Realay, a Michigan-based referral platform, will attend Real Estate Distilled in Louisville, Kentucky from March 16-18, marking its first major conference appearance since launching a voice AI-powered mobile app in late 2025. The conference draws approximately 250 independent brokers annually and is one of the few national events tailored for boutique brokerages outside franchise systems.
Realay will operate a booth throughout the three-day event and present a breakout session on March 17 focused on helping independent brokers match the referral capabilities of national franchise operations. "Real Estate Distilled is one of the very few conferences that are held annually for independent brokers. We're excited to attend so the attendees can learn how Realay can help them be more organized, responsive, and productive in their markets," says John LeRoy, Realay's founder.
The conference selection reflects Realay's strategic focus on independent brokerages that lack built-in referral networks. When clients relocate outside their market, franchise agents can call sister offices, while independent brokers often rely on Facebook groups or lose business. Realay's platform provides a "plug and play relocation tool" with nationwide network access, automated tracking, and mobile functionality previously available only through franchises.
Realay will demonstrate both agent-to-agent referrals and a recently launched contractor referral management system, allowing brokers to organize preferred service providers and refer them via voice commands. The voice AI, powered by OpenAI integration, lets agents submit referrals and update transactions through spoken commands, addressing the reality that agents spend significant time in vehicles.
The March conference comes as Realay shifts marketing strategy from paid ads to targeted outreach and industry events. Realay operates on a pay-at-closing model with no upfront fees, taking 5% of referral commissions while originating agents receive 25%. This structure removes financial barriers for small brokerages. Franchise fees typically range from 6-8% of gross commission income, partly for referral network access. If independent brokers achieve similar access via technology, it changes the franchise value proposition.
Following the event, Realay plans to evaluate feedback and determine whether conference format effectively reaches decision-makers. The conference represents a test of whether in-person demonstrations of voice AI and contractor features resonate more than digital ads. The March 17 breakout session will address challenges like the "black hole" problem where referred clients disappear without updates and the time drain of manual tracking.
For more information, visit realay.com.
