Zillow vs. Compass & Creating Personalized AI Solutions • Better Your Business With Ben • Ben Lalez

Welcome to our series Better Your Business With Ben. In this episode, Ben and DJ break down the growing battle between Zillow, Compass, and the MLS over listing control, private exclusives, and what it means for agents and consumers. They discuss why major industry players may not truly be advocating for agents, and how AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are rapidly changing lead generation, search, and the future role of real estate professionals. Ben also shares how his AI-powered platform OfferShield uses transaction data and predictive modeling to reduce deal cancellations and strengthen buyer offers. Last, the conversation dives into practical AI workflows for content creation, automation, financial analysis, and staying ahead in an industry being reshaped by technology. Please follow Ben on Instagram and TikTok. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!  Ben Lalez can be reached at 312.789.4054 and [email protected]. This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

Welcome to The Inner Game of Real Estate Success with high-performance hypnotherapist and mindset coach Paul Salter. In this episode, Paul breaks down why so many ambitious real estate agents, entrepreneurs, and high performers begin to feel overwhelmed, unclear, and disconnected – even while their business appears to be thriving on the outside. Using a powerful GPS metaphor, he explores what really happens when high achievers drift off track: saying yes too often, abandoning the fundamentals of self-care, operating from urgency and anxiety, and trying to solve internal misalignment with more movement and more work. You’ll learn why getting off track is a normal part of growth, how success itself can quietly pull you away from the routines and boundaries that once kept you grounded, and why the path back to clarity, control, and fulfillment isn’t found in doing more – but in returning to the fundamentals that made you effective in the first place. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Schedule a high-performance hypnotherapy and mindset coaching session with Paul here. Learn more about mindset and performance coaching for real estate agents here. This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

Welcome to our monthly feature Unpopular Real Estate Opinions with Chris Linsell. In this episode Chris breaks down why most agents are invisible to AI and introduce the concept of citation density, becoming the obvious answer across multiple platforms, from .gov/.edu sites to reviews, news, and social. They share specific strategies for agents to create question-driven content, earn high-value citations, and shift from basic AI prompting to AI publishing that actually gets surfaced by models like ChatGPT and Gemini. DJ and Chris also unpack the implications of the RE/MAX and Real acquisition, what accelerating consolidation means for agent mobility and leverage, and why building a strong, independent personal brand and AI voice guide is now essential to stay relevant and differentiated in the years ahead. Please check Chris’ profile on LinkedIn. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!  This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

Welcome to another episode of YouTube Lab with Sarah Maslowski. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Northern Michigan agent and coach Gino D’Angelo to discuss how he built a thriving real estate business through YouTube in a small resort market. Gino shares his journey from spending heavily on Zillow leads to generating consistent, high-quality inbound clients from simple, affordable video content. They break down his first 90 days on YouTube, the evolution of his setup, and why small-market agents actually have a powerful advantage. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Sarah Maslowski can be reached at [email protected] and +1(470) 577-6472. This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

Welcome to our series “Coffee Talks with Tim and D.J.” In this episode of Coffee Talks, Tim and D.J. break down why 72% of buyers are now finding homes on their own and how the “MLS trap” is quietly eroding the value of buyer’s agents. They introduce the Four Doors System (expired/withdrawn listings, FSBOs, hyper-specific handwritten letters, and agent-to-agent networking) to create a parallel market of off-MLS opportunities. By investing just about 90 minutes a week, agents can keep buyers from drifting, uncover hidden inventory, and add an extra closing per month in low-inventory markets. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Emma closed over $6 million her first year as a real estate agent. Then her grandfather died, and everything she had built started to feel impossible. She arrived at this conversation burned out, stuck in negative self-talk, and unsure if she could become the agent she used to be. In the debut episode of Breakthrough with Michael, Emma uncovers what has actually been weighing on her, where her drive went, and how her grandfather’s memory fits into the work she does now. No scripts. No lead generation tactics. A conversation about what’s underneath the numbers when an agent loses their footing. Ready to break through what’s holding you back? Apply now for your chance to be coached live on the show. Spots are limited to just one agent per month, so don’t wait – apply today. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Sign up for a personal breakthrough session with Michael Opyd here. This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

Welcome to our monthly feature Learn With A Lender with Austin Clarence. In this episode, Austin breaks down the upcoming Federal Reserve leadership change and what it could mean for interest rates and market volatility. Austin unpacks the often-misunderstood relationship between Fed policy and mortgage rates, while diving into practical strategies investors are using in today’s market, including DSCR loans, LLC structuring, and creative rate buydowns. Next, Austin explores how to find and build relationships with real estate investor clients through platforms like BiggerPockets and networking with financial professionals. Last, Austin covers powerful tax strategies such as depreciation and cost segregation, and how investors are continuing to scale rental portfolios even in a higher-rate environment. Subscribe to Austin’s newsletter by sending an email to [email protected]. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Austin Clarence can be reached at +1 650-906-2376 and [email protected]. This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

Kristy Nakamura shares how she built a relationship and referral-based business, with a special focus on serving military families and multi-generational households in Hawaii. Kristy breaks down how she uses VA loans, seller credits, and strategic structuring to help clients build long-term wealth through real estate, even in a high-cost market. Kristy also reveals how she and her husband Austin divide roles in their husband-and-wife team and leverage AI to scale marketing, CMAs, and daily operations. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Kristy Nakamura can be reached at (808) 829-6819 and [email protected]. This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

Bella Chaffey Lakic talks about how she built a thriving business after starting in real estate at just 22. Bella explains why the traditional “work your sphere” advice didn’t fit her early 20s clientele and how she pivoted by leaning hard into YouTube and evergreen video content. She breaks down her weekly content cadence, the types of videos that consistently generate leads (especially neighborhood tours and relocation content), and why compelling hooks matter more than fancy gear. Bella also discusses shifting buyer demographics, older, equity-rich buyers dominating the market, and what that means for agents’ marketing strategies. If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! Bella Chaffey Lakic can be reached at (425) 922-9499 and [email protected]. This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

Welcome to our series “Coffee Talks with Tim and D.J.” In this episode of Coffee Talks, Tim and DJ uncover why most real estate agents are still marketing to a buyer who effectively no longer exists. With the median American homebuyer now age 59, DJ and Tim break down fresh NAR data showing how Boomers dominate both the buy and sell sides of today’s market. They discuss why agent’s first-time buyer playbook is costing them opportunities and how to execute the “equity shift” with content, referrals, listing presentations, and their own sphere.  If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!