2026 Atlanta Real Estate Outlook

Chief Economist FMLS

Leslie is a consultant and housing market analyst who has been active in the real estate industry for 40 years. She was Vice President and Chief Economist for the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) from 1984 – 2020, directing the analysis of housing market and brokerage industry trends, broker relations, and membership development activities.

She is currently Chief Economist for FMLS providing bi-monthly commentary on the economy and housing market. Appleton-Young earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and her master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Atlanta REALTORS® Association 2026 President

Quinn Arnau is a 2004 graduate of the University of Georgia Terry College of Business, where he earned a degree in Economics. He is a partner in a top-producing real estate team and was named Realtor of the Year by the Atlanta REALTORS® Association in 2021. Quinn currently serves as the Association’s 101st President during the 2026 calendar year. He and his wife, Erica, live in Atlanta’s Grant Park neighborhood with their four-year-old son, Frank. In his free time, Quinn enjoys snow skiing, training jiu-jitsu, and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs.

National Association of REALTORS® 2026 President

Kevin Brown (AHWD, C2EX), a REALTOR® from Oakland, Calif., is the 2026 President of the National Association of REALTORS®. A second-generation real estate professional with 47 years of experience, Kevin owns and manages the family business that his father started more than 55 years ago, and often works with his brother, Bill Brown of Alamo, Calif., who served as 2017 NAR President. Kevin is broker-owner of Better Homes Realty and Brown Commercial Investment Real Estate Services, which serves Oakland, Berkeley, and the surrounding Bay Area.

Specializing in residential and commercial real estate sales, Kevin also has extensive expertise in investment property brokerage and management. Kevin’s past clients include residential buyers and sellers, banks, institutional investors, large trusts, law firms, the City of Berkeley, smaller individual investors, and the U.S. Marshal Service.

At the state and local level, Kevin has spent over two decades assisting real estate associations in their creation of public policy to protect consumer interests, private property rights, and home ownership. Kevin began making his mark in leadership when he served in numerous local association committee positions prior to being elected as the 1994 president of Oakland Association of REALTORS®, where he was awarded REALTOR® of the Year.

At the state level, Kevin chaired several policy committees, task forces, and working groups, including chair of the Association’s Legislative Committee, where he received the California Association of REALTORS® outstanding committee chair award, and REALTOR® of the Year award. Kevin was then elected as President of the California Association of REALTORS® in 2014, where he met on a regular basis with Congress, government regulators, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac during the economic recovery after the 2008 financial and housing market crash.

Kevin first engaged with NAR 27 years ago, and since 2011 he has served on the Board of Directors. He was chair of the Conventional Finance and Policy Committee in 2017, an NAR committee liaison in 2018, NAR Regional Vice President (for Region 13) in 2020, and REALTOR® Party Director in 2021. He has testified before Congress on behalf of NAR on three separate occasions.

During his time as an association leader at all three levels, Kevin’s priorities have been improving ethics and professionalism in the industry, lobbying government and regulators to provide affordable housing and financing, and to increase inventory.

NAR Special Advisor, Brokerages

Chris is a veteran real estate executive with over 40 years of industry experience. She began her career in banking before entering real estate in Ontario, Canada, in 1982 and rising through leadership roles at Royal LePage.

She later held senior executive positions with Real Living Network Services, Prudential California Realty, and Coldwell Banker Real Estate. In 2008, Chris was named CEO and president of Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, where she helped grow the brand into one of Realogy’s largest. In 2019, she became president and CEO of Realogy’s Expansion Brands Portfolio, overseeing Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate and ERA Real Estate.

President & CEO, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties
Vice Chair, Georgia Real Estate Commission

DeAnn Golden attended her first open house with her mother, a Georgia REALTOR®, 48 years ago, establishing a lifelong passion for the industry. Today, as President and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Georgia Properties, DeAnn brings forth over 31 years of seasoned experience herself.

Presently, she guides over 1200 REALTORS® who achieve nearly 8,000 annual
residential and commercial transactions. Her journey—from her early days as a
receptionist to a sales agent, coach, trainer, manager and now executive— equips her with a unique, 360-degree perspective on the industry. Having navigated numerous complex market cycles, DeAnn has is passionate about
championing innovation and professional agent development. She is committed to
creating property ownership opportunities and building generational wealth for all.

Chief Operating Officer, Leadering Real Estate Companies of the World®

As Chief Operating Officer for Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE), Kate guides the design and implementation of operations to help solidify the company’s position as the
global authority on interrelated real estate services.

A licensed real estate broker, Kate joined LeadingRE in January 2019 as Executive Vice President, Member Services, focusing on member engagement, performance, and satisfaction, as well as the core
referral program, which generates over 19,000 member-to-member referrals annually.

Her leadership role expanded into other key operational areas, such as marketing and events, including LeadingRE’s flagship Conference Week. Based on the scope of her responsibilities and the value of her
contributions, she was promoted to COO in August 2023.

Prior to joining LeadingRE, Kate served as Regional Director, Relocation and Client Development for a national franchise. Other experience includes working as Vice President and Director of Relocation
Services for a Chicago-area real estate firm and as a Regional Director of Business Development for a relocation management company.