaboration, and member success

by Doreen Spagnuolo, LIBOR CEO

2025 has been a pivotal year for LIBOR, marked by major initiatives that strengthened our association and enhanced our value to members.

Of particular note was the sale of our West Babylon location and our relocation to a dynamic, state-of-the-art facility in Melville. Moving our headquarters was a strategic decision to provide members with a beautiful space in which to learn, network, collaborate, and hone professional skills. Our headquarters is equipped with advanced technology to streamline daily workflows and support greater efficiency across departments. Equally important, we’ve created a modern and welcoming environment our team genuinely enjoys, fostering collaboration, productivity, and pride in our work.

Investing in Professional Development

LIBOR entered into a collaboration with Keeping Current Matters to offer members access to timely, data-driven marketing tools. This complimentary resource empowers members to communicate effectively with clients and consumers, and position themselves as informed, trusted professionals.

We expanded professional development through engaging podcasts and relevant master classes, launched a 24/7 website chat feature that allows members to get answers to questions in real time, and continued complimentary legal risk-management webinars. We revitalized our Affiliate Program to strengthen marketing opportunities and foster greater collaboration between members and affiliate partners. Additionally, LIBOR was featured positively in industry publications, highlighting the value of working with a REALTOR® and reinforcing the important role our members play in every transaction.

Navigating an Evolving Landscape

The year reflected a rapidly evolving landscape for MLS policies and National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) rules, and LIBOR played a critical role in helping our members navigate changes with confidence. We provided timely updates on NAR rule modifications and hosted targeted broker sessions to ensure leadership remained fully informed and equipped to share accurate guidance with agents.

One of the most important lessons reinforced through this participation is the necessity for LIBOR to stay relevant to our members – consistently delivering the information, tools, services, and education they need to succeed in a changing real estate environment. LIBOR takes pride in being a large, sophisticated association that offers advanced resources, while still maintaining a hometown approach that’s accessible and responsive.

Committed to Fair Housing

Fair housing is a critical priority across the real estate industry, and LIBOR’s 2025 initiatives advancing fair housing and consumer protection are a significant source of organizational pride.

LIBOR began developing its next Home for All of Us campaign with a focused emphasis on housing fairness within the LGBTQ+ community. We are enhancing the HFAOU website to include more educational resources, and we’ve expanded outreach by creating event materials in multiple languages.

LIBOR also is establishing a 501(c)(3) foundation to assist first-time homebuyers. We promoted down-payment assistance programs through industry outreach, including an article in Inman highlighting available resources. Together, these efforts underscore LIBOR’s commitment to fair housing, consumer protection, and creating meaningful pathways to homeownership for all.

Advocating for Professionals

Advocacy is central to LIBOR’s mission and one of the most critical ways we protect homeowners, consumers, and members. Through coordinated efforts and a strong collective voice, REALTORS® have influenced meaningful policy outcomes that directly impact homeownership and the real estate profession, including:

• Supporting Proposition 3 in New York City and advocating for a more streamlined and accessible path to homeownership.
• Testifying before the New York City Council in support of greater transparency in cooperative housing transactions, helping advance reforms that reduce discrimination.
• Supporting the continuation of the Federal Flood Insurance Program, a vital resource for homeowners and communities in flood-prone areas across Long Island and New York City.
  

LIBOR continues to actively defend REALTORS®’ independent contractor status, which remains under ongoing legislative scrutiny. These efforts represent a portion of the advocacy work undertaken by LIBOR. Advocacy is not optional – it is essential.

Looking to 2026

LIBOR’s initiatives will focus on strengthening member value, advancing advocacy, expanding education, and modernizing how we engage both members and consumers. Key priorities include a comprehensive website and digital strategy overhaul, enhanced consumer tools, down-payment assistance information, mobile-friendly functionality, and targeted consumer awareness campaigns highlighting REALTOR® value.

LIBOR will deepen member engagement through improved onboarding, broker toolkits, targeted communications, expanded professional development and leadership training, multilingual education, and innovative AI-driven resources. Advocacy remains central, with increased broker engagement, policy panels, housing conferences, and coordinated campaigns to protect property rights, promote fair housing, and support affordable homeownership.

LIBOR will also expand community engagement, recognition, and high-impact events; finalize its 501(c)(3) foundation; invest in technology, security, and data analytics; and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders and affinity groups to ensure LIBOR remains relevant, forward-thinking, and indispensable to its members and the communities they serve.