This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Steve Murray, industry stalwart and senior advisor to RealTrends. Tracey and Steve had the opportunity to sit down in person at HousingWire’s The Gathering. Steve dives into the real estate’s most pressing issues, including the distraction of AI, Clear Cooperation, and the alarming number of inactive agents. He talks about why developing talent should be every broker’s priority, why it’s time to rethink the outdated brokerage model, and gives an ...
Jul 07, 2025•24 min
On today’s bonus episode of RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Ben Bacal, the founder of Revel Real Estate. Tracey and Ben talk about the future of real estate, from AI-enhanced client experiences to the rise of real estate auctions. Ben also shares the secrets behind modern brokerage leadership and how Revel is equipping agents with marketing tools, studio pods for content creation, and data-driven insights to compete in today’s market. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: A la carte broker...
Jul 02, 2025•27 min
Today on RealTrending, Tracey Velt sits down with Rory Golod, President of Growth and Communications at Compass, to discuss their lawsuit against Zillow and what Compass is doing to reshape the agent and consumer experience in real estate. Rory unpacks the motivations behind the lawsuit and also shares Compass’s three-pronged marketing strategy. He also talks about how agent feedback drives tech development across platforms like Compass One and their other AI integrations. Here’s a glimpse of wh...
Jun 30, 2025•39 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Dermot Buffini, CEO of Buffini & Company. Tracey and Dermot got the opportunity to sit down in person to record an episode at HousingWire’s The Gathering. Dermot breaks down the challenges in today’s real estate leadership — from agent productivity to market shifts — and shares how to stay focused on what really matters. He also talks about “above the line” thinking to help leaders prioritize outcomes over distractions, and offers strategies ...
Jun 23, 2025•23 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Hoby Hanna, CEO of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and Hanna Holdings. Hoby discusses the company’s culture-first M&A strategy, innovative consumer programs like the buy-borrow bundle, and how AI and data are shaping real estate. He also shares why collaboration matters and outlines his goal to reach 20% share in 20 major markets. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Howard Hanna targets culturally aligned acquisitions to drive strategic ...
Jun 16, 2025•38 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Tami Pardee, founder of Pardee Properties in Venice, California. Tami shares how she brought a production-style model from the entertainment industry into real estate and built a high-touch, high-performing boutique brokerage. She also talks about how she tripled sales during the wildfires, uses the tools from an AI collective to empower her agents, and helps homeless women through her Life Change Warriors program. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll...
Jun 09, 2025•31 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Alex Derenne and Alexis Hirsig, the masterminds behind The Powerhouse Partners, a group with The Real Brokerage that blends coaching and marketing in a real estate network that collaborates, rather than competes. Alex and Alexis dive into how building authentic personal brands on social media has helped them connect with clients, and how AI tools, from content creation to scheduling, are boosting their productivity. With a mission to grow a suppo...
Jun 02, 2025•29 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt sits down to chat with Sarah Reynolds, the CEO of EmpowerHome with Keller Williams. Sarah talks about the power of mindset amid market uncertainty, how to keep real estate fun, and why focusing on what’s controllable is key to agent success, no matter what market conditions are. She also talks about trends and new brokerage models coming onto the market and how they are — or aren’t — changing how Empower is doing business. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll le...
May 27, 2025•32 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Rainy Hake Austin, President of The Agency. The Agency ranked 13 by volume and is also the fourth largest private independent brokerage according to the 2025 RealTrends Verified Top Brokerage rankings. Over the past five years, The Agency has grown to almost 100 offices across the US. Rainy dives into ethical leadership, the trend to move beyond the transaction, and how AI is reshaping operations by plugging them into staff efficiency tools. She ...
May 19, 2025•35 min
This week on RealTrending, we are bringing you a special crossover episode of the Top of Mind podcast, hosted by Altos president Mike Simonsen. Mike chats with Jason Waugh, president of Coldwell Banker Affiliates, about how the real estate brokerage model is evolving and what that means for agents, buyers, and the future of the industry. Jason shares insights from Coldwell Banker’s 100,000 agents, the shifting dynamics of consumer representation, and the lasting impact of the 2024 commission set...
May 12, 2025•55 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with Tamir Poleg, CEO of The Real Brokerage, about how AI is rapidly changing the real estate game — if you don't build it, then someone else will. Tamir shares how Real is using AI to streamline operations, from an assistant answering thousands of questions per day to developing automatic broker reviews. He also discusses scaling without compromising culture, the evolving agent-client dynamic, and why brokerages must refocus on consumers. Here’s a gl...
May 05, 2025•28 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt chats with OB Jacobi, co-president of Windermere Real Estate. Founded in 1972 by OB’s father, John Jacobi, Windermere is still being led by the Jacobi family over 50 years later. OB joins us today to talk about rethinking the role of the MLS in real estate and how NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy add-ons have impacted the industry as of late. He also has some really insightful thoughts on the strategic shifts that real estate leaders need to make in a post-se...
Apr 28, 2025•35 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt sits down in person with Robert Palmer, founder and CEO of LPT Realty, at LPT’s studio in Orlando. Robert talks about LPT’s journey from a simple marketing tool to a top brokerage in just a couple of years. He also discusses agent empowerment through dual brokerage models, LPT’s upcoming initiatives, and growth plans. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: LPT’s transition from a marketing tool to a brokerage was driven by a desire to support agents. Self-f...
Apr 21, 2025•33 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt sits down with Steve Murray, senior advisor for HousingWire and the founder of RealTrends and RTC Consulting. Steve joins us to unpack some of the recent dramatic shifts in real estate, including Stone Point’s strategic investment in Keller Williams and Rocket’s acquisition of Redfin. They also talk about Clear Cooperation Policy and the industry footprint of new, fast-growing brokerage models like LPT Realty and The Real Brokerage. Here’s a glimpse of what...
Apr 14, 2025•37 min
Housing market headlines are nonstop — tariffs, mortgage rates, jobs reports and general market chaos. But what does it all mean? In this bonus episode of RealTrending, HousingWire is joined by experts Ivy Zelman, Logan Mohtashami and Dale Wettlaufer to make sense of it all. Originally part of a HousingWire exclusive virtual event, this candid conversation offers expert analysis of what’s happening and what might come next. Related to this episode: Compare Current Mortgage Rates | HousingWire Ho...
Apr 12, 2025•57 min
This week on RealTrending, Tracey interviews Cindy Raney and Jason Mudd, the husband-and-wife leaders of the Cindy Raney Team at Coldwell Banker in Westport, Connecticut. Cindy and Jason talk about running a luxury team, including how they divide responsibilities and maintain a strong team culture. They also discuss their most effective marketing strategies, the impact of commission lawsuits on the luxury market, how to articulate a clear value proposition, and more! Here’s a glimpse of what you...
Apr 07, 2025•33 min
This week on RealTrending Tracey interviews Kortney Wilson, an eXp real estate agent and HGTV personality. Kortney shares her journey from music to flipping houses, how HGTV impacted her career, and how she built a sustainable referral network with eXp Realty. She also discusses using AI and automation tools for personalized client follow-up and introduces her new show, Life is Messy, which is focused on helping people declutter their homes and lives. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Build...
Mar 31, 2025•36 min
Today on RealTrending, Tracey interviews Ryan Schneider, the CEO of Anywhere Real Estate. This episode originally aired on our sister show, Power House, but this week we are bringing it to the feeds of our real estate audience. Tracey and Ryan talk about Anywhere’s refocus on luxury and what they think is going to happen to M&A as the market shifts this year. They also talk about AI’s relationship with operational efficiency and a surprisingly effective place to turn for mentorship — your ag...
Mar 24, 2025•35 min
On this week’s episode of RealTrending Tracey is joined by Michelle Billings, Coldwell Banker agent and the President of Ohio Realtors. Michelle has some great advice on how real estate professionals should be differentiating themselves in today’s market, from proactive education strategies to leveraging past client interactions. She also talks about affordability, current housing legislative efforts in Ohio, and how agents should be using their knowledge of market trends and dynamics to help in...
Mar 17, 2025•26 min
On this week’s episode of RealTrending, Tracey sits down with Eric Elfman, the CEO of MoxiWorks. Eric talks all about balancing the delicate relationship between leveraging AI tools and building and maintaining client relationships. He also talks about making these tools more accessible to agents. Eric also shares MoxiWorks’ plans to increase technology adoption and make real estate tools more accessible to agents, along with a sneak peek at the company's upcoming software launch this summer. He...
Mar 10, 2025•31 min
On this week’s episode of the RealTrending Podcast, Tracey talks to Lon Welsh, founder and managing broker of Your Castle Real Estate, the largest independent real estate brokerage in Colorado. Lon joins the show today to talk about where the market is headed and how they grew Your Castle to the size it is today, including his strategies on recruiting, retention and using AI tools to transform agent-client relationships. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Retention, recruiting, and scaling a...
Mar 03, 2025•35 min
On this week’s episode of RealTrending, Tracey chats with Claire O'Connor, team leader of O'Connor Estates with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties. After losing her home, her father-in-law’s home, and a house under construction to the devastating LA wildfires, Claire shares her journey of rebuilding amid disaster. She discusses the emotional toll, the resilience of the Palisades community, and the changing dynamics of the real estate market, especially the shift towards safer ...
Feb 24, 2025•33 min
On this week’s episode of RealTrending, Tracey chats with Chris Trapani and Ryan Iwanaga, lifelong friends, co-founders, and partners of Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno. While working with your best friend might be a recipe for disaster for some, Chris and Ryan have used their relationship and leadership to grow Sereno into the largest, locally-owned and operated independent brokerage in Northern California. The three of them talk about the power of relationships, evolving market cha...
Feb 17, 2025•42 min
This week on the RealTrending podcast, Tracey traveled to the Illinois REALTORS’ REengage Winter Conference to sit down with Illinois REALTORS CEO Jeff Baker and President Tommy Choi in person! The three discuss the current challenges in the housing market, including low inventory and rising interest rates. They also talk all about the value of being a real estate professional, being a part of an association, and what is necessary for the future of associations as far as serving their members’ n...
Feb 10, 2025•35 min
This week on the RealTrending podcast, Tracey sits down with Mike Simonsen, founder of Altos, to discuss his 2025 housing forecast, including home prices, mortgage rates, and affordability. He also talks about what changes he anticipates with the Trump administration, covers the role of immigration and labor in construction, and talks about how tariffs could affect market dynamics. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: Home sales are forecasted to increase slightly to 4.2 million, and home pric...
Feb 03, 2025•32 min
This week on the RealTrending podcast, Tracey sits down with Steve Murray, founder of RealTrends and a senior advisor to HousingWire. Steve joins us to discuss the current state of mergers and acquisitions in real estate, how market changes are impacting broker valuations, and the growing shift toward team-based brokerage models. He also shares his predictions for President Trump’s impact on the housing market in 2025 and breaks down the challenges posed by government regulations on housing affo...
Jan 27, 2025•32 min
This week on the RealTrending podcast we are bringing you an episode a bit earlier than normal to highlight a story of loss and hope during the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Tracey sat down with Anthony Marguleas, founder of Amalfi Estates out of Pacific Palisades. About 60% of residents in the Pacific Palisades area have lost their homes or their businesses, including Anthony’s own home of over 30 years. He joins us today to give an emotional, first-hand account of the fires, how it’s impa...
Jan 15, 2025•30 min
This week on the RealTrending podcast, Tracey sits down with Danielle Dowell, the leader of The DoWell Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago. With over 17 years in real estate, Danielle shares how she’s built a team of 15 agents and assistants at The Dowell Group by focusing on their individual strengths and passions. Danielle discusses her unique approach to team building, the latest real estate trends, and the growing significance of teams. She also talks about how her background in...
Jan 13, 2025•30 min
This week on the RealTrending podcast, Tracey sits down with Michael Valdes, the CEO of LPT International. The last time Tracey talked to Michael, he was holding executive roles at eXp before his tranistion to LPT in July 2024. Michael joins us today to dive into LPT's unique agent choice model and the critical role of training, vision, and branding when building a successful real estate business. He also talks about the influence of AI in places you least expect, and the importance of agents un...
Jan 06, 2025•31 min
This week on the RealTrending podcast we are joined by Tiffani Marroquin, the Head of Growth and Innovation at JPAR Real Estate, to discuss her journey with AI and how it’s transforming the landscape in real estate. Tiffani shares her expertise on leveraging AI to streamline business operations and scaling through automation, offering specific examples that she’s implemented at JPAR. She also talks about the importance of viewing AI as a collaborative partner and tool, rather than a threat. Here...
Dec 30, 2024•30 min
