Last August, we had the honor of interviewing one of our own JohnHart Real Estate professionals, the incomparable Jon Barrist, as he was elected to the prestigious President-Elect position of the Greater Palm Springs REALTORS® organization. We expected to follow up with him in 2026 after he’d had time to acclimate to his official presidency, but responsibility rarely conforms to our ideal schedules. Tragedy struck when GPSR’s President, Joe Phelan, passed away in the middle of his term.
Now, to honor Phelan’s wishes and GPSR’s election-based system, Jon Barrist has urgently accepted the role of President, allowing him to carry on with plans he’d been discussing with Phelan for years. We took some time from President Barrist’s busy schedule to discuss the future of the Coachella Valley housing market, some big changes coming to GPSR, and how he plans to artfully balance his commitment to his clients, his presidential responsibilities, and his happy marriage.
We spoke with you last August when you’d just been named President-Elect of the Greater Palm Springs REALTORS® (GPSR). How would you say your impression of the role and your responsibilities within it have changed between then and today?
Jon Barrist: As President-Elect, I was in a learning stage and a mentoring stage (me being the one who was mentored for the position). When the President took ill in March, I was immediately moved into an acting President role and took on a whole different role. I was put into it much quicker than anticipated, but fortunately, as we do at JohnHart, the Board of REALTORS® provides somewhat of a mentorship program with the past Presidents who offer their guidance to me, so I relied on three of our past Presidents for their guidance as I moved forward to help me be able to transit into the role.
“With GPSR being somewhat smaller (we have over 1,200 members that I’m responsible for), it still seems like a small-town kind of feel.”
Last year, you mentioned that you’d be training to find the balance between your presidential duties and your commitment to your clients. Do you feel you’ve had adequate time to find that balance?
JB: Well, you never know if you have enough balance and time until issues come up, but, as the conversation I had with Harout (ed. – Keuroghlian, CEO of JohnHart Real Estate) yesterday, one of the things I’m really grateful for is our support at JohnHart in that I have so much support helping me with all of the backend, and the contracts, and the day to day operations that I’m able to focus with my clients. And my clients are happy that they’re dealing with somebody who is recognized as the President of this organization, since they feel they’ll have more exposure to their properties!
So, do you feel that the JohnHart support system uniquely positions you to be more attentive while still balancing these presidential responsibilities?
JB: Oh, 100 percent. No question about that, and that was the conversation I had with Harout yesterday, that I am absolutely grateful that I’ve got this organization that helps me and gets me positioned to be able to focus on my clients and be able to handle time management of my board responsibilities to the association at the same time.
What made you decide to leave your service with the Orange County Board of REALTORS® to focus fully on your responsibilities with GPSR?
JB: The decision was difficult because I’d been with the Orange County Board of REALTORS® for 19 years! But I wanted to have my primary membership with Greater Palm Springs REALTORS®, as I saw that my choice was to grow within GPSR as a Director first, then a President-Elect elected to that position, which would eventually put me as their President in 2026. I needed to do that as a primary member so that they saw that my focus and dedication were to their organization.
You were close with Joe Phelan, the late president of GPSR, who, sadly, passed away on June 23.
JB: Joe and I became close friends in the last couple of years after the passing of his husband, and I felt that I could offer a unique perspective to him and friendship. That friendship grew because he wanted me to run as his President-Elect, so that we would be a team that would be running this organization. His compassion and dedication were amazing. I watched as his health started declining, and we all wished that he wouldn’t. We spent many, many days together, working on different things, but the friendship just grew.
“…Everybody recognized us as not just him as President and me as President-Elect, but as a group working together.”
I felt that our travels to state meetings and those types of things became one and the same, so everybody recognized us as not just him as President and me as President-Elect, but as a group working together. It became a friendship outside of real estate. He would rely on me for help in his real estate, and I would question him at times for guidance on some of the stuff that I was doing. So, it’s a great loss to all of us, and we’re dealing with it, but I do understand his wishes were always that I would take over. He told me that it would be sooner than I thought, and I didn’t believe him. But I guess he was right. So, it’s a great loss, but in his memory, I’m hoping to make him proud.
Why should a real estate agent consider joining GPSR?
JB: We are a unique organization. Everybody who is a part of us loves us. Even people who are in other organizations and come to our meeting will love us because I think we offer collaboration among everyone. We are in a competitive environment, but we have a staff in the office that is by far some of the best I’ve ever seen. They make you feel welcome. They answer your questions. The first day I walked into one of their meetings, I was greeted with open arms. I’ve got to admit, in Orange County, it was a totally different environment, but probably because it was a much larger organization. With GPSR being somewhat smaller (we have over 1,200 members that I’m responsible for), it still seems like a small-town kind of feel.
What are some of the ways GPSR is helping realtors to be more competitive in today’s real estate industry?
