
RealTrending
Trends, analysis and success stories from leaders in the real estate industry.The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch.
Latest episodes

May 8, 2023 • 34min
Side's Steve Capezza on driving real estate team growth
Today's RealTrending features Steve Capezza, president of Side Real Estate. Steve joined Side in January 2023 after a career with Zillow, most recently with Zillow's Premier Agent program. Tasked with national growth for Side, Capezza talks the power of a teamerage, what brokers should understand about the model, lessons learned from Zillow and the power of community and the initiatives Side is building around that concept.Related to this episode:
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn
Side Real Estate
HousingWire’s YouTube Channel
Enjoy the episode!RealTrends Agent and Team Rankings are now open! Submit here before April 14th to be featured in the industry's trusted rankings program. Gathering of Eagles will bring together the nation's top residential real estate CEOs, Presidents, and C-Level leadership teams to grow, network, and set the pace for what's next in our industry. 2023's Gathering of Eagles is at Omni Barton Creek Resort in the rolling hill country of Austin, Texas from June 18-21. Click here to learn more and register your spot!The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 1, 2023 • 35min
C21 Circle's Tom Bretz on smart real estate brokerage investments
In this episode of RealTrending, Tom Bretz, founding principal and CEO of CENTURY 21 Circle and CEO of Elmdale Partners, talks about how he skillfully managed acquisitions of different compensation models and cultures into his traditional model, what he sees as the smartest real estate brokerage investment in today's market and the trends he's seeing that are driving the industry. Related to this episode:
Tom Bretz
Elmdale Partners
Century 21 Circle
HousingWire’s YouTube Channel
Enjoy the episode!RealTrends Agent and Team Rankings are now open! Submit here before April 14th to be featured in the industry's trusted rankings program. Gathering of Eagles will bring together the nation's top residential real estate CEOs, Presidents, and C-Level leadership teams to grow, network, and set the pace for what's next in our industry. 2023's Gathering of Eagles is at Omni Barton Creek Resort in the rolling hill country of Austin, Texas from June 18-21. Click here to learn more and register your spot!The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 24, 2023 • 28min
The Agency’s Mauricio Umansky on strategic growth
Today's RealTrending features Mauricio Umansky, CEO of The Agency, and author of his new book, “The Dealmaker.” Umansky discusses his company’s strategic growth plan, how he’s overcome adversity to build his company and offers his view of current industry trends.Related to this episode:
Connect with Mauricio on LinkedIn
The Agency
HousingWire’s YouTube Channel
Enjoy the episode!RealTrends Agent and Team Rankings are now open! Submit here before April 14th to be featured in the industry's trusted rankings program. Gathering of Eagles will bring together the nation's top residential real estate CEOs, Presidents, and C-Level leadership teams to grow, network, and set the pace for what's next in our industry. 2023's Gathering of Eagles is at Omni Barton Creek Resort in the rolling hill country of Austin, Texas from June 18-21. Click here to learn more and register your spot!The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 17, 2023 • 37min
Logan Mohtashami's insights on the U.S. dollar and the impact on housing
In today's episode of RealTrending, Logan Mohtashami, lead analyst for HousingWire talks all things economy. He offers his insights on the potential fall of the U.S. dollar and the potential impact on housing. He also discusses HousingWire's weekly Housing Market Tracker, interest rates, the Fed's questionable actions and what he sees coming in the next three months. His economic update as it relates to housing is second to none and Logan's been featured on CNBC and NPR.Related to this episode:
Connect with Logan on LinkedIn
HousingWire’s YouTube Channel
Enjoy the episode!RealTrends Agent and Team Rankings are now open! Submit here before April 14th to be featured in the industry's trusted rankings program. Gathering of Eagles will bring together the nation's top residential real estate CEOs, Presidents, and C-Level leadership teams to grow, network, and set the pace for what's next in our industry. 2023's Gathering of Eagles is at Omni Barton Creek Resort in the rolling hill country of Austin, Texas from June 18-21. Click here to learn more and register your spot!The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 10, 2023 • 44min
Russ Cofano on artificial intelligence in real estate marketing
Today's RealTrending features Russ Cofano, CEO of Collabra Technology, a digital marketing technology and analytics firm. Russ has more than 30 years of senior leadership experience in nearly all facets of the real estate industry, including brokerage, technology, MLS, associations and affiliated businesses.We speak to Russ about trends in real estate marketing, the pros and cons of artificial intelligence like ChatGPT and specifics about how agents can succeed in today's uncertain market.Related to this episode:
Connect with Russ on LinkedIn
Collabra Technology
HousingWire’s YouTube Channel
Enjoy the episode!RealTrends Agent and Team Rankings are now open! Submit here before April 14th to be featured in the industry's trusted rankings program. Gathering of Eagles will bring together the nation's top residential real estate CEOs, Presidents, and C-Level leadership teams to grow, network, and set the pace for what's next in our industry. 2023's Gathering of Eagles is at Omni Barton Creek Resort in the rolling hill country of Austin, Texas from June 18-21. Click here to learn more and register your spot!The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 3, 2023 • 32min
Pacaso's Austin Allison on prop tech innovation
Today's RealTrending features Austin Allison, founder of Pacaso, a co-ownership model that allows people to own a second home at 1/8 of the cost. Austin shares his insights on prop-tech innovation surrounding financing, talks about what's next for Pacaso and shares where he sees the opportunity in today's market.Related to this episode:
Connect with Austin on LinkedIn
Pacaso
HousingWire’s YouTube Channel
