The secret to scaling success with Justin Bailey

Jul 17, 2025

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Today on Power House, Diego sits down with Justin Bailey, the CEO of Realty Executives Associates. Founded in 1977, the firm quickly grew in the East Tennessee market and now has over 1,000 agents. As a fourth-generation realtor, Justin shares how his time in the nonprofit world helped shape his leadership style and why relational leadership remains central to his approach even as REA continues to scale.

Justin walks through his journey to brokerage CEO, highlighting the challenges of scaling from 50 to 1,000 agents and the systems necessary to support sustainable growth. He also shares his views on Clear Cooperation, the role of the MLS, and what he sees as a turning point for NAR under its new CEO, Nykia Wright.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

How nonprofit values shaped Justin’s leadership in real estate
What it takes to scale a brokerage while preserving culture and connection
Why creating a strong core leadership team is critical in large firms
How identity and self-awareness impact leadership effectiveness
Why Justin is optimistic about NAR’s direction under Nykia Wright

Enjoy the episode!

The Power House podcast brings the biggest names in housing to answer hard-hitting questions about industry trends, operational and growth strategy, and leadership. Join HousingWire president Diego Sanchez every Thursday morning for candid conversations with industry leaders to learn how they’re differentiating themselves from the competition. Hosted and produced by the HousingWire Content Studio.

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