Legal & Economic Symposium / In-person Newport News / May 28, 2026

Sean’s professional background includes both real estate and law. Prior to law school, he worked in various areas of the real estate industry, including as a REALTOR® in California. In 2016, Sean graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law. In addition to his J.D., he also earned a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. Sean’s past legal practice focused on civil litigation where he handled cases ranging from personal injury to landlord-tenant disputes. As Staff Counsel, Sean strives to provide excellent service and counsel to the association and its members.

Santiago brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Virginia REALTORS®. Before going to law school, he served in the Army and in various roles in the Financial Industry and Engineering and Technology Industries. After graduating from American University Washington College of Law, he took his experience and worked as a solo practitioner as well as other roles with Engineering firms. He then joined as Staff Counsel for Virginia REALTORS®. As Staff Counsel, Santiago contributes to the Caveat REALTOR® podcast, creates legal resources for members, and serves on the Standard Forms Committee.

For more than a decade, Ryan has honed his knowledge of Virginia’s housing market. Before stepping into his current role of Virginia REALTORS^® Chief Economist, Ryan served as the association’s Deputy Chief Economist. Prior to joining our team, he served as the President of research consulting firm LSA Planning, as an Urban Planner for the City of Alexandria, and as part of the research team at the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University. Even before joining VAR full-time, Ryan spent years contributing to our research, including the monthly Virginia Home Sales Report and our quarterly regional market reports. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from James Madison University and a master’s degree in urban planning from Virginia Tech.