Enjoy the episode!RealTrends Agent and Team Rankings are now open! Submit here before April 14th to be featured in the industry's trusted rankings program. Gathering of Eagles will bring together the nation's top residential real estate CEOs, Presidents, and C-Level leadership teams to grow, network, and set the pace for what's next in our industry. 2023's Gathering of Eagles is at Omni Barton Creek Resort in the rolling hill country of Austin, Texas from June 18-21. Click here to learn more and register your spot!The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 27, 2023 • 38min
Lennox Scott on how each generation of leaders innovates
Today’s RealTrending features J. Lennox Scott, president of John L. Scott Real Estate in Washington. Scott is the third generation of leaders of the company, and his daughter is in line to become the fourth generation. Scott talks about how each generation innovated and built on the success of the company. He offers his lessons learned in succession planning, the role of artificial intelligence in real estate and where he sees the most opportunity in today’s market.The company is No. 17 by sales volume and No. 27 by transaction sides in the 2023 RealTrends 500 brokerage rankings and a member of the Billionaire’s Club.Related to this episode:
Connect with Lennox on LinkedIn
John L. Scott Real Estate
HousingWire’s YouTube Channel
Enjoy the episode!RealTrends Agent and Team Rankings are now open! Submit here before April 14th to be featured in the industry's trusted rankings program. Gathering of Eagles will bring together the nation's top residential real estate CEOs, Presidents, and C-Level leadership teams to grow, network, and set the pace for what's next in our industry. 2023's Gathering of Eagles is at Omni Barton Creek Resort in the rolling hill country of Austin, Texas from June 18-21. Click here to learn more and register your spot!The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 20, 2023 • 44min
Compass CEO Robert Reffkin on his firm's next steps
On today's RealTrending, Compass CEO and Founder Robert Reffkin talks next stops for his brokerage. The firm was recently listed No. 1 in sales volume for the second year in a row on the 2023 RealTrends 500 brokerage rankings.While it's been a difficult year, Robert is busy reinforcing the culture of the firm through in-person visits and a back-to-the-office mentality. We talk to Robert about his business strategy moving forward, what's in store for his firm's technology platform and where he would consider opening franchise offices. Related to this episode:
Compass
Connect with Robert on LinkedIn
HousingWire’s YouTube Channel
Enjoy the episode!RealTrends Agent and Team Rankings are now open! Submit here before April 14th to be featured in the industry's trusted rankings program. Gathering of Eagles will bring together the nation's top residential real estate CEOs, Presidents, and C-Level leadership teams to grow, network, and set the pace for what's next in our industry. 2023's Gathering of Eagles is at Omni Barton Creek Resort in the rolling hill country of Austin, Texas from June 18-21. Click here to learn more and register your spot!The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Every week, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 13, 2023 • 31min
Jose Medina on running a successful teamerage
Today's RealTrending features Jose Medina, team leader of Jose Medina & Associates of Keller Williams Legacy Group Realty. Medina was named a 2021 RealTrends GameChanger due to the firm's 435% growth in transaction side percentage between 2016 and 2020.Now, in addition to running two brokerages, Medina leads a successful teamerage, powered by Impact. Impact is a solution for brokerage so they can have a teamerage division inside of their normal brokerage operations.Medina shares his lessons learned running a teamerage, explains exactly what his business model looks like, and shares his lead generation secrets.Related to this episode:
Jose Medina & Associates
Connect with Jose on LinkedIn
HousingWire’s YouTube Channel
Enjoy the episode!RealTrends Agent and Team Rankings are now open! Submit here before April 14th to be featured in the industry's trusted rankings program. Gathering of Eagles will bring together the nation's top residential real estate CEOs, Presidents, and C-Level leadership teams to grow, network, and set the pace for what's next in our industry. 2023's Gathering of Eagles is at Omni Barton Creek Resort in the rolling hill country of Austin, Texas from June 18-21. Click here to learn more and register your spot!Be sure to check out our Youtube channel here for special behind-the-scenes content and video versions of HW Media podcasts!The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Twice a month, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6, 2023 • 33min
Real Estate One's Dan Elsea on flexibility in brokerage business model
Today's RealTrending podcast features Dan Elsea, president of Real Estate One, a RealTrends 500 brokerage. Elsea's company is in its fourth generation of family leaders. Elsea and his broker Stuart have led through many different housing markets and seen new competitors come into the business. The key to success, says Dan, is to be flexible in your business model and services that you offer. Dan discusses how his company and business model have evolved over the years, how they are open to experimenting with agent compensation and consumer services and the flexibility he thinks is required to remain competitive in today's real estate world. Related to this episode:
Connect with Dan on LinkedIn
Real Estate One
HousingWire’s YouTube Channel
Enjoy the episode!RealTrends Agent and Team Rankings are now open! Submit here before April 14th to be featured in the industry's trusted rankings program. Gathering of Eagles will bring together the nation's top residential real estate CEOs, Presidents, and C-Level leadership teams to grow, network, and set the pace for what's next in our industry. 2023's Gathering of Eagles is at Omni Barton Creek Resort in the rolling hill country of Austin, Texas from June 18-21. Click here to learn more and register your spot!Be sure to check out our Youtube channel here for special behind-the-scenes content and video versions of HW Media podcasts!The RealTrending podcast features the brightest minds in real estate. Twice a month, brokerage leaders, top agents, team leaders, and industry experts share their success secrets, trends, and lessons learned navigating this ever-changing industry. Hosted by Tracey Velt and produced by Elissa Branch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices