Rethink Real Estate
Rethink Real Estate

Rethink Real Estate

Harcourts Auctions

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Episodes

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Welcome to Rethink Real Estate, a podcast for real estate agents looking to take their business to a new level. On this show, you'll get the latest sales strategies, business insights, and marketing tips to help grow your real estate business. Our expert guests share their insights on everything from negotiations to building a strong personal brand. Whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned pro, there's something for everyone on Rethink Real Estate. Tune in for actionable advice and inspiration to help you succeed in today's world of real estate. #RethinkRealEstate

Recent Episodes

Refugee Camp to 4,000+ Transactions: Long Doan Reveals His Brokerage Growth Model
DEC 12, 2025
Refugee Camp to 4,000+ Transactions: Long Doan Reveals His Brokerage Growth Model

In this inspiring and deeply human episode of Rethink Real Estate, Ben Brady sits down with Long Doan — Vietnamese refugee turned powerhouse Broker/CEO and Founder of Realty Group — to unpack one of the most remarkable growth journeys in modern real estate. Long shares the story that shaped his entire life: escaping Vietnam alone at age 13, surviving a refugee camp nicknamed “Hell’s Island,” and using that experience to build a 650-agent independent brokerage rooted in service, culture, and leadership.Long breaks down the real foundation behind Realty Group’s meteoric rise: building a people-first company where alignment, relationship-building, omnipresent branding, and agent empowerment beat every traditional brokerage model. He details the systems behind their 12-office footprint, 4,000+ annual transactions, and how they’ve engineered profitability in a shrinking-margin industry. From referrals to education, from culture to community, Long reveals exactly how their model evolved — and why helping others is not just their motto, but their operating system.The conversation then shifts into the big news: Realty Group’s strategic expansion into LPT, unlocking nationwide scalability, stock opportunities, and residual revenue for agents. Long explains why the next era of brokerage success belongs to companies that combine culture with modern infrastructure — and how exponential growth becomes possible when you stop competing in old frameworks and start building ecosystems.If you’re a brokerage leader, team owner, or agent who wants to understand what the future of the real estate brokerage looks like — and how one man’s story fuels a mission bigger than business — this episode will stay with you long after it ends.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics[00:00:00] – Introduction & why this episode is a rerun favorite[00:01:30] – Long’s refugee journey and the night that shaped his lifelong “why”[00:04:56] – Building a new life at 13: survival, mindset, and responsibility[00:07:55] – How hardship became the foundation of leadership & service[00:12:16] – Growing Realty Group to 650+ agents across 12 offices[00:17:06] – Recruiting through relationships, alignment, and omnipresence[00:20:59] – The REAL reason agents choose (and stay with) a brokerage[00:24:53] – Profitability, fee models & building revenue verticals[00:29:36] – The future of Realty Group and the announcement: joining LPT🔗 Related Resources🌐 For more info on Harcourts Auctions, our non-distressed auction platform:https://www.harcourtsauctions.com🔗 Connect with Long Doan & Realty Grouphttps://www.realtygroupmn.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/longdoan/https://www.facebook.com/realtygroupmn/🔗 Connect with Ben Brady & Harcourts AuctionsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenbradyharcourtsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctionsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions

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33 MIN
The Words That Change Deals, Decisions & Real Estate Outcomes with Phil M Jones
DEC 8, 2025
The Words That Change Deals, Decisions & Real Estate Outcomes with Phil M Jones

This is one of our most impactful episodes ever, Ben Brady sits down with global sales authority and bestselling author  @PhilMJonesUK  whose book Exactly What to Say has reshaped how professionals communicate, influence, and guide critical decisions. This conversation became our most downloaded episode for a reason — it’s timeless, tactical, and brutally relevant to every agent navigating today’s complex real estate landscape.Phil breaks down the foundational idea behind his work: that the difference between good and great agents often comes down to knowing exactly what to say, when to say it, and how to make it count. He reveals why real estate professionals consistently struggle with unlearning outdated habits, how language choices impact trust, and what separates the agents who thrive from those who get left behind in shifting markets.Ben and Phil go deep into the psychology of buyers and sellers — fear, regret, indecision, ego — and how the best agents create clarity in moments where clients feel most overwhelmed. From mastering conversational “prefaces” to turning black-and-white questions into productive gray areas, Phil shares the precise word patterns that help agents de-escalate tension, unlock truth, and confidently guide clients through high-stakes decisions.If you’ve ever wanted a practical blueprint for influencing without manipulating, communicating without conflict, and winning clients through trust rather than pressure… this is the episode.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics[00:00:00] – Holiday rerun intro & why this episode still matters[00:00:51] – Why Phil Jones’ frameworks resonate years later[00:02:34] – The difference between good and great communicators[00:04:49] – Why agents struggle with unlearning old habits[00:06:50] – Scripting vs. real conversations in real estate[00:09:07] – The three questions every client is trying to answer[00:12:10] – The mindset shift agents must make in today’s market[00:17:01] – Why hard conversations get avoided — and what it costs[00:23:35] – Influence vs manipulation: the real difference[00:27:10] – How to enter conversations through the “side door”[00:32:48] – The power of softening statements (“Could it be possible…”)[00:37:08] – The famous Phil Jones pen story: articulating real value🔗 Related ResourcesFor more information on Harcourts Auctions and how we help Agents feel free to visit: 🌐 https://www.harcourtsauctions.comLearn More About Phil M. JonesWebsite: https://www.philmjones.comExactly What to Say (book): https://www.exactlywhattosay.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philmjonesukYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PhilMJonesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philmjonesConnect with Harcourts Auctions & Ben BradyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/BenbradyharcourtsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctionsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions

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39 MIN
What 800,000 Facebook Views in 2025 Taught Us About Real Estate Marketing
DEC 5, 2025
What 800,000 Facebook Views in 2025 Taught Us About Real Estate Marketing

In this year-end marketing deep dive, Chris Cochran, Director of Marketing for Harcourts Auctions, takes over the show to break down the real numbers behind what actually worked in 2025. From YouTube performance shifts to Facebook’s new advertising algorithm, Chris unpacks the platforms, trends, and behaviors shaping how real estate professionals should be thinking about attention in 2026.He reveals how long-form content quietly overtook reels, why podcast audio streams dipped while YouTube surged, and the surprising reason Facebook delivered nearly 8x more impressions than Instagram despite having fewer followers. Whether you're growing a personal brand, building a listing funnel, or trying to understand where consumers actually spend time, this report exposes the truth behind modern real estate marketing.Chris also breaks down Harcourts Auctions’ best-performing ad structures of the year — including Meta’s overhaul of the ads manager — and how their cost per lead dropped from $85 to $16 using a simplified campaign structure. Finally, he walks through the rising dominance of texting and cold calling as email deliverability collapses, and why agents should rethink their 2026 outreach plans before Q1 hits.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00] Why Chris is hosting today & what this episode covers[00:35] YouTube growth: watch time up, views down, what it means[01:54] Subscriber gains & YouTube becoming the #1 podcast platform[03:35] Facebook performance: views explode, interactions drop[04:59] Instagram analytics: high engagement, low reach[06:56] Podcast audio vs. YouTube: the platform shift[10:38] Meta Ads overhaul: the new 2026 structure explained[13:03] Dropping cost per lead from $85 → $16[17:01] Why text messaging is outperforming email outreach[19:45] Cold calling, 2026 marketing predictions & next steps🔗 Related Resources:For more info on Harcourts Auctions, our non-distressed auction platform, visit: https://www.harcourtsauctions.comConnect with Ben Brady and the Harcourts Auctions team:Facebook: www.facebook.com/BenbradyharcourtsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517Instagram: www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctionsFacebook: www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions#RealEstateMarketing #HarcourtsAuctions #RealEstateLeads #MetaAds #FacebookAds #InstagramMarketing #YouTubeForRealEstate #RealEstatePodcast #RealEstateAgents #ListingStrategies #DigitalMarketing2026 #RealEstateContent #AgentGrowth #RealEstateTips #RethinkRealEstate

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21 MIN
Real Estate Agents Aren’t Going to Like This… But They Need to Hear It
DEC 1, 2025
Real Estate Agents Aren’t Going to Like This… But They Need to Hear It

In this candid year-end episode of Rethink Real Estate, Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, sits down with Auction Associates Matt Blethen and Chase Boruff to unpack one of the most misunderstood, yet most powerful, tools available to real estate agents today: the non-distressed auction process. After a year filled with longer days on market, stalled listings, and multiple price reductions, the trio dives into the real frustrations they’ve seen across the industry and why so many agents unknowingly work against their own clients.Ben, Matt, and Chase break down the full outreach sequence: how they identify aging listings, what messaging goes out, and the typical responses they hear from agents every single day. From fear of the word “auction,” to ego-driven decision making, to the myth of “good activity,” they expose the patterns that keep listings stagnant far longer than they should be. They also reveal what good agents do differently: leaning into transparency, inviting third-party expertise, and using auction as a high-integrity way to uncover true market value quickly.The conversation then shifts to the outcomes agents never talk about — the listings that don’t sell at auction. Instead of viewing those moments as failures, the team explains why they often lead to the clearest price discovery, the fastest path to a realistic relaunch, and in many cases, a sale that would have taken months longer traditionally. If you’ve ever wondered how the auction process really works behind the scenes, what objections the team hears daily, or how to stop relying on hope as a strategy, this episode is the reset button most agents didn’t know they needed.Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00:00] — Introduction [00:00:36] — Why agents fear the auction word [00:01:52] — Biggest industry frustrations in 2025 [00:03:45] — How the auction outreach sequence actually works [00:06:18] — Common agent objections & how to overcome them [00:10:44] — Why price reductions aren’t a strategy [00:13:06] — Ego in real estate: the hidden problem [00:15:22] — What great agents do differently [00:18:04] — The REAL downsides of staying traditional [00:22:15] — Why the auction process isn’t “marketing” [00:26:11] — What happens when a property STILL doesn’t sell [00:30:14] — The biggest disconnect agents have [00:33:00] — What we’re improving for 2026 [00:36:40] — Why auction volume will grow in the U.S. [00:38:51] — Closing thoughts & call to action🔗 Related Resources:For more info on Harcourts Auctions, our non-distressed auction platform, visit: https://www.harcourtsauctions.comConnect with Ben Brady and the Harcourts Auctions team:Facebook: www.facebook.com/BenbradyharcourtsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517Instagram: www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctionsFacebook: www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions

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39 MIN
The 2026 Real Estate Market: Bubble, Boom, or Breakdown?
NOV 28, 2025
The 2026 Real Estate Market: Bubble, Boom, or Breakdown?

Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, sits down with Mike “Big Mike” Zlotnik — CEO of TF Management Group and host of the Big Mike Fund Podcast — for a wide-ranging conversation on the trends shaping real estate, private credit, and the broader economy heading into 2026.Mike shares how his journey from Moldova to New York City, combined with a background in mathematics and technology, shaped the analytical lens he now uses to manage real estate funds and evaluate national market cycles. He breaks down why some markets are softening, why others remain surprisingly resilient, and how Wall Street wealth continues to buoy the luxury sector even as affordability hits historic lows.The episode then turns to one of the biggest unknowns in today’s economy: the rapid surge of AI investment and whether we’re entering a bubble similar to the dot-com era. Mike explains how a correction could ripple into real estate — from capital flows to job stability to long-term demand — and why commercial assets, particularly triple-net industrial and retail redevelopment, may be positioned to benefit either way.You’ll also hear Mike’s take on the $90 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer, the psychology behind renting vs. owning, and why private credit has exploded as banks have tightened lending. Whether you’re a residential agent, a commercial investor, or someone trying to decode the next cycle, this conversation offers clarity on the forces driving the market and the opportunities emerging within them.⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics[00:00:00] – Introducing Mike “Big Mike” Zlotnik & his investment background[00:02:00] – From Moldova to Manhattan: math, tech & real estate fund management[00:05:00] – NYC real estate: appreciation, cash flow, and political risk[00:08:20] – Why some U.S. markets are declining while others are thriving[00:10:00] – Rent drops in the Sunbelt vs. growth in the Northeast[00:11:40] – How AI investment compares to the 1999 dot-com bubble[00:13:00] – What happens to real estate if a tech bubble bursts[00:15:20] – Opportunities in commercial: cap rates, distress & tailwinds[00:17:00] – The $90T wealth transfer: will younger generations sell real estate?[00:20:00] – Renting vs. owning: affordability, emotion & long-term behavior[00:22:00] – Inside The Big Mike Fund Podcast & how Mike evaluates deals[00:23:30] – Why private credit is booming & where the risk sits[00:25:00] – Triple-net industrial vs. private lending: yield, tax, and stability[00:27:00] – How to approach homeownership in a high-rate environment[00:31:00] – How to invest with Mike & access deal opportunities[00:33:00] – Mike’s books, frameworks & upcoming resources🔗 Related Resources:For more info on Harcourts Auctions, our non-distressed auction platform, visit: https://www.harcourtsauctions.com🔗 Connect with Mike Zlotnik & TF Management Group, LLC:https://bigmikefund.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzlotnik/https://tempofunding.com/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bigmikefund/id1333666009https://www.facebook.com/zlotnikm/https://www.youtube.com/@TempoFunding🔗 Connect with Ben Brady and the Harcourts Auctions team:Facebook: www.facebook.com/BenbradyharcourtsLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517Instagram: www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctionsFacebook: www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions

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35 MIN