ARA/FMLS 2027 Real Estate Outlook

Mark your calendars and get ready for the 16th Annual Real Estate Outlook! The Atlanta REALTORS® Association (ARA) and First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) are excited to present the 16th Annual Atlanta Real Estate Outlook! Join us for an in-depth analysis of 2026 market trends and a dynamic discussion with top industry experts. Event Highlights: • Networking & Breakfast in the Byers Lobby: Start your morning from 8:30 am - 9:30 am with a breakfast buffet and mimosas while connecting with fellow attendees. • Program in the Studio Theater: 9:30 am - 11:30 am Registration Fees: • In Advance: $25 • At the Door: $30 Onsite Parking will be Validated. Carpool and Rideshare are Recommended. Featured Speakers: Stay Tuned For Even More Great Speakers To Come! Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, National Association of REALTORS® Lawrence Yun is Chief Economist and oversees the Research group at the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. He supervises and is responsible for a wide range of research activities for the association, including NAR's Existing Home Sales statistics, Affordability Index, and Home Buyers and Sellers Profile Report. He regularly provides commentary on real estate market trends. Dr. Yun creates NAR's forecasts and participates in many economic forecasting panels, among them the Blue Chip Council and the Wall Street Journal Forecasting Survey. He also participates in the Industrial Economists Discussion Group at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. He appears regularly on financial news outlets, is a frequent speaker at real estate conferences throughout the United States, and has testified before Congress. Dr. Yun has also appeared as a guest on CSPAN's Washington Journal. In 2025, the Wall Street Journal congratulated him for having one of the closest forecasts for 2024. Dr. Yun received his undergraduate degree from Purdue University and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Maryland at College Park. Katie Kirkpatrick, President and CEO, Metro Atlanta Chamber Katie Kirkpatrick is President and CEO of the 167-year-old Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC), which represents businesses, colleges and universities, and non-profits across the 29-county metro Atlanta region — the nation’s sixth-largest market. MAC works to attract and retain business, ensure a business-friendly climate through public policy efforts, and market the region as a great place to live, work, and play. Katie is known for her public policy prowess and more than 18 years of purpose-driven impact through her work at MAC. As President and CEO, she led the adoption of a new framework for the Chamber, focusing on the three strategic imperatives of economy, talent, and community. She also catalyzed the Chamber’s historic ATL Action for Racial Equity initiative — a long-term effort that leverages the power of the region’s business community to advance racial equity. Most recently, she leads the organization’s efforts to reimagine Downtown Atlanta, convening the region’s leaders and stakeholders to rally around a strategy to transform it into a neighborhood that supports a world-class entertainment scene, a vibrant living environment, and a bustling business community. Previously MAC’s Chief Policy Officer, she served as the link between the metro business community and local, state, and national governments. She also galvanized the Public Policy team’s priorities in business climate, talent development and education, infrastructure, and thriving community. Before joining MAC, Katie served as Director of Environmental Engineering for Gold Kist, Inc., with responsibilities in regulatory compliance, treatment system design, strategic planning, and more. She is a registered professional engineer in several states and a proud graduate of Auburn University. She married an Atlanta native, Dow, and has two boys – all loyal UGA Bulldogs. T. Dallas Smith, Founder and CEO, T. Dallas Smith & Company Dallas is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of T. Dallas Smith & Company, where he directs the firm’s branding and strategic initiatives, including the development and oversight of new business verticals aligned with the company’s core operations. Dallas launched T. Dallas Smith & Company in 2006 with a focus on tenant representation and has since grown it into a national commercial real estate firm. Under his leadership, the firm has represented more than eight million square feet of office and industrial space, facilitated over five thousand acres of land acquisitions; and, with the Team’s combined experiences, have completed transactions exceeding $16 billion in total value. Known as an innovator and thought leader, Dallas is deeply committed to cultivating diverse talent and expanding opportunity within the commercial real estate industry. Dallas began his commercial real estate career in 1982 at Atlanta Air Center Realty, where he gained foundational experience in leasing and property management. In 1989, he became the first African American broker at Cushman & Wakefield of Georgia, helping pave the way for greater diversity in the profession. He later pioneered the brokerage division at H.J. Russell & Company in 1995, serving as Vice President before founding his own firm with the support of the late Herman J. Russell. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Georgia State University. Throughout his distinguished career, Dallas has earned widespread recognition and assumed influential leadership roles across business, civic, and educational sectors. His accolades include multiple Atlanta Business Chronicle Most Admired CEO awards, Entrepreneur of the Year honors, and consistent recognition by Georgia Trend and Atlanta Magazine as one of the state’s most influential leaders. He has served as President of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS and has held or currently holds board leadership positions with the University System of Georgia (former Chair of the Board of Regents), Georgia Power, Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and the Westside Future Fund (current Chair), among other organizations—highlighting his lasting impact on economic development, education, and community growth. Gregg Metcalf, Executive Director, Office Tenant Representation and Portfolio Services, Cushman and Wakefield Gregg Metcalf has spent more than three decades advising private, corporate, and institutional clients on complex real estate strategies. A former landlord/developer representative turned office tenant representative in 2010, he brings rare dual‑sided insight that helps occupiers of office space unlock opportunities in dynamic markets and achieve transformational outcomes. Gregg’s background includes high‑profile headquarters relocations, build‑to‑suit projects, incentive negotiations, and acquisition planning. He is known for data‑driven portfolio‑optimization strategies that improve operational performance and deliver both immediate and long‑term value. Over his career, he has completed more than $1 billion in tenant representation transactions, and he leads integrated portfolio solutions accounts for national and international corporations. His ability to anticipate landlord motivations, coupled with disciplined negotiation, has made him one of Atlanta’s most respected office tenant‑representation advisors. Gregg is a past president of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS® (ACBR) and has won many presigious awards including the Alvin B. Cates Award (ACBR) and the Best Overall Deal of the Year Award (Atlanta Business Chronicle). Presented by ARA | Atlanta REALTORS® Association FMLS | First Multiple Listing Service