JB: We understand that brokerages have a responsibility to train their employees, but we take it a step further and offer additional training. We can do it on Zoom, or we can bring them into the board office. We do a lot of lunch-and-learns to help agents and brokers feel more involved. I host a broker town hall once a quarter where all of the brokers (small, big, it doesn’t matter) are invited to a Zoom meeting, and we discuss what’s happening in the market. Yesterday, we had our attorney from our association speak about the DRE settlements and how that’s affecting us, the different forms that are coming out and how that’s affecting us, and any of the things that are important that we need to know. If we have legislation, it’s brought up and discussed there. It’s just an open forum that I haven’t seen done in many areas, and we’re starting to get more and more attendees.
How would you say the Coachella Valley market is changing?
JB: We always have a unique market because we’re typically a “second home” market, so most of the people who are buying here are typically paying cash for their properties. When we have an environment like we have now with the government, people are uncertain as to what’s happening, and so the market has slowed down. The inventory has increased, and we’ve seen a shift toward a Buyer’s Market in which buyers have become king, unlike our time during COVID when sellers were king. So, everything is like a pendulum. It sways, and we have to pivot to match that. And so we continue to strive forward. We talk to people about why it’s a good time to buy in the Coachella Valley, especially if they’re coming in and they’ve got cash. The prices are stable. We’re not seeing huge drops in prices. It all depends on their desire to move forward.
“I have yet to have anybody who comes to visit who doesn’t say, ‘Oh, I wish I had a couple more days.'”
What advice would you have for someone thinking about moving to the Coachella Valley?
JB: I would suggest that, if they’re considering moving, they need to come visit. I have yet to have anybody who comes to visit who doesn’t say, “Oh, I wish I had a couple more days.” It’s just so much of a relaxing feel. I know that when I work between Orange County and Palm Springs, when I’m driving back on the 10 freeway, as soon as I get off at my exit, it’s just a feeling of “I’m home. I’m relaxed.” I love the clients I work with in Orange County. But I would tell people, “Come check it out.” It’s an amazing area to live in. It’s a little difficult in the summertime. You do have to get used to the heat, but four months of a lot of heat for eight months of pure bliss is a small price to pay.
Are there any enhancements you’d like to bring to current GPSR programs or new materials and resources you’d like to introduce?
JB: Well, I’ve already started, which some people felt was shocking since I wasn’t quite President yet. My goal is to build our membership and our attendance at our Caravan Meetings on Wednesdays. We actually have education at each one of our meetings, where we’ll have a speaker and talk about any type of subject that we feel is of value.
I heard the membership speak, and they felt that the meeting started too early. So, as of August 6, I made the decision that we will move the meeting one hour later. It allows people to drop their kids off at school. So many of the brokers say, “Well, if you had a later time, we would certainly work to get our membership.” It’s my goal to build the organization that way, and to show the value we have. We’re moving into a political environment next year, so we’ll spend a lot of time bringing in the political candidates to speak in an open session. And our membership is not afraid to ask the hard questions!
Are there any local or state-level issues that you are particularly passionate about? And how might these interests steer your presidency?
JB: One of the things that I’ve been asked to get involved with is our rental registry. That’s where the government is looking at having everybody who is a homeowner with a rental property register that property. And we’re not talking short-term. We’re talking long-term. My thought on that is that it’s probably more of an invasion of privacy for them, and I don’t see any reason why they need to register that rental. Short-term rentals? Yes. We want to know what’s happening with the short-term rentals, and that brings in bed tax to the cities here, so that’s important. But the long-term rentals, I think, should just be left up to the homeowners. I’m just in the early stages of getting involved with that task.
“…One of the legacies I want to leave behind is creating a more diverse organization that is totally inclusive of all people: races, religions, sexual orientations, regardless of anything, because I think that just makes us stronger.”
In the past, GPSR has been active in the community with charitable fundraising efforts, including auctions in the spring and autumn. Do you have any upcoming events planned to support underserved communities in the Coachella Valley?
JB: We are tasked with three areas: Palm Springs, Cathedral City, and Desert Hot Springs. We focus on organizations that support these areas, but they can also support other areas of the Coachella Valley. We’re in the middle of a food drive that goes through the end of this month (June), so we only have a couple more days to be able to donate food. Then we have organizations that are recipients of those.
We participate in a sneaker drive with Palm Springs Unified Foundation, which is the organization that backs the schools and handles items that are not funded. For one of their big drives that we’ve been involved with for years, we donate money that’s been raised for them to be able to buy a pair of sneakers, and then we give out a pair of sneakers to each school child. We’ve got a lot of school-age children who are considered home insecure, yet are living at the poverty level, even here within the Palm Springs area. We also partner with organizations that offer safety, like earthquake preparedness, and we donate money to them. In exchange, we bring them in for education seminars.
Diversity is integral to GPSR. Do you have any plans to broaden diversity initiatives within the organization?
JB: I’ve been dealing with this issue for the last year, because the Department of Real Estate is tasked with diversity. People have always said, “Palm Springs is so diverse. Why do you need to be worried about that?” The fact of the matter is that we’re quite diverse in the area of LGBT. We’re probably better than 50% LGBT membership. It stops there. I don’t see people of color involved. Even on my own team at JohnHart, I have one of the few women who are minorities, whom I’m trying to get more involved in GPSR. So one of the legacies I want to leave behind is creating a more diverse organization that is totally inclusive of all people: races, religions, sexual orientations, regardless of anything, because I think that just makes us stronger.
Can you discuss any of the non-dues initiatives that you have planned to improve GPSR’s financial viability during your term?
JB: This past year, we bought four additional lots next to our building. Our goal is to remodel our building, use those lots for additional parking, but make our office somewhat modeled after the JohnHart environment where there will be an open coffee area, so there will be collaborative spaces that we can lease out to raise money for our organization that homeowners associations can rent to host their meetings. In completion of that effort, our goal then would be to move our Caravan Meetings to that facility because then we’d have enough parking for our members and be able to save costs on our weekly meetings.
“I think they’re shocked that another REALTOR® is actually wanting them to be more successful. But it’s not going to make me less successful by doing that.”
When you look back on your time serving as President of GPSR, how would you like to be remembered?
JB: I didn’t want to be the President that’s “just there.” The two initiatives that come right to the top are: growing our membership and growing our diversity within the organization. I wanted to be remembered as a President who cared, who wasn’t there to complete an agenda item, and as someone who people really wanted to be involved. I’m strong in collaboration and keeping people involved, and talking to them. I visit them when they do their Broker Caravans and ask them why they don’t come to our meetings, and ask them, “How can we be more involved with their business and get them to be more successful?” I think they’re shocked that another REALTOR® is actually wanting them to be more successful. But it’s not going to make me less successful by doing that.
Last year, you confirmed that serving as President of the Greater Palm Springs REALTOR®s (GPSR) would be your highest career goal… so far. We might be jumping ahead, but where do you go from here?
JB: Retirement? (laughs) The organization has already approached me. I will be traveling to Chicago in August for a leadership conference. A lot of what they’re looking for is to see how I would move up in the CAR leadership roles. I don’t know that it’s really in my future, to be honest. I will be getting a little on the older side and would like to be able to enjoy living in Palm Springs and traveling, and having my husband with me to keep me engaged in other things that are the reasons we all look toward retirement. So, I won’t commit to anything past what I have promised at this time. I now sound like a presidential candidate. (laughs)
How do you balance your demanding career, your role as President of GPSR, and spending time with your husband?
JB: I had asked my husband, Jhaye, if he would be okay with me running for President because that would be taking time away from the time that we spend together. One of the first things he said to me was, “Well, if you make President, does that make me the First Lady?” And I said, “Well, actually, in my organization, you would be considered the First Gentleman, not the First Lady.” (laughs)
My staff in the office, my board meetings, my committee meetings, always ask if I don’t come with Jhaye, “Where is Jhaye? And, by the way, we only put up with you because we like seeing Jhaye.” So, we are an organization that is inclusive and accepting of all. I think that by them having me at the helm, they’re actually getting an extra person there that’s available and works with them. I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished, and I’m proud to call him my husband and to be a part of this organization.
If an agent wants to join GPSR, what should be their first step?
JB: They should come to one of our Caravan Meetings to see what we do that’s different than everyone else. Then, get involved. Come to some of our training opportunities. Speak to our membership. Speak to any of our board members or chairmen for any of our committees, and see what we do that enhances your ability to be more successful.
With a brand that says as much as JohnHart’s, Senior Copywriter Seth Styles never finds himself at a loss for words. Responsible for maintaining the voice of the company, he spends each day drafting marketing materials, blogs, bios, and agent resources that speak from the company’s collective mind and Hart… errr, heart.
Having spent over a decade in creative roles across a variety of industries, Seth brings with him vast experience in SEO practices, digital marketing, and all manner of professional writing with particular strength in blogging, content creation, and brand building. Gratitude, passion, and sincerity remain core tenets of his unwavering work ethic. The landscape of the industry changes daily, paralleling JohnHart’s efforts to {re}define real estate, but Seth works to maintain the company’s consistent message while offering both agents and clients a new echelon of service.
When not preserving the JohnHart essence in stirring copy, Seth puts his efforts into writing and illustrating an ongoing series entitled The Death of Romance. In addition, he adores spending quality time with his girlfriend and Romeo (his long-haired chihuahua mix), watching ‘70s and ‘80s horror movies, and reading (with a particular penchant for Victorian horror novels and authors Yukio Mishima and Bret Easton Ellis). He also occasionally records music as the vocalist and songwriter for his glam rock band, Peppermint Pumpkin